A bill passed by the legislature could send unlicensed drivers to prison. The bill creates the new penalties for those driving without a license or after suspension, if they kill or seriously injure someone in an accident. Former Greendale police chief Rob Dams told lawmakers that often family members are enabling these problem drivers. “They have parents, they have relatives, they have friends that give them motor vehicles, buy them motor vehicles, license them in their names and allow these people to keep driving,” said Dams.
With sometimes fatal results: Dams son Nick was killed in 2006 by an unlicensed driver who received a traffic citation. “This is a homicide. I can tell you from my 38 years of experience, it’s murder, and it needs to be dealt with.” said Dams. “People need to know what they’re dealing with out there, rather than just a meaningless traffic citation.”
Current law allows for forfeitures and fines, but Dams said are rarely imposed, and rarely collected if they are. The bill (AB 80) passed both chambers of the legislature last week and is now awaiting action by Governor Scott Walker.
AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (1:05)
