Arrest made in fatal Manitowoc County crash

Police in Manitowoc County have arrested a 43-year-old woman on charges tied to a fatal crash that claimed the lives of three people. Manitowoc County Sheriff Robert Hermann says Becky Holly was picked up on an arrest warrant Wednesday, after she was released from the...

Janesville fights chronic drunk drivers

Janesville Police Chief Dave Moore says the number of chronic drunk drivers in Rock County is staggering, with over 1,000 offenders that have four or more convictions. In Janesville alone, there are 391 people with more than four convictions for OWI. Moore says a new...

A sober reminder for parents

In light of the tougher OWI laws in Wisconsin, parents might want to be more careful when attending holiday gatherings with children along for the ride. Aside from criminalizing fourth offense drunk driving, new laws that took effect earlier this year also make first...

New drunk driving law takes comprehensive approach (AUDIO)

Wisconsin’s new drunk driving law is now in effect, with tougher penalties and an effort to get problem drinkers into treatment. State Senator Jim Sullivan, one of the principal authors, of Wisconsin Act 100, said the law represents a comprehensive approach to...

Appleton man faces 10th OWI

An Appleton man faces his tenth drunk driving offense after an arrest this week. Hortonville police chief Michael Sullivan said 51-year-old Michael Martin was pulled over follwoing a short chase Sunday night. Sullivan said Martin had empty alcohol containers in the...

More safe rides for bar patrons

Governor Jim Doyle and the Tavern League don’t always get along, but they did Friday, in an effort to combat drunk driving in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Tavern League’s Safe-Ride program is getting additional money, under a law signed by Doyle. “We...

Bill consolidates recreational OWI penalties

Are Wisconsin laws dealing with intoxicated operation of boats, ATVs and snowmobiles too complicated? That’s what lawmakers are hearing at the Capitol. “Right now . . . it’s confusing, I could not believe it,” said Randy Hardin of Sheboygan,...

Drunk driver blood draw bill heads to governor

A legislative session which has seen sweeping revisions of state laws dealing with intoxicated driving has produced one more drunk driving bill – “Tim’s law” is headed to Governor Jim Doyle’s desk. The measure (SB 303) requires that blood...

Doyle signs OWI bill

Governor Jim Doyle has signed Wisconsin’s new, tougher drunk driving bill. It criminalizes first time drunk driving when kids are in the vehicle, makes some fourth time drunk driving offenses a felony, allows use of ignition interlock devices for repeat...

Governor set to sign OWI bill

Drunk drivers in Wisconsin will face tougher penalties, under legislation Governor Doyle is expected to sign into law later today.  The Governor is scheduled to sign legislation this morning at a Capitol ceremony that would make 4th offense OWI a felony, along with...

Victim’s father critical of OWI reforms

The father of a Schofield girl killed by a drunken driver wants to see even tougher laws. Steve Meinel says the law passed Wednesday doesn’t go far enough and is disappointed that lawmakers haven’t done more to address the problem. The bill passed by...

Lawmakers approve OWI reforms

Lawmakers have overwhelming approved legislation that includes tougher penalties for drunk drivers.  The bill makes fourth offense OWI a felony, requires ignition interlock devices for repeat offenders, and expands treatment programs. State Representative Tony...

Legislature to approve tougher drunk driving penalties

Wisconsin’s drunk driving laws are about to get tougher, as lawmakers meet in a special session today. “It looks like a really solid piece of legislation,” says state Senator Jon Erpenbach, a Waunakee Democrat who applauds efforts by sponsors of an...

Kuenzi in court on ’04 OWI death

A Weyauwega man who gained statewide notoriety for his involvement in the slaughter of five deer with snowmobiles last winter made his initial appearance Thursday afternoon in Waupaca County Circuit Court, for a hit and run death from 2004. Rory A. Kuenzi, who’s...

Deal reached on OWI reforms

State lawmakers says they have reached a possible agreement on OWI reform legislation. The proposed deal would make 4th offense drunk driving a felony, require ignition interlock devices for repeat offenders, and expands treatment programs. State Senator Jim Sullivan...

Avoid an OWI during holidays

Holiday parties abound between now and the year’s end, and that means police around Wisconsin will be busy with drunk driving arrests. Madison alcohol counselor Janet DuBerry sees too much emphasis on getting “toasted.” “For example with...

Assembly approves OWI reforms

Increased penalties for drunk drivers have unanimously cleared the state Assembly. On a 95-0 vote Thursday, the Assembly approved legislation that makes 4th offense OWI a felony, expands treatment programs, and requires repeat offenders to have ignition interlock...

Assembly to vote on OWI reforms

Lawmakers have been under increasing pressure in recent months to go after drivers who repeatedly get behind the wheel after drinking. It’s a message those at the Capitol have heard loud and clear, according to State Representative Donna Seidel (D-Wausau). The...

Questions over sobriety checkpoints

As state legislators prepare to pass tougher laws on drunk driving in their fall session, there’s apparently one controversy they’ll steer away from. That would be legalizing sobriety checkpoints, where cops pull over drivers at random to see if...

Assembly could act quickly on OWI reforms

The Assembly will return to the Capitol in September to vote on a number of bills that have piled up over the summer, and Democratic Speaker Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) says one of their top priorities will to be to reform the state’s drunk driving laws....