Mothers Against Drunk Driving gives Wisconsin a failing
grade because the state does not do enough to prevent people from drunk
driving. Wisconsin received a 2 out of 5 rating.
The state received this rating because Wisconsin categorizes
a first drunken driving offense as a traffic case, not a criminal case. In a
criminal case blood samples can be taken via search warrant. In a traffic case
blood samples cannot be taken.
"Conservative estimates show that a first-time
convicted OWI offender has driven drunk at least 80 times prior to being
arrested," says MADD. "According to the Wisconsin Department of
Transportation, a majority of drunken driving deaths and injuries are caused by
offenders with no prior convictions."
MADD says because a first-offense is considered a traffic
case, the punishment for drunk driving is not severe enough. MADD believes this
does not give drivers incentive to stay off the roads after drinking.
Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa also received 2 out of 5. The
only state to earn a lower rating was Montana.
This poor rating for the region comes after the recent story
on national drug and alcohol arrests. According to Rehabs.com, five UW
institutions ranked in the top 20 in the nation for on-campus arrests per 1,000
students. The University of WI-La Crosse ranked third.
