Our DUI Attorneys in Chicago congratulate Wisconsin for passing responsible drunk driving laws.

Wis. gov signs tougher drunken driving law; advocates say state’s penalties still weak

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle has signed a bill that stiffens the state’s drunken driving laws, despite questions about whether it does too little.

The law signed Tuesday makes a fourth offense drunken driving a felony if it occurs within five years of the previous offense. A first offense will be a misdemeanor if someone younger than 16 is in the car. Repeat offenders and first-timers with high blood alcohol contents must get ignition interlocks.

The new penalties take effect July 1.

But two of the toughest changes advocates wanted weren’t included: making all first offenses a crime and legalizing roadside sobriety checkpoints.

Sobriety checkpoints a/k/a DUI checkpoints are nothing more than an out-right hijacking of our 4th Amendment.  Congratulations to the Wisconsin Legislature in their approach to drunk driving enforcement.