Wisconsin Drunk Driving Laws Still a Joke

Wisconsin - the only state in the country that doesn't consider drunk driving a crime at first blush - failed to pass a bill to remedy that situation last week. Not so coincidentally, a police chief in the state as well as state Rep. Jeff Wood were pulled over and cited for drunk driving.

The arrest was the police chief's first on charges of driving while in intoxicated, but not so for Rep. Wood. Last week's arrest marks his second OWI arrest this year, and fourth overall.

Wood already faces third-offense charges stemming from a Dec. 12 arrest after he crashed through a highway sign with an alleged blood-alcohol level of 0.15. Wood was also convicted of drunken driving in 1990 and 1991.

In his latest arrest Wood had trouble completing field sobriety tests, but a preliminary breath test for alcohol in his system was 0.00. Troopers did find prescription drugs and cough syrup in his car.

Clearly, by not making OWI a crime on first offense, the cultural ambivilance to driving while intoxicated continues in the state.

When Will Responsible Drinking Be 'En Vogue'?

At this point, nearly every major news outlet has published the news: women are getting more DUIs and men are getting less.

You can read about it here, here, here, and here.

Each story reaches a different conclusion as to the hows and whys behind this new trend. Los Angeles "mommy blogger" and self-proclaimed recovering alcoholic Stefanie Wilder-Taylor thought like many that she was a part of a new wave of moms asserting their ability to have small kids and still be hip and cool with a cosmopolitan in hand.

It seems that for women a glass of wine is the ultimate accessory and attempts to drink responsibly are passé.

MADD mom Misty Moyse recalled that at one wine-infused party for new parents at the school her children attended, she stood up and asked the group if anyone needed a designated driver.

"Boy, that was a real party killer," she said. I am sure it was. After all, being a responsible drinker is so last year.

Did Star Athlete Get Special Treatment?

Football player Donte Stallworth serves 30 days in jail for killing a man driving drunk.

Laura Dean-Mooney, MADD National President, explains MADD’s concern about a 30-day sentence for DUI manslaughter.
Watch the video and you decide

Man with 7 Drunk Driving Convictions Mistakenly Charged with First Offense

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a 37-year-old Wisconsin man with seven prior drunk driving convictions was mistakenly issued a first-offense citation for operating while intoxicated after he was arrested in October. The mistake was uncovered after the man was arrested on suspicion of his ninth OWI.

People continue to drive drunk because they can. Studies have shown that ignition interlocks are an average of 64 percent effective in reducing repeat drunk driving offenses.

Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, including first-time offenders.

Montana Man Guilty of 9th DUI

The Great Falls Tribune reported that a man pleaded guilty to his ninth DUI on Wednesday. In Montana, drunken driving is a misdemeanor crime for the first three offenses; it becomes a felony on the fourth offense.

Through the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, MADD is dedicated to supporting state legislation that expands the use of current alcohol ignition interlock technology so that interlocks are mandatory for all convicted drunk drivers in all 50 states.

Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.

New Hampshire Man Sentenced to Prison for Drunk Driving Death of Off-Duty Police Officer

According to an article in the New Hampshire Union Leader, 22-year-old Jeffrey Dennis was sentenced to 5 to 15 years in prison for the death of an off-duty Hopkinton, New Hampshire police officer. Dennis had been drinking before he hit the off-duty officer's motorcycle last August.

Among the conditions of his sentence, Dennis must have an alcohol ignition interlock device installed on any vehicle he drives for up to five years.

Visit the MADD Officer Victim Tribute to honor law enforcement officers killed or injured by alcohol-impaired drivers or while enforcing drunk driving laws and/or underage drinking laws.

Calls for Tougher Drunk Driving Laws in Wisconsin Renewed After Man Arrested for 8th DUI

A story from WTMJ News Radio reports that an 8-time drunk driver arrested after hitting a college student, several cars and a light pole and a 7-time drunk driver arrested for drunk driving twice in 8 days have renewed calls for Wisconsin to get tougher on people who repeatedly drive under the influence.

In 2007, 313 people were killed in drunk driving crashes in Wisconsin.

People continue to drive drunk because they can. Studies have shown that ignition interlocks are an average of 64 percent effective in reducing repeat drunk driving offenses.

Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. Sign the Pledge to Eliminate Drunk Driving in Wisconsin.

California Man Charged with Drunk Driving in Bicyclist's Death Has History of DUIs

According to an article in the San Diego Union Tribune, a man charged with hitting and killing a bicyclist last week has a history of drunk driving convictions in California and New York.

The man was charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence, hit-and-run driving causing death and two counts of drunk driving.

MADD's recently released State Progress Report revealed:

• Californians share the road with 310,971 drunk drivers with three or more DUI convictions
• More than 44,200 of those drivers have five or more DUI convictions

People continue to drive drunk because they can. Studies have shown that ignition interlocks are an average of 64 percent effective in reducing repeat drunk driving offenses. Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.

Connecticut Driver Faces Two DUI Charges in 18 Hours

According to an article in the Connecticut Post, a 69-year-old man was arrested on drunk driving charges twice within an eighteen hour period. The first time he was charged with driving under the influence, his blood-alcohol level was two times the legal limit of 0.08. The next time he was charged with DUI, his blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit.

Research shows that those convicted of drunk driving for the first time have driven drunk more than 87 times before their first arrest.

Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.

Washington State Driver Accused of DUI Hits 7 Cars in 13 Minutes

According to an article in the Seattle Post Intelligencer, a Spokane, Washington man hit at least seven cars within 13 minutes, including one driven by an off-duty detective, before he was arrested for drunk driving.

Sign the Pledge to Eliminate Drunk Driving and support MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, which aims to end drunk driving completely through:

• High-visibility law enforcement, including sobriety checkpoints
• Ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers
• Advanced vehicle technologies to prevent drunk driving
• Public support – led by MADD and concerned citizens nationwide

New Data Shows Disturbing Number of Repeat Drunk Drivers on American Roads

New government data compiled from states illustrate an alarming trend: nationally, an estimated two million three-time or more and 400,000 five-time or more drunk driving offenders are sharing our roadways at any given time.

The newly released state progress report for MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving highlights the need for comprehensive alcohol ignition interlock laws in all states.

Learn more about the Annual State Progress Report and Repeat Offense Data by State.

Parents Arrested for DUI, Child Endangerment with 4-Year Old in Car

According to an article from KYPost.com, the father of a 4-year old boy was arrested for alleged drunk driving and his mother, the passenger, was arrested for child endangerment for allowing her husband to drive.

MADD believes that driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is criminal and irresponsible. Having a child in the car elevates this criminal act to child abuse. Read MADD’s child endangerment report, Every Child Deserves a Designated Driver.

Two Officers Hit at Sobriety Checkpoint, Driver Charged with DUI

Meriden, Connecticut police say two officers were hit by a vehicle early Saturday morning at a sobriety checkpoint. The driver of the vehicle was charged with DWI, among other things. Read the complete story from WTIC, Hartford.

MADD supports law enforcement agencies nationwide in their efforts to reduce drunk driving fatalities and injuries, including their use of high-visibility crackdowns during holidays and sobriety checkpoints, which, according to the Centers for Disease Control, can reduce alcohol-related crashes and fatalities by 20 percent.

You can honor law enforcement officers killed or injured by alcohol-impaired drivers or while enforcing drunk driving laws and/or underage drinking laws online at the MADD Officer Victim Tribute.

Tennessee Man Arrested for 7th DUI

According to an article in the Cookeville, Tennessee Herald-Citizen, a driver who rear-ended another car in a restaurant drive-through was charged with his seventh drunk driving offense.

People continue to drive drunk because they can. Studies have shown that ignition interlocks are an average of 64 percent effective in reducing repeat drunk driving offenses. Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.

Minnesota State Patrol Trooper Dragged During DWI Stop

A Minnesota State Patrol trooper is recovering after a man with 10 previous drunk driving convictions put up a fight and dragged the officer after he attempted cite the suspect with DWI. Read the complete story from KAAL TV.

MADD supports law enforcement agencies nationwide in their efforts to reduce drunk driving fatalities and injuries. Unfortunately, we know too well the dangers associated with this enforcement. Visit the Officer Victim Tribute to honor those law enforcement officers killed or injured by alcohol-impaired drivers or while enforcing drunk driving laws and/or underage drinking laws.

Two Montana Drivers Get DUIs in Single Traffic Stop

According to an article in the Billings Gazette, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper nabbed two allegedly drunk drivers in one traffic stop. The trooper was investigating the driver when his passenger started to drive away. Both men admitted to drinking and failed sobriety tests. They were cited for DUI and taken to jail.

Research shows that individuals convicted of drunk driving for the first time have driven drunk more than 87 times before their first arrest. Alcohol ignition interlocks are proven to be an effective tool in the battle against drunk driving. Studies have shown ignition interlocks are an average of 64 percent effective in reducing repeat drunk driving offenses.

Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.

Three Young Lives Cut Abruptly Short in Illinois, in a Crash Caused by an Accused Repeat Drunk Driver

Amanda Jahn, 27, and her children Ryan, 3, and Kaitlyn, 11 months were laid to rest Tuesday, following a crash caused by a suspected repeat drunk driver. The accused offender was charged with four counts of aggravated driving under the influence and ordered held in lieu of $1 million bail. Read the complete story from the Chicago Tribune.

Beginning in January 2009, alcohol ignition interlocks will be mandatory for all convicted drunk drivers in the state of Illinois, one of only eight states that require or highly incentivize interlocks for all convicted DUI offenders.

Help us reduce the number of drunk driving fatalities where you live – and nationwide. Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.

Parents of Indiana Infant Arrested Separately for Drunk Driving

According to WSBT in South Bend, an Indiana woman was arrested for drunk driving with her 1-year-old son in the vehicle. When the father came to pick the child up he too was arrested for drunk driving.

MADD believes that driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is criminal and irresponsible. Having a child in the car elevates this criminal act to child abuse. Read MADD’s child endangerment report, Every Child Deserves a Designated Driver.

Sign the Pledge to Eliminate Drunk Driving and support MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.

Illinois Man Faces 11th DUI Charge

According to an article in the Chicago Tribune, a southern Illinois man faces his 11th DUI charge after police say he was drunk when he caused a crash.

Today on our roads, there are 2 million drivers with 3 or more drunk driving convictions and 400,000 with 5 or more convictions.

MADD is dedicated to supporting state legislation that expands the use of current alcohol ignition interlock technology so that interlocks are mandatory for all convicted drunk drivers in all 50 states.

Currently eight states mandate or provide strong incentives for ignition interlocks for all persons convicted of DUI -- Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico and Washington. If you are a resident of one of the other 42 states, contact your legislators and tell them you support saving lives and eliminating repeat drunk driving offenses by mandating ignition interlocks for all convicted DUI offenders.

A Soldier’s Service & Life Cut Short by a Drunk Driver

On Veteran’s Day, America honors our service men and women.
Everyday, MADD honors victims of drunk driving.

Jason Brian Carder, age 21, lucked out when he got his plum assignment to join the U.S. Army Calvary Scouts, stationed at Schofield Barracks in Honolulu, Hawaii. His goal was to qualify for the GI Bill so he could study at the the University of Florida in Gainesville with his younger brother Nate.

On August 10, 1997, while heading to the beach with three buddies to celebrate their pal Eric’s birthday, Eric grew tired and pulled the car over on the shoulder to switch drivers. Before he could even get out of the car, a drunk driver slammed into the back of their car, killing Jason instantly.

Read Jason's story.