Senate and State Lawmakers agree that Drunk Driviers should foot the bill

Action on drunken driving bill planned for Dec. 16

The Senate And Assembly versions of the drunken driving bill are identical in many ways. Both would:

Make a 4th OWI a felony if it occurs within a 5 year previous offense (right now it isn't a felony offense until the 5th)

Require ignition interlocks for repeat drunken drivers or for first time offenders if their BAC exceeds 0.15

Make first-offense drunken driving a misdemeanor if a child under 16 is in the car (WI is the only state to treat first offenses as traffic tickes rather than crimes)

Expand the Winnebago County Safe Streets program across the state-this gives judges the opportunity to reduce jail time to offenders who complete an alcohol/drug treatment program.

Eliminate the provision that provides lighter penalties for lesser BAC. Lower blood alcohol levels would face the same fines and penalties at those 0.10 or above.

So what still needs to be worked out? FUNDING

The changes would cost an estimated 15-28 million dollars annually, largely beause of the increased costs to house inmates. The two bills differ on how to pay costs when analysts are unsure of how many people would be sentenced. Both do agree however that they want to cover the costs by increasing fees on offenders.