According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles, ten years ago over 34,000 Wisconsin residents had been convicted of at least two alcohol related traffic offenses. This means that nearly 15 percent of all OWI or DUI convictions go to repeat offenders.

Curtailing Alcohol Dependence

The Journal Sentinel in Milwaukee reports that Waukesha County recently announced plans to accept a $350,000 federal grant to continue operating a specialty court for non-violent, alcohol-dependent offenders. The court will be designed to emphasize treatment, rather than punishment, in an effort to reduce the amount of drunken driving recidivism. The program will be administered by the District Attorney's office, which will have the power to identify those eligible to go before the specialty court.

While there are thousands of specific drug courts around the United States, Waukesha County's new focus will be on alcohol. As the most commonly abused drug in the region, the county feels it can reach the most people by concentrating its resources on alcohol dependency treatment.

The court will specifically concentrate on drunk drivers who are facing their third or fourth DUI, DWI or OWI conviction. The county hopes that improved treatment methods, increased supervision and a newly created incentive program will guide alcohol dependent individuals away from the substance for good.

Current Drunk Driving Penalties

Wisconsin vigorously prosecutes repeat offenders. For example, a person convicted of a fourth OWI (with no convictions in the previous five years) can face a $600 to $2,000 fine, up to a year in prison, and could have his or her license revoked for up to three years. Someone who has had a conviction in the previous five years faces up to a $10,000 fine and up to six years in prison.

Those eligible for the new procedures, however, will undergo weekly drug testing, monitoring and must attend mandatory alcohol dependency classes. While the program is still in the development stage, this new approach should provide help to the local community and will hopefully reduce repeat drunk driving.

Anyone who has been charged with DUI or OWI in Wisconsin should speak with a qualified criminal defense lawyer immediately to discuss their rights, options and impact the new system might have on their case.