Gov. Doyle Calls For Tougher 3rd Offense OWI Sentences, But...

The good news is that the Governor and some legislators are moving quickly to turn a third OWI conviction into a felony, which will speed up those offenders' incarcerations and get them off the streets.

But no Wisconsin state official wants to do the necessary first step when it comes to amending Wisconsin law by changing the first offense from a civil ticket into a criminal misdemeanor.

Wisconsin is ridiculously lenient when it comes to first OWI's arrests, meaning that serious legal consequences don't start until an offender becomes a repeater.

Let's praise Doyle and the others for taking a step in the right direction following the outrageous triple-OWI-related homicide case arising in Oconomowoc by an alleged 4th-time offender.

But let's get the first offenses treated for what they are - - reckless endangerment, pure and simple.

Let's put the state on the side of innocent motorists, not on the side of drunken drivers who finally got pulled over.