Another Half-Measure Misses OWI Target

Readers of this blog know I have been critical of tepid responses to the state's devastating alcohol abuse problems - - we're number-one in all the wrong, boozy categories - -  as legislators and Governors consistently run from reform, bow to the power of alcohol lobbies and open the door to binge drinking and drunken-driving.

Wisconsin remains the only state to give first-time arrested OWI offenders a break with a ticket instead of a misdemeanor arrest.

Now comes along two legislators who tip-toe up to the issue by proposing that a first-time offense who blows a 0.15 on a breathalyzer gets the misdemeanor charge.

In other words, you have to be nearly twice the legal intoxication limit of 0.08 to quality for the misdemeanor instead of the ticket.

Experts and your honest friends will tell you a person arrested for drunken driving is unlikely to be getting pulled over for his or her first-ever decision to drive when drunk.

And that you have to have developed some tolerance for alcohol through heavy and regular drinking get yourself to 0.15 and successfully gotten behind the wheel without having first fallen flat on your face at the bar or on your sofa.

Ask yourself: why should some blowing a 0.14 - - in other words, far over the limit - - be rewarded by state law with only a ticket?

Because of its internal contradictions - - and the power that pro-drinking lobbies exercise over the legislature - - this idea is going nowhere.

How long will it take for some legislator or tavern owner or cultural apologist to stand up with a straight - - but maybe red face - - and suggest this plan will hurt the "hospitality" industry, thus is bad for business in WalkerVille?

Like so many so-called reforms of the system in Wisconsin, this legislative proposal is a photo-oped half-measure that suggests something important ts being done when, in fact, we've got another example of timid leaders hoping to get more credit than they deserved.