tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post3532123408663192948..comments2023-10-08T04:12:46.273-05:00Comments on The Political Environment: Noting, On New Year's Eve, Some Proposed OWI ReformsJames Rowenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10203270946492159686noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-36488208390359591982013-01-01T12:53:48.951-06:002013-01-01T12:53:48.951-06:00When I worked for the Department of Transportation...When I worked for the Department of Transportation I was stunned by some of the loopholes in the law. <br /><br />-It was legal for someone with multiple OWIs and a revoked license to register a motor vehicle. <br /><br />-Since there was no I.D. requirement for registration, chronic alcoholics would frequently register a vehicle in a relative's name, or even a false name. Though doing so was a violation of the law, none of the long time veterans I talked to in the Department remembered anyone being prosecuted for it. <br /><br />Wisconsin doesn't require insurance for registration of a motor vehicle, which makes it easier to exploit these loopholes. Insurance companies would certainly weed out people with revoked licenses.<br /><br />The reason Wisconsin doesn't require insurance is because the insurance industry in the state has lobbied against it. It was the opinion of my co-workers that these companies did not want to issue insurance to high risk drivers, even at high premiums. It needs to be pointed out that many Wisconsin politicians have settled into highly paid insurance industry jobs after leaving office.<br />It's almost a perk of elected office in this state.<br /><br />Just increasing criminal penalties against drunk drivers won't put much of a dent in their activities as long as it's so easy to end-run the law. It's my experience that the worst of these offenders are actually obsessed with driving drunk, in a similar way as others are obsessed with shoplifting. It would be a shame if there isn't a substance abuse and mental health treatment component to the new legislation.Garethnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-23727102513264830452013-01-01T00:55:03.748-06:002013-01-01T00:55:03.748-06:00I think this is as far as some in the GOP will go....I think this is as far as some in the GOP will go. I am sure their constituents support it.James Rowenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10203270946492159686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6621691715090523319.post-73238035282050156782012-12-31T21:49:36.103-06:002012-12-31T21:49:36.103-06:00Is this real or feel good posturing by Darling an...Is this real or feel good posturing by Darling and Ott?Say What? https://www.blogger.com/profile/10542136708478530935noreply@blogger.com