May 15, Criminalizing First Time DUI Offenses

In every state except Wisconsin, first-time drunken driving is a criminal offense. Here, it’s treated as a traffic ticket. “Route 51” host Shereen Siewert welcomes State Rep. Jim Ott (R-Mequon) to discuss a bill he’s co-sponsoring that would criminalize first-time drunken driving, while tightening penalties for repeat offenders.

Then, Portage County District Attorney Louis Molepske will join the conversation with his reaction to the proposed changes, and a look at what those changes would mean to the state’s criminal system. Finally, Wisconsin Public Radio Reporter Corrine Hess will talk about her latest story, part of a series on Wisconsin’s complicated relationship with alcohol.