Senate Bill 1111 aims to strengthen penalties and regulations surrounding operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) in Wisconsin. The bill expands the requirement for ignition interlock devices (IIDs) to first OWI offenses with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or greater, whereas current law only mandates IIDs for second or subsequent offenses or first offenses with a concentration of 0.15 or higher. Additionally, the bill removes the 10-year time frame for considering prior OWI offenses when determining penalties, meaning that repeat offenders will face increased penalties regardless of when the previous offenses occurred. It also includes underage drinking offenses involving operating a vehicle in the list of prior offenses that can affect sentencing and operating privilege revocation.

The bill introduces new legal language, specifically creating a provision that counts underage drinking offenses as prior convictions for OWI penalties. It amends several existing statutes to reflect these changes, including the removal of the 10-year period for counting prior offenses in various contexts. The legislation is designed to enhance public safety by imposing stricter consequences for OWI violations and ensuring that offenders are held accountable for their actions, thereby potentially reducing the incidence of drunk driving in the state.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 343.30(1q)(b)3, 343.30, 343.301(1g)(a)2.a, 343.301, 343.305(10)(b)3, 343.305, 343.31(3)(bm)3, 343.31, 346.65(2)(am)2, 346.65, 346.65(2)(bm)