MADISON, WI–There have been changes to a bill aimed at stopping drunk drivers from reoffending after having been arrested for driving drunk once.

There have been several documented cases in Wisconsin where someone charged with OWI is released to a responsible party and then immediately get behind the wheel and drive drunk again.

In one such local case a crash caused by such a driver left a woman severely injured. State Rep Samantha Kerkman proposed a bill would have required offenders be held 12 hours or until their sober.

However Kerkman explained to WLIP’s Wake Up Kenosha that an amendment had to be made to the bill.

 

 

Kerkman says that some law enforcement officials were concerned about not having enough manpower to tie up an officer bringing the driver to jail.

It’s unclear if the bill will be able to garner enough votes for passage.