An Act to amend 343.30 (1q) (b) 3., 343.301 (1g) (a) 2. a., 343.305 (10) (b) 3., 343.31 (3) (bm) 3., 346.65 (2) (am) 2. and 346.65 (2) (bm); to create 343.307 (1) (h) of the statutes; Relating to: penalties for certain offenses related to operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, restrictions related to ignition interlock devices, and providing a penalty. (FE)
SB1111 revises Wisconsin’s operating-while-intoxicated (OWI) penalty structure and related driver-license restrictions. The bill expands ignition interlock device requirements so that a first OWI offense with an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more, rather than 0.15 or more, would trigger an interlock restriction. It also removes the current 10-year timing limit for certain repeat OWI penalties, meaning a second OWI offense would be subject to enhanced penalties regardless of how much time has passed since the first offense.
The bill further broadens the list of prior offenses that count when determining OWI sentencing and license-revocation consequences. Specifically, it adds certain underage drinking offenses involving alcohol consumption and operation of a motor vehicle to the set of prior convictions, suspensions, and revocations used to calculate penalties and revocation periods. The bill also makes conforming changes to several statutes governing court-ordered revocations, Department of Transportation revocations, occupational license eligibility, and criminal penalties for repeat OWI offenses.
SB1111 would amend multiple sections of Wisconsin statutes governing OWI offenses, ignition interlock devices, operating-privilege revocations, and repeat-offense sentencing. In practice, it would lower the alcohol-concentration threshold for mandatory ignition interlock on first OWI convictions, expand the reach of prior-offense counting rules, and increase the likelihood that older OWI convictions still trigger enhanced penalties. It would affect drivers convicted of OWI, the courts that impose sentences and revocations, and the Department of Transportation, which administers license restrictions and revocations.
The available record shows no committee testimony or recorded votes, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge detailed sentiment. Based on the bill text, the measure appears to reflect a tougher enforcement approach toward impaired driving, with a focus on earlier interlock intervention and broader repeat-offender consequences. The bill ultimately failed to pass pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1.
The main points of contention are likely to be the bill’s stricter treatment of first-time and repeat OWI offenders. Lowering the ignition interlock threshold from 0.15 to 0.08 would subject more offenders to device restrictions, and eliminating the 10-year lookback limit for second-offense penalties would make prior OWI history relevant for a longer period. Another potentially disputed feature is the inclusion of underage drinking offenses involving driving as prior offenses for OWI penalty calculations, which broadens the pool of conduct that can increase future sanctions. These changes would be most consequential for repeat offenders, younger drivers with prior alcohol-related offenses, defense counsel, and agencies responsible for sentencing and license administration.