Wednesday, March 01, 2023

"Showboat" Law on Reckless Drivers

It is common for legislators to introduce "showboat" laws which seem to address a problem without really addressing it seriously.  That way, Leggies can look good but 'problems will remain,' meaning they have to be re-elected to solve them--again.

Here's an example.

Wisconsin lawmakers are proposing a pair of bills that could create harsher penalties for reckless driving and more leeway for police to fight it. ...

Key words:  "reckless driving" and "harsher penalties".  See??  'We'll get those guys!!!'

Or not.

...State Representative Bob Donovan, (R-Greenfield), a former Milwaukee alderman, co-authored both bills. 

The first would double the fines for reckless driving in Wisconsin and elevate "reckless driving causing great bodily harm" to a Class H felony. That would increase the potential prison time to six years. ...

Donovan is All Mouth, in case you've not noticed.

We highlighted both the problems, the first of which was nailed by Rep. Duchow:

"If they aren't gonna pay the fines and nothing happens, what good is the fine?" said State Rep. Cindi Duchow (R-Town of Delafield)

The second?  "Potential" prison time.  John Chisholm doesn't believe in prisonDoh. 

The second bill enables cities, towns and villages to give police the power to tow a reckless driver's car if the driver owns the vehicle and has a prior unpaid fine for reckless driving.

If that means that the cops will confiscate the car, good.  But we don't know that, and all that does is give the cops some leverage--but not the victim(s.)

This is NOT "better than nothing" legislation.  It's show-boat stuff. 

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