On
November 20, 2007, a MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) state progress
report listed Wisconsin as having the highest percentage of traffic
fatalities involving a drunk driver...the worst in the nation. MADD
identified 3 primary causal factors for this ranking: a weak interlock
law, a first OWI offense that is not classified as a crime, No sobriety
checkpoints.
Upon noticing this progress report, Sheriff David A Clarke Jr. initiated a
specialized Task Force to help create and facilitate the safe movement of
motor vehicles on the highway. The only charge of this specialized Task
Force is to carry out the prevention and enforcement efforts designed to
reduce Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) offenses. This objective will be
met through three components: Education, zero tolerance enforcement and a
change in the public's driving behavior.
The three
critical components have been successfully implemented through dedicated
enforcement efforts, community partnerships and intensive media outreach.
This combination of critical components offers future growth of the program.
It further allows the opportunity to accomplish the goal of reducing OWI
offenses and makes Wisconsin a safer place to travel.
The
six person team began operations January 3, 2008. As of April 21st,
2008 the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office has made 534 OWI arrests compared
to 285 OWI arrests by the agency during
the same timeframe last year.
MADD Wisconsin Congratulates & Applauds the
Efforts of the
Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office for being the first recipient of the MADD
Wisconsin Statewide Recognition Program Award.
Read the Press
Release
Wisconsin State Organization -- 1-800-799-MADD
