Number
230557
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. WESTMORELAND, BORKOWSKI, CHAMBERS, PEREZ, COGGS AND SPIKER
Title
Substitute resolution directing the Department of Administration-Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek introduction and passage of state legislation expanding the circumstances under which vehicles used in reckless driving may be impounded.
Analysis
This resolution directs the Department of Administration-Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek introduction and passage of state legislation expanding the circumstances under which vehicles used in reckless driving may be impounded. Currently, in order for a vehicle to be impounded for reckless driving, the driver must be the owner of the vehicle and the driver must also have an outstanding forfeiture from a previous reckless driving offense. This resolution directs the Intergovernmental Relations Division to seek changes to state law that would allow the vehicle being operated by a driver given a citation for reckless driving to be impounded for a first offense, regardless of whether the driver is the owner of the vehicle or whether the vehicle’s owner has any unpaid forfeitures for reckless driving, with the exception of stolen vehicles.
Body
Whereas, On April 3, 2023, the Wisconsin Legislature enacted legislation allowing local municipalities to pass ordinances authorizing law enforcement to impound vehicles used in reckless driving; and
Whereas, On March 9, 2023, the City of Milwaukee passed an ordinance adopting these new provisions; and
Whereas, The state law provides that for law enforcement to impound a vehicle, the driver must be the owner of the vehicle and the driver must have an outstanding forfeiture from a previous reckless driving offense; and
Whereas, This condition needlessly constrains the circumstances under which a vehicle may be impounded; and
Whereas, The condition is counterproductive to the overall goal of the legislation, which is to stop reckless drivers before they harm others by removing the means by which they may do so; and
Whereas, Wisconsin faces an epidemic of reckless driving, which, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), resulted in 118 deaths in 2022 alone; and
Whereas, According to WisDOT, speeding continues to be a growing problem in Wisconsin, and the number of 100+ mph citations issued by State Patrol rose sharply, from 583 to 1,403 citations, from 2019 to 2020; and
Whereas, Citations remained at historic highs through 2022, with 1,159 100+ mph citations that year; and
Whereas, Curbing reckless driving demands a number of flexible approaches, including education, changes to the built environment and effective law enforcement; and
Whereas, Law enforcement needs the tools to immediately keep dangerous drivers off the road, regardless of whether it is their first time being caught, own the cars in question or have the means to pay previous fines; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that the Department of Administration - Intergovernmental Relations Division is directed to lobby the Wisconsin Legislature for passage of legislation allowing the vehicle being operated by a driver given a citation for reckless driving to be impounded for a first reckless driving offense, regardless of whether the driver is the vehicle owner or whether the vehicle’s owner has any unpaid forfeitures for reckless driving, with the exception of stolen vehicles; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the City Clerk shall forward copies of this resolution to members of the City of Milwaukee’s delegation to the Wisconsin Legislature.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB178288-2
Christopher Hillard
8/7/2023