Changes in Wisconsin's drunk driving law poses problem for prosecutors

FOND DU LAC (AP) — A recent change in Wisconsin's drunken driving laws is making it harder for prosecutors to pursue criminal charges for some drunken crashes.

Wisconsin Act 224 went into effect April 10 and is aimed to create mandatory minimum penalties for drunken car crashes that cause substantial injury and for seventh to 10th offense drunken driving charges.

But the Reporter Media reports while drafting the bill, legislators cut text from existing laws.

Dodge County District Attorney Kurt Klomberg says the amended legislation prevents prosecutors from pursuing criminal charges for simple injury crashes.

He says their legal weapons are limited to a simple OWI, which isn't a criminal charge for first offenders.

Klomberg says investigators will also need to spend more time proving serious injuries.