Law enforcement officers make more than 1,200 OWI arrests during recent crackdown

September 24, 2009

Wisconsin law enforcement officers from agencies participating in the “Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest” crackdown from Aug. 21 through Sept. 7 made 1,203 arrests for operating while intoxicated (OWI), according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Safety, which coordinated the federally funded crackdown.

Approximately 2,700 law enforcement officers from more than 320 agencies throughout the state teamed up for this year’s crackdown. In addition to OWI arrests, officers who patrolled in greater numbers and for longer hours during the crackdown issued 52,579 warnings and citations including the following:

• 9,155 speeding citations
• 5,432 safety belt citations
• 2,401 operating after revocation or suspension citations
• 847 traffic sign or traffic light citations
• 221 open intoxicant citations
• 145 child safety restraint citations

Officers also made numerous criminal arrests during traffic stops, including:

• 413 warrant arrests
• 211 drug arrests
• 65 felony arrests

"Our goal for the crackdown and during the rest of the year is not to make more arrests. We simply want people to voluntarily make the responsible decision to drive only if they’re sober.  But if people make the decision to drive while impaired, we won’t hesitate to arrest them,” said Wisconsin State Patrol Superintendent David Collins. ”Last year, more than 37,000 people, which is nearly equal to the population of Beloit, were convicted for drunken driving offenses in Wisconsin. It doesn’t matter if you’re driving a pick-up, a mini-van or a motorcycle. And it doesn’t matter if you’re within a block of your house. If you’re over the limit, you’ll be arrested. The decision to drive while impaired will likely be one you’ll regret the rest of your life.”

For more information, contact:
Dennis Hughes, Bureau of Transportation Safety
(608) 267-9075, dennis.hughes@dot.wi.gov

George Silverwood, Transportation Safety Programs
(608) 266-9860, george.silverwood@dot.wi.gov