In an effort to reduce the amount of drunk driving that takes place on Wisconsin roadways, Milwaukee police have been enacting their Operation Drive Sober program. Over the weekend of Jan. 24-26, the Milwaukee police stopped five drunk drivers, two of which were arrested after driving on freeway ramps in the wrong direction. The average PBT results of those arrested was .15.
Police responded to the first wrong-way driver at around 11:44 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 24. Officials were informed by a 911 caller that a driver was heading northbound on a southbound I-43 off ramp. The vehicle allegedly had its emergency flashers on and the headlights off. At the bottom of the ramp, the vehicle apparently made a hard right turn to proceed in the right direction. When police located the vehicle, one of its passengers was leaning outside and vomiting. It was discovered that the 24-year-old woman driving the vehicle had a PBT of .16. She now faces felony charges of recklessly endangering safety, as well as DUI and providing alcohol to minors. Underage drinking citations were issued to the two passengers in the vehicle, who were 16 and 17 years old.
The second wrong-way driver was apprehended very early on the morning of Sunday, January 26. The driver was noticed by a retired sheriff’s deputy. The vehicle was allegedly traveling northbound on a southbound off ramp from I-894 to Beloit Road. The driver corrected the vehicle’s path but was traveling around 80 mph. The 28-year-old man behind the wheel now faces charges in his alleged third drunk driving incident. His previous convictions were in 2004 and 2008.
The woman in the first case faces 10 years in prison, while the man in the second case faces a maximum of 11 years. The man might have a more difficult time getting a less severe punishment, because he is a repeat offender. People that have been convicted of previous crimes may benefit from the help of an attorney that can weigh their possible legal options.
Source: fox6now.com,“Two wrong-way drivers arrested during Operation Drive Sober” Katie DeLong, Jan. 26, 2014
Tags: arrest, conviction, prison
