Insurers offering auto insurance in Wisconsin, take note: the state was ranked the fourth most dangerous state in the country for drunken driving.
The ranking was based on CarInsuranceComparison.com’s study, which placed the nation’s states according to how likely drivers in each region were more likely to get involved in accidents caused by an impaired motorist.
The survey put into consideration each state’s number of drunken driving arrests, fatality rates, and the penalties for such violations.
Wisconsin’s penalties were found to be "not as steep as other states." The state remains the only one in America where a first offense is considered a citation instead of a crime.
"I don't think that our penalties are too lax," said Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney, who—despite observing the rise of OWI arrests in the area—does not believe that drivers in Wisconsin are more at risk due to current penalties.
"I think there's a lacking in proper and adequate treatment programs for people that find themselves addicted to alcohol, and that is a large component of getting behind the wheel of a vehicle."
Channel3000.com reported that Gov. Scott Walker recently signed a bill that makes fourth-offense drunk driving a felony whenever it is committed.
American Family Insurance Agent Brad Bodden, using industry statistics, disagreed with the findings of the website.
"Based on what I see on a daily basis for 20 years I find it to be quite the opposite," he said. "We wouldn't have the third-lowest rates in the country if that were truly the case."
Bodden, however, recognized that it takes one OWI arrest for a policyholder’s rates to shoot up. He also noted that repeat offenders will have difficulties getting car insurance.
