Important to keep moving forward quickly on reckless driving penalties

I am grateful to Mayor Johnson for formally signing Common Council File #230557 earlier today – and to my colleagues who have also supported File #230557 – legislation I authored seeking to expand the circumstances under which reckless drivers’ vehicles can be impounded. In my view, Milwaukee has been soft and lukewarm on addressing reckless driving for far too long and I am happy that we are moving closer to zero tolerance, and asking state legislators to expand the circumstances under which vehicles can be impounded due to reckless driving (even on the offender’s first offense).

It is time to set aside the political BS, as this is about saving lives and keeping our citizens safe. While the standard political process drags out as this heads to Madison, people are getting injured and being killed at the hands of reckless drivers. The longer this process takes – the further our community goes behind the eight-ball in this fight.

And shame on city leaders of the past that were soft on this issue, as they’re part of the reason why reckless driving has gotten to this point!

I would also like to thank Representative Donovan for helping me push this legislation, as he is someone who has shared with me new approaches for dealing with lawlessness, not just in Milwaukee, but throughout our state. Frankly, folks up in Madison need to treat this as the biggest threat to public safety there is in Milwaukee and Wisconsin – and act accordingly (hint: quicker!).

Let us be honest that more often than not when individuals are caught for reckless driving they are charged inadequately, leniently, and our jails seem more frequently equipped with revolving doors. I emphasize that this is not just a Milwaukee problem, but a greater state issue.

We don’t want your vehicles, we DO want you to slow the hell down. But if you won’t – we’re coming for you! This is just the beginning of my fight. I am far from the finish line. I’ll do and push everything in my power to curb this deadly problem.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.