Vos doesn’t support criminalizing first drunken driving

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says he doesn’t support criminalizing first-offense drunken driving.

Wisconsin treats a first offense not as a crime but as a civil violation similar to a speeding ticket. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has said he’s open to making first-offense a crime and Republican Rep. Jim Ott has introduced a bill that would do just that.

Vos said Thursday that he doesn’t want to fill up Wisconsin jails with people who make a simple mistake and he believes most first-timers won’t re-offend. He says he would rather focus on repeat drunken drivers.

He say he does support two Ott bills up for floor vote Thursday that would force first-timers to make an initial court appearance and establish a five-year minimum sentence for anyone convicted of intoxicated vehicular homicide.