Evers Signs Bill Setting Minimum Sentence for OWI Homicides

Governor Tony Evers signed a bill Wednesday that stiffens
penalties for drunken drivers who kill someone. The measure creates a mandatory
minimum sentence of five years in prison for anyone convicted of homicide by
intoxicated use of a vehicle. Under the law, judges would be able to sentence someone
to less than five years if he or she finds a compelling reason.

The State Department of Corrections estimates the change
will generate over $525-thousand in additional operating costs annually. The
bill’s chief sponsor – Senator Alberta Darling said in a statement that someone
who kills someone else “deserves a sentence that provides justice for the
victim’s family.”