In the latest episode of the dark comedy that is Randy Hopper's life, the recently-recalled ex-state-senator was busted for driving erratically on Highway 151. He refused a breathalyzer test but failed field sobriety tests and was charged with OWI. His reportedly-pregnant girlfriend Valerie Cass was a passenger in the vehicle. I assume she was not drinking if she is pregnant, so it would have saved everyone a lot of grief if Hopper had let her be the designated driver. But the middle-aged Hopper was perhaps unwilling to let a 26-year-old woman drive his car. Hoist by his own patriarchy.
Maybe he'll blame it on the mind-numbing ordeal that is driving on Highway 151. Even former Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager couldn't face the trip to Fond du Lac without first fortifying herself with a couple goldfish-bowl-sized glasses of wine.
Showing posts with label drunk driving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label drunk driving. Show all posts
Monday, October 17, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
2010 Southern Wisconsin Drunk of the Year
For most of 2010, I thought I would be giving the nod to DeForest's David Dull. However, Reedsburg's Michael Clevenger pulled off a victory on the last day of the year (well before midnight).
Clevenger started hitting the vodka at 8:00 in the morning. By 2:00 in the afternoon, he was on the road, driving erratically, with two open Smirnoff bottles in the car with him. He resisted arrest and urged the deputy to tase him. The taser malfunctioned (making me wonder if he was wearing some kind of insulating vest, since he himself suggested the taser).
This is Clevenger's 10th offense in a 13-year, three-county span. He'll have plenty of time to dry out in prison.
Clevenger started hitting the vodka at 8:00 in the morning. By 2:00 in the afternoon, he was on the road, driving erratically, with two open Smirnoff bottles in the car with him. He resisted arrest and urged the deputy to tase him. The taser malfunctioned (making me wonder if he was wearing some kind of insulating vest, since he himself suggested the taser).
This is Clevenger's 10th offense in a 13-year, three-county span. He'll have plenty of time to dry out in prison.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Dual DUIs for DeForest Drunk David Dull
When I saw the headline in yesterday's Wisconsin State Journal, I mainly glanced at the article to make sure it wasn't talking about anyone I know. Unfortunately, multiple DUIs in a short period of time is not so unusual in Wisconsin; I see stories like that on a regular basis.
However, some of the details really set this one apart. David Dull had a blood alcohol level of .434%. At Noon. On a Wednesday. That takes some serious drinking. Five days later, he was busted after driving away from a liquor store with a blood alcohol level of .382%. At 3:30 on a Monday afternoon. Clearly, he needed to buy liquor, since his BAL was under .40%
I assume that Mr. Dull is unemployed. If there was ever a candidate for involuntary commitment to a rehab facility, it's this guy.
However, some of the details really set this one apart. David Dull had a blood alcohol level of .434%. At Noon. On a Wednesday. That takes some serious drinking. Five days later, he was busted after driving away from a liquor store with a blood alcohol level of .382%. At 3:30 on a Monday afternoon. Clearly, he needed to buy liquor, since his BAL was under .40%
I assume that Mr. Dull is unemployed. If there was ever a candidate for involuntary commitment to a rehab facility, it's this guy.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Peg Lautenschlager Award Nominee
Wow. Just wow.
The most amazing thing about this tale of a woman racking up three OWI arrests in three days (two in Sheboygan and one just outside Madison) is that she was from out-of-state. She was visiting Wisconsin from Spokane, Washington.
I'm assuming that she was born and raised here and was back visiting relatives. Either that, or our lenient drunk driving laws are attracting hard-core drunks from halfway across the country who want the thrill of consuming boxed wine while driving into a ditch. It's the new Wisconsin sport, supplanting cow-tipping in the imaginations of urban sophisticates.
Her three arrests resulted in a total of $1857 in fines and 12 hours in jail for the drunk driving, plus $372 for resisting an officer.
The most amazing thing about this tale of a woman racking up three OWI arrests in three days (two in Sheboygan and one just outside Madison) is that she was from out-of-state. She was visiting Wisconsin from Spokane, Washington.
I'm assuming that she was born and raised here and was back visiting relatives. Either that, or our lenient drunk driving laws are attracting hard-core drunks from halfway across the country who want the thrill of consuming boxed wine while driving into a ditch. It's the new Wisconsin sport, supplanting cow-tipping in the imaginations of urban sophisticates.
Her three arrests resulted in a total of $1857 in fines and 12 hours in jail for the drunk driving, plus $372 for resisting an officer.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Drunks Against MADD Mothers
I should confess that I am no fan of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. If they focused on legislation like the current proposal to make a third O.W.I. a felony, or other measures that target drunk driving, I would applaud their efforts.
However, they seem to feel that adults should not be able to legally have a glass of wine (by which I mean a standard wine glass, not a super-size Lautenschlager glass) before driving themselves home. There is no scientific evidence that a blood alcohol level of .08% or .09% results in significant impairment. Yet, due entirely to the lobbying efforts of MADD, states have rolled back the legal limit from .10%.
Now, they wish to impose sobriety checkpoints (a monumental waste of taxpayer dollars and law enforcement's time) and cumbersome ignition locks (a major expense and inconvenience for innocent family members who share a vehicle) as well. How long before they push for .05% as the legal limit? Or expand "not a drop" laws beyond minors to other demographic groups (like seniors, or those with speeding tickets)?
With that said, I am very surprised that Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker has publically gone on record defending repeat drunk drivers. He may think the Tavern League has his back, but they have enough to worry about fighting for exemptions from any statewide smoking ban. He should pick his battles and focus on stopping checkpoint legislation.
If he were really smart, he would introduce alternate legislation making three O.W.I. convictions within 10 years, or two within a year, a felony. Or some other measure that would get tough on repeat drunk drivers. How about a statewide registry, so those picked up in different counties don't slip through the cracks? His spokeswoman said he "would support" making a third offense a felony if it occurred within 10 years. But I doubt he will be eager to actively promote such legislation. Instead, it looks like he is campaigning for the leadership of DAMM (Drunks Against MADD Mothers).
However, they seem to feel that adults should not be able to legally have a glass of wine (by which I mean a standard wine glass, not a super-size Lautenschlager glass) before driving themselves home. There is no scientific evidence that a blood alcohol level of .08% or .09% results in significant impairment. Yet, due entirely to the lobbying efforts of MADD, states have rolled back the legal limit from .10%.
Now, they wish to impose sobriety checkpoints (a monumental waste of taxpayer dollars and law enforcement's time) and cumbersome ignition locks (a major expense and inconvenience for innocent family members who share a vehicle) as well. How long before they push for .05% as the legal limit? Or expand "not a drop" laws beyond minors to other demographic groups (like seniors, or those with speeding tickets)?
With that said, I am very surprised that Wisconsin Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker has publically gone on record defending repeat drunk drivers. He may think the Tavern League has his back, but they have enough to worry about fighting for exemptions from any statewide smoking ban. He should pick his battles and focus on stopping checkpoint legislation.
If he were really smart, he would introduce alternate legislation making three O.W.I. convictions within 10 years, or two within a year, a felony. Or some other measure that would get tough on repeat drunk drivers. How about a statewide registry, so those picked up in different counties don't slip through the cracks? His spokeswoman said he "would support" making a third offense a felony if it occurred within 10 years. But I doubt he will be eager to actively promote such legislation. Instead, it looks like he is campaigning for the leadership of DAMM (Drunks Against MADD Mothers).
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