A day after the state Legislature approved a bill intended to help Milwaukee crack down on reckless drivers, local officials met at the city’s towing lot to send a message.
“If you choose to engage in the criminal, negligent operation of a motor vehicle … if you choose to put lives at risk, we’re taking the car,” Milwaukee Police Department Assistant Chief Craig Sarnow said.
“We’re taking away the weapon, and we’re going to put it here,” Sarnow said, referring to the City of Milwaukee Tow Lot at 3811 W. Lincoln Ave. the site of an Oct. 15 press conference.
Behind Sarnow and Common Council members, employees used equipment to lift a wrecked SUV with its left front side smashed in, a somber reminder of the devastation caused by reckless driving.
New legislation — now on its way to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, who’s expected to sign it into law, will allow police to impound a vehicle after arresting a reckless driver or issuing a citation, whether it’s a repeat offense or not.
“If you’re a one-time offender, that’s one time too many,” Alderman Scott Spiker said.
The bill expands on a 2023 law, which police found too restrictive and used rarely. The current law only applies when the driver owns the vehicle and doesn’t cover cars that are stolen or borrowed under someone else’s name.
Now, any cars driven recklessly may be hauled to the tow lot. To get their car back, the driver has to pay any outstanding fines and towing costs — at least $150, plus $25 daily storage fees. Police will attempt to contact owners of stolen vehicles, who won’t have to pay fees.
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Sarnow said that, of MPD’s 778 vehicle pursuits this year, 583 have been for reckless driving. Local officials hope the stronger penalty means people will be “less inclined to engage in this negative behavior” and lead to fewer pursuits.
The bill also authorizes Milwaukee to dispose of the vehicle, similar to abandoned cars, if it remains unclaimed for 90 days.
The legislation brought together two groups who are often at odds: Republican lawmakers in the state Capitol and local Milwaukee officials.
Rep. Bob Donovan, R-Greenfield, and Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, led the bill and gained support from Democrats, including state Sen. Tim Carpenter from Milwaukee.
“The issue of reckless driving has transcended traditional political lines due to its prevalence in Milwaukee,” Donovan said in an Oct. 14 statement. “I want to thank the bipartisan group of lawmakers who recognized this and supported it.”
At the news conference, Spiker thanked Donovan, Wanggaard and the governor for his expected signing of the bill.
“We don’t get a lot of bipartisan support these days, but we have it here,” Spiker said. “Why? The problem we are facing is catastrophic. It’s literally costing us lives every day.”
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The state Legislature’s website shows the bill hasn’t been presented, or sent, to the governor. Once Evers receives it, he has six days, not including Sundays, to sign or veto it. If he doesn’t act in that time period, the bill automatically becomes law.
An Evers spokeswoman said he plans to sign the law based on the amendment added Oct. 13, which clarifies that a police officer has the discretion whether to impound a vehicle. Some Democrats were concerned the bill created grey areas if a parent lent their car to their child who drove recklessly.
As long as the bill is promptly sent to the governor’s office, it’s likely to become law by the end of the month. Then it’s up to the Milwaukee Common Council to pass an ordinance to put the policy in place.
Alderman Lamont Westmoreland, who began the push to expand the law, said he has that ordinance drafted and ready to enact at the next Common Council meeting.
“Not one action will fix our reckless driving issue,” Westmoreland said, “but we’re working hard to address it.”

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