MONROE — The summer driving season brings another heightened hazard: impaired drivers on Wisconsin roads. Several recent cases emphasize the point, which allegedly involves those with a high number of offenses.
On May 30 in New Glarus, a village police officer stopped a vehicle just after 5 p.m. for speeding on County O at 2nd Street while heading into the Village of New Glarus.
“During the traffic stop and subsequent investigation, it was determined that (Ronald J.) Back had been drinking intoxicants and his ability to operate a motor vehicle was impaired,” said a news release about the incident. “He was subsequently placed under arrest for his 9th Offense Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated (OMVWI).”
The suspect’s license also was revoked, officials said.
Back was taken by police to a Monroe hospital emergency room for a blood sample and then to Green County Jail, where he was booked and is being held not only on the OWI related arrest, but a Wisconsin Department of Corrections Probation hold.
A day later and there was another driver with multiple OWI offenses arrested on Green County roads.
According to the Green County Sheriff’s Office, the arrest came just after 10:55 p.m. on May 31 when deputies responded to the W9200 block of Rat Hollow Road in the Town of Adams for reports of a vehicle in the ditch.
“Investigation revealed that a vehicle operated by Andrew J. Stacy, 44, of Winnebago, was traveling eastbound when the vehicle left the roadway, entered the south ditch and became stuck,” said a Green County Sheriff’s Office press statement. “Investigation resulted in Stacy being arrested for Operating While Under the Influence (7th). Stacy was further cited for Operating After Revocation (due to alcohol).”
Stacy was scheduled to appear in court on the charges Tuesday.
Meanwhile, new cases of multiple offenses continue to show up in circuit court. Brian J. Nelis, 62, is charged with OWI (5th or 6th), a felony. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 11 in Green County Circuit Court.
According to government statistics, in 2022 Wisconsin had 7,519 crashes involving impaired drivers — resulting in 184 deaths and 3,556 injuries. The state also had almost 23,000 convictions for operating while intoxicated (OWI) driving offenses in 2022.
Police often focus on impaired driving during the heavier-traveled summer months, especially around summer holidays, such as Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day.