OWI Task Force Arrests 23 Drunken Drivers, Most With Double the Legal Alcohol Limit

The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office increased its patrols during the Memorial Day weekend to ensure that the lakefront and parks were free from crime and disorder. According to a press release, five perpetrators were arrested and 59 were issued citations for various violations of the law.  

At the start of the Memorial Day weekend, Sheriff David Clarke gave clear a message, "Law violators are not welcome in these public spaces, and if their anti-social behavior continues, we will be more than happy to take them to jail and prosecute them."

Coinciding with this weekend’s enforcement operation, the Sheriff's Office Multi-Jurisdictional OWI Task Force was also deployed targeting impaired drivers on our freeway system and roadways in surrounding municipalities.

The Multi-Jurisdictional OWI Task Force arrested 23 drunken drivers between Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 4 a.m.  The average prohibited alcohol concentration level was 0.15, almost double the legal limit, and 106 citations were issued.  Some of the citations issued were unsafe lane deviation, deviating from designated lane, operating without license and operating while suspended/revoked. 

Here's a look at the weekend totals:

Lakefront and Inland Parks

• Five arrests (disorderly conduct, OWI, three warrant arrests).
• A total of 59 citations.
• Five county ordinance violations.
• A total of 29 parking violations.
• A total of 10 license violations.
• Eight miscellaneous non-moving violations.
• Seven miscellaneous moving violations.

  Milwaukee County Freeway System

• A total of 10 OWI arrest.
• There were 18 crashes with damage to vehicles only. 
• Two crashes had minor personal injuries. 
• There were 487 citations for speeding. 
• A total of 57 citations for operating while suspended, revoked, or without a drivers license. 
• A total of 49 seatbelt violations.

The Multi-Jurisdictional OWI Task Force Agency includes the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Milwaukee Police Department, South Milwaukee Police Department, City of Brookfield Police Department, Cudahy Police Department, Bayside Police Department, City of Elm Grove Police Department, Franklin Police Department, Wauwatosa Police Department, City of Menomonee Falls Police Department, Greendale Police Department, West Allis Police Department, St. Francis Police Department, and Town of Brookfield Police Department.