Milwaukee police have impounded 47 vehicles in less than three months under a newly expanded state law that allows a tow after a first reckless-driving offense. The change removed prior ownership and repeat-offender requirements, leading to a sharp rise compared with 13 tows over more than two years under the old rules.
Several of the impounded vehicles are now in city tow lots, leaving families to deal with significant costs while officials monitor the impact. Police say the expanded authority helps them remove dangerously driven cars from the streets immediately instead of waiting for repeat violations, according to TMJ4.
What changed in the law
The statute was broadened so that a single reckless‑driving citation can now trigger a tow, no matter who owns the vehicle and even if there are no unpaid fines on record. The change, which took effect in November, also gives municipalities the choice to pass their own ordinances allowing immediate impoundments, according to reporting on Milwaukee’s new vehicle impoundment ordinance.
Who pushed the change
State Rep. Bob Donovan was the lead sponsor on the legislation, which lawmakers said was aimed at closing loopholes that let some reckless drivers keep their cars on the road. He was joined by local advocates who pressed officials in both Madison and Milwaukee for tougher tools. Among the most vocal has been Abbie Strong‑Justman, whose husband Aaron was killed in a reckless‑driving crash and who has repeatedly called for stiffer penalties, as covered by FOX6.
On the street: enforcement and costs
Police say the new law is already showing up on traffic stops. Recent tows have included a stop where an uninsured 17‑year‑old was cited for driving 44 mph over the speed limit, a suspected drunk driver who was allegedly swerving in a borrowed car, and a motorist with a suspended license clocked at 62 mph in a 30 mph zone. City records indicate drivers face roughly $923 in reckless‑driving fines on top of towing and storage fees to get an impounded vehicle back, and some owners have not been able to reclaim their cars, according to TMJ4.
Concerns, safeguards and the 90‑day rule
Civil‑rights and community groups worry the policy will hit low‑income drivers hardest, while supporters argue that built‑in protections help blunt that risk. Under the law, police are required to make a reasonable effort to check whether a vehicle has been reported stolen before an owner is billed. If no one claims a car, municipalities are allowed to auction it off or destroy it after 90 days, according to reporting from WPR…