A WI bill would loosen restrictions for repeat OWI offenders
- Dunn County (WI) Watch Staff
- 9 hours ago
- 3 min read
Proposed legislation would affect those with four or more OWIs
The Wisconsin Legislature is considering a bill that would allow certain repeat OWI offenders to have restricted driving privileges under what is called an occupational license.
Assembly Bill (AB) 463 states that, “Current law requires DOT to permanently revoke the operating privilege of a person who has committed four or more OWI offenses. A person whose operating privilege has been revoked under these circumstances is not eligible for an occupational license.”
AB 463 proposes that an individual with four or more OWI convictions would be “eligible for an occupational license after the first 180 days of the revocation period have elapsed.” The bill stipulates that such drivers would need to operate a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device.
In Wisconsin, occupational licenses allow drivers to be on the road for up to 12 hours per day and 60 hours total per week. Such licenses restrict when and where an individual may drive. Essential trips like commuting to work, transporting children to and from school, medical appointments, and grocery shopping may be allowed, but driving to social events are not.
During a Legislative Council meeting on Jan. 21, 2026, three individuals expressed their support for the bill: State Representative Joy Goeben; State Senator Eric Wimberger; and Richard Hutter, MD, a constituent from Onalaska.
Representative Goeben stated, in part:
“Current law permanently bars individuals with four or more OWI-related convictions from ever obtaining an occupational license, regardless of the passage of time or demonstrated compliance with treatment and safety requirements. This absolute prohibition creates unnecessary barriers to employment and rehabilitation and can unintentionally encourage unlicensed driving, without improving public safety.”
“This bill does not weaken Wisconsin’s OWI laws. Instead, it creates a narrowly tailored, safety-focused pathway for limited driving privileges. After 180 days of permanent revocation, an individual may apply for an occupational license only if they have completed the required assessment, are complying with their driver safety plan, and operate only vehicles equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device.”
And, “AB 463 strikes a responsible balance between accountability and rehabilitation, maintaining Wisconsin’s strong stance against impaired driving while recognizing that limited, regulated privileges can enhance compliance and public safety.”
Senator Wimberger’s remarks included:
“Under current law, a person who has committed four or more OWI offenses must have their license permanently revoked, with the possibility of reinstatement after 10 years, and is ineligible for an occupational license. An occupational license is a restricted driving privilege that allows limited travel for essential purposes, like work or medical appointments, while their full driving privileges remain suspended or revoked.”
“While this permanent revocation may seem like a reasonable response to habitual drunk drivers, it is not practical to expect anyone to be able to survive without a license for life. We have seen that individuals with revoked licenses will continue to drive to go to their job or to perform errands with no oversight or insurance, creating greater risk for the public.”
Wimberger continued, “Assembly Bill 463 allows an individual convicted of four or more OWI offenses to be eligible for an occupational license after 180 days, provided that any vehicle this person will operate be equipped with an ignition interlock device. By allowing legal, monitored driving, this legislation will reduce illegal driving and increase the likelihood that drivers carry insurance through an SR-22 certificate.”
And lastly, Hutter shared what he called “a real life example of the need for a change in the current law”:
“My oldest daughter’s situation illustrates a real life example of the need for a change in the current law. She accumulated 4 OWI convictions in a relatively short period of time while using alcohol inappropriately, essentially as treatment for her chronic depression and anxiety. None of her OWI convictions involved significant driving infractions, nor was there any property damage or bodily harm involved.”
“She was seeking treatment and on a wait list for an inpatient alcohol dependency treatment program when the 4th OWI occurred. She has subsequently successfully completed treatment, including all additional safety programs, actually surpassing those mandated by the court.”
“She has been sober for 2 years, but is unable to resume her occupation as a licensed speech pathologist due to her inability to secure an occupational drivers license. Where she resides in rural Wisconsin, public transportation is not readily available. As a divorced single mother, she is currently unable to adequately support her two young children.”
“It seems clear that she, her family, and the State of Wisconsin would all be better served if she were able to obtain an occupational drivers license. She would be better able to obtain adequate employment, her children would benefit in several ways and she would require less financial support from the state of Wisconsin.”
Click here to track AB 463 during this Legislative Session.
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