Community Corner
Milwaukee Police Can Now Tow Reckless Drivers' Cars
The new policy is meant to be an expensive deterrent to people caught driving recklessly more than once, police said.
MILWAUKEE, WI — Police can tow away unregistered cars if the driver has committed reckless driving offenses starting Sunday, the Milwaukee Police Department announced.
Drivers who get a citation for having an unregistered car are at risk of having their cars towed if they have committed any of the following violations, according to the new policy.
- Endangering safety with reckless driving
- Speeding 25 mph over the speed limit
- Fleeing from a police officer
- Racing on the highway
Reckless driving has always happened in Milwaukee, but behavior behind the wheel has recently become more egregious, Milwaukee Police Captain Jeffrey Sunn told Patch.
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Community members have complained that they aren't able to walk safely in neighborhoods like Midtown, or they worry about young children when reckless drivers are around, Sunn said.
The danger is present for motorists and pedestrians alike: In January, a Milwaukee father was struck and killed by a speeding driver while on his way to work, Fox 6 reported.
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Between 2021 and 2022, police have given 13,455 citations for speeding, police data showed. Of the Milwaukee drivers who have been pulled over, 4,425 had a violation over their license, according to authorities.
Reckless driving fatalities jumped from 35 in 2019 to 53 in 2020, police data showed. In 2021, 43 deaths were caused by reckless driving. So far in 2022, there have been 12 reckless driving deaths.
Despite fatalities being up, police haven't seen reckless driving behavior change, police sergeant Efrain Cornejo told Patch. Police hope the new policy deters people from reckless driving.
The policy can be an expensive deterrent, since drivers who have had their cars towed have to pay for towing and storage fees, Sunn said. People who have had their cars towed will need their valid license, proof of insurance and title to get their ride back.
Police have pulled over individual drivers multiple times and the drivers haven't learned from the experience, Sunn said, calling the police a "bigger slap on the wrist."
"Respect other motorists and drive safely," Sunn said. "Be part of the solution."
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