In an effort to curb the growing issue of reckless driving in the Shorewood community, Village officials have taken a decisive step by passing Ordinance 3077. According to a Facebook post by the Shorewood Police Department, this new legislation authorizes police to impound vehicles that are used in the commission of a reckless driving offense, an action that can be taken from the very first offense.
This ordinance comes in the wake of a report indicating a spike in reckless driving incidents in Wisconsin as a whole. Reckless driving, as defined under state laws, involves behavior which creates a "substantial and unreasonable risk of harm," and is not isolated to speeding alone. A vehicle may be subject to tow and impound at the discretion of the Shorewood Police Department, particularly if the vehicle's location or condition poses a hazard, or if the driver is not legally permitted to operate the vehicle.
The Shorewood Police Department are expected to base their decisions to tow on "objective criteria and application of towing policy," according to the Shorewood Police Department post. Among the examples provided that might warrant such measures include "texting while driving and causing a crash" and "road rage behaviors."
The Shorewood Police Department affirm their ongoing commitment to community protection and harm prevention through this new measure. "With the passing of Ordinance 3077, we reinforce our commitment to protecting the community and preventing harm before it occurs," the department stated in their announcement.
