Milwaukee’s roadways have become increasingly hazardous due to reckless driving and a growing number of unlicensed drivers, many of whom evade serious consequences due to a legal loophole. Historically, drivers caught without a license received a simple traffic ticket on the first offense. Upon a second violation, state law mandates a criminal charge, but in practice, unpaid tickets led to a suspended status rather than an official criminal charge. As a result, drivers with no license repeatedly received minor suspension tickets rather than facing meaningful penalties.

According to WISN Channel 12, this loophole has allowed 17 people to die in similar incidents over the past 18 months, all involving repeat offenders benefiting from the flawed enforcement process.

Under the new policy announced by Milwaukee Police, officers will now arrest individuals caught driving without a license for the second time. This shift, made official through an amendment to the department’s Standard Operating Procedure, ensures that repeat offenders will face criminal charges instead of an endless cycle of minor infractions.

Alderman Scott Spiker, chair of Milwaukee’s Public Safety and Health Committee, has pushed for this change for months. “It took longer than I would have liked, but you pointed out a problem; we held people’s feet to the fire,” Spiker said. “We said we needed a change, and we had a huge change codified into the rules today.”

Milwaukee police have already begun referring these cases to the District Attorney’s office, signaling a shift toward real enforcement. Additionally, the department will now pursue charges against reckless drivers after a second offense, reinforcing last year’s commitment to curbing dangerous behavior on the roads.

Former Alderman and current Assemblyman Bob Donovan emphasized that local leadership must take responsibility for addressing public safety issues but pledged to work with officials and residents alike to ensure municipalities have the tools they need to enforce the law effectively. Donovan has been a very strong advocate for law enforcement in Milwaukee and was responsible for securing more funding for law enforcement in the last budget. 

This long-overdue policy change is a major step in closing a deadly loophole that has put lives at risk for years. With stronger enforcement, Milwaukee’s streets may finally see a reduction in the chaos caused by repeat offenders who have treated traffic laws as meaningless suggestions.