Posted by:
DogAddicts on
May 12, 2008 at
10:29PM EST
To: Wisconsin Legislators
On behalf of Jennifer Bukosky (39), her daughters Courtney Bella (10)
and Sophie Bukosky, (Was due to be born on June 3rd.) as well as her
surviving family, most notably, her son Zachary Bella (12) husband
Michael and father Mike Farney and the students of Oconomowoc High
School, where Jennifer was a beloved educator, we have a demand. We the
undersigned, demand that the Wisconsin Legislature make the necessary
changes to the law that will allow for the forfeiture of motor vehicles
that continue to be driven by people that have had their drivers
licenses revoked.
Jennifer, Courtney, Sophie, Zachary and a family friend Deborah
Gibbs (10) were struck from behind as they waited at a red light, a
Cadillac Escalade struck them at 50mph! Jennifer, Courtney and
Jennifer's unborn daughter Sophie were killed, Zachary and another girl
were injured, but survived.
The driver of the Cadillac Escalade was Mark M. Benson, a man with
a long history of drug and alcohol problems, a man that had both his
drivers license and medical license revoked because of his 15-year
history of abuse and recklessness. Mark Benson had no license, no
insurance, and was in court just two days before this horrific crash,
Mark Benson was convicted on another drunk driving arrest, but was
released for a month before he was to report to jail for a pitiful 75
days.
There have been numerous stories in the state media recently
involving convictions of repeat drunk drivers, driving after
revocation, for crimes of vehicular homicide. It has become crystal
clear that there is an enormous gap in our state laws as they pertain
to repeat drunk and drugged drivers operating after judicial and
administrative revocation. It is time, once and for all, for action.
Something must be changed in our state laws to prevent other Wisconsin
families from having to endure the loss of their loved ones to the
selfish and reckless actions of those who, like Mark M. Benson,
repeatedly thumb their noses at our system.
We the undersigned, DEMAND that the Wisconsin Legislature make it
law that any vehicle driven by repeat offenders driving after
revocation, be confiscated by state or local officials. Driving after
revocation is such common place that it is clearly not a punishment, so
We The People, must take away the means for them to flaunt this law. We
already confiscate the cars of drug dealers, we should also confiscate
the cars of these repeat drunk and drugged drivers before another
family is devastated.
Thanks SER! The word is really getting around about this. I posted it on my forum, too. Even though most of the people don't live in WI, they are signing it.
Boot the car of everyone convicted of DUI after their first offense or license revocation, and put a ignition lock on anyone convicted of DUI so they have to prove sobriety before they get into the car.
I think they need dayglo plates...so, if anyone drives the car, they know to watch out for them.
I also think the idea of taking away a plastic card that you put in your wallet, that is in your personal wallet or pocketbook is not enough to stop these people. Heck, how many unregistered, uninsured, unlicensed drivers exist out there.
Put metal chips in their body that counteract against a relay in the car that will not allow the car to start!
I don't think jail is appropriate for these offenders, there has to be a way to rehab these individuals and get them from driving under the influence!
Signed it. I don't know what the solution is...I do feel that jail is appropriate in situations such as the one outlined here...the reason they had their license revoked indicates they don't know how to handle a vehicle. The vehicle then becomes a lethal weapon to be used against unsuspecting people.
I know internet petitions don't hold much water in courts, but maybe with thousands of signatures someone in a power position will take notice and do something to make some changes.
BY JOURNAL TIMES STAFF Thursday, May 15, 2008 12:02 PM CDT
A Burlington man is facing another pending charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated after town and city of Burlington police and the Racine County Sheriff’s Department investigated a hit-and-run crash just before 5 p.m. May 8 at the intersection of Highway W and Lake Street.
According to town police reports, an off-duty sheriff’s officer saw a Dodge pickup strike a stop sign on Lake Street and then drive from the area. The deputy later called town police to say he found the vehicle in a driveway at 109 Davidson Drive in the city.
Town and city police knocked on the door of the home and a man eventually came to the door and at first allegedly said he was not driving the truck.
Town police reports state that eventually Robert M. Manning, 51, of the address, was arrested on his sixth charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. He also received municipal citations for hit-and-run property damage, failure to notify police of an accident and operating a vehicle without a valid licence.
Reports indicate he was released after his wife posted $5,250 bond.