OWI Arrests Spike After Madison SmokeFree Law - Updated

The Monona Police Department 2006 Annual Report shows that on OWI arrests in Monona increased 289% in the first full year after after the Madison smokefree ordinance went into effect. (effective date July 1, 2005). (All OWI citations result in an arrest.) Update: Chief Ostrenga provided 2007 number of 151 OWI arrests - a 215% increase over 2004. He also suggested that turnover in the Department, possibly including his own hiring in late 2004, may have led to higher enforcement activity.

Monona OWI Arrests by Year
2004 70
2005 149 Madison ordinance goes into effect at exactly mid-year
2006 202
2007 151

It is quite likely that some of the increase was due to a change in enforcement The report states the Department engaged in "the traffic grant project 'DETER', the goal of which was to reduce the number of speeding and OWI violations on the beltline."

I don't have the 2007 numbers yet or the exact details on when the Department participated in DETER, but this huge increase in OWI arrests is at least highly suggestive that tavern revenues weren't the only thing brought to Monona by the Madison smoking ban.