Traffic Safety (GD, MO, FY, TS)

Director: Danika Woods

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Resources

• WisDOT Traffic Safety Contact: Shawn Cuevas, Unit Supervisor
• WTCS Traffic Safety Education Contact: Danika Woods, Director
• WTCS Traffic Safety Course Fees Memorandum (landing page – scroll down to document links)
• Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) Traffic Safety Course Page
• Wisconsin Legislature: Chapter Trans 106 – Certification of Traffic Safety Programs and Instructors
• Wisconsin Traffic Safety School Advisory Council Contacts:
  • Robin Rupp, Council Chair
  • Danika Woods, WTCS Board Representative
• WTCS Traffic Safety Programs Teams Group
  • Access to this Team must be requested; access limited to current WTCS Traffic Safety Program coordinators, administrators, faculty and support staff at WTCS colleges. Team Administrator: Danika Woods

Overview

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) administer traffic safety courses that enable drivers to reduce demerit points assessed against their driving privilege. These courses serve members of the general public who already have a driver’s license, have received a traffic violation such as operating while intoxicated (OWI), failure-to-yield, etc., and may have been ordered to attend such a course by an AODA assessment agency as part of a driver safety plan post-conviction.

Agency Roles and Responsibilities

Governance: WisDOT is the authority for Wisconsin traffic safety programs, including:

• Interpretation and policy guidance regarding Trans 106.
• Approval of WTCS traffic safety programs.
• Certification of WTCS traffic safety instructors to teach traffic safety courses.
• Approval of aligned curriculum for WTCS traffic safety programs.

Implementation and Course Delivery: WTCS is the only named provider in Trans 106 of traffic safety courses in the state. Each WTCS district may have one TS program. WTCS assists with traffic program administration at WTCS colleges.

Advisory Functions: Wisconsin Traffic Safety School Advisory Council is advisory to WisDOT and is comprised of representatives from WisDOT, WTCS, WTCS college traffic safety coordinators and administrators, Department of Public Instruction (DPI) and various other external agencies.

Traffic Safety Course Teaching Requirements: WTCS traffic safety instructors must become authorized and attain certification to teach by WisDOT. Additionally, all WTCS instructors must meet System-wide Faculty Quality Assurance System (FQAS) teacher certification requirements.

Traffic safety courses include:

• Traffic Safety: This points-reduction course reviews basic safe defensive driving concepts and may be attended by anyone.
• Group Dynamics: This course is generally for drivers who have been convicted of a first-time operating while intoxicated (OWI) charge.
• Multiple Offender: This course is generally for drivers who have been convicted of a second OWI charge.

Traffic Safety Course Enrollment

To enroll in a traffic safety course, contact the technical college in your area (information provided below). A map of all Wisconsin technical colleges, including branch campuses, is located on the public-facing wtcsystem.edu website. Courses will all have a catalog number in the XX-818-XXX or XX-812-XXX format.

Traffic Safety Course Expectations

• Registration:  Participants must register and pay course fee within 3 business days of alcohol assessment to remain in compliance with driving privileges.
• Attendance:  Participants must attend all course hours.
• Abstinence during the course: Abstaining from alcoholic beverages and other drugs, with the exception of prescription drugs, is strongly recommended during the course.
• Sobriety in class:  Anyone who uses alcohol/drugs prior to the class meeting will not be allowed to participate. That individual will be referred back to the assessment agency for further evaluation.

Convictions that require successful completion of a Traffic Safety course:

• Assessment agencies refer convicted drivers of an OWI who are ordered to take Group Dynamics or Multiple Offender Program to the providing school or agency in their area.
• Drivers who take a traffic safety course may elect to have their demerit points reduced by three after successful completion of the course.
  • If you are already suspended for accumulating too many points, and your point total is 12, 13 or 14 points, your suspension may be released.
  • Drivers may only have their points reduced once every three years.
  • The student has 30 days from completion of the course to notify WisDOT of any change in their request for point reduction.
• Classes are held during the day, evenings and weekends in most areas in an attempt to allow students to complete the classes in a timely manner.

Warning letters

If you accumulate six or more demerit points within a 12-month period, you will receive a warning letter from the DMV.

Driver’s License Demerit Points Reduction

Per Wisconsin Statute Trans 101.7 reduction of point value for attendance at driver improvement counseling, traffic safety school or defensive driving courses: