Milwaukee City Wire

Mayor Cavalier Johnson and the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) are taking new measures when it comes to keeping city roadways safe.

The two entities recently moved to file a civil litigation complaint against a reckless driver who has amassed a total of 44 traffic-related citations in the city since 2017.

“The @MilwaukeePolice Department shares my sense of urgency and action when it comes to reckless driving, auto thefts, and making our entire city safer,” Johnson tweeted. “The department is willing to try new approaches and techniques – and I applaud that.”

According to TMJ4.com, among the traffic citations Anthony Szablewski has been hit with since 2017 are reckless driving, red light violations, speeding and unsafe passing.

The lawsuit is a new measure in restricting reckless driving in the city until traffic laws can be made tougher. In recent times, MPD officials have turned to several new methods in hopes of cracking down on driving violations, including using bait cars to target auto thefts, a partnership with state patrol on specific high crash stretches of the highways and anti-theft decals on cars that drivers can choose to purchase and use.

In the suit against Szablewski, authorities argue his "ongoing negligent and reckless driving affects the quality of life and safety of our community and is a public nuisance." Top brass is now requesting a Milwaukee County Circuit Court find his driving a public nuisance and orders "injunctive and equitable relief." Failure to comply could result in seizing Szablewski's vehicle or being sentenced to jail.

The problem of reckless driving has long been an issue for the city, prompting Johnson and law enforcement officials to go on record with their goal of increasing the level of safety in the city. In addition to Szablewski, records show at least 20 drivers have more than 10 citations in the past five years.

“The City of Milwaukee and our police department are using every reasonable tool to reduce reckless driving,” Johnson added. “Going forward, drivers who chronically disregard our traffic laws will face consequences far beyond a slap on the wrist. That’s what the people of our city expect, and that’s what I expect.”

As news of the actions being taken quickly began to spread, people in the community looked forward to having some relief.

“It’s super bad for the community because we’re talking about lives that could be at stake right now," said driver Pharaoh Jefferson.