The Legislature is close to finalizing a package of anti-drunken driving laws this week.

It represents progress.

Yet the provisions are too modest to get the job done.

Wisconsin would continue to be the only state in the nation that issues a mere traffic ticket to first-time offenders. The Legislature would barely improve this by charging only first-time drunken drivers with children in their vehicles with misdemeanors.

The Legislature appears ready to charge fourth-time offenders with a felony - but only if the fourth offense occurs within five years of a previous offense.

Too many drunken drivers are getting too many chances to threaten innocent people's lives by careening wildly down Wisconsin roads. After two failed chances to stop driving drunk, third-time offenders should be charged with felonies.

The Legislature is close to requiring that ignition interlocks be installed into the vehicles of all repeat offenders. This is the most promising part of the Legislature's package.

First-time offenders who are caught with blood-alcohol levels of 0.15 percent or greater - nearly twice the legal limit - would be subject to the requirement, too.

The devices test a driver's blood-alcohol level and prevent drunks from starting cars. Thanks to technology, they are increasingly difficult to deceive.

Another bright spot is the Legislature's plan to reduce jail time for offenders who complete alcohol or drug treatment.

But how will the Legislature pay for wider use of ignition interlocks and expanded treatment?

The obvious answer is to raise Wisconsin's miniscule beer tax, which is third lowest in the nation.

But our skittish lawmakers don't have the guts to mess with Wisconsin's favorite beverage - even though polls suggest public support for a higher tax if the proceeds are used to target drunken driving.

Instead, lawmakers are trying to cobble together a variety of higher fees on suspended and revoked driver's licenses to pay for their watered-down package of reforms. That's unlikely to raise enough money to achieve a broad impact from greater punishment and prevention.

A little progress on drunken driving is nice. But a lot more progress is needed to tame Wisconsin's drunken driving scourge.

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