Reckless driving, inattentive driving, driving while impaired (drunk
driving or OWI operating while under the influence - of a drug or alcohol)
are very serious offenses in the state of Wisconsin, with increased
fines and increased jail time sentences.
Attorney Tracey Wood is the first Wisconsin attorney ever appointed
to the National College for DUI Defense Board of Regents.
Demerit points are assessed to drivers when convicted of
a moving violation, beginning on the date of the violation. The courts
send the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Division of Motor
Vehicles records of all convictions for moving traffic violations. Persons
who hold a probationary license are assessed double points for the second
and all subsequent points. When 12 or more demerit points are accumulated
in one year, a suspension of the driver privilege is required, for a minimum
of two months. Convictions remain on the driver records for five years
from the date of conviction. However, alcohol related and some commercial
violations remain on the record for 10 years to life.
Reducing points
The point total may be reduced by three points for attending
an approved traffic safety course. Only one reduction is allowed in a
five year period for points assessed to the A, B, C, D classification.
One reduction of three points is also allowed in a five year period for
points assessed for class M (Motorcycle) violations. No point reduction
is permitted if in one year a person accumulates 12 or more points which
would require suspension.
Traffic safety courses
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) and
the Wisconsin Technical College System (WTC) administer traffic safety
school courses that enable drivers to reduce their demerit points. The
courses are offered throughout the state. Drivers whose licenses have
been suspended or revoked for demerit points may not use a point reduction
to regain their driving privileges.
The courses include:
- The Traffic Safety School (TSS) course reviews basic
safe defensive driving concepts and may be attended by anyone.
- The Group Dynamics (GD)* course is for drivers who have been convicted
of operating while intoxicated (OWI), and are assessed to be irresponsible
drinkers.
- The Multiple Offender Program (MOP) course for drivers who have been
convicted of an OWI charge more than once and are assessed to be irresponsible
drinkers.
Warning letters
Drivers who receive warning letters about their demerit
point status are advised of the school locations on the back of that letter.
Assessment agencies refer drivers convicted of an OWI and ordered to take
GD or MOP to the providing school or agency in their area.
Drivers taking traffic safety courses may elect to have
their demerit points reduced by three after successful completion of the
course. Drivers may only have their points reduced once every five years.
The student has 30 days from completion of the course to notify the WisDOT
of any change in his/her request for point reduction.
Classes run daytimes, evenings, and weekends in most areas
in an attempt to allow students to complete the classes in a timely manner.
The classes are taught by persons who have been hired by the technical
college district and are certified by WisDOT. Instructors are required
to have training in driver and safety education, and/or alcohol and other
drug treatment education or counseling. The Technical College System sets
the course fees and they vary approximately as follows: TSS $50, GD $150
and MOP $210.
*Dodge County Human Services provides the GD course in the
Dodge County area.
Contact Van Wagner & Wood
If you are under investigation for a crime or drunk driving offense,
if you have already been charged with a crime or drunk driving violation, or
if you have already been convicted but believe your conviction or your sentence
were wrong, call (608-284-1200 locally in Madison, Wisconsin, 1-866-262-4599
through Wisconsin) or e-mail () the attorneys at Van Wagner & Wood right away. They will give you a brief
but professional “first-impression” analysis of your case and your
situation, which will allow you to take an important first step in defending
the case against you. You can also submit information about a criminal
offense investigation or charge or a drunk
driving OWI investigation or charge for a free case review.
Appeals & Serious Crimes - Homicide - Murder - State - Federal
Van Wagner & Wood's attorneys represent people on every type of criminal appeal, from post conviction remedies to intermediate courts in Wisconsin - the Wisconsin Court of Appeals - and Wisconsin Supreme Court, as ell as appeals under federal jurisdictions to the United States Court of Appeals. Attorney Tracey Wood frequently represents people appealing drunk driving (or related) convictions to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals.
Drug Crimes
Van Wagner & Wood's criminal defense attorneys represent
people charged with drug related crimes, in both Federal and state cases. Those
attorneys most frequently represent people charged in the state of Wisconsin.
Federal Drug Charges: Van Wagner & Wood criminal defense
attornes routinely handle drug and other cases charged by a Federal agency.
State Drug Charges: Van Wagner & Wood's criminal defense
attorneys routinely handle drug related criminal cases for people residing in
Wisconsin, and most frequently residing in the following areas: Adams County,
WI (Adams, Wisconsin Dells), Ashland County, WI (Ashland), Barron County, WI
(Barron), Bayfield County, WI (Washburn, Bayfield), Buffalo County, WI (Buffalo
City, Mondovi), Burnett County, WI (Siren), Chippewa County, WI (Chippewa Falls),
Clark County, WI (Abbotsford), Columbia County, WI (Columbus, Wisconsin Dells),
Crawford County, WI (Prairie du Chien), Dane County, WI (Belleville, Black Earth,
Blue Mounds, Brooklyn, Cambridge, Cottage Grove, Cross Plains, Dane, Deerfield,
DeForest, Fitchburg, McFarland, Madison, Maple Bluff, Marshall, Mazomanie, Middleton,
Monona, Mount Horeb, Oregon, Rockdale, Shorewood Hills, Stoughton, Sun Prairie,
Verona, Waunakee, Windsor), Dunn County, WI (Menomonie), Eau Claire County,
WI (Abbotsford, Eau Claire), Grant County, WI (Mount Hope, Lancaster, Fennimore),
Green County, WI (Monroe), Iowa County, WI (Mineral Point, Dodgeville), Jackson
County, WI (Black River Falls), Jefferson County, WI (Jefferson), Juneau County,
WI (Mauston), La Crosse County, WI (LaCrosse, Lafayette, Darlington), Marathon
County, WI (Wausau), Monroe County, WI (Sparta), Pepin County, WI (Durand),
Pierce County, WI (River Falls), Polk County, WI (St Croix Falls), Portage County,
WI (Stevens Point), Price County, WI (Park Falls), Richland County, WI (Richland
Center), Rock County, WI (Janesville), Rusk (Ladysmith), St Croix County, WI
(Hudson), Sauk County, WI (Sauk City, Wisconsin Dells), Taylor County, WI (Medford),
Trempealeau County, WI (Whitehall), Waushara County, WI (Columa, Wautoma), Washburn County, WI (Spooner), and Wood
County, WI (Wisconsin Dells).
Drunk Driving (OWI, DUI, DWI)
Van Wagner & Wood's attorneys frequently represent people charged with every type of drunk driving offense in the state of Wisconsin - from OWI - 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th misdemeanor offense to 5th and higher felony offenses. The successful criminal & drunk driving defense firm also represents people against vehicular homicide while intoxicated charges, as well as operating after suspension or revocation. Attorney Tracey A. Wood is highly regarded as Wisconsin's foremost authority on drunk driving laws & defense. Attorney Christopher T. Van Wagner has been three-times honored with the Martin Hanson Advocates Prize for numerous homicide acquittals.
Van Wagner & Wood's attorneys represent people across the state of Wisconsin, and have appeared in nearly every court, the most frequent of which include: Madison, Wisconsin Dells, Baraboo, Monroe, Darlington, Jefferson, Waukesha, Portage, Montello, Friendship, Mauston, Lancaster, Prairie du Chien, Wautoma, Wisconsin Rapids, Stevens Point, Wausau, Black River Falls, Viroqua, La Crosse, Eau Claire and Janesville, Wisconsin.
Federal Crimes
Van Wagner & Wood's criminal defense attorneys handle Federal
cases throughout the state of Wisconsin and Federal appeals cases throughout
the nation. The attorneys at Van Wagner & Wood have handled Federal cases
for more than twenty years, cases and appeals ranging from Federal conspiracy,
drug charges of possession, intent to deliver, sell, distribute controlled substance,
securities fraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, domestic terrorism, Internet crimes
money laundering, to kidnapping.
The criminal defense attorneys at Van Wagner & Wood represent
people charged with Felony Murder, Homicide, Negligent Homicide, Reckless Homicide,
Vehicular Homicide, Reckless Endangerment, First-degree Intentional Homicide,
and Second-degree Intentional Homicide. Those attorneys most frequently represent
people accused or charged in the state of Wisconsin. Often times, they are called
upon by a client residing outside of the state of Wisconsin, which they represent
in very serious crimes such as Felony Murder or Homicide. Van Wagner & Wood 's attorneys have handled cases for clients in Florida, Kansas, Oklahoma, California, New Jersey, Minnesota, and Illinois.
Van Wagner & Wood's criminal law defense lawyers frequently appear in Wisconsin Circuit Courts in Madison, Wisconsin for Dane County; Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin for Chippewa County Circuit Court; Menomonie, Wisconsin for Dunn County Circuit Court; Eau Claire, Wisconsin for Eau Claire Circuit Court; Lancaster, Wisconsin for Grant County Circuit Court; Monroe, Wisconsin for Green County Circuit Court; Mauston, Wisconsin for Juneau County Circuit Court; La Crosse, Wisconsin for LaCrosse County Circuit Court; Wausau, Wisconsin for Marathon County Circuit Court; Sparta, Wisconsin for Monroe County Circuit Court; Stevens Point, Wisconsin for Portage County Circuit Court; Janesville, Wisconsin at Rock County Circuit Court; Baraboo, Wisconsin at Sauk County Circuit Court; Wisconsin Dells at Columbia County Circuit Court; Wisconsin Rapids at Wood County Circuit Court; Waukesha, Wisconsin at Waukesha County Circuit Court; Elkhorn, Wisconsin at Walworth County Circuit Court. They also appear at Oneida Circuit Court in Rhinelander, Wisconsin; Langlade Circuit Court at Antigo, Wisconsin.
If your case is in another area of Wisconsin, please contact an attorney at Van Wagner & Wood to discuss it.
