drunk driving - wisconsin
Potential drunk driving Charges, Sentences &
Fines
Wisconsin law refers to drunk driving offenses as OWI charges, which stands for Operating While Intoxicated. Other states may refer to these as DUI - Driving Under the Influence or DWI - Driving While Intoxicated. In Wisconsin, there is no distinction between a drunk driving charge and an OWI charge; a person can be arrested for being under the influence of alcohol or any other intoxicant including illegal drugs, legal prescription drugs and over the counter medications.
See also:
Field Sobriety Tests :: Refusals :: Drunk Driving Arrests
Fines & Jail Time :: Changes in WI OWI
0.08 or greater, 21 years old or older, no Prior Convictions
Under Wisconsin law, a person who is at least 21 years of
age, and has absolutely no prior drunk driving convictions or refusals
on his or her record, is prohibited from driving any motorized vehicle
with a Blood
Alcohol Concentration (BAC) level of 0.08 or greater while under the
influence of any type of intoxicant (such as beer, wine), controlled substance
(such as marijuana) or prescription drugs.
.02 with prior convictions
For drivers with three previous OWI convictions, the limit
is lower: they are not allowed to operate a motor vehicle if their blood
alcohol content is greater than 0.02.
Under 21 Years Of Age
If a driver is under the age of 21 years, another set of laws apply called Zero Tolerance Laws. Those laws mandate arrests for any person who under 21 years and who has any trace of alcohol (or other intoxicant including drugs) in their blood stream while driving or in any public place.
See also:
Wisconsin Drunk Driving Laws
Two
OWI Tickets
Emergency service
Van Wagner & Wood, S.C.
866-262-4599 (Wisconsin)
608-284-1200 (Madison)
- Free Initial
Consultation
(map)
Non-emergency - call (608-284-1200 or 1-866-262-4599), e-mail,
or submit
your case information for a free first-impression analysis of your situation.
Test Refusal
WARNING! If you refuse to submit to a breath or blood
test after being arrested for drunk driving in Wisconsin, you have ten days,
not counting Saturdays, Sundays, or legal holidays from the date in the
upper right corner of the form (usually the date you were stopped, but
sometimes the next day if you were stopped shortly before midnight) in
which to demand a "refusal hearing." If you don't file the "refusal
hearing demand" within this short time period, you'll lose your license
for at least one year, and potentially as many as three years (depending
on whether you've had drunk driving or refusal convictions in past years
anywhere in the United States).
See also:
about saving your driver's license :: Refusing To Test
Recent Wins: Test Refusal Conviction Reversed
First Drunk Driving Offense (1st OWI)
Under Wisconsin law, a first drunk driving conviction is not a crime, rather it is a civil infraction. Even so, a first OWI may
result in fines ranging from $150 to $300 plus $355 surcharge with
a suspension or revocation ranging between 6 months and 9 months. An occupational
license is usually immediately available unless the driver possesses a
CDL - Commercial Driver's License.
Second - Third - Fourth Drunk Driving Offenses
Under Wisconsin law, a second, third, or fourth drunk driving conviction is a misdemeanor. As the number of drunk driving convictions increases, the penalties
increase accordingly, with fines ranging between $600 and $10,000 plus
a $355 surcharge, and possible jail terms beginning at 6 months.
Fifth Drunk Driving
Under Wisconsin law, a fifth or subsequent drunk driving conviction is a felony offense. A 5th OWI - or subsequent OWI conviction - requires mandatory jail time and fines.
Injury or Vehicular Homicide
Drunk Driving charges can be much more severe if the person
is in an accident and causes an injury, causes great bodily harm, or commits
vehicular
homicide. Fines can reach up to $100,000 and a possible jail term
of 25 years.
Wisconsin's Leading Drunk driving Authority - 24x7 Emergency Help
In Wisconsin, Attorney Tracey Wood is a leading authority on drunk driving laws. She has "written the book" on Wisconsin Drunk Driving Laws and strategies for defending people against OWI charges. She is the first ever Wisconsin attorney to be named to the Board of Regents for the National College for DUI Defense, is the Vice President of the largest DUI defense organization in Wisconsin - WACDL, and routinely teaches on the subject of drunk driving laws and defense strategies.
Without a doubt, if you have been arrested for drunk driving,
you will want to speak with Attorney
Tracey Wood. To arrange a confidential conversation, please call (608-284-1200
locally in Madison, Wisconsin, or 1-866-262-4599 nationally), or
submit your
information so that an attorney may contact you.
[Click
here for a Free Case Review] [Click
here to email Attorney Wood]
If you need us, we'll be there.
Related Topics:
Drunk
Driving Overview | Wisconsin
Drunk Driving Law
Attorney
Wood Appointed to NCDD Board of Regents
|
