Under Wisconsin laws, drunk driving offenses are called OWI's - (Operating While Under The Influence), and they are oft referred to as DUI offenses.
A felony is any offense for which a convicted person can be sentenced to one or more years in a state or federal prison; all other crimes are misdemeanors. For counting purposes, refusals count as a prior conviction equal to any prior OWI conviction. While misdemeanor charges are lesser charges to felony offenses, they should not be taken lightly. If you do not have a criminal record, a conviction for a misdemeanor will change that, which means that any background check will reveal the conviction. A misdemeanor conviction can also prevent a person from holding any type of security clearance (even if the misdemeanor was only a moment of mistaken judgment resulting in a drunk driving conviction), and prevent a person from keeping or being hired into many jobs.
OWI - 1st offense
A first ever Wisconsin charge for operating while under the influence is not a crime; it is a civil offense. Absent any other charges, a first offense does not carry mandatory jail time, but there will be fines.
In addition to the fines, a conviction has other effects such as mandatory proof of financial responsibility to keep your driver's license, an increase in automobile insurance, and costs of assessments and treatment if ordered by the court.
OWI - 2nd Offense
A second charge for operating while under the influence is a misdemeanor. A misdemeanor is a criminal charge. Absent any other charges (such as possession of a controlled substance), a second drunk driving offense carries both jail time and fines.
owi - 3rd offense
A third operating while under the influence offense in Wisconsin is a misdemeanor. All misdemeanor charges are criminal charges, and a third offense carries both mandatory jail time and fines.
owi - 4th offense
A fourth operating while under the influence offense in Wisconsin is a criminal misdemeanor, with mandatory jail time and fines.
owi- 5th offense
A fifth operating while under the influence offense is a felony offense.
vehicular homicide
Vehicular Homicide is a felony regardless of the number of prior convictions.
owi-dui.com can help
OWI-DUI.com presents Wisconsin's Best Drunk Driving Defense Attorneys. These lawyers have handled numerous OWI cases, winning refusals (that are assumed to be impossible to win), felony cases and compelling first, second, third or fourth offense drunk driving cases. They have also obtained lesser charges for their clients, which is the best possible outcome in some situations, such as those in which the evidence is overwhelming compelling. For instance, a traffic violation may hold demerit points and fines, but they are far lesser than those imposed for an OWI. If there is a way to overcome the charges against you, you can rest reassured that these lawyers will help you build the defense to do so.
To contact an attorney today, please call 1-877-749-7858, submit your case information, or email an attorney right away.
attorney christopher t. van wagner
Attorney Christopher T. Van Wagner frequently defends people charged with drunk driving offenses throughout the state of Wisconsin. Attorney Van Wagner is a former Federal prosecutor (Madison, Wisconsin) and a former state prosecutor (Trenton, New Jersey) with a very keen insight into the prosecution's case, which directly translates into benefits for his clients and their cases.
