According to MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving), a person drives drunk an average of 80 times before their first drunk driving arrest. Many drivers convicted of DUI or OWI continue to drive drunk despite a conviction resulting in license revocation.
Because taking away someone’s license alone may not be enough to prevent them from driving drunk again, many states including Wisconsin require the installation of ignition interlock devices (IID) for first offense drunk driving convictions involving elevated BAC test results of .15 or higher, repeat OWI offenses, and for drivers who refuse to provide a breath or blood sample at a traffic stop.
IID’s work by requiring drivers to provide a breath sample before their vehicle will start - the only technology that literally separates drinking from driving. With few exceptions, those convicted of Wisconsin OWI must foot the bill to install the device in their vehicle and pay for monthly monitoring fees. Failure to install the device or recorded efforts to start a car when intoxicated are met with further penalties.
Many feel that advanced technologies such as IID combined with increased enforcement and stricter drunk driving laws could make drunk driving 100 percent preventable and the state of Wisconsin is indeed leading the charge by not only requiring the installation of IID but also imposing fines, periods of incarceration, license revocation and establishing a criminal history for those caught driving drunk.
Wisconsin OWI can have serious and long term consequences for drivers, it is important to seek help if you are arrested for Wisconsin OWI. Attorney Andrew C. Ladd’s drunk driving OWI defense representation includes challenges to blood alcohol test results, challenges to probable cause and illegal search, motions to dismiss or a reducuction drunk driving to lesser traffic offense. Contact Wisconsin OWI lawyer Andrew C. Ladd LLC for help at 262-542-3900.
