If you have been arrested for OWI in Wisconsin you have to act quickly. The state has taken a tough stance on drunk driving and a conviction can result in revocation of your license, a permanent record, jail time and fines. If you have been charged with OWI or other alcohol-related traffic violation, you will face prosecutors seeking maximum impact regardless of whether you are a first time or repeat offender.
Securing legal help is an important first step to fighting the charges. There may be a chance for dismissal of the charges or a reduction in penalties if you are well-prepared. There are many possible defenses an experienced attorney may employ such as proving lack of reasonable suspicion or probable cause for a stop, lack of probable cause to arrest, or problems with testing procedures or results. Developing a legal defense strategy is key.
Charges of causing Injury while OWI or Causing Great Bodily Harm by OWI in Wisconsin lead to more serious consequences. If you were impaired as a result of consuming alcohol or another controlled substance and injured another, the penalties are severe. You may be subject to incarceration up to 12.5 years, thousands of dollars in fines, license revocation and more. The picture only gets worse if a minor was involved or you have a prior OWI-related offense.
If an accident results in a fatality (OWI-DUI homicide, vehicular manslaughter or vehicular homicide) involving alcohol or substance impairment, you may be charged with homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. Convictions can result in fines up to $100K, up to 25 years in prison, license revocation and mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device (IID). A prior offense or involvement of minors will, again, result in enhanced penalties across the board.
If you been accused of an OWI/DWI in Wisconsin as a first time offender or for a more serious charge of harming someone while operating while intoxicated, contact the Law Offices of Andrew C. Ladd for help. In addition to DWI defense, our criminal defense team has the experience to provide aggressive defense of felony charges, such as vehicular assault or vehicular manslaughter. Contact us today for help.
