DUI Penalties

Description

Understanding the DUI penalties you may face is critical when you have been arrested on an OWI or DUI charge. Clients should be aware that a first offense OWI is considered a civil traffic violation punishable by license revocation. Fourth, fifth, or sixth offenses are felonies.

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Wisconsin is the only state in the country where a first offense OWI is considered a civil traffic violation. It is not criminal. You are not subjected to any jail time with a first offense OWI unless you had a minor in the vehicle or unless you injure someone, or of course in an OWI, homicide first offense. You do face severe license penalties, though. Anywhere from a six- to nine-month driver's license revocation. If you've been charged with a second offense OWI, you do face jail time. It is a criminal offense. If convicted, the judge will sentence you to anywhere from five days to six months in the county jail. You also are subjected to a 12- to 18-month driver's license revocation. If you've been charged with operating while intoxicated third offense, this is a criminal offense that subjects you to jail time anywhere from a minimum 45 days to a maximum 1 year in the county jail. As of January 1st, 2017, all fourth offenses are felonies. The penalty associated with a fourth offense felony OWI is anywhere from 60 days jail to a prison sentence of 6 years. OWI fifth and sixth offenses are felony that subject a person to the possibility of a prison sentence. The minimum jail time a person faces for an OWI fifth or sixth offense is six months. There's also a 24- to 36-month driver's license revocation and ignition interlock device order and the alcohol and other drug assessment.

Andrew Mishlove and Lauren Stuckert

Mishlove and Stuckert, LLC Attorneys at Law

Mishlove & Stuckert, LLC Attorneys at Law has been rated the #1 OWI/DUI law firm in the state by Wisconsin Law Journal Reader Rankings. Our OWI/DUI specialists have been highly rated by organizations including: 

  • Avvo™
  • Super Lawyers
  • Martindale-Hubbell 
  • Better Business Bureau 

To speak with one of our board-certified OWI/DUI defense specialists, request a consultation online or call us at (414) 332-3499.

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"Mr. Mishlove was worth every penny and then some. I would consider him the Michelangelo of the DUI defense world.
He is professional, dedicated, and pours his heart into his job. I would give him 10 stars if I could."
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