Penalties For Intoxicated Driving a car in Wisconsin
While most states use the terms DWI (driving while intoxicated) or DUI (driving under the influence), Wisconsin law uses the term OWI (operating while intoxicated). Normally, the laws in all US states are the same, it is just some states prefer different terms, like Wisconsin.
Wisconsin law divides its OWI penalties into 3 different categories depending on the person being accused. Underage drivers and commercial drivers (truck drivers, deliveries, etc) face harder penalties than the average adult driving under the influence. SR22 insurance is needed after first time OWI offense.
Below are shown these three various penalties categories in more details.
OWI – General Penalties
You can get a fine between $150 and $300 and driving license revocation for up to nine months, if you are caught driving with blood alcohol content above .08. But that doesn’t mean you can not drive your car. You are right away qualified for an occupational license, which mean that you can drive only to strictly necessary locations, such as school or work.
The penalties become harder with each following OWI offense. After a individual’s 2nd OWI conviction, their automobile may be immobilized or equipped with an Ignition Interlock Device that will not allow the person to drive without passing a breath analyzer check. By the time a person gets to his or her fifth OWI offense, the penalties can be pretty severe: a $10,000 fine, up to a year in jail, revocation of their license for up 3 years, seizure of their vehicle, and a wait period of up to a 12 months before they can request an occupational license.
The penalties for causing injury whilst operating drunk rely on severity. A person could be convicted of causing injury whilst OWI, causing great physical harm by OWI, or murder by OWI. The penalties for causing injury can contain up to a year inside jail, suspension of driver’s license for up to 2 years, a $25,000 fine and more. Respectively, bigger the injuries, harder the penalties. If you have killed other person whilst driving drunk you can face up to 25 years in jale or 40 years, if you have had a previous OWI conviction.
OWI Penalties – Underage Drivers
Wisconsin honors a “not a drop” law, making it unlawful for a person under 21 to drive with after consuming any amount of alcohol at all. If you are under 21 and this is your first OWI conviction you can face driving license suspencion for up to 3 months and $200 fine, but you can claim for your occupational license right away.
Commercial Driver OWI Penalties
Industrial motorists are held to strict standards when operating safety is concerned. Commercial drivers are offensing the state law if they are driving within 4 hours of taking in alcohol, carrying any alcohol while driving or if they drive with any concentration of alcohol (0.0 to 0.4%) The punishment for these offenses is relatively minor, although, resulting in a $10 fine and loss of license for 24 hours. Again, penalties become much nastier depending on the BAC or severity of injuries caused.
Clearly Wisconsin takes its OWI law really significantly.
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