Wisconsin's OWI laws can seem complex and confusing, especially to someone facing charges and looking for a clear and simple guide to the penalties they face and actions they can take to defend themselves.
It's a frightening experience: you're driving along and hear sirens and see flashing lights in your rear view mirror. It's enough to throw anyone off their game and make it difficult to stay focused.
This article offers helpful tips that can help you stay calm and focused in the event you are pulled over by police on suspicion of drunk driving or operating under the influence of an intoxicant or other drug (OWI) in Wisconsin.
When a person hears the word "felony," many different ideas come to mind, and often the assumption is that they have committed, or have been accused of, a very severe crime.
But in Wisconsin, the state legislature has classified nine different classes of felonies, from Class A, the most serious to class I. Depending on what a defendant is convicted of, sentencing for these crimes can be as severe as life imprisonment for a Class A felony to a fine of up to $10,000 for a class I felony and/or up to 3 1/2 years in prison.
When a person hears the word "felony," many different ideas come to mind, and often the assumption is that they have committed, or have been accused of, a very severe crime.
But in Wisconsin, the state legislature has classified nine different classes of felonies, from Class A, the most serious, to class I, which is the least serious.
Depending on what a defendant is convicted of, sentencing for these crimes can be as severe as life imprisonment for a Class A felony to a fine of up to $10,000 for a class I felony and/or up to 3 1/2 years in prison.
Within the broad category of felonies, crimes are further divided into a series of nine classes in order of severity, from A, the most severe, through I.
Class D felonies are moderately severe charges, involving penalties such as prison time and heavy fines.
Read More: Wisconsin Felony Classes: A Quick Guide
In Wisconsin, felonies are divided into nine different classes, from Class A, the most serious, to class I.
Here, we'll focus on Class F felonies in Wisconsin. Specifically, we'll explain what a Class F felony is, common examples of Class F felony charges in Wisconsin, the possible penalties for Class F felonies in Wisconsin, and possible defenses for those charges.
Class E felonies are punishable by up to 15 years in state prison, a maximum fine of $50,000, or both (Wis. Stat. § 939.50.)
As with other felonies, a prior record of felonies or misdemeanors can increase your prison sentence.
According to Wisconsin law, a felony is a crime whose punishment could potentially result in a jail term of one year or longer. Crimes that fall within this category are assigned sentences within the Wisconsin State Prison System rather than in a county jail.
A misdemeanor is any crime not punishable by imprisonment in the Wisconsin State Prison System.
Read more about misdemeanors in Wisconsin »
After this initial classification, offenses are broken down into a number of separate categories based on the nature of the crime itself.
Within the broad category of felonies, crimes are further divided into a series of nine classes delineated by alphabetical titles, A through I.
Class E felonies are moderately severe charges, involving penalties such as prison time and heavy fines.
Wisconsin's driving under the influence laws (DUI) (or OWI for "operating while intoxicated" as it's more commonly referred to in Wisconsin) can be complicated and confusing, especially under the stress of a recent charge.
To make these laws simple and straightforward, we've broken down the common DUI laws in Wisconsin in plain language below, along with the potential penalties associated with them.
As of 2018, a 4th OWI/DUI offense in Wisconsin is classified as an automatic class H felony.
Here's how OWIs are classified in Wisconsin:
A conviction can bring severe penalties:
This means it's absolutely imperative to contact an experienced Wisconsin OWI attorney as soon as possible to avoid conviction and face serious penalties (described below).
While cars and trucks often receive the spotlight when it comes to drunk driving, Wisconsin’s OWI laws encompass all motor vehicles including snowmobiles, ATVs, and other recreational vehicles less commonly found on traditional roadways.
Particularly relevant during the winter season, those who enjoy snowmobiling should have a good understanding of the state laws pertaining to operating recreational vehicles under the influence of alcohol.
