In a recent 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that it is legal to draw blood from an unconscious person suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol without a warrant.
Criminal defense attorney Pat Stangl was interviewed by Channel 27 to explain the ruling and what it means to those arrested for impaired driving.
Wisconsin law enforcement actively watches for intoxicated driving every day, testing drivers whom they suspect may be under the influence.
While The State of Wisconsin Department of Transportation reported over 24,000 drunk driving convictions in 2014, this statistic does not include the additional number of traffic stops made on suspicion of drunk driving during which did not result in convictions.
If you have never been stopped by police on suspicion of drunk driving, driving under the influence (DUI) or operating while under the influence of an intoxicant (OWI), you may not be aware of the methods used by law enforcement in their attempt to confirm their suspicions after pulling someone over to check for DUI or OWI in Wisconsin.
One method police use to help build evidence against you after pulling you over for suspected DUI or OWI is to ask you to perform field sobriety tests (FST's).
The process of appealing a criminal conviction in Wisconsin can be complicated, especially for those who haven’t been through it before. One missed step or overlooked detail can spell disaster for your chances of getting a case heard before an appellate court.
If you’re considering appealing a criminal conviction in Wisconsin, it’s critical to understand that an experienced Wisconsin appeals attorney is essential to your chances of being successful. Experienced attorneys have been through the process many times before and can identify and articulate the errors that occurred during your trial––combining this direct experience with the skills needed to craft a compelling brief.
For a quick introduction to the appeals process, let’s explore the four main steps to go through when filing.
Summer has arrived here in Wisconsin, and with it, the freedom to get out and enjoy our natural areas. For those who soak in the summer months on our many lakes and rivers, boating can be a great way to escape the heat and have a great time with friends and family.
But for those who want to relax on the water with a drink in hand, it’s important to realize that just like any other motor vehicle, there are serious consequences for those who go overboard with their alcohol consumption while operating a boat on our waterways.
Especially for those newer to boating, it may seem like the water is simply out of reach for law enforcement. In reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
The state is very aware of the dangers intoxicated boaters pose and reguarly deploy conservation wardens and boat patrols to look for drunk boaters throughout the season.
Attorney Stangl has recently won four Chippewa County OWI-PAC cases in a row.
Three of these cases were felony drunk driving cases. In two of the three cases, his clients were not convicted of felony drunk driving, thus avoiding not only a felony conviction but potential imprisonment in the Wisconsin State Prison system.
Read summaries of each of these victories below as well as what to do if you find yourself or a loved one facing OWI/PAC charges in Wisconsin.
In Wisconsin, the state legislature has classified nine different classes of felonies, from Class A (the most serious), to class I (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.
Truck drivers and other professional drivers operating with a commercial driver's license, or CDL, are held to a stricter standard under Wisconsin's drunk driving laws.
In addition, drunk driving convictions can create unique challenges for professional drivers who depend upon driving for their livelihood.
If you have a commercial driver license or CDL, it is important for you to understand the special requirements of your CDL in respect to Wisconsin law's regarding operating under the influence of an intoxicant or OWI.
This article will explain special circumstances and exceptions to well-known OWI protocols, such as field sobriety testing, which you must be aware of if you are pulled over for suspicion of driving under the influence (DUI) in Wisconsin.
In Wisconsin, all felonies are serious criminal matters that can permanently affect your livelihood and reputation.
Wisconsin 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.
Read on to learn more about Class G felonies in Wisconsin.
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.
Within the broad category of felonies, crimes are further divided into a series of nine classes delineated by alphabetical titles, A through I. Class A felonies, for example, represent the most severe punishments given in Wisconsin. Penalties include a lifetime sentence with further stipulations for repeat offenders and those with specific criminal records.
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.
