How DWI Charges in Wisconsin Increase With Each Conviction

Any time you are charged with a DWI in Milwaukee, it is something to be taken seriously. A DWI conviction can be a life-altering event and the severity and possible consequences of a DWI get much worse each successive time you are convicted.

The hope for everyone is that if a mistake is made once, it does not get repeated. But it does happen, and when it does, the escalation of penalties compels you to get a Milwaukee DWI attorney to protect yourself.

Penalties for Successive DWIs

The possible penalties below, assume that you were pulled over for DWI, also known as OWI, without injuring anyone and without having a passenger under the age of 16.

• First offense: The good news is that you probably will not face any jail time. However, your license will be revoked for up to nine months. You could be ordered to have an Ignition Interlock device for one year. You will be fined at least $861. You will be required to do an alcohol assessment and follow through with the recommended education program or counseling.
• Second offense: For a second offense, you will face up to six months in the county jail. Your license will be revoked for up to 18 months. You will be ordered to have an Ignition Interlock device for up to 18 months You will be fined at least $1,459. You will be required to do an alcohol assessment and follow through with the recommended education program or counseling.
• Third offense: The consequences get more serious. The judge must order at least 45 days in the county jail and could order one year in the county jail. Your license will be revoked for at least 24 months. You will be ordered to have an Ignition Interlock device for up to 3 years. You will be fined at least $1,800. You will be required to do an alcohol assessment and follow through with the recommended education program or counseling.
• Fourth offense (and beyond): At your fourth, fifth, and sixth DWI conviction, things get far more serious. You now face a felony conviction. For the fourth offense, the minimum jail time is 60 days in jail, but you could be ordered to spend up to 3 years in state prison followed by 3 years of extended supervision. If the fourth offense occurs within 15 years of the third offense, your operating privilege will be under a lifetime disqualification with no possibility of an occupational license. For a fifth offense, you face a mandatory sentence of one year in state prison with the usual result being at least 18 months.

Increases in Penalties

As if all this was not serious enough, certain factors can increase the consequences of your DWI that are listed above.
For example, if there was a passenger in the vehicle under 16 years old at the time you were driving, jail time for the offense will automatically double in length.
If money is a concern, you will pay way more than what is listed above depending on how intoxicated you were. For example, your fine will double, triple, or quadruple depending on your BAC.

Other Consequences

In almost all cases, if there is a conviction, you will be ordered into a mandatory substance abuse program. Your car must be equipped with an ignition interlock device. You will pay the costs of the program and the interlock in addition to the fines or penalties that come with the conviction. This is all in addition to the incidental costs of things such as the cost of high-risk insurance.

Contact Our Milwaukee DWI Lawyer

If you are charged with DWI, there is a lot at stake. Get help now. Call our Milwaukee DWI attorney at the Law Office of Michael Hayes LLC at 414-405-5678.