Is an OWI a Crime in Wisconsin?

In every other state in the country, operating a vehicle while intoxicated can result in a criminal charge, whether it is your first offense or a repeat offense. Wisconsin is different. The first time that you are charged with OWI, it is a civil offense, but that does not mean that it is not a serious legal matter. In fact, the civil punishment is practically every bit as severe as what you could receive as the result of a criminal charge.

Of course, a civil charge carries no jail time with it at first. However, if you violate the conditions and restrictions that Wisconsin imposes after a conviction, it may result in jail time.

However, practically all first time OWI offenses in any state would not result in jail time. What is important is looking at the other penalties because these are what would affect your daily life.

The Penalties of a Civil OWI Charge?

A first-time OWI offense in Wisconsin carries the following possible civil penalties:

●    Your license will be suspended for six to nine months, although you can get a special license that allows you to drive to work in most cases if you are willing to install an ignition interlock device.

●    If your BAC was over .015, you must install an ignition interlock device

●    You receive high-risk status on your automobile insurance.

●    You can receive a monetary penalty of up to $735

As you can see, a first-time OWI offense can uproot your daily life and cost you a lot of money. Just the increased car insurance rates can cost you thousands of dollars by the time that you are able to lose the high-risk designation. An ignition interlock device can cost up to $150 to install and up to $80 per month for monitoring. This does not even factor in the inconvenience of being without a driver’s license for the better part of a year.

OWI Convictions Always Have Consequences

The costs of the OWI conviction will reach into the thousands of dollars, and that is not just the worst-case scenario. Therefore, if you are thinking of automatically pleading guilty to get the incident behind you, know that an OWI will not be fully out of your life for years.

Therefore, you should never equate a civil OWI charge with being minor. It is better to hire an attorney when you have been charged right off the bat, so you can know your legal options. Even if you decide to plead guilty, your attorney could help you comply with any legal requirements of the conviction and likely negotiate a favorable plea agreement. Having a guide throughout the legal process could help keep you out of trouble in the future as you navigate any restrictions.

Contact an OWI Attorney Today

Call the experienced attorneys at the Cohen Law Offices today at (715) 514-5051 or contact us online to set up an initial conversation. You should take a first-time OWI charge very seriously, even if it is not a criminal charge. The initial consultation is free, and you can begin to explore your legal options for dealing with the charge.