As of July 1st, residents in Wisconsin will face harsher penalties for operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Prior to July 1st, individuals typically received only a traffic violation for their first OWI arrest. Wisconsin was formerly the only state in the nation with low penalties for first time offenders, but officials hope that the new laws will help deter residents from drinking and driving. In addition, the penalties for repeat offenders changed, making it a felony for an individual to commit four OWI offenses in five years. 

Persons who have been accused of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs may face serious criminal penalties, including fines, loss of driving privileges, and incarceration. If you have been accused of operating a vehicle under the influence, contact the Appleton OWI attorneys of Kohler, Hart & Priebe at 888-565-7597 today.

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