Wisconsin DUI Law Blog

Wisconsin residents may think that current state laws take a strong stance against drunk driving, but others may disagree. Currently, a conviction can lead to serious penalties and consequences for repeat offenders. However, lawmakers have recently proposed a bill that could change existing DUI penalties, leading to even stricter penalties, particularly for those facing their first DUI. A proposed bill has been reintroduced that would make a first-time offense a crime, as well as increase penalties for those convicted for a second or subsequent time.

Currently, Wisconsin laws do not treat first-time DUI offenses as criminal offenses. It is the only state to treat an initial DUI as a civil violation, which means that jail time is not a potential penalty. Lawmakers believe that the laws on drunk driving are not strict enough, leading to the high number of drunk driving cases in the state. Efforts in the past to ramp up the severity of DUI laws have not been successful.

Motor vehicle accidents can leave those involved shaken up and uncertain of what happened, and many individuals may be confused about how best to proceed when asked about the incident. While this might be partly due to the stress involved with being in a crash, any nervousness or suspicious behavior may leave authorities wondering if other factors are at play. A 25-year-old man has been arrested and accused of drunk driving following a recent car accident in Wisconsin.

Authorities assert that the incident took place at around 5 p.m. on a recent Sunday when the driver of a southbound car veered into oncoming traffic. His car reportedly struck two other vehicles shortly thereafter before sliding off into a nearby ditch. While being questioned about the accident, police claim the man was unaware that he had struck the other vehicles.

Like other Wisconsin residents, you were probably led to believe that roadside breath testing machines give law enforcement officers an accurate indication of whether you drank too much before driving. The police officer who stopped you and administered the test certainly isn't going to tell you that the results may not be right.

Like any other technological device, these machines require maintenance, including calibration, in order to function as intended. If officers fail to keep the machines they use calibrated, they could easily return bad results, which could wrongly land you in jail after a DUI stop.

Operating a vehicle at excessive speeds is never advisable and may increase the odds of being involved in a routine traffic stop. Should a person attempt to evade a traffic stop, the potential penalties one might face may only increase in severity. Unfortunately, a recent incident in which a driver allegedly led police on a high speed pursuit has left an 18-year-old woman in Wisconsin accused of drunk driving.

Law enforcement agents assert the incident began on a recent Tuesday morning as they encountered a vehicle traveling at excessive speeds. Upon attempting to initiate a traffic stop, they claim the driver refused to stop and led them on a short pursuit, reaching speeds as high as 100 mph in the process. Police assert that the chase came to a halt after the vehicle struck a nearby curb.