The holiday season in Wisconsin can be wonderful. It is a time for families to get together, celebrate and enjoy the closeness of loving relationships. However, the holidays can also be a time for increased police activity, as authorities seek to prosecute drivers who may have had too much to drink. Indeed, Wisconsin arrests for OWI are often considerably high during the holiday season.
One alleged OWI incident recently occurred when a 52-year-old Wisconsin man reportedly crashed into a Christmas parade float that was carrying several children. The man now faces felony drunk driving charges. According to a county sheriff’s department, the man fled the scene after the accident. He was later stopped about a block away by witnesses who detained him until police arrived. According to reports, no one was injured during the incident.
What might make this man’s case more severe than others is his past record of OWI charges. In addition to being charged with the hit-and-run, he was also referred to the district attorney for charges of seventh offense OWI. Court documents indicate that the man was convicted of fifth or subsequent OWI in 2002 and again in 2007. For that last charge, he was sentenced to three months in jail and three years of probation.
This case illustrates how serious Wisconsin law can be when it comes to the charge of operating while intoxicated. This can be especially true for those who may have a past record of OWI. When these charges are filed against a person, it is often best to seek legal assistance to ensure that all of the rights of the accused are protected in court.
Source: The Chippewa Herald, “Alleged drunk driver crashes car into holiday float,” Dec. 5, 2011