When a Wisconsin resident is accused or convicted of a criminal charge, they face consequences that vary according to the severity of the offense. However, the defendant’s closest loved ones, their friends and family, may also face some new difficulties due to the defendant’s offense. Family members of the defendant may assist their loved one overcome challenges, such as finding a place to live or obtaining employment. The same may be true for those convicted of driving under the influence, as the charges can create significant obstacles.
Milwaukee deputies arrested more than 25 individuals for drunk driving over a recent weekend in an attempt to reduce the drunk drivers on the roads. The deputies participated in the local sheriff department’s “Operation Drive Sober.”
Those arrested include repeat drunk driving offenders and two crashes that police say involved intoxicated drivers. According to police, three individuals were arrested for their fifth OWI offense. Police say a police officer was also arrested for drunk driving and had a blood-alcohol content that was double the state’s legal limit.
In Wisconsin, a person facing his or her first OWI offense could face penalties of up to $300 in fines, no jail time if the defendant did not have a passenger that was less than 16 years old and a temporary suspension of their driver’s license. The first-time OWI offender must also have an alcohol assessment, which may lead to alcohol treatment.
On the other hand a person convicted of a fifth OWI offense faces more serious penalties, which include a fine of up to $10,000, six years behind bars, a license revocation of up to three years and an alcohol assessment is required. These penalties may be increased or lessened dependent on when the offenses occurred and the BAC level of the defendant.
When a defendant has been convicted of a drunk driving offense, they face penalties that could not only change their life forever, but also the lives of their loved ones. Being unable to drive can certainly affect a person’s ability to get to work, which may put family members in a position to provide transportation or financial support. This is why it’s important to treat any drunk driving charges very seriously in order to make sure the legal issue is handled fairly.
Source: TMJ 4 News, “Milwaukee deputies bust 26 for OWI over weekend,” WTMJ News Team, Jan. 28, 2013