The many Wisconsin motorists who have been traveling the roads during this holiday season have possibly noticed an increase in police presence. This year, local law enforcement is strengthening its force on the roads, aiming to catch drunk drivers and make arrests.
While the community reportedly supports an increased police presence this year, it is likely those same members of the community who will end up needing the help of a Wisconsin OWI defense lawyer should they fall victim to aggressive patrol tactics.
No driver, even someone who has never been targeted by police or accused of driving while intoxicated, should take the threat of an OWI charge lightly. Even a first-time offender in the state will owe a fine, temporarily lose their driver’s license, and potentially face mandatory treatment and substance education.
Certain factors increase the penalty for a first OWI, such as having a minor in the car at the time of the arrest, injuring a minor in the alleged drunk driving incident, or having a blood alcohol content level higher than 0.15. The laws in the state, as you can already tell, can be complicated; what is important to understand is that the state takes these cases seriously and tries to send that message strongly during the holiday season.
Wisconsin’s increased police presence on the roads will be in effect until Jan. 3. The time frame of the strengthened operations, therefore, covers times of Christmas and New Year’s travels. These are times of vacation, celebration and fun for many. No matter what time of year it is, drivers have rights, and a defense lawyer can help to protect those rights in the event of an arrest.