As the school year is nearly ending, graduating students come with parties and bad choices. Police officers in Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County, Eau Claire, Eau Claire County, Menomonie, Dunn County, Rice Lake, or Barron County, Wisconsin, see a rise in OWI / DUI criminal arrests, and a common of the drivers are under the legal drinking age.
What these underage does not realize is that in Wisconsin, punishments are more severe if the driver is underage when it comes to DUI driving under the influence or OWI operating under the influence this is why it’s crucial that you contact an experienced juvenile DUI attorney if you or a younger family member is facing juvenile OWI charges.
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A WRIST SLAP FOR A FIRST OFFENSE
There’s a fine of hundred dollars and a suspended driver’s license for up to 9 months for a first-time juvenile DUI offense for driving under the influence of alcohol or weed. It may seem the same as for an adult, but more severe penalties are added per conviction.
The fine can go up to $1000 and a year in prison if another DUI conviction happens within 10 years of the first. It can also lead to a suspended driver’s license for at least a year. These consequences can have an immediate financial and social impact on the driver.
The penalties for juvenile drunk driving are stricter than drivers who are 21 years or older as, in general, newer drivers are already viewed as an at-risk group in terms of safe driving. In Wisconsin, the OWI law for minors has a zero-tolerance policy for juveniles caught driving with any unlawful, impairing substance such as weed or prescription drugs in their body system. Any BAC reading above 0.00% is counted as a juvenile DUI crime, but individuals who are 21 and over with a .08 BAC or below do not receive an OWI charge consequently.
Just one offense of a juvenile OWI conviction will have a long-term financial impact, such as the insurance may drop policies without warning or a chance to renew.
A DEFENSE ATTORNEY SPECIALIZING IN JUVENILE DUI IS VITAL
Drunk driving charges or OWI/DUI (operating while intoxicated or driving under the influence) are complex, so it’s so critical that you hire an expert defense lawyer specializing in juvenile OWI and DUI cases.
For example, there are a lot of many detailed processes, especially in bodily specimen tests. An OWI defense lawyer will often discover incorrect readings in terms of proof of alcohol, marijuana, or even prescription drugs that come with warnings about operating heavy machinery while taking.
An experienced juvenile criminal defense lawyer can investigate the process of how the blood was evaluated and if the equipment used to examine was functioning correctly.
Juvenile DUI charges can relate to many defenses, such as constitutional violations and defenses wherein an ordinary individual can’t understand. This is why DWI cases must require someone who has the skills and knowledge to defend them.
It’s crucial to hire the best juvenile DUI lawyer in Wisconsin to defend your case if you or someone you know has been charged with juvenile OWI in Wisconsin. Contact the attorneys at Mullen Schlough & Associates S.C. today for a free consultation and learn about their payment plans.