Boat, Snowmobile & ATV DUI Lawyer

Operating a watercraft, operating a boat or boating while intoxicated or boater OWI or boating under the influence is held to be a very dangerous crime, also known as a BUI. BUIs are the cause of an increasing number of fatal and non-fatal injuries that occur on the water. According to the most recent study by the United States Coast Guard Law Enforcement, boating under the influence involving drugs or alcohol was a contributing factor in almost one quarter of all boating injuries and boating accidents.

BUIs or boating under the influence DUI cases are very similar to a DUI with a car and involve operating a boat or watercraft on a body of water while under the influence of alcohol or another intoxicant. BUIs or boating under the influence cases are not limited specifically to alcohol, but can result from illegal drugs, prescriptions or medication use that affect an individual’s mental clarity.

Law enforcement officers may also pull over a boat or personal watercraft for suspicion of intoxication if the operator is acting erratically (like a car) or putting other boaters at risk (boating safety issues). Let us help you determine if a hot July day in the sun on the water in Wisconsin (and possibly drunk) is worth months of getting your license revoked, some drunk water boating safety course and the arrest itself.

 

 Appreciate The Seriousness Of The Situation And The Law 

A driver operating a boat under the influence or boating while intoxicated charge either by alcohol or drugs with no injuries or other special circumstances comes with a boating motor vehicle drivers license suspension to operate, high fines/fees, ignition interlock and skyrocketing auto insurance rates but a criminal dui carries with it months in jail, permanent commercial license revocation. More serious Bui or boating while intoxicated prosecution, possible mandatory jail time, driver’s license penalties, license suspension and . All of this can cause problems at work, including discipline or firing. With 1,000+ possible difficulties meeting work, school program or family obligations. That’s why it is important to take action as soon as you are charged with a BUI license violation. Check out drug testing, refusal, commercial Wisconsin sobriety laws, fines and jail time fine related penalties on our website.

 

Fight The Charges! 

So essentially long story short, don’t serve jail time or prison and get convicted because of a water incident if you don’t have to. Walk away with a misdemeanor, traffic driver’s license suspension, fine and revocation of boating privileges or boaters operator consequences. I’ve only met one person in the 1,100ish that I’ve represented who did not mind the years in prison.

In my experience as a Wisconsin DUI and BUI crime lawyer, many a person believes there is no point in fighting intoxicated charges. They believe they are destined for months long jail. You may think if the police or DNR enforcement have a blood alcohol concentration (bac) measurement above the legal age of 21 legal limit, they have enough proof to convict. I’ve made a reputation for proving the cops wrong in a jury trial. Don’t just “buckle under” with a cop that doesn’t believe you basted on your breath. Let our lawyers and attorneys organize your case, challenge the bac test and let our lawyers prove you innocent of the crime to a jury.

Sometimes even though you might think you are guilty because you were arrested our lawyers and attorneys might find that one of your prior convictions might be flawed from a legal prospective. When that happens, your DUI or BUI 5th prior conviction might get reduced to possibly a BUI or DUI 1st conviction no matter what your related bac convictions are. This is called a collateral attack. Lawyers and attorneys use this course often an with great success. Call us first to find out if your situation is open to a collateral attack motion.

Top Sixteen Questions after a DUI Arrest

1.       What is the best way to handle a DUI Arrest?

The first thing you should do after an arrest for DUI is contact a lawyer. If you can’t afford one, call or visit a local legal aid office. They will help you find a lawyer.

2.       What is the best way to handle my first court appearance?

You should go to court on the date listed on your ticket. If you don’t have a lawyer, tell the judge that you would like a reasonable amount of time to find one. The judge will probably give you a court date for about two weeks later, and may set bail. You should ask the judge to lower your bail or release you on your own recognizance (without having to pay bail) if you have not been involved in any other criminal activity.

3.       What should I do before my first court appearance?

Gather all of the evidence that will help your case. You should have all of your medical records and witness statements. You may also take photographs or other evidence that you think will help your case.

4.       What happens at my first court appearance?

You will be asked to enter your plea. Your lawyer may ask the judge for a continuance, which means that you would have to come back later on in order to plead guilty or not guilty.

5.       What happens after I plead guilty or not guilty?

You will be given a court date and time to return for your trial. Your lawyer may ask the judge for another continuance.

6.       What is a jury trial?

If you have been charged with a felony, then you will be tried by a jury of your peers. If the judge decides that it is in your best interest to have a jury trial, then you will be asked to choose six people from the jury pool who are willing to serve on your jury.

7.       What is a bench trial?

If you have been charged with a misdemeanor, then your case will be tried by the judge.

8.       What do I need to bring to court?

You should bring any witnesses who can testify on your behalf. You should bring any evidence that will help you prove your case, such as a video recording of the incident or photographs of injuries to you or others.

9.       What happens if I’m convicted?

You may be ordered to pay a fine, serve time in jail or prison, and/or you may be required to attend DUI school. If your license has been suspended, you will have to pay a fee for reinstatement.

10.   What happens if I’m acquitted?

If you are found not guilty, then the charge against you will be dismissed and your license will be reinstated after consulting with the DMV.  It isn’t automatic.

11.   What happens if I plead guilty?

If you plead guilty, the court will impose a sentence and you may have to pay fines, serve time in jail or prison, and/or you may be required to attend DUI school.

12.   What happens if I’m found guilty?

If you are convicted of a DUI, your driver’s license will be suspended for a period of time.

13.   What are the long-term effects of a DUI?

If you have been convicted of driving under the influence, your insurance rates will increase dramatically and you may have trouble getting insurance.

14.   What is the difference between a DUI and DWI?

DUI stands for driving under the influence, while DWI stands for driving while intoxicated and OWI stands for Operating While Intoxicated. With an OWI you don’t have to be driving a motor vehicle, just in a position to operate one. Call us to find out the details of what the difference is.

15.   What are the effects of alcohol on the body?

The effects of alcohol on the body can vary greatly from person to person depending on these factors:

• How much you weigh. The heavier you are, the more alcohol it takes to get you drunk. If you’re a woman, your body will process and eliminate alcohol faster than a man’s. How much you’ve eaten. Food in your stomach slows down the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream.
• What kind of drink it is, and how much you’re drinking? Some drinks have more alcohol than others. For example, beer has between 3 and 7 percent alcohol while wine ranges from 5 to 15 percent. Mixed drinks can have as much as 25 percent alcohol.
• What you’re drinking with. Mixing alcohol with other drugs or medications can cause serious side effects, like unconsciousness and death.
• How long you’ve been drinking. The more you drink over a longer period of time, the more alcohol you’ll absorb into your bloodstream.
• How often you’ve been drinking. If this is your first time drinking a lot in one sitting, it will take longer for your body to metabolize the alcohol.
• How your body reacts to alcohol. If you have a health condition, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, that can make it harder for your body to process alcohol.
• What you’re eating with your alcohol. Food can slow down how fast your body absorbs alcohol, which is why it’s important to eat before and while drinking.
• How much sleep you’ve had. If you’re tired, your body won’t metabolize alcohol as quickly.
• Whether or not you’ve eaten before drinking. Eating food can slow down how fast your body absorbs alcohol, which is why it’s important to eat before and while drinking.
• How much you’ve had to drink. If you drink a lot in one sitting, your body will metabolize the alcohol more slowly.
• How fast you’re drinking. Drinking alcohol quickly can cause your body to absorb more alcohol at once, which means it will take longer for your body to metabolize the alcohol.
• The type of alcohol you’re drinking. Different types of alcohol are metabolized at different rates, so some drinks will have a greater effect on your body than others. For example, hard liquor is more potent than beer, so it will have a greater effect on your body.

16.   What are the effects of alcohol on the bod

When drinking alcohol the body absorbs it at different rates. It is estimated that a healthy liver can process about one drink per hour. The body also processes alcohol at different rates based on your weight, gender and whether you have eaten.

 

How many drinks did you say you had?

Most people have no idea how many drinks they can have and still be able to drive. The question is, “What does it take for you to become intoxicated?”

 

Schedule Your Free Client Consultation! 

For those of you who have been wrongly charged or at least have not done all the things the police officer is saying you did, getting a good BUI or DUI defense attorney from a law firm devoted to these is key. Anybody can go plead guilty to a BUI or DUI but knowing exactly what your pleading to, the law and all the consequences that come along with it is the tough part. Unless you are in court and breathe BUI defense service like we do, hiring a good lawyer is a must no matter what your age is.  Contact a lawyer who could tell you for free (like we do) the Wisconsin boat operators 1,000+ state laws, the fines and how they affect you.

 

Why Us?

• Flexible Payment Plans
• Local Court and District Attorney Familiarity
• Great Customer Service

 

We Offer DUI Defense Services In The Following Areas:

• Boating, Snowmobile & ATV DUI
• Drunk Driving Lawyer
• Drug & Medication DUI
• DUI Lawyer
• DUI Causing Damage
• Operating After Revocation
• Underage DUI
• Vehicular Manslaughter DUI

 

Locations Currently Served: 

• Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and All of Chippewa County
• Eau Claire, Wisconsin and All of Eau Claire County
• Menomonie, Wisconsin and All of Dunn County
• Rice Lake, Wisconsin and All  of Barron County

 

We Are Always Opening New Offices So Search For DUI Lawyer & Criminal Lawyer Near Me!