Spring Break and St. Patrick’s Day are two major events where there is an uptick in underage drinking and juvenile DUI moving violations in Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County, Eau Claire, Eau Claire, County, Menomonie, Dunn County,  Rice Lake or Barron County, Wisconsin. While an OWI charge is serious, it’s even more severe when the driver is under the legal drinking age.

A criminal arrest for drivers under the legal drinking age also puts the family at great risk for some serious legal and financial troubles. The very first step you should take is to consult an experienced criminal defense lawyer who specializes in juvenile OWI charges immediately.

There are many things that you or a younger family member facing a juvenile DWI need to be aware of. For example there is no such thing as a slap on the wrist when it comes to a first offense in drunk driving or drugged driving.

Under age drivers are categorized as at-risk in regard to safe driving so when you throw a disabling layer into the mix, such as driving while intoxicated, it increases the danger that much more. A less experienced driver can and will face consequences that are much stricter than those for adults. Any BAC reading above 0.00% is counted as a juvenile an OWI crime while drivers who are 21 and over with a .08 BAC or below do not receive a DUI charge consequently.

Drivers under 21 can be charged for the same OWI charges as an adult if they are found driving with ANY unlawful, impairing substance such as cannabis, alcohol or even over-the-counter medicine. DUI laws in Wisconsin for minors implement a zero-tolerance policy. 

If a minor is charged with an Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) in Wisconsin their car insurance rates will skyrocket especially if they have more than one offense. A juvenile OWI conviction can create huge, long-term financial problems such as an additional premium costs or, even worse, totally being dropped from your insurance company. They have the power to drop the driver without warning and it’s nearly impossible to find a new insurance company to take a risk covering the driver.

A first-time charge for a minor operating a vehicle while intoxicated usually leads to a fine of a few hundred dollars and a suspended driver’s license for up to 9 months. This penalty is the same as for an adult, however, more serious penalties will be applied if any other convictions occur.

If another DUI charge is received within 10 years of the first conviction, fines may begin at $300 and can increase up to $1000, plus a year in prison and a suspended driver’s license for at least one year. This is just the beginning of the negative impact a conviction will have on your entire life including your finances, job, and personal freedom.

A DUI CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER SPECIALIZING IN JUVENILE CASES IS MANDATORY

Charges for driving intoxicated are incredibly complex which is why it’s so necessary that you hire an experienced defense attorney who specializes in juvenile DUI and OWI cases.

DUI attorneys such as Mullen Schlough & Associates S.C. can help your case by knowing what it takes to convict a driver of OWI in Wisconsin. Especially an under age driver. For example, did you know that there are many steps involved in the bodily specimen tests that can lead to a dismissal. Often an OWI defense attorney will discover inaccurate readings when it comes to proof of alcohol, weed, or even prescription drugs that come with warnings about operating heavy machinery after taking.

An experienced juvenile criminal defense lawyer with expertise in this area can question how the blood was examined and if the equipment used to evaluate the results was functioning properly. Other defenses such as constitutional violations and defenses relating to a juvenile DUI charge, can be considered by an OWI lawyer, which an inexperienced attorney won’t be able to identify. OWI cases are complex and require an experienced lawyer with the skills and knowledge to defend them.

If you or someone you know has been charged with juvenile OWI in Wisconsin, it’s in your best interest to hire the best juvenile OWI lawyer in Wisconsin to defend your case. Contact the attorneys at Mullen Schlough & Associates S.C. today for a free consultation and to learn about payment plans.