After conviction you are required to update your automobile insurance to Wisconsin’s High Risk Auto Insurance, otherwise known as SR-22 insurance. While you won’t be subjected to SR-22 insurance for life, don’t think for one second insurance companies will simply forget about your drunk driving conviction. You could potentially see your auto insurance premiums increase to double or even triple your normal rate. Depending on how long you are required to keep SR-22 insurance you could potentially be facing a loss of hundreds to even thousands of dollars.
If it isn’t already clear it is in your benefit to fight an OWI conviction, hopefully, the financial and social burden of an ignition interlock will change your mind. Depending on the severity of your case and whether you’ve chosen an experienced attorney, you may need an ignition interlock device installed in your car.
What is an ignition interlock device?
An ignition interlock is a device which prevents a vehicle from starting if the driver has been drinking. The device works like a breathalyzer, measuring the alcohol in a person’s system. If the amount of alcohol on the driver’s breath exceeds a pre-programmed level, then the interlock temporarily locks the vehicle’s ignition. This device can cost up to $1,000.00 annually per car, keep in mind you must have an ignition interlock installed on any vehicle registered and titled in your name. Driving without an ignition interlock in the State of Wisconsin, if you are required to have one, could result in months of jail time as well as thousands of dollars more in fines. The interlock also changes your minimum BAC from .08% to .02%. For most people, blowing a .02% BAC requires less than one drink. Driving with a .02% or above BAC with an ignition interlock will essentially count as a second drunk driving offense, leading to the possibility of six months jail time and thousands of dollars in fines.
There is plenty at stake when you receive your OWI conviction, don’t fight this up-hill battle alone! At the Konstantakis Law Office we fight to have your charges reduced or dismissed all together. Time is of the essence after receiving an OWI/DUI citation, do not hesitate to call our offices for a free consultation. Taking on an OWI/DUI citation by yourself leaves you liable to interpreting and handling all these legal variables by yourself, while also maintaining your social, personal, and professional life. Let us take this burden off your shoulders! Our firm is tried and proven in the area of drunk driving. We know what it takes to save you time, money, and stress. It’s your future why roll the dice with it? Call us today!
In Wisconsin, the legal limit for BAC is typically 0.08%. This means that if a driver’s BAC level is found to be 0.08% or higher, they are considered to be driving under the influence (DUI) and can be subject to legal consequences. It’s important to note that for individuals under the legal drinking age, stricter rules may apply, and any detectable amount of alcohol in their system could lead to legal consequences.
Wisconsin law enforcement employs various methods to test a driver’s BAC, such as breathalyzer tests, blood tests, or field sobriety tests. Refusing to take a BAC test can also result in legal penalties, including license suspension.
Penalties for driving under the influence in Wisconsin can include fines, license suspension, mandatory alcohol education or treatment programs, and even imprisonment, especially for repeat offenders. The severity of the penalties often depends on factors such as the driver’s BAC level, any previous DUI convictions, and whether there were any injuries or property damage as a result of the impaired driving. If you have been given a ticket, contact a trusted DUI lawyer in Milwaukee.
Contact our office to understand your options.
COPYRIGHT © 2024 KONSTANTAKIS LAW OFFICE, LLC - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
