Operating While Intoxicated

This is intended to provide you with information  prior to your court date in helping you decide how you are going to proceed.  This information may be helpful if you are scheduled to appear before the Ladysmith Municipal Court on the charge of "Operating While Under The Influence Of An Intoxicant" (OWI) and/or "Operating With a Prohibited Blood Alcohol Content" (BAC), or both. 

 

The Ladysmith Municipal Court is making this information available to you.  The judge is allowed to give you information but not legal advice.  If you need or want legal advice, you have to contact an attorney at your expense. The law does not provide court-appointed attorneys for OWI-first offenders.

 

 THE PENALTIES UPON CONVICTION

                                       

Appearing below is a list of the minimum consequences that the Wisconsin Statutes require the court to impose by order if you are found guilty of an OWI charge, BAC charge, or both charges.  Even if you received two tickets, one for OWI and another for BAC, only one set of penalties is imposed,

 

      1.  Payment of a forfeiture and costs totaling $605.00 or more.

 

      2.  Six (6) month or more revocation of your driving privileges.  (See below*.)

 

      3.  Six (6) demerit points assessed against your driving record.

 

      4.  Must undergo "Assessment Counseling" at Community Counseling Services.  Appointments are scheduled through the Chippewa office and appointments are completed in your county of residence.

 

          a.  The counseling session will take 60 to 90 minutes. Fee for this session is approximately $275-$300

 

b.  The outcome likely will be a requirement that you attend a course in "Group Dynamics," sometimes referred to as "drunk driving school."

You will be responsible for the cost of any program attended. 

 

      5.  IF AND ONLY IF YOUR BAC TEST RESULT IS FOUND TO BE .15 OR MORE AT THE TIME OF YOUR ARREST, OR IF YOU IMPROPERLY REFUSED TO SUBMIT TO A BAC TEST, OR IF YOU HAVE A PRIOR CONVICTION FOR AN OWI OR PAC OR REFUSAL, SEE THE INFORMATION ON IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE.

 

      *To be reinstated, you have to go to the Dept. of Transportation and pay a $200.00 fee.  You will not be required to file proof of insurance or take any tests.  If you are convicted for driving during the revocation period, you will be sentenced to at least 5 days in jail.

                                         

      OCCUPATIONAL LICENSE.  For information on applying for an occupation license, please click here.