As exhibited by the following Wisconsin Department of Transportation OWI Penalty Chart, the consequences of any OWI charge become steeper in the event that a minor is in the vehicle.
In these cases, a minor is considered anyone who is under 16 years of age. This means they are not old enough to drive themselves.
For example, if a minor is not present, a first time Wisconsin OWI is a civil offense. If a minor was in the vehicle, the charge is heightened to a criminal offense.
In the face of any OWI charge, you must contact Eastbridge Law Group, LLC. Our attorneys are familiar with the ins and outs of Wisconsin’s OWI laws and methods of testing used by police during these types of arrests.