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Your first OWI charge in Appleton, Wisconsin could result in a driver’s license revocation for up to 9 months and/or fines up to $300. Depending on the details of your case, your charges may also include jail time. Each subsequent OWI conviction after your first will result in escalated fine amounts and penalties.
If you are facing OWI charges in Appleton, call Grieve Law's criminal defense attorneys at (920) 381-1126 for a free case consultation.
Amy Scholz
OWI & Criminal Defense Attorney
95% of first-time OWI offenders decide not to hire an attorney, commonly resulting in a conviction. Some people think hiring an attorney will cost more than just paying the fines - not true. A DUI can cost upwards of $40,000 over your lifetime when you account for increases in insurance rates, fines, and losses in income from potential job termination. Investing in an Appleton criminal defense attorney to help remove your OWI charges could save you money and a lifetime of struggle.
240 people were arrested for OWI in Appleton in 2020. Appleton OWI arrests account for 37.2% of all OWIs in Outagamie County that year (645). It’s evident drunk driving penalties have become more strict over the years. Depending on the severity of your case, you could be facing anything from a couple hundred dollars in fines and a driver's license revocation to over a year in prison and $25,000 in fines.
Each OWI Offense Comes with different consequences:
To learn more about the charges you could be facing, contact our Appleton DUI attorney today.
Grieve Law offers free case consultations and assessments for all OWI, DUI, OUI, and related offenses in Appleton and throughout Wisconsin. Our experienced criminal defense attorneys will review the details of your case and communicate your defense options. If you decide to move past the consultation process, our attorneys will apply the law to the facts of your case to determine the best way to defend you. Our attorneys do not go into a case with the intention of presenting a guilty plea. We do everything we can to achieve the best possible outcome (reductions or dismissals).
Grieve Law's experienced DUI attorneys in Appleton have a great record of DUI dismissals and charge reductions. Our award-winning team of former prosecutors knows their way around the law and will surprise you with how much they can help.
If you were charged with operating while intoxicated in the city of Appleton (or anywhere else in Wisconsin), there’s a chance you’re facing a felony charge depending on the details of your situation. Your OWI charge may be a felony if:
Any felony charge will be on your record for the rest of your life and likely comes with thousands of dollars in fines and some jail time. The best way to fight or reduce your charges is by hiring Applton's top DUI defense attorney capable of getting DUI charges reduced and dismissed. Grieve Law's criminal defense attorneys will go down every path necessary to achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
Many people think OWI charges are only applicable to alcohol. You can get charged with an OWI in Wisconsin if you’re caught operating while under the influence of drugs, too. This includes driving under the influence of both legal and illegal substances that can impair your ability to operate a vehicle. You don’t have to be high to get an OWI for drugs - If traces of marijuana or other illegal drugs are in your system at the time of the crime, this is enough to charge you with an OWI in Appleton. These facts make drug OWIs really difficult to fight in court. The best chance you have of beating a drug OWI case is by hiring an aggressive criminal defense attorney with experience - like Grieve law.
An OWI will stay on your driving and criminal record forever in the state of Wisconsin. An OWI cannot be expunged or removed from your record. Unless you’re able to get the case dismissed or reduced to a different charge, the OWI will be on your record for life.
To beat an OWI charge in Appleton you need to hire an OWI criminal defense attorney. You should schedule a free consultation to see if your case has the potential to be beaten or have the charges reduced. As long as you have an experienced criminal defense attorney on your side (who attends all the court dates) you may be able to have your charges dropped or reduced.
Many attorneys will consider the following when planning your OWI defense strategy:
References: Operating under influence of intoxicant or other drug. Wisconsin Statute § 346.63 (2022) | Suspension and revocation by the courts. Wisconsin Statute § 343.30(1q)(b)3 (2022) |
Milwaukee Criminal Defense Attorney Amy Scholz is a "well-respected attorney for a good reason: she brings her years as a former state criminal prosecutor to the table for her clients each time she steps into court. Attorney Scholz has earned the experience and achieved the results that clients look for in an attorney. That experience combined with her strong communication and knowledge of the law is what makes her a sought-after attorney. I highly recommend attorney Scholz"
Tom is a very hardworking, honest man. In my experience, Tom gives every client his best effort. Tom is also very intelligent and he has an excellent memory. I would recommend Tom to anyone searching for an attorney.
Mr. Grieve is a very capable attorney. I recently hired him and his associates (who were lovely) for a DUI where I had a firearm in my center console (CCW Wisconsin permit). I wasn't aware if you were drinking that you can't have your CCW on you in the car, and ultimately they wanted me to sit for six months in jail. Grieve got it dropped completely which is fantastic or my future career would have been nonexistent.
I worked with attorney Julia Westley for my OWI case. She was always very responsive to any inquiries I had even after my sentencing. I could always tell that she genuinely cared about where the case was going and felt that she had my best interests at heart and it wasn't just about getting the case over with. Would highly recommend.
Attorney: Julia Westley
Jason M
on 
OWI stands for "Operating While Intoxicated".
DUI stands for "Driving Under the Influence" while OWI stands for "Operating While Intoxicated". In Wisconsin, OWI is the correct term to use when referring to "dunk driving".
Yes, you can hire an OWI attorney to help fight your OWI charges in court in attempt to reduce or remove your charges. If you've already been convicted of an OWI you can attempt to get your previous charges expunged (although very difficult).
The cost of a DUI attorney in Appleton will vary depending on the law firm you work with. Most attorneys charge their clients by the hour regardless of the case in question.
Driving permissions after receiving an OWI are different depending on the detail of your case. At minimum, your driver's license could be revoked for 6 months. At the most, you may never be allowed to drive again.
