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It is estimated that an OWI offense in Wisconsin will combine to more than $30,000 in fines, insurance rates fees, and legal consequences if convicted.
Of course, if you get jail time for an OWI and can’t work for several months or years, you’ll also lose a lot of income.
An OWI (DUI) costs a lot more than you’re going to want to pay. The hefty fine (or forfeiture) for your OWI is bad enough, but it’s only the beginning. Many other fees add up until suddenly you’re thousands of dollars in the red.
Find out: Is a first DUI a misdemeanor in Wisconsin?
Best case scenario (a.k.a. the lowest cost you can expect)—it’s your 1st offense OWI, no one got hurt, no property was damaged, there were no minors in the car, etc. You’ll be charged the $150–$300 forfeiture, along with:
And remember, this is without any injury or property damage. All in all, you could wind up paying over $10,000 for a first offense OWI in WI. It’s well worth it to contact our drunk driving attorneys and get those penalties lowered as much as possible.
There’s some overlap in the costs of a 1st and 2nd offense OWI. For a 2nd drunk driving charge, the fine is $350–$1100, and others costs go up too. On top of most of the costs of a 1st offense, you’re probably facing:
While an IID isn’t always required for a 1st Offense OWI, it WILL be required for a 2nd offense. Depending on the make and model of your car, the cost could double or more.
An occupational license can cost hundreds of dollars, plus even more to reapply for your regular driver’s license. If you relied on a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or pilot’s license, you’re also out of a job.
If you thought the cost of a 1st offense OWI was bad, a 2nd offense is much more expensive.
The fines continue to rise.
And things only get worse from here.
With each offense, the penalties get more severe. Notice the fine for a 5th or 6th offense could be higher than all the costs of a 1st DUI offense combined.
Learn More About Wisconsin Drunk Driving Charges:
Many Wisconsin residents don’t bother with an attorney for their first OWI because it’s “just a ticket.” Now you know it’s much more than that. Our Wisconsin OWI/DUI attorneys have years of experience with all kinds of drunk driving cases, including multiple OWIs, OWIs with an Illinois license, OWI with minors in the car, or OWIs causing property damage, injury, or death. Whatever your circumstances, you’re better off with an attorney on your side.
Defense attorneys in Wisconsin, can help prevent maximum penalties, such as $1,200 fine for 1st time offense, but charges may remain on the residents record for life.
