Wisconsin OWI/DUI Defense Blog
Case commentary, statute changes, and practical guidance on Wisconsin OWI law from the attorneys at Cafferty, Scheidegger & Johnson.

Arrested for OWI in Racine? What the First 30 Days Actually Look Like
I was just arrested for OWI in Racine, what do I do? The two 10-day deadlines, the first Racine County court date, and what happens at each stage.
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Can an OWI Be Dismissed in Wisconsin? What the Law Actually Allows
A Wisconsin statute blocks quiet OWI plea reductions: the prosecutor must apply to the court and justify it. Here is what actually gets charges dropped.
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Walworth County OWI Lawyer: What Happens After an Elkhorn, Lake Geneva or Delavan Arrest
Arrested for OWI in Walworth County? Which court your case lands in and why it may not be Elkhorn, the two ten-day deadlines, and where each one goes.
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Can the Police Legally Lie to You During a Wisconsin OWI Stop?
Yes, and Wisconsin's roadside tests are not all the same. Which ones are voluntary, and why refusing the PBT is nothing like refusing the test at the station.
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CDL and OWI in Wisconsin: Why the License Is the Case
A CDL holder cited for OWI in Wisconsin faces a one-year disqualification that no occupational license can repair, even from a personal vehicle.
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How Many OWIs Before It Is a Felony in Wisconsin? And What Changes at That Line
The fourth, since January 1, 2017. Wisconsin's ladder from 1st to 10th offense, how priors count with no time limit, and what changes at the felony line.
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Will an OWI Cost You Your Professional License in Wisconsin?
Nurses, teachers and CDL holders: what an OWI does to a Wisconsin credential, the 48-hour DSPS notice, and why 'occupational license' means something else.
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Second-Offense OWI in Wisconsin: When the Prior Does Not Count
A 2nd offense OWI in Wisconsin turns on one 10-year window in 346.65(2)(am)2. Which priors count, which do not, and what knocking one out changes.
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The State Fair Is in Milwaukee County. If You Get an OWI There, So Is Your Case.
An OWI at the Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis is a Milwaukee County case even if you live in Racine or Kenosha, and every court date is up there.
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Tony Romo Refused the Test. In Wisconsin, That Starts a Second Case With a 10-Day Clock
Tony Romo was cited for OWI and for refusing the test. In Wisconsin those are two separate cases, and the refusal deadline is 10 days, well before court.
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Can You Call a Lawyer During an OWI Stop in Wisconsin? What the Tony Romo Case Shows
Tony Romo asked to call his lawyer during a Milwaukee OWI stop and was told no. Jillian Scheidegger explains Wisconsin's rules on counsel during a stop.
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Charged With OWI in Kenosha County? What Actually Happens, and What a DUI Lawyer Can Do
Arrested for OWI or DUI in Kenosha County? The 10-day deadlines, how Illinois priors change your charge, and what a Kenosha DUI lawyer does first.
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OWI at 6 A.M.: Wisconsin's Morning Arrests and the Asleep-Behind-the-Wheel Problem
Two July arrests show Wisconsin OWI charges don't only happen at bar time: what counts as operating, morning-after BAC, and your rights during welfare checks.
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Wisconsin Is Imprisoning More Drivers for OWI Than Ever, Even as Arrests Fall
A new Wisconsin Policy Forum report finds record OWI imprisonment while arrests decline. Attorney Jillian Scheidegger explains the repeat-offense escalator.
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