Holding a driver’s license is a privilege that many people take for granted. When you receive a driver’s license, you agree to multiple things, perhaps the most important being that you will operate your vehicle in a safe and responsible manner. Risky driving and/or breaking Wisconsin traffic laws can lead to serious reckless driving charges. As is the case for many states, the definition of reckless driving can encompass a variety of actions and behaviors on the road. 

Reckless Driving Definition

When it comes to reckless driving, the Wisconsin laws can be somewhat open to interpretation due to the many actions that could lead to this charge. At its base, reckless driving in Wisconsin constitutes any behavior that endangers the safety of any other people or property through the negligent use of a vehicle. Further, the law states that “no person may cause bodily harm to another by the negligent operation of a vehicle,” meaning that reckless driving charges may apply whether or not a driver's negligence led to actual harm.

Drinking alcohol is a large part of American culture, especially for younger people. Not surprisingly, those age groups are also the ones who are at a higher risk of being involved in drunk driving accidents. According to the latest data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 11,000 people died in alcohol-related traffic crashes in 2017. The NHTSA also states that the most effective way of stopping drunk driving accidents is through preventing them from occurring in the first place. Here are a few tips that you can use to make sure you do not find yourself being charged with Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) in Wisconsin:

• Make sure you have a designated driver. Before you even leave for the night, you should make sure you have a designated driver in place. This person should agree not to drink alcohol and promise to drive everyone home at the end of the night.

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There are multiple ways you can be charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) in Wisconsin, and all of them have serious consequences. You be charged with OWI if your blood-alcohol content is more than .08, if you have a detectable amount of an intoxicant or restricted controlled substance in your blood, or if you are under the influence of any drug or controlled substance.

It is never a good idea to get behind the wheel if you have had too much alcohol, or if you have taken illegal or prescription drugs that can negatively impact your ability to drive. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported about 32 percent of all fatal Wisconsin traffic accidents in 2016 were alcohol-related. 

If you are convicted of an OWI, you may face a lengthy license suspension or revocation. You could offset that inconvenience with an occupational license. Here are the details: 

Police officers in Wisconsin must have substantial evidence to actually arrest someone for operating while intoxicated (OWI). There are a few things an officer may use to do this, and one common procedure is to request the completion of field sobriety tests, so they can gauge whether a driver is intoxicated while driving. 

The types of field sobriety tests used can differ from state to state, and sometimes between police departments and jurisdictions, but in general, a battery of three standardized tests is used. These tests are approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as being accurate a majority of the time:

A DUI charge can be frightening. If you have been arrested for DUI/OWI, you may be unsure of your rights and how to proceed. By educating yourself on some of the most common misconceptions about DUI charges, you can gain a better understanding of how drunk driving charges work and what your legal options may be. Here is a brief list of five of the most common misconceptions about DUI charges: 

1. If I Am Charged With a DUI, I Am Automatically Guilty. 

Fortunately, a DUI charge and a DUI conviction are not the same. By seeking experienced legal representation for your DUI charge, you may be able to get your charges reduced or have your case dismissed. A lawyer can search for flaws in the prosecutor’s case which may improve your situation.