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How to Get Your Life Back on Track after a DUI Conviction
If you have been charged with DUI, you may be facing several issues such as shame, depression, and social stigma. Fortunately, you can get your life back on track after a DUI conviction and learn from your mistake. Here are several tips that will help you get through this hurdle and move forward with your life.
- Seek Treatment If Necessary. In some cases, a DUI was the result of one bad decision. However, if you often find yourself getting behind the wheel while intoxicated, you may have an alcohol addiction. If you believe you have an alcohol issue that is affecting your life, career, and relationships, you should seek treatment by contacting your doctor or a local treatment center.
- Seek Support. Facing a DUI can be an overwhelming experience. Therefore, you should seek support from your family, close friends, or even a professional counselor. Resolving problems on your own could do more harm than good so it is important that you take advantage of loved ones and professionals who have your best interest in mind.
How a DUI Will Affect Your Car Insurance Rates
One of the financial consequences of a DUI conviction is higher car insurance rates. The amount your car insurance rate will increase will depend on several factors such as your car insurance company, age, the time that has passed since your DUI, and the number of DUIs you have had. Let’s take a closer look at how a DUI will affect your car insurance.
What is an SR22?
Contrary to popular belief, SR22 is not a type of car insurance. It is actually a certificate that your car insurance company files with the Wisconsin DMV to ensure that you have a car insurance policy. If you would like to reinstate your driver’s license after being convicted of a DUI, reckless driving, driving without insurance, or any other similar traffic violation, you will need an SR22 for five years. In the event you fail to pay your insurance premiums during that time frame, your SR22 will be canceled and an SR26 will be filed. The filing of the SR26 will suspend your license until a new SR22 is filed.
Can I Join the Military with a DUI?
Whether you would like to serve our country, are seeking job security, or are interested in education related benefits, joining the military is an excellent career choice. However, if you have a DUI conviction, you may find it difficult to enlist. Fortunately, a waiver may help you do as it proves that the military knows about your DUI and is willing to look past it. Waiver approvals are not granted automatically and are based on each individual case.
What Happens When You Enlist in the Military Following a DUI
If you begin the process of enlisting in the military but have a DUI on your record, you will need to address all of your charges. Addressing your charges may involve paying fines and court fees, attending and completing any court-ordered alcohol management classes or community service requirements, and waiting until your probation period has been completed.
Can I Rent a Car with a DUI on My Record?
Whether you are traveling for work or pleasure, or your car is in the shop for maintenance or repairs, you may need to rent a car in order to get around. However, if your driving record contains a DUI, you may have a difficult time renting one. Read on to learn more about what you can expect if you have a DUI and would like to rent a car.
How Car Rental Companies Feel About DUIs
The majority of car rental companies check driving records prior to renting out their vehicles in an effort to minimize losses and avoid lawsuits. Some of the most popular ones like Dollar, Thrifty, and Avis will not rent a car to any customer who has been convicted of a DUI within 48 months.
Car rental companies also avoid renting cars to customers who have had three or more traffic convictions in the last 24 months. Reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, a DUI, and driving with a suspended license can all result in the denial of a rental car. In addition, since rental companies do not come with ignition interlock devices, if you are only permitted to drive with one, you will not be able to drive a rental.
Can You Be an Uber Driver with a DUI?
Uber is a ride-sharing company that is used daily by individuals who need transportation to work, the airport, social events, or just about anywhere. If you are in need of a ride, you can download the Uber app, request a vehicle to come to your location, and pay for your ride through the app with a debit or credit card. Since its inception in 2009, Uber has become the convenient and less expensive alternative to taxis.
Thousands of individuals make a living driving for Uber. Whether you drive for Uber full-time or on an occasional basis whenever you are in need of some extra money, you will find that it is a flexible job that gives you the opportunity to make as much or as little money as you would like.
If you have been arrested for a DUI, you may be wondering whether you will be able to land a job driving for Uber. To answer this question, let’s take a closer look at the requirements for Uber drivers.
How to Avoid a DUI Charge
Getting pulled over for driving under the influence (DUI) can be a frightening experience. Fortunately, there are several ways you can avoid a DUI charge as well as getting pulled over in the first place. If you are going out to a party or any social event where drinking will be involved, be sure to adhere to the tips listed below.
- Eat Something. Always eat something while you are drinking. By eating, you can slow down your body’s alcohol intake. If you drink on an empty stomach, your body will absorb alcohol quicker, causing your blood alcohol content or BAC to increase at a faster rate than if you had food in your system.
- Drive Safely and Ensure Your Vehicle is in Good Condition. If you do drive after a party or social event, be sure to drive safely and ensure your vehicle is in good condition so that the police do not have a reasonable suspicion to pull your over. Your headlights should be on and your vehicle should be free of leaks, shattered windows, broken taillights, and other issues.
How Wisconsin Field Sobriety Tests Are Administered
When you are pulled over for drunk driving, you may be confused and unsure of what to expect. In addition to a breath test, a law enforcement officer in Wisconsin will ask you to complete a series of field sobriety tests prior to your potential arrest. Field sobriety tests are known as “divided attention” tests, which are intended to evaluate your ability to drive safely.
Although an officer may ask you to complete a few non-standardized tests, there are three field sobriety tests that the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration recognizes as the most accurate. These tests include the horizontal gaze nystagmus or HGN test, the walk and turn test, and the one-leg stand test.
The Three Standard Field Sobriety Tests
- HGN Test
In the HGN test, an officer will position an object like a pen a foot away from your face. Then, they will move the object from one side to the other while paying attention on the movement of your eyes. In the event that you jerk before the officer reaches a 45 degree angle, the officer will believe you were too intoxicated to drive.
Sex Offender Registration in Wisconsin – What You Need to Know
Conviction of any crime can have a negative impact on your life, but sex crimes are in a category all their own. They can devastate almost every aspect of your life – right on down to your sense of privacy. Everyone in your neighborhood, anyone that knows you, potential employers and landlords, prospective intimate partners and friends can all learn of your status as a sex offender within the state. Learn more about what it means to register on Wisconsin’s sex offender registry and discover how an experienced criminal defense lawyer may be able to help you avoid these potential consequences, as well as many others.
Registering as a Sex Offender
Wisconsin’s Sex Offender Registration Program (SORP) and state law require that convicted sex offenders provide specific information to the registry. This includes:
How have Wisconsin drunk driving laws changed in 2017?
While a traffic stop could result in a traffic violation, not all alleged traffic violations end up in minor penalties. In fact, if a motorist is pulled over for a traffic violation and subsequently accused of drunk driving, then he or she could face serious penalties. If a driver has multiple drunk driving charges on his or her record, then even harsher penalties may be imposed upon conviction. Because of that, it is important to be clear on the current DUI laws in the state and any changes that might have recently taken place. This information could impact the consequences you could face if convicted of drunk driving and what defense strategies you may want to implement.
How have Wisconsin drunk driving laws changed in 2017? Previously, when a motorist was faced with his or her fourth OWI charge, the severity of the charge was not increased. In 2017, this changed when new legislation made the fourth offense a felony. Moreover, this felony charge would remain regardless of a person's previous record.
Oak Creek woman arrested at Value Inn for domestic violence
As a previous post highlighted, some criminal charges can impact more than just the individual accused of a crime. With regards to domestic violence, defendants as well as the alleged victim could experience a harmed, limited, or severed relationship with a significant other or family member. Thus, even if the penalties associated with the crime do not seem harsh, which they can be, the personal consequences are often serious.
This is what an Oak Creek woman might be experiencing after recently being arrested for domestic violence. According to reports, Wisconsin authorities were called to a Value Inn just before 7:30 p.m. Based on the information provided by the 911 caller, a woman was extremely intoxicated and was in an argument with a man. It is believed that this argument was sparked by the man calling her names.
Witness accounts assert that the woman came to an outside back patio area, which was where the man was located, and began to poke and push him in his chest. She allegedly yelled at the man and, at some point, she picked up a glass patio table, flipped it over and shattered glass all over the place.
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