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Recent Blog Posts
Why Wisconsin Construction Zone Tickets Pack a Bigger Punch
A Wisconsin man was arrested last week after driving into a construction zone, nearly hitting a construction worker, and running into a semi-truck. The man stated that he had moved a construction zone barricade and driven into a closed zone. The man then attempted to turn around in an active work area, nearly colliding with a worker. When he got out of his vehicle to talk to the construction workers, his car rolled backward into the semi-truck. The man was later located and arrested, booked on first-degree felony charges of recklessly endangering safety.
You, like many of us, may be guilty of driving too fast through construction zones or even engaging in distracted driving behaviors. Getting a traffic ticket for a construction zone violation is very different from getting a ticket on an "ordinary" stretch of roadway. Wisconsin treats construction zone violations (Chapter 346) with extra severity, in terms of fines and points added to your license. Unsafe driving in a construction zone places both workers and other drivers at risk. If you have received a construction zone ticket, an experienced Jefferson County, WI traffic citations lawyer can help build a strong defense on your behalf.
Street Racing in Wisconsin: How a Race Becomes a Serious Crime
What starts as a quick engine rev at a stoplight or a challenge from another driver can go from harmless fun to serious criminal charges in mere seconds. Street racing can result in the loss of driving privileges, substantial fines, and even jail time. If another person is injured or killed, those charges can escalate to felony charges. While street racing may seem like a harmless traffic violation, it can often escalate into much more.
While the state of Wisconsin has not yet enacted a single, comprehensive street racing law, in 2023, Wisconsin enhanced penalties for aggressive driving through AB 55. This increased jail time and prison time applies when aggressive driving results in bodily harm to someone other than the driver. Drivers who engage in street racing in the state can be charged with reckless driving, which carries penalties including potential jail time, fines, and license suspensions.
Caregiver Liability: When Child Neglect Leads to a WI Death
The death of a child is a tragedy, regardless of the circumstances. When a child dies as a result of alleged neglect, parents, guardians, or other caregivers may not only be facing child neglect charges, but they could also face homicide charges. Under Wisconsin law, failing to act sometimes carries the same weight as committing an intentional act, so it is vital to understand caregiver liability and how it works in tragic cases involving the death of a child.
Wisconsin law defines child neglect under Wis. Stat. Section 948.21. Child neglect includes the failure to provide basic and necessary care such as shelter, supervision, medical care, clothing, and food. Child neglect does not require the element of intent, only a failure to meet the basic responsibilities of a caregiver to a child. Under the statute, "caregivers" may include parents, step-parents, guardians, relatives, babysitters, child care workers, or anyone responsible for the welfare of a child.
Amish Buggies and Traffic Laws: Who’s at Fault in a Collision?
Wisconsin has the fourth-highest Amish population, which means Amish horse-pulled buggies are a common sight in the state. There are more than three dozen Amish settlements in the state, with an estimated 21,000 Amish residents, located primarily in the western and central parts of the state. Many Amish families in Wisconsin maintain their traditional way of life, which includes using horse-drawn buggies. Unfortunately, traffic accidents between Amish buggies and vehicles are not uncommon.
Just in the last few months, a fatal crash occurred in Clark County when a van rear-ended an Amish buggy, killing one of the passengers in the buggy and seriously injuring another. Another crash on U.S. Highway 10 in Manitowoc County involved a horse-drawn carriage and an SUV, killing one and injuring another, and a Grant County crash on Highway 61 when a car ran into a buggy resulted in injuries, but no deaths.
How Wisconsin’s "Bail Jumping" Law Can Stack Charges Quickly
In Wisconsin, getting arrested for a crime is often just the beginning. If the judge releases you on bail or a signature bond, you will be required to agree to follow specific conditions until your case is resolved. If, however, you break any of those conditions, no matter how minor, you could face another criminal charge called bail jumping.
This offense is one of the most commonly charged felonies across the state. One reason for this is that it can be "stacked" on top of the original charges, then repeated for multiple violations. If you are facing an underlying criminal charge, along with bail jumping charges, your best course of action is to contact an experienced Waukesha, WI criminal defense lawyer.
What is Bail Jumping?
Under Wisconsin Statute Section 946.49, if a person fails to comply with the terms of his or her bond, then if the underlying offense is a misdemeanor, the individual is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor for that failure to comply. If the underlying offense for which the individual is charged is a felony, then the bail offense will be charged as a Class H felony.
Proposed Wisconsin Bill 380 May Prohibit Some Criminal Defenses
Wisconsin lawmakers are currently considering Bill 380, legislation that could restrict or eliminate certain criminal defenses previously allowed in court. If the bill passes, a defendant’s ability to argue mental incapacity, self-defense, or adequate provocation (when the claim is based on the victim’s gender identity or sexual orientation) could be restricted or eliminated. As you might imagine, this proposed change is sparking considerable debate among defense attorneys, civil rights advocates, and criminal justice experts.
There is much at stake for defendants if Bill 380 passes; when these traditional defenses are removed, harsher punishments and a more rigid system are likely to be the result. If you have been accused of a criminal offense, it is important to speak to a knowledgeable Ozaukee County, WI criminal defense lawyer as quickly as possible.
When the Alleged Victim Declines to Press Charges in Wisconsin
Many people believe that if an alleged victim declines to press charges, the case will be dismissed. This is especially true in domestic violence cases, but it can be true in many other types of crimes as well. In Wisconsin, that is simply not how the law works. Once law enforcement is involved in a case, the state – not the alleged victim – decides whether to move forward with criminal charges.
The reason this is common in domestic violence charges is that emotions run high in these cases, and stories can change overnight. Victims often later wish to recant and are surprised and dismayed to find out that it is not an option. So, what happens when an alleged victim asks law enforcement to drop the charges against the defendant?
If you are facing allegations of a criminal offense and the alleged victim or victims have asked that the charges be dropped, do not celebrate just yet. You need solid legal advice from a knowledgeable Racine County, WI criminal defense lawyer.
From Assault to Homicide: Upgrading Charges if the Victim Dies
A Madison, WI man pleaded guilty to second-degree reckless injury in 2016 for shooting a man in 2015. The victim was left paralyzed, and the defendant was sentenced to eight years in prison. In 2021, the victim died, and new charges of first-degree reckless homicide were filed against the defendant, who accepted a plea deal of second-degree reckless homicide (Section 940.06) on July 14, 2025, and was sentenced to another eight years in prison.
If you have been sentenced to prison for a charge similar to assault, you may wonder what would happen if the alleged victim dies. Could you then face homicide charges? In Wisconsin, any charge similar to assault, including battery, substantial bodily harm, or reckless injury, could seem like the end of the matter once you are sentenced. But what happens if the alleged victim’s condition worsens, and months – or even years – later, he or she dies from the injuries?
Wisconsin Gun Laws: What Can Get You Arrested?
A report from October 2024 showed that firearm deaths rose consistently in Wisconsin every year since 2018. In 2022 alone, 830 people died from guns in homicides and suicides, while that number was 598 in 2018. The 2022 number was higher than the number of deaths from auto accidents in the state.
Although the talking point from the gun lobby says that more guns make people safer, study after study continues to show that the opposite is true. The more firearms our society has, the higher the rate of gun violence. This report does not consider the hundreds or thousands of gun violence injuries that do not result in death.
Despite the fact that policies like universal background checks and red flag laws are widely supported by Wisconsin residents, the Legislature has consistently gone the other direction. Still, violating firearm laws in the state can lead to serious criminal charges, including felony charges. From carrying a concealed weapon without a permit to possessing a gun as a felon (and everything in between), it is important to know the laws and protect yourself from criminal liability.
Fruit of the Poisonous Tree: What It Means in a Criminal Case
In the state of Wisconsin, not all evidence is created equal regarding criminal defense cases. In fact, when evidence is obtained illegally, there is a legal doctrine known as "fruit of the poisonous tree." This means that if law enforcement gathers evidence through illegal means or violates the defendant's constitutional rights during the evidence-gathering process, that evidence may be suppressed or excluded.
For example, suppose the police make an unlawful traffic stop and discover drugs. Since they had no probable cause (968.12 (3) 2(c)) to pull the driver over, the drugs may not be allowed in as evidence if the defense attorney can prove they are fruit of the poisonous tree, or the result of an illegal search.
If the drugs are not allowed in, there is no crime, and the charges must be dropped. If you believe there were serious errors or illegalities in your arrest, discuss the issue with a highly experienced Walworth County, WI criminal defense attorney. Understanding how the principle of fruit of the poisonous tree works can mean the difference between a conviction and a successful defense.
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