Stiffer Penalties for OWI Offenses in Appleton and Oshkosh
Stiffer penalties are now coming in 2017 for people convicted of Operating While Intoxicated in Appleton, Oshkosh, and throughout Wisconsin. The new law becomes effective, kicks in, on Jan. 1, 2017. The new law makes a fourth OWI offense a felony and will also increases the maximum sentence for fifth and sixth offenses from three years imprisonment to five years imprisonment.
Petit & Dommershausen, S.C. would like to remind our friends and neighbors of the great options available for a safe ride home if you have had too much to drink. Should you or a loved one encounter a legal matter related to OWI, please do not hesitate to contact our firm at 920-739-9900.
From the Tavern League of Wisconsin:
“ASK YOUR BARTENDER ABOUT SAFERIDE
OFFERING A FREE RIDE HOME TO KEEP OUR ROADS SAFE
The Tavern League of Wisconsin and our members are proud to serve our community. One of our top priorities is to keep our patrons safe. That is why we offer the SafeRide program. The goal of SafeRide is to eliminate drunk driving on Wisconsin’s roadways. As always, we encourage you to drink responsibly. However, if you feel like you’ve had too much to drink, ask your bartender if their establishment is a Tavern League member offering the SafeRide program.
ABOUT SAFERIDE
Thanks in part to the SafeRide program, Wisconsin has witnessed a 28% decline in OWI convictions since 2004 and nearly a 50% decline in alcohol related fatalities since 2003. During that same period, the number of SafeRides provided increased 150%, while expanding operations to 62 Wisconsin counties.
The cost of the program last year was nearly $1,000,000. The program is partially funded by a surcharge on OWI convictions, and the rest is paid by Tavern League members. “It’s not a good idea to drive impaired. Our SafeRide program gives an alternative that is safe and it is free to our customers” says TLW President Terry Harvath.
Last year, Tavern League members provided more than 85,000 SafeRides to their patrons.
DON’T FORGET TO ASK YOUR BARTENDER ABOUT SAFERIDE!
