Eau Claire Criminal Defense Blog

Each person has a different experience while in college. Some individuals may focus completely on their studies and do their best to maintain high grades. Others may recognize the importance of their classes and work, but they also want to have a good time during what may be the first time they are away from their parents for a long period.

You may have sent your child off to college with ideas of your own about how he or she would spend time. You may have thought your child would join clubs, reach academic achievement or maybe even play sports. Of course, you did not overlook the fact that your child may face temptations to participate in unseemly or illegal activities, like using drugs or alcohol.

Wisconsin police typically need a warrant to enter and search a person's private residence. In fact, if they show up unannounced and request entry to a person's home, the person in question does not have to consent to a search. There are exceptions to the rule, however, such as issues included in Wisconsin Act 79. Police say it was these issues that prompted them to enter a woman's apartment recently after they reportedly smelled a strong odor of marijuana at her door.

If a person has a past conviction and is on extended supervision or probation, Wisconsin Act 79 states that police do not need a warrant to search his or her property. An officer that was present when a 26-year-old woman opened her apartment door says a search was conducted when the aroma of marijuana wafted out into the hallway. Upon searching the woman's apartment, police claim to have confiscated marijuana, as well as multiple other drugs.

Drunk driving charges in Wisconsin can bring serious penalties that can change the course of a person's life. If you are facing an OWI, you would be wise to take your situation seriously, whether it is your first offense or you have other convictions on your record. Building a strong defense strategy is an important step toward fighting for and protecting your future interests.

One of the most important elements of any OWI defense strategy is to carefully evaluate the circumstances of the original arrest and traffic stop. If there were problems with police procedure, a violation of your personal rights or even a lack of reasonable suspicion to pull you over in the first place, it could undermine the entire case against you. This is why it can be useful to carefully review what behaviors may count as reasonable suspicion.

While Wisconsin drunk driving laws may not seem as harsh as other states, this is only a relative judgment. Since the penalties in many other states can be ruinous, Wisconsin may not seem so bad. However, the penalties you face for a drunk driving conviction in this state may still be enough to present you with lifelong challenges in many areas of your life.

A first or second drunk driving conviction may result in fines, community service, alcohol education and license suspension, among other consequences. On the other hand, certain factors at the time of your arrest can elevate the severity of the charges against you, leaving you to deal with the potential for much harsher penalties and even the possibility of a felony count.