Wisconsin State Rep. Arrested for Fifth DUI
Wisconsin State Representative Jeff Wood is facing charges on his fifth arrest for OWI and several are calling for his resignation.
According to the Wisconsin State Journal, Governor Jim Doyle says of Rep. Wood: “When you’re just simply not providing the basic representation, you’ve got to acknowledge that and step aside.”
Wood recently had his second arrest in only a month when he was arrested for driving erratically in Tomah and falling down during a sobriety test. It doesn’t seem that alcohol is Wood’s vice of choice, however, as he has admitted to possibly misusing prescriptions for both anti-depressants, and anti-anxiety medications.
Under Wisconsin’s OWI laws, you can be charged for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, prescriptions drugs are included.
What makes Wood’s case different from others is he is an elected official, appointed to represent the people of the state. For this reason, the State Assembly Speaker and the Minority Leader are seeking to appoint an ethics committee to determine if Wood should be expelled from his position.
Despite the differences between Wood’s case and cases of regular, non-governmental people, OWI convictions can have lasting, detrimental effects on your future and your employment.
A first time OWI conviction can lead to fines, an alcohol assessment and the loss of your driver’s license. As you get several convictions under your belt, however, the penalties increase severely.
Your second OWI charge can lead to a jail sentence of 5 days to 6 months. If you are charged with a 5th offense OWI, however, you will face up to 6 years in prison. With every conviction, you will face larger fines and extended license suspensions.
If you are facing charges of OWI in Wisconsin, I may be able to help. I offer a free consultation on OWI cases, so call me today.
