What Is Wisconsin’s Habitual Traffic Offender Law?

 Posted on September 27, 2021 in Criminal Law

Most people are likely to be pulled over by a police officer and issued a traffic violation at some point during their lives. These tickets are often issued due to minor violations of traffic laws, such as speeding or failing to come to a complete stop at a red light or stop sign. While traffic tickets may require a person to pay a fine, and they may lead to other issues, such as increased insurance rates, a driver usually will not face serious consequences that will affect their driving privileges. However, if a person receives multiple traffic tickets within a certain period of time, they may face more serious penalties, and if they are considered a habitual traffic offender, they may be subject to a lengthy driver’s license revocation.

What Is a Habitual Traffic Offender?

A conviction for a traffic violation will result in a certain number of points being added to a person’s driving record, and if a person accumulates at least 12 points within 12 months, their driver’s license will be suspended. However, a person will face more serious consequences if they are convicted of enough violations to be considered a habitual traffic offender. This designation will apply if a person is convicted of 12 traffic violations or four major traffic violations within five years. Major traffic violations include:

• Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (OWI/DUI)

• Reckless driving in which a person injured someone or endangered their safety

• Vehicular manslaughter or homicide that occurred while a person was operating a motor vehicle

• Hit and run cases in which a person failed to stop after being involved in an accident and exchange information with others who were involved

• Refusing to submit to chemical testing for alcohol or drugs after being arrested on suspicion of intoxicated driving

• Fleeing from a police officer or attempting to elude being pulled over after an officer signals a driver using their lights or siren

• Any felony involving the use of a motor vehicle

A habitual traffic offender’s driver’s license will be revoked for five years. After the first two years of the revocation, a person may apply for an occupational driver’s license that will allow them to drive for employment or family-related purposes. If a person is convicted of two traffic violations within one year of receiving an occupational license, or if they are convicted of four traffic violations or one major traffic violation within three years, they will be considered a repeat habitual traffic offender, and they may be subject to an additional five-year license revocation.

Contact Our Waukesha County Traffic Violation Lawyers

At Bucher, Wolff & Sonderhouse, LLP, we can help you defend against traffic violations, or we can assist with the restoration of your driver’s license following a suspension or revocation. To get legal help with your case, contact our Muskego traffic violation defense attorneys at 262-232-6699 and set up a free consultation today.

Sources:

https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/351

https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/dmv/shared/bds102.pdf

https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/license-drvs/susp-or-rvkd/point-system.aspx