Monday, August 22, 2011

August 22, 2011: OWI-3rd Reduced to Inattentive Driving

In State of Wisconsin v. K.S., Dennis Melowski convinced the prosecutor to reduce the original charge of OWI-3rd to Inattentive Driving and to dismiss the remaining charge of PAC-3rd (.173 blood test result). The reduced charge of Inattentive Driving is a non-alcohol-related, minor traffic offense that involves no suspension or revocation of driving privileges. The client paid a fine of $287.90, but otherwise suffered no consequences from his arrest. If convicted of either of the original charges, the client would have been been sentenced to several months in jail; would have had his license revoked for two to three years; would have had to install an ignition interlock in all of his vehicles; would have paid a fine nearly 10 times the fine he ended up with; and would have had to complete lengthy counseling. Most significantly, the client was facing lifetime disqualification of his commercial driving privileges. The fantastic result achieved in this case saved the client's lifelong career of commercial driving. He couldn't be happier!