Wisconsin Driving Record
Wisonsin Driver License
If you want to drive a car in Wisconsin, you must:
- Have a drivers license from another state, or
- Pass Wisconsin knowledge, signs and vision tests.
- Get a Wisconsin instruction (learners) permit.
- Practice driving
- Pass the road test.
Wisconsins Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO) Law
Wisconsin has a name for people who think they can break traffic laws repeatedly and get away with it.
Theyre identified as Habitual Traffic Offenders, and under Section 351.025 of the Wisconsin Statutes, they lose their operating privileges for a full five years.
The Habitual Traffic Offender (HTO) law was enacted to get drivers off the road who by their conduct and record have demonstrated indifference for the safety and welfare of others
and their disrespect of laws, courts and agencies of the state.
The penalty for operating a motor vehicle by a person declared to be an habitual offender is a fine not to exceed $5,000 and not more than 180 days in jail, over and above the basic penalties for operating after revocation of up to $2,500 fine and up to one year in the county jail, plus further revocation of operating privileges.
Wisconsin Drunk Driving
An alcohol or drug assessment is an interview between a driver and an alcohol and other drug abuse assessor (AODA). The assessor identifies the drivers alcohol/drug use. As part of the assessment, the assessor develops a driver safety plan for the driver.
When an assessment is required
Anyone convicted of operating while intoxicated (OWI) is required to contact the approved assessment facility in their county of residence within 72 hours of conviction. Anyone with multiple OWI arrests/convictions over a specified period of time is ordered by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) to have an assessment within 45 days. Second and subsequent OWI convictions require completion of an assessment before eligibility for an occupational license. An individual may voluntarily obtain an assessment after an arrest. Information for the authorized assessment facility is available in your county of residence. Wisconsin does not accept online assessments under any circumstances.
Driver safety plans
Driver safety plans for alcohol/drug related convictions are education or rehabilitation programs based on findings. For example, when an assessor identifies drivers as:
- Irresponsible Users, they are generally sent to a Group Dynamics-Traffic Safety program
- Irresponsible Users-Borderline, they are generally a combination of education and short-term, outpatient counseling
- Suspected Chemical Dependent, they are generally sent to outpatient treatment programs
- Chemically Dependent, they are generally sent to inpatient or intensive outpatient treatment programs
- Dependency in Remission, any combination of treatment or education.
After the assessment
The assessor submits a report to the DMV. The Compliance and Restoration Section in the Bureau of Driver Services screens the report to see whether:
- the assessment and driver safety plan are appropriate
- the assessor recommends the individual for a license
- the assessment mentions all OWI related offenses
The person may be eligible for a license once the plan is submitted.
Non-compliant drivers
All licenses are withdrawn, including occupational licenses, if a person receives another arrest for OWI while in a plan or does not:
- appear for an assessment
- comply with a driver safety plan
- pay the fee for the assessment or the driver safety plan
Wisconsin Point System
Demerit points are assessed to drivers when convicted of a moving violation, beginning on the date of the violation. The courts send the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Division of Motor Vehicles records of all convictions for moving traffic violations. Persons who hold a probationary license are assessed double points for the second and all subsequent points. When 12 or more demerit points are accumulated in one year, a suspension of the driver privilege is required, for a minimum of two months. Convictions remain on the driver records for five years from the date of conviction. However, alcohol related and some commercial violations remain on the record for 10 years to life.
Reducing Points
The point total may be reduced by three points for attending an approved traffic safety course. Only one reduction is allowed in a three year period for points assessed to the A, B, C, D classification. One reduction of three points is also allowed in a three year period for points assessed for class M (Motorcycle) violations.
Regular convictions
| Points | Type of Violation |
|---|
| 6 | Attempting to elude an officer |
| 6 | Failure to perform duty after accident |
| 3 | Operating while revoked or suspended |
| 6 | Operating under the influence of intoxicant or drugs |
| 6 | Reckless driving or racing |
| 6 | Speeding 20 mph or more over limit |
| 6 | Violation of occupational license |
| 4 | Deviating from traffic lane |
| 4 | Driving on wrong side of highway or street |
| 4 | Failure to yield right of way |
| 4 | Failure to yield to emergency vehicle |
| 4 | Imprudent driving, too fast for conditions, failure to have vehicle under control |
| 4 | Inattentive driving |
| 4 | Failure by operator to stop for school bus when red lights are flashing |
| 4 | Speeding 11 through 19 mph over limit |
| 4 | Unnecessary acceleration |
| 3 | Arterial or traffic control violation |
| 3 | Driving wrong way on one way street |
| 3 | Failure to dim lights |
| 3 | Failure to give proper signal |
| 3 | Following too closely |
| 3 | Illegal passing |
| 3 | Improper brakes or lights |
| 3 | Operating with expired license or without any license |
| 3 | Operating with multiple licenses |
| 3 | Prohibited or illegal turn |
| 3 | Speeding 1 through 10 mph over limit |
| 3 | Violation of restriction |
| 2 | Deprive any vehicle use of full traffic lane |
| 2 | Parking on highway in traffic lane, defective speedometer |
| 0 | License not in person's immediate possession |
| 0 | No registration plate light |
Commercial motor vehicle convictions
| Points | Type of Violation |
|---|
| 6 | Operating while disqualified |
| 6 | Operating with alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more but less than 0.08 causing injury |
| 6 | Commercial speeding in excess (20 or more mph over limit) |
| 4 | Commercial speeding intermediate (15 through 19 mph over limit) |
| 3 | Possession of intoxicating beverage while operating or being on duty time with respect to a commercial motor vehicle |
| 3 | Unlawful commercial motor vehicle license or endorsement |
| 0 | Operating a commercial motor vehicle or being on duty time with respect to a commercial motor vehicle while having any measured alcohol concentration above 0.0 but less than 0.04 or within 4 hours of having consumed or having been under the influence of an intoxicating beverage, regardless of alcohol content |
| 0 | Operating with alcohol concentration of 0.04 or more but less than 0.08 and not causing injury |
Motorcycle convictions
| Points | Type of Violation |
|---|
| 3 | Headlights not lit (daylight hours 0 points) |
| 3 | No cycle license |
| 2 | Defective or repaired handlebars |
| 2 | More than 2 riders (operator) |
| 2 | No eye protection (operator) |
| 0 | No protective headgear |
Additional Wisconsin Resources
Wisconsin County Coverage
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