Drunk Driving Lawyer in Hudson, WI
If you have been arrested for drunk driving in Hudson, Wisconsin charges it as OWI, Operating While Intoxicated, and your case will be heard at St. Croix County Circuit Court. Because Hudson sits right on the Minnesota line, a Wisconsin arrest can also reach a license issued across the border, which means two sets of consequences can be in play at once. Cohen Law Offices has defended drivers in St. Croix County since 1991, and our phones are answered 24 hours a day at
715-514-5051.
What an OWI Charge in Hudson Puts at Risk
A conviction can bring fines, license revocation, higher insurance for years, and, on a repeat or aggravated charge, jail or prison. None of that is automatic. An OWI is a chain of police procedures and test results, and each link can be examined and challenged. The level you are charged at is not always the level you are convicted at, and the sooner we review the case, the more of it is still open to question.
First Offense or Repeat: Where the Penalties Change
Wisconsin treats a first OWI as a civil forfeiture. It carries fines and a license revocation but no jail on its own, though it stays on your record and can affect insurance and employment. A second or later offense is criminal and brings the possibility of jail, longer revocation, and an ignition interlock requirement, with penalties climbing at each step. Wisconsin uses a lifetime look-back, so an older offense can elevate a new one, and confirming that any priors are counted correctly is part of the defense rather than an afterthought. Cases involving an injury, a high test result, or a refusal to test raise the stakes further and call for early, careful work.
How We Build a Hudson OWI Defense
We start with the traffic stop and work forward from there. That means asking whether the officer had a lawful reason to pull you over, whether field sobriety tests followed the standardized NHTSA procedure, whether the breath instrument was properly calibrated and operated, and whether a blood draw kept a clean chain of custody. Where it helps, we bring in our own review rather than relying on the state's file, and we file motions to keep out evidence that was obtained improperly. The goal at every stage is to make the state prove its case rather than assume it.
Where Your Hudson OWI Case Is Heard
OWI cases in Hudson are handled at St. Croix County Circuit Court, 1101 Carmichael Rd, Hudson, WI 54016. The deadline to challenge your Wisconsin license revocation is short and runs separately from the criminal case, so acting quickly protects the most options. We handle both the administrative license track and the criminal charge from the first day, because letting the license side lapse can cost you the ability to drive long before the criminal case is decided.
Out-of-State Drivers and the Minnesota Border
Many people stopped in Hudson live or work in Minnesota. A Wisconsin OWI can trigger action against a home-state license through interstate reporting, even for a driver licensed elsewhere. If you cross the border to commute or for work, keeping your ability to drive in both states is part of the case, not a detail to sort out later, and we treat it that way from the start.
Why Hudson Clients Choose Cohen Law Offices
Michael R. Cohen holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been named to Wisconsin Super Lawyers every year from 2018 through 2025. The firm was voted Best of the Chippewa Valley in 2024 and 2025 and belongs to Wisconsin Elite Defense. Criminal defense is the only work we do, and drunk driving cases are a core part of it. For the statutes and penalty levels behind a Wisconsin charge, our OWI, DUI, and DWI defense overview explains how each offense level is treated.
Frequently Asked Questions About OWI Charges in Hudson
What are the penalties for an OWI in Hudson?
They depend on the offense level. A first OWI is a civil forfeiture with fines and license revocation but no jail on its own, while a second or later offense is criminal and carries jail time, longer revocation, and an ignition interlock requirement. Because penalties climb sharply with each prior, getting the charge level right is itself part of the defense.
Will an OWI charge affect my driving privileges?
Usually yes. An arrest can trigger an administrative revocation that is separate from the criminal case and moves faster. In many cases we can request a hearing to contest it or pursue an occupational license so you can keep driving to work. The window to act is short.
What should I do if I am pulled over for suspected OWI in Hudson?
Stay calm, be polite, and give the officer your license and registration. You are not required to answer questions about where you have been or what you have had to drink, and you can say you would like to speak with a lawyer. What happens in the first few minutes of a stop often shapes the whole case.
How soon should I call a lawyer after an arrest?
As soon as you can. The deadline to challenge your license can pass within days, and early review of the stop and the testing is when the most options are still on the table. Cohen Law Offices answers calls 24 hours a day at 715-514-5051.
Facing an OWI in Hudson? Call Cohen Law Offices.
A drunk driving charge in St. Croix County is defensible, and the right response starts early. Call 715-514-5051 any time to talk through your case with a team that defends these charges on both sides of the Minnesota border.
