What are the penalties for my first OWI charge?

First offense OWI is almost always a misdemeanor, punishable up to a maximum of 93 days in jail. Barring extreme circumstances, however, you will rarely serve the maximum jail sentence – if you have to serve at all. An experienced attorney like me understands that keeping you out of jail is the number one priority and will fight early and often to make sure your freedom is secured. The misdemeanor charge does carry a fine of up to $500, community service for up to 360 hours, suspension of your driver’s license for 30 days, and then restriction of your license for 150 days, and six points added to your driver’s license. There is a lot of discretion in what the judge ultimately imposes, and I have had success in getting the best possible outcome for his clients on OWI cases.