Most people understand traffic tickets as civil infractions — a fine to pay, a box to check, and a matter resolved without a courtroom. Criminal traffic offenses are an entirely different category. In Wisconsin, certain traffic-related conduct is charged as a misdemeanor or felony, prosecuted by the state, and punishable by incarceration, license revocation, and a permanent criminal record. The distinction matters enormously, and the consequences of treating a criminal traffic charge like a simple ticket can be devastating.
Criminal traffic offenses in Wisconsin typically involve conduct that goes beyond mere negligence — recklessness, intentional disregard for safety, or behavior that results in injury or death to another person. Leaving the scene of an accident involving a fatality is a Class D felony. Reckless driving causing great bodily harm can carry up to two years in prison. Vehicular homicide — which can be charged even in the absence of intent — carries penalties measured in decades of imprisonment. These are not offenses that can be resolved with a fine.
At Katz Law LLC, we treat every criminal traffic charge with the full weight it deserves. Our attorneys investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged offense, challenge the prosecution's evidence, and build a defense strategy designed to achieve the best possible outcome — whether through negotiation, dismissal, or trial. If you or someone you love is facing a criminal traffic charge in Wisconsin, do not wait to get legal help.