WISCONSIN FIELD FILE

Every section, top to bottom.

About this guide — education built from the Wisconsin Statutes as the Legislature publishes them, not a law degree in a webpage. Applying them to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney or a legal aid office. Current as of September 2026.

9 sections · see all 10

Traffic stops

More than 0.0. A person below the legal drinking age may not drive or operate a motor vehicle in Wisconsin with an alcohol concentration of more than 0.0 but not more than 0.08. Above that, the ordinary law on operating under the influence applies.

Wis. Stat. 346.63

One penalty is suspension of the operating privilege, and the person is eligible for an occupational license at any time. Refusing a test after an arrest for this is a separate violation.

Wis. Stat. 346.63

$200, or $400 with a young passenger. The forfeiture is $200, and $400 if a minor passenger under 16 years of age was in the vehicle.

Wis. Stat. 346.65

Sources for this section (2)

Wis. Stat. 346.63 — Operating under influence of intoxicant or other drug
Wis. Stat. 346.65 — Penalty for violating sections 346.62 to 346.64

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney.

4 sections · see all 6

Being stopped

2 sections · see all 3

Impaired driving

30 sections

Court and money

1 section

Recording

2 sections

Carrying a firearm

8 sections · see all 16

Charges and penalties

2 sections · see all 10

How you carry yourself

Walk it through

The same law taken one decision at a time. Each opens on its own page.

This guide covers common situations in real Wisconsin encounters. Not the whole legal code, not a replacement for a lawyer.

WISCONSIN FIELD FILE

Traffic stops

Under The Drinking Age And DrivingWis. Stat. 346.63 — any alcohol concentration above 0.0, up to 0.08, is its own violation▾

Open ContainerWis. Stat. 346.935 — no drinking in a vehicle on a highway, and opened containers kept in the trunk▾

Your Phone Behind The WheelWis. Stat. 346.89 — no composing or sending texts or email while driving▾

Speed LimitsWis. Stat. 346.57 — 55 where nothing else is posted, 70 on freeways▾

Reckless DrivingWis. Stat. 346.62 — endangering people or property by negligent driving▾

Seat BeltsWis. Stat. 347.48 — the driver and every passenger 8 or older, front and back▾

Driving While SuspendedWis. Stat. 343.44 — suspended is a $50 to $200 forfeiture; revoked up to $2,500▾

After A CrashWis. Stat. 346.67 — stop, stay, trade information and help anyone hurt▾

Traffic StopsWis. Stat. 343.18 — the license on demand, and proof of insurance, which a phone can show without opening the rest of it▾

Being stopped

When You Must IdentifyWis. Stat. 968.24 — name, address and an explanation, on reasonable suspicion, near where the stop happened▾

Being ArrestedWis. Stat. 968.07 — on a warrant, or reasonable grounds to believe a crime was committed▾

Reading A Search WarrantWis. Stat. 968.12 — signed by a judge on probable cause, and void if not executed within 5 days▾

Resisting And FleeingWis. Stat. 946.41 — resisting or obstructing an officer, false information included, a Class A misdemeanor▾

Impaired driving

The Impaired Driving StopWis. Stat. 346.63 — under the influence, a prohibited alcohol concentration, or a restricted drug in the blood▾

Public IntoxicationWis. Stat. 51.45 — treatment rather than prosecution, and protective custody that is not an arrest▾

Court and money

Getting The Deposit BackWis. Stat. 704.28 — the deposit back within 21 days, less only what the statute lets a landlord keep▾

When The Landlord Can Come InWis. Stat. 704.05 — advance notice and reasonable times, unless an absent tenant's premises need protecting▾

Lease Terms That Do Not CountWis. Stat. 704.44 — a residential lease with any of these provisions is void and unenforceable▾

Being EvictedWis. Stat. 704.17 — 5 days to pay or leave, 14 days to leave, 30 days on a lease over a year▾

Retaliatory EvictionWis. Stat. 704.45 — no rent increase, cut in service or eviction because of a housing complaint▾

When The Landlord Will Not Fix ItWis. Stat. 704.07 — the landlord's duty to repair, and rent that abates when the unit is unfit▾

Leaving A Lease EarlyWis. Stat. 704.29 — the landlord recovers rent only less what reasonable efforts to rerent would bring▾

Leaving Because Of A ThreatWis. Stat. 704.16 — ending a tenancy on an injunction or complaint, and the locks changed within 48 hours▾

Things Left BehindWis. Stat. 704.05 — what a landlord may do with a tenant's property after the tenant leaves▾

Restraining OrdersWis. Stat. 813.12 — a hearing within 14 days, an injunction for up to 4 years▾

Clearing A RecordWis. Stat. 973.015 — expunction ordered at sentencing, for an offense committed before 25▾

Getting PaidWis. Stat. 109.03 — at least monthly, and a final check by the next regular payday▾

Minimum WageWis. Stat. 104.035 — $7.25 an hour, $2.33 for tipped employees whose tips make up the rest▾

Unemployment BenefitsWis. Stat. 108.04 — at least 4 work search actions a week; a quit or a firing for misconduct delays benefits▾

Hurt At WorkWis. Stat. 102.12 — the employer on notice within 30 days, and an application within 2 years▾

Discrimination At WorkWis. Stat. 111.321 — a complaint to the department within 300 days▾

Jury Duty And Your JobWis. Stat. 756.255 — leave for the service, and no firing or discipline for it▾

Getting Public RecordsWis. Stat. 19.35 — any requester, no reason needed, and an answer as soon as practicable▾

What A Creditor Cannot TakeWis. Stat. 815.18 — household goods to $12,000, a vehicle to $4,000, and 80 percent of wages▾

Getting DivorcedWis. Stat. 767.301 — 6 months in the state, 30 days in the county, then 120 days' wait▾

Maintenance And PropertyWis. Stat. 767.61 — property presumed divided equally, gifts and inheritances kept▾

Custody And PlacementWis. Stat. 767.41 — joint legal custody presumed, placement that maximizes time with each parent▾

Deceptive Business PracticesWis. Stat. 100.18 — an untrue, deceptive or misleading representation to the public, and the loss back with fees▾

Door To Door SalesWis. Stat. 423.202 — until midnight of the 3rd business day after the seller's notice▾

Lemon LawWis. Stat. 218.0171 — 4 repair attempts or 30 days out of service in the first year▾

Old Debts And Time LimitsWis. Stat. 893.43 — 6 years on a contract, 3 years for an injury▾

Housing DiscriminationWis. Stat. 106.50 — source of income and victim status among the protected grounds, and a year to sue▾

Dog BitesWis. Stat. 174.02 — the owner pays the full damages, and twice after notice of an earlier bite▾

Changing Your NameWis. Stat. 786.36 — a petition in the county of residence, with the notice published▾

Debt CollectorsWis. Stat. 427.104 — what a debt collector may not do in collecting a consumer debt▾

Recording

RecordingWis. Stat. 968.31 — a party to a conversation, or anyone with one party's consent, may record it▾

Carrying a firearm

CarryingWis. Stat. 175.60 — a license issued to anyone 21 or over who is not disqualified, decided within 21 days▾

Self DefenseWis. Stat. 939.48 — only the force reasonably believed necessary, and a presumption at home, in a car or at work▾

Charges and penalties

Marijuana And DrugsWis. Stat. 961.41 — marijuana first offense up to $1,000 or 6 months; a second is a Class I felony▾

The Theft LadderWis. Stat. 943.20 — a Class A misdemeanor up to $2,500, a felony above it▾

ShopliftingWis. Stat. 943.50 — detained in a reasonable manner for a reasonable time, and not searched against your will▾

BatteryWis. Stat. 940.60 — bodily harm intended, without consent, a Class A misdemeanor▾

Harassment And StalkingWis. Stat. 940.32 — a course of 2 or more acts causing serious emotional distress, a Class I felony▾

What An Offense Level MeansWis. Stat. 939.50 — felonies A to I, misdemeanors A to C, forfeitures A to E▾

Minor In PossessionWis. Stat. 125.07 — underage possession is a forfeiture of $100 to $200 the first time▾

Bail After An ArrestWis. Stat. 969.01 — release before conviction on reasonable conditions, and on a misdemeanor, bail no higher than the maximum fine▾

How you carry yourself

Disorderly ConductWis. Stat. 947.01 — conduct that tends to cause or provoke a disturbance, a Class B misdemeanor▾

TrespassWis. Stat. 943.13 — land is a Class B forfeiture; a dwelling is a Class A misdemeanor▾

Walk it through