Wondering whether police can stop you for broken tail lights in Wisconsin?  Van Severen Law Office, S.C. criminal defense lawyers explain: Broken tail lights, and replacing burnt out bulbs, involves one of the most basic forms of maintenance we must perform on our vehicles.  This is especially the case if you’ve ever had the pleasure of driving a high mileage vehicle with some wear on it.  Unfortunately, sometimes you don’t discover your tail light isn’t working until it’s too late and the cops are behind you.  Whether the police can pull you over for an equipment violation ..read more

Marijuana is illegal in Wisconsin.  What about delta-8, delta-9, delta-10, and CBD? Years after the federal legalization of hemp-derived delta-9, Wisconsinites across the state have started to see advertisements for “legal weed.”  And once they take a look into these ads, they’re sometimes surprised to see that various companies across the United States are prepared to ship these items right to Wisconsin.  But plenty of smoke and mirrors are usually at play, and these companies typically use generic, confusing terms such as “weed,” “legal weed,” or “the good stuff” (our favorit ..read more

Prosecutors typically file additional charges when you run from the police.  But what are they?  Our criminal defense attorneys explain: We see people run from police on television all the time.  Sometimes we see it in real life.  Taking these actions will likely result in additional criminal charges.  How serious those charges are depend on a few circumstances.  For example, was the defendant in a vehicle when he fled from the police?  This is a felony called fleeing and eluding.  Was the defendant on foot when he ran away? The misdemeanor criminal cha ..read more

What are drunk driving laws in Wisconsin in 2024? Drivers in Wisconsin are constantly being bombarded by updated traffic laws.  Frequently, those updated laws include escalating drunk driving penalties throughout the state.  Just years ago, a fourth offense drunk driving charge was not automatically a felony.  Now, it is, and a conviction carries with it the possibility of having to go to prison. At Van Severen Law Office, S.C., we represent a significant amount of people facing all OWI offenses throughout Wisconsin.  We’ve represented individuals facing their first offens ..read more

What happens when a Wisconsin hunter accidentally shoots someone else? Unfortunately, accidents during hunting season happen every year.  Sometimes those accidents are minor.  Other times, those accidents result in fatalities and are the result of accidental shootings.  What happens when a hunter accidentally shoots another?  And importantly, what happens when the victim dies? In this blog post, criminal defense attorney Benjamin T. Van Severen discusses the criminal charges an individual in this position faces, along with what the government needs to prove in order to sus ..read more

A Wisconsin criminal defense attorney explains the pros and cons of a no contest plea. Sometimes criminal cases in Wisconsin conclude with a guilty or a no contest plea.  This is generally after the defendant decides he’s not interested in proceeding to trial, but instead wants to resolve the case.  Sometimes this is because the defendant is guilty.  Other times, it’s simply because he’s looking to accept responsibility and get the case over with.  Considering the fact that the defendant is looking to resolve the case, obviously he can’t enter a “not guilty” plea at this po ..read more

What are Wisconsin’s knife laws in 2023?  Our criminal defense lawyers explain: Wisconsin’s knife laws might seem confusing.  Are butterfly knives legal? What about switchblades?  Does the length of the blade matter, and where do I start measuring it?  Finally, can I possess a concealed knife? Over the last decade, new laws have slightly complicated the matter.  Possession is legal for switchblade, butterfly, bowie, ballistic, automatic and hidden knives.  Section 941.231 of the Wisconsin Statutes, titled carrying a concealed knife, makes it a crime for individual ..read more

Felons in Wisconsin will have a difficult, if not impossible, time deer hunting for the rest of their lives. Deer hunting in Wisconsin is a tradition that many of us have known our entire lives.  As we approach the holiday season, hordes of Wisconsinites migrate north to hunt the state’s native white-tailed deer.  Different timelines apply to different hunts, involving different sorts of weapons.  In 2023, the archery and crossbow season runs between September 16, 2023 and January 7, 2024.  The gun season runs between November 18 and November 26, 2023.  Finally, the mu ..read more

Police misconduct regularly makes the news.  But how does it impact defendants in criminal prosecutions? Police misconduct regularly make headlines these days, but how do bad cops and their equally bad actions impact criminal prosecutions?  Like most things in the law, the answer depends upon the circumstances.  This blog post will describe what police misconduct is and how various police actions impact criminal prosecutions.  It’s important to remember that articles on our website provide general information, and not legal advice, and that speaking with one of our criminal ..read more

Wondering what kind of trouble you can get into for possession of fake IDs in Wisconsin?  Van Severen Law Office, S.C. explains. Whether or not the law appreciates it, thousands of underage individuals throughout Wisconsin regularly engage in drinking alcohol.  Some of those individuals find adults to purchase their beverages.  Others sneak into bars or steal liquor from their parents.  And a small portion of individuals possess a fake ID and use that ID to get ahold of alcohol in a variety of ways.  Some consider it a rite of passage.  The cops don’t, and if you ..read more