Wisconsin OWI Guides by City
The court that hears your case depends on where you were arrested.
Milwaukee
Milwaukee
Milwaukee Municipal Court
A first OWI cited under a city ordinance goes to municipal court. One cited under state law, or any 2nd or later OWI, goes to Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
Madison
Dane
Madison Municipal Court
First-offense OWI under a city ordinance. Repeat OWIs go to Dane County Circuit Court.
Green Bay
Brown
Green Bay Municipal Court
First-offense OWI under a city ordinance. Repeat OWIs go to Brown County Circuit Court.
Kenosha
Kenosha
Kenosha Municipal Court
First-offense OWI under a city ordinance. Repeat OWIs go to Kenosha County Circuit Court.
Racine
Racine
Racine Municipal Court
First-offense OWI under a city ordinance. Repeat OWIs go to Racine County Circuit Court.
Official sources
- WisDOT — Administrative review hearing
- WisDOT — First OWI offense
- WisDOT — Impaired driving (OWI) in Wisconsin
- WisDOT — Drunk driving law
- WisDOT — OWI and related penalties chart
- WisDOT — Underage alcohol offenses and penalties
- WisDOT — Commercial driver license alcohol and drug penalties
- WisDOT — First offense OWI summary
- WisDOT — Proof of insurance (SR-22)
- WisDOT — Lifetime revocation
- Wis. Admin. Code Trans 113.04
- Wis. Stat. §343.305
- Wis. Stat. §346.65
- Wis. Stat. §346.935
- Wis. Stat. §940.25
- Wis. Stat. §973.015
- Legislative Fiscal Bureau — Intoxicated Driver Laws (Jan. 2023)
- Legislative Reference Bureau — Wisconsin’s OWI Laws
- Wisconsin Court System — Municipal courts: function
- Wis. Stat. §345.43(1)
- Legislative Reference Bureau — LRB Reports, August 2018
- WisDOT — Occupational license
- WisDOT — Occupational License Information (BDS361)
- WisDOT — Application for Occupational Operator License (MV3027)
- WisDOT — Frequently asked questions about IIDs (Dec. 2025)
- WisDOT — OWI assessment and driver safety plan
- Wisconsin DHS — Intoxicated Driver Program
- Wis. Stat. §343.30(6)
- 2025 Wisconsin Act 210
- Wisconsin Legislative Council — Amendment memo, 2025 Senate Bill 248
Educational information, not legal advice. Wisconsin law changes and every case is different. Confirm deadlines with Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT), Division of Motor Vehicles and talk to a licensed Wisconsin attorney about your situation.
Some details on this page are still being verified against official sources. Check the linked sources before relying on a specific number or deadline.
Last reviewed October 1, 2026.