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…

What is fleeing/eluding an officer? Although lawmakers increased the penalties associated with this offense in 2024, they didn’t change the substance of the law itself. Section 364.04(3) of the Wisconsin Statutes is the specific law prohibiting fleeing or eluding an officer.  The law says: (3) No operator of a vehicle, after having received a visual or…

How it all started: Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 farm bill) Farm bills in the United States are comprehensive omnibus bills that are passed every five to six years.  They cover agricultural and food policy for the federal government.  The 2018 Farm Bill (Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018) legalized industrial hemp and its derivatives…

Fraudulent use of a financial transaction card, explained by the criminal defense attorneys at Van Severen Law Office, S.C. Fraudulent use of a financial transaction card is one of many financial crimes in Wisconsin.  In a simple example, this crime occurs when the defendant steals another individual’s credit card and then uses it to purchase…

Section 941.12 of the Wisconsin Statutes – Interfering with fire fighting Section 941.12 of the Wisconsin Statutes provides the law addressing interfering with fire fighting.  It says: (1) Whoever intentionally interferes with the proper functioning of a fire alarm system or the lawful efforts of fire fighters to extinguish a fire is guilty of a Class…

What is use or possession of a handgun and an armor piercing round during crime? Section 941.296 of the Wisconsin Statutes prohibits individuals from possessing armor-piercing ammunition while committing crimes.  Section 941.296(2) of the Wisconsin Statutes says: (2) Whoever uses or possesses a handgun during the commission of a crime under chs. 939 to 948 or 961 is guilty of a…

Section 941.13 of the Wisconsin Statutes – False alarms Section 941.13 of the Wisconsin Statutes is titled “false alarms.”  Although this title may not match your criminal complaint (and we’ll see that it doesn’t match the jury instructions), this section applies to illegally pulling a fire alarm.  The law says: False alarms. Whoever intentionally gives a…

What about the elements? If you’ve been to court and watched various court proceedings, perhaps you’ve heard reference to the elements of an offense.  Elements are parts of a crime.  The government must prove each of the parts beyond a reasonable doubt.  And importantly, if the government fails to satisfy that burden for each element,…

Injury by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon is a felony in Wisconsin.  Contact Van Severen Law Office, S.C. for help: (414) 270-0202 In Wisconsin, an accident can quickly turn into criminal charges for injury by negligent handling of a dangerous weapon.  The statute prohibiting this offense requires that the defendant negligently operated or handled…

What happens when you run from police on foot?  Resisting an officer – Section 946.41 of the Wisconsin Statutes Section 946.41 of the Wisconsin Statutes is titled “resisting or obstructing an officer.  Obstructing an officer generally applies to situations where and individual intentionally lies or misleads the police.  But resisting an officer applies to situations…