Facing an OWI in Wisconsin? Know how to protect your driving privileges

With few exceptions, our society is built around the car, and being able to drive is essential in most parts of the country. You are at risk of losing your driving privileges if you are fighting an OWI in the state of Wisconsin, which means that your life could be severely curtailed. However, with the help of an experienced criminal lawyer in Wisconsin, you might be able to preserve your driving privileges.

The Field Sobriety Test

Once you’ve been pulled over because you’ve been driving erratically, you’ll be asked to take field sobriety tests. If you are a commercial driver, like a truck driver, you must take this test when ordered.

However, if you are not a commercial driver, you are allowed to refuse to take the field sobriety tests. If you decide to take the field test and fail, you are arrested on the spot, and your license is taken away. Be aware that if you refuse (and if you do, do so politely), then you will probably still be arrested and taken to a station, where you will be required to undergo blood alcohol testing. Police can use that refusal in assessing whether to arrest you.

Once you are at the station, you can’t refuse to take a test because of implied consent. Basically, when you got your license in Wisconsin, you agreed that you would consent to testing for OWI if you are arrested.

If you fail that required test, you’ll have to act fast to prevent a loss of driving privileges. You’ll get a temporary license that is good for 30 days and have a chance to attend an administrative review hearing. You should also receive a “Notice of Intent to Suspend.” Hold onto that notice; it could be what saves your driving privileges.

Before anything else, though, you must get the help of an experienced lawyer, such as Eisenberg Law Offices. The minute you are released from your arrest, contact us to arrange for a consultation.