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Click here to read an article about Wisconsin’s OWI/drunk driving law, and what you should do if you are stopped by the police.
Traffic violations can have serious criminal consequences, particularly when a driver is accused of drunk driving. A conviction on OWI/DWI/DUI charges may result in fines, the revocation or suspension of your driver’s license and possible jail time. Additionally, depending on the circumstances of your arrest and whether or not you have any prior DUI convictions, the DUI penalties you face could be severe. In addition, your insurance company may increase your rates to an unmanageable level.
If you are charged with drunk driving, you have many rights as a criminal defendant, including the right to cross-examine the witnesses against you, even if they are police officers. An experienced criminal defense attorney can make all the difference in a drunk driving case.
If you have been charged with OWI, DWI, DUI, you only have 10 days to request a hearing to challenge the revocation of your driver’s license by the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). I will represent you against the drunk driving or refusal charge as well as at the Administration Review Hearing to challenge the revocation of your driver’s license.
I will immediately begin working on your behalf, gathering and reviewing police reports and obtaining a pretrial offer from the prosecutor. At that time, I can advise you on whether I think you should have me try the case or accept a plea arrangement. It’s also important to keep in mind that a DUI arrest is only as good as the evidence against you. There are a number of things that can go wrong when administering a field sobriety test. Any departure from standard procedures may be grounds for having your DUI arrest dismissed. Likewise, blood, urine or breath tests are not 100 percent reliable all the time: samples can be tainted and breathalyzers improperly calibrated.
Even if you decide to plead guilty, there is a great deal I can do to minimize the effect of the conviction. I will get you into an alcohol counseling program immediately, which can benefit your case and reduce your exposure to jail time. If you refused to take a blood or breath alcohol test, I can seek to have that charge dismissed. If you have companion traffic tickets in addition to a drunk driving charge, I can seek to have those charges dismissed so you pay one fine instead of several fines. If you are charged with an injury or property damage, I can work to get those charges reduced or dismissed if you pay restitution.
If you have any prior drunk driving convictions, I can keep the district attorney from attaching those convictions to your current charge in certain situations. This could reduce your exposure to jail and even prison time.
DUI/OWI/DWI case law is always changing in Wisconsin and, as a dedicated criminal defense lawyer, I stay on top of these changes. I work closely with the prosecutors in southeastern Wisconsin and will work to seek the best pretrial offers for your case. In many cases, I can appear in court on your behalf, except for on the days you plead and are sentenced. This minimizes the time you have to take away from your job and family.
Call Today For A Free Initial Consultation 262-239-7631 or send me an email.
