On the eve of New Year’s Eve, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that police in southeast Wisconsin were planning a crackdown on suspected drunk drivers over the New Year’s holiday after seeing an increase in the number of drunk driving arrests and accidents involving alcohol.
On Dec. 30, the Waukesha Police Department said on Facebook that it had seen an increase in drunk driving over the past 10 days, and the same day a press release from Waukesha police said a task force would be targeting drunk drivers on the New Year’s holiday and beyond.
Waukesha police said the Southeast Wisconsin Multi-Jurisdictional OWI Task Force has deployed 235 officers since the beginning of October, resulting in 69 drunk driving arrests and 727 citations out of nearly 1,000 stops.
The numbers are not yet in reporting how many drunk driving arrests were made by the task force over the New Year’s holiday, but it is likely a high number. If you are one of the drivers who kicked off the new year with a drunk driving arrest, you are probably wondering what to do next.
As you may know, a conviction on OWI, DWI or DUI charges may result in many serious consequences, including fines, a driver’s license revocation or suspension, and possible jail time. Making matters even more serious is if this was not your first OWI, DWI or DUI charge.
In addition to the direct consequences of a drunk driving conviction, you can also face indirect consequences such as dramatically-increased insurance costs, loss of employment, and embarrassment within your family, social group or profession.
The good news is that you still have many rights in your case, including the ability to challenge the charges against you. Especially on days like New Year’s Eve when police are out to make as many arrests as possible, it is common for arrests to be made without the cause.
Even though you may not have started 2015 on the best note, talking to an experienced criminal defense attorney can help you face your situation head-on and achieve the best outcome possible.