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Tracey Wood is a widely respected resource for criminal and OWI-related defense. As an author and attorney, her work is frequently cited by other defense attorneys, prosecutors, and even judges.

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Wisconsin OWI Breath Test Refusal

Under Wisconsin’s Implied Consent law, all individuals who drive on the state’s public roadways automatically imply their consent to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test if stopped on suspicion of operating while intoxicated (OWI). Violating this law could result in serious administrative penalties, even without being convicted of drunk driving. If you recently refused to take a breath test and were arrested as a result, you should immediately contact an experienced OWI defense attorney to begin fighting your charges.

Refusing the Breath Test

Wisconsin law enforcement agents can administer two breath tests during the course of an OWI investigation: a roadside test and an evidentiary test. While the roadside test is voluntary, refusing to take the evidentiary breath test back at the police station is seen as a violation of the Implied Consent law.

The penalties for declining the breath test include a one-year driver’s license revocation and ignition interlock device, which measures your blood alcohol content (BAC) before you can start your vehicle. You will also have to wait 30 days before applying to an occupational license that will allow you to drive to and from your place of employment and other court-approved locations. The length of the administrative license suspension is increased for each subsequent offense—a second refusal will result in a two-year revocation and a third refusal results in a three-year revocation.

In addition to the administrative penalty, a refusal can also be used in your criminal proceedings by the prosecution as an admission of guilt. Basically, the prosecutor could argue that you refused to take the breath test because you knew you would fail it.

To ensure you are aware of the consequences for declining the breath test, the officer is required to read the Implied Consent warning. If he or she failed to properly inform you of this warning, your OWI defense lawyer could move to have your refusal thrown out.

Contact Our Firm Now to Appeal Your License Revocation

The most pressing matter to handle after a breath test refusal is the automatic license revocation. Because you have only 10 days to request a hearing in the court, you should immediately contact our law firm to begin the appeal process.

To get started, please complete our online form now to schedule a time for your case evaluation.

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