Should You Hire An Attorney For An OWI Charge?

OWI - Operating While Intoxicated - Convictions Are Permanent

If you are arrested for driving under the influence of any substance - alcohol, prescription medication, over the counter drugs such as ephedrine, illegal drugs, or any other substance that impairs the driver - a OWI conviction will be permanently recorded on your driving record, with the exception of a first offense PAC charge of .08 - .099, which is intended to come off the permanent record after 10 years. Whenever a driving history record is checked with the DOT, they report any OWI on the record, and unless it is a first offense and removed after the ten year period of time, a OWI will forever be reported.

In Wisconsin, as with most states, OWI laws are strictly enforced. Although you are not required to have an attorney, it is a very good idea to retain one if you have been arrested or charged with an OWI. If you do not know of an attorney who is learned in the many strategies of challenging a drunk driving offense, please feel free to call our office (608-284-1200). If we are not available to help you because of your location or the timing of your trial, we definitely can refer you to the right attorney. We either know or know well of the practice and expertise of every DUI defense attorney in Wisconsin and across the nation. You can also access our referral network of drunk driving defense attorneys on our website.

OWI and Vehicular Injury or Vehicular Homicide

If you have seriously injured or killed another person, there should be no questions as to 'whether' you should hire an attorney, the question is 'when'.

When To Hire An OWI Attorney

If you wait to hire an attorney until your court date, several problems can arise. First, you probably will have already lost your license because the administrative hearing regarding your license is held before your court date. Second, you may not be able to contact or to retain an attorney in time for your court hearing. Despite the fact that there seem to be many attorneys who handle OWI - or DUI Defense as it sometimes called - not all attorneys have handled cases involving prior OWI convictions and not all of them will be available... OWI charges account for more arrests in the state of Wisconsin than other serious criminal charges.

Timing Can Be Everything For Reducing Charges or Eliminating Charges

If you do not hire an attorney early on in the process, time can remove opportunities for discovery, challenging evidence, filing motions to challenge charges or testimony, and other factors that can and usually do have a tremendous impact on your case.

Free Initial Consultation

This isn't intended to be a plug for our firm, but we do offer a free initial evaluation of the charges against you, as do many attorneys in Wisconsin. Whether you email or call our office, you will get a response from an attorney. We'll be able to give you a good idea of where you stand, the charges you face, and how the law applies to your situation based on the facts that you provide to us. (More information at Drunk Driving Defense Center)