Madison & Dane County OWI Defense Lawyer
A driver accused of unreasonably refusing a chemical test following a drunk driving arrest in Madison, Dane County, or anywhere in Wisconsin faces serious and immediate consequences to their driving privileges. If you are charged with refusing a chemical test, it is critical to speak with an experienced Wisconsin OWI defense attorney within 10 days of being charged.
Under Wisconsin’s implied consent law, law enforcement officers in Madison, Dane County, and throughout Southern Wisconsin may request a sample of a driver’s breath, blood, or urine if they believe the driver is operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If the driver declines to submit to the requested test, the officer will issue a document called a Notice of Intent to Revoke.
A conviction for refusing a chemical test in Wisconsin results in:
- A 12-month Wisconsin driver’s license revocation, and
- A mandatory ignition interlock device (IID/breathalyzer) for 12 months
After receiving a Notice of Intent to Revoke, the driver has only 10 days to file a formal request for a refusal hearing to challenge the revocation. If this hearing request is not timely filed, the license revocation and ignition interlock penalties will automatically take effect, with no further opportunity to contest them.
Because refusal cases involve strict deadlines and technical legal defenses, drivers arrested for OWI in Madison, Dane County, and surrounding Wisconsin communities should contact a local OWI refusal lawyer immediately to protect their driving privileges and preserve their right to a hearing.
