A drunk driving conviction in the state of Wisconsin can have serious consequences. Not only could the individual face jail time but also fines and the loss of driving privileges. Proof is needed for a conviction, however, and for many, that proof comes in the form of a blood or urine test that shows the driver's blood-alcohol concentration at the time of the traffic stop. While most drivers are reticent to take such a test, a recent traffic stop of a woman suspected of OWI actually led to her near-accurate prediction of her own BAC and a subsequent arrest.
The incident occurred in nearby Fox Point, when a woman was pulled over because her vehicle allegedly veered into the opposite lane. On Feb. 15, the woman was driving on Port Washington Road, heading northbound at around 2:30 a.m. she was pulled over. When questioned, she stated that she had consumed five drinks earlier that night, stopping at 12:30 a.m.
During the traffic stop, the woman burst into tears on several occasions and could not find her driver's license. She confessed to being over the legal limit and supposedly bet that she had a BAC of at least 0.24 percent. A breath test showed her BAC to be 0.32. The follow-up test taken later at the police station in Fox Point showed a BAC of 0.27. The woman has a previous conviction for OWI in 2011, and this was her second arrest for drunk driving.
All residents of the state of Wisconsin have the right to fight a drunk driving charge. This fight can include challenging any of the evidence brought against the accused, including any blood-alcohol tests. These tests are not as accurate as police and prosecutors would have us believe. No matter what your BAC was, it is still possible to fight to reduce the penalties if not have the case thrown out altogether.
Source: Fox Point-Bayside Patch, "Drunk Driver: 'I Bet I Am At Least a 0.24'," Jeff Rumage, Feb. 19, 2013