Milwaukee DUI Defense—Wisconsin Lawyers

You need an experienced and knowledgeable lawyer for a Wisconsin OWI

Our defense attorneys have represented thousands of clients charged with OWI, also known as DUI. We have taken over 100 cases to jury trial. We routinely file motions challenging questionable activities of law enforcement officers. We are regularly asked to speak at seminars. We enjoy sharing our knowledge of the law with other attorneys—just as we benefit from careful consideration of their experiences. It is this continuous immersion in the legal intricacies of the law that enables us to give you the best possible defense against your OWI charge.

Operating while impaired

In Wisconsin a variety of driving offenses are grouped under the charge OWI—operating while impaired or intoxicated. You may be more familiar with other terms such as:

You can be charged with OWI for operating under the influence of a drug if it materially impairs the ability to safely operate a motor vehicle:

You are automatically guilty of operating under the influence if a blood test shows that at the time of operation you had a trace of THC, cocaine, or cocaine metabolites. Cocaine metabolites can appear for up to five days after use and traces of THC can appear for a significantly greater period.

DUI cases in Milwaukee, Waukesha, and other counties

At Hayes & Rothstein, we study the evidence in your case and then often file legal motions challenging:

We defend your ability to retain your Wisconsin driver's license

A conviction for operating under the influence results in the mandatory revocation of operating privileges. Even if a conviction occurs, we may be able to protect your eligibility to obtain an occupational license. In some cases the timing of a conviction in court becomes important.

We carefully look at the administrative suspension proceedings that result in the automatic suspension of a driver's license 30 days after a chemical test at or over the legal limit. Protecting your right to drive may dictate that we not challenge the administrative suspension. We look at the facts of your case and at your prior record before advising whether to fight the administrative suspension. If your case mandates the vigorous defense of an administrative suspension proceeding, we can issue a subpoena to the law enforcement officers in your case. This may offer significant advantages at the administrative suspension hearing and/or in the defense of the operating under the influence case in court. In some circumstances, we may ask for a judicial review of an adverse administrative suspension hearing decision. If granted you would be able to legally continue to operate a motor vehicle.

Mitigation of incarceration, GPS, electronic monitoring, home monitoring, electronic surveillance, probation, and other alternatives

Wisconsin law provides that a conviction for operating under the influence of an intoxicant for a second or subsequent offense requires a mandatory jail sentence or a prison sentence. The duration of the jail sentence or prison sentence is somewhat dependent on the facts of your case and your prior record but is also dependent on the quality of the legal advice and representation you obtain. It is also dependent on your ability to follow the advice of your attorney. At Hayes & Rothstein, S.C. we pride ourselves on forcefully advocating for minimum or moderate sentences and on taking all steps to put you in the best position to obtain an alternative disposition such as probation or electronic monitoring, home monitoring or electronic surveillance.

Get the hardest working DUI lawyers in Milwaukee

If you have been arrested for drunk driving, you need a Milwaukee attorney with a reputation for winning Wisconsin DUI cases. For a free initial consultation with a persistent Milwaukee DUI lawyer, make an appointment at the law firm of Hayes & Rothstein.