As you enjoy the last days of 2022, make sure you’re being safe because AAA says this is one of the most dangerous holidays of the year.
According to AAA , the odds of getting in a car accident on New Year’s Eve skyrockets because there are more drunk drivers on the road. During the holidays, more drivers are alcohol impaired because so many people are going to holiday parties.
Here are some statistics to keep in mind as you hit the road this New Year's Eve:
· Across the country, 36 people, on average, were killed every day in crashes involving
alcohol between 2001 and 2005. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration , on New Year’s Day alone, that number went up an average of 54.
· DUI arrests peak between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
· Between Christmas and New Year’s, 40 percent of deadly crashes involve drunk drivers,
according to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
· AAA said more pedestrians are killed on New Year’s Day than any other day of the year.
What to Do if You're Pulled Over for OWI/DUI in Wisconsin
The following list of actions to consider if you are pulled over by police for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol (DUI) in Wisconsin, does not and cannot constitute legal advice, as there is no way to know the specific circumstances surrounding your current situation. It is simply presented as a list of recommended steps to take in order to maximize your chances of a smooth, uneventful stop.
1. Take a breath.
2. Stay calm.
3. Get your license, registration and insurance information ready.
4. Be polite and respectful.
5. Be careful about what you say, since what you say to the officer can and will be used against you.
6. Keep in mind, you are NOT LEGALLY REQUIRED to submit to field sobriety tests (FSTs) in Wisconsin, including the breathalyzer test in the field*. You have the right to refuse.
7. If you choose to refuse FSTs, be polite and respectful when declining.
8. If you choose to decline the FSTs, be prepared to be arrested on the spot.
9. Be cooperative as you are being taken into custody, knowing you have already potentially helped your case by declining to submit to subjective and often inaccurate FSTs
10. Contact an experienced OWI attorney as soon as you are able.
*Once you have been arrested and are in policy custody, you will be required to submit to chemical testing (breath, blood, etc.) as a condition of Implied Consent in Wisconsin.
If you are mindful of these points throughout your interactions with law enforcement during a DUI stop in Wisconsin, you can potentially help the ultimate outcome of your DUI case.
We wish you all a very happy New Year’s and are here to answer any question you may have. Should you or a loved one find in need of legal help please contact us today to set up a free consultation. Please contact us by text or phone at (414) 774-6000 or email at laura@jlfwisconsin.com anytime.
*Any articles in the Libra or posted by Jones Law Firm LLC are not legal advice for a particular client or situation. Further no attorney-client relationship is intended or created with this post.*
