Police and arrest info

Before making an arrest for operating while intoxicated (OWI) Wisconsin law enforcement agents must have enough evidence to establish that a crime was committed.  To do so, they may administer a series of field sobriety tests that are used to gauge your level of intoxication.  

What exactly does that mean and what do you need to know?

"When are police allowed to search my person or vehicle?"

To help answer this question and to gain a better understanding of this issue it is helpful to understand the meaning of "probable cause" under Wisconsin law.

Traffic stops are the most common reasons for police encounters.  Knowing your rights during a Wisconsin traffic stop may protect you from unlawful criminal charges.

When the police come knocking you might feel caught off guard, nervous or confused.  As you quickly gather your thoughts, you may have many questions spinning through your brain.  Do the police need a warrant to come into your home?  What happens if you just don’t respond?  Why are the police even at your door if you didn’t do anything wrong; OR EVEN IF YOU DID? So what do you do?

The absolute most important thing to remember if you are arrested is that you have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney.  These rights, however, only protect you if you use them!  If you are arrested, the single best thing that you can do for yourself is to keep quiet until you are represented by a lawyer.