Racine County WI OWI/DUI Lawyer

The primary drunk driving offense in Wisconsin is called Operating While Intoxicated or OWI. It can also be referred to as Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of an Intoxicant. In parts of the country the offense is called Driving Under the Influence or DUI. The charges are comparable and come with severe penalties and long-term consequences.

Despite how difficult things may seem, you still have legal rights. An experienced Wisconsin OWI/DUI lawyer can help you understand and preserve those rights. If you want to fight your case, it is critical that you immediately contact a qualified DUI defense attorney.

Just because you have received a citation does not mean you are guilty. Racine DUI Lawyer Walter Piel starts with the premise that you are innocent. He will challenge evidence, analyze maintenance records of breath and blood testing equipment, research your case, interview witnesses and review the arrest report for errors in police procedure and policy. The goal is to make the state meet its burden of establishing guilt. If it cannot prove each of its points, there is a chance your charges could be reduced or your case dismissed.

Racine County WI DUI Lawyer Walter Piel offers a free review of your specific case, with no further obligation. He will discuss legal options, clarify your rights, outline prospective penalties and propose fees for his services; before you have to make a decision to hire him. To schedule a meeting, fill out the consultation request form to the left or call toll free (877) DUI-1DUI (877-384-1384). Phones are answered 24/7.

According to Wisconsin DUI law, if you failed a breath test during an arrest for driving under the influence in Racine County, WI or you refused to submit to a test, you will automatically lose your driver's license. This is an action that is separate from the DUI case and may occur even before your first court date.

You have the absolute right to challenge an Administrative Suspension or Refusal Revocation process. To do so you must file a written request for an Administrative Hearing. In most cases, that request must be filed within 10 days of your arrest. Failure to make the request on time will result in the automatic suspension or revocation of your driving privileges. Consulting a qualified DUI attorney will help ensure that your rights are protected and improve your chances of keeping your driving privileges. Contact Racine DUI Attorney Walter Piel and ask him for immediate help with requesting a hearing and representing you.

Being found guilty of driving under the influence in Wisconsin could result in court costs, fines, financial surcharges and fees, loss of driver's license, significantly higher auto insurance premiums and a mandatory alcohol assessment. A second offense could lead to a mandatory jail sentence with a minimum term.

A second Wisconsin DUI is filed as a criminal act. Having two or more convictions for DUI would mean having a criminal record, which could lead to loss of your existing job, limit future employment opportunities, prohibit you from opening a credit account and limit travels to other countries. Canada in particular is more vigorously enforcing its long-standing policy of denying entry to those who have committed a crime, even a misdemeanor DUI.

The penalties for Wisconsin DUI change frequently, making it even more important to hire an experienced and qualified drunk driving defense attorney like Walter Piel.

The Piel Law Office practices criminal law, with an almost exclusive focus on drunk driving defense. Racine County DUI Attorney Walter Piel has handled more than 750 WI OWI/DUI cases during his fifteen years in private practice. He has taken more than 100 cases to a jury trial. That kind of court and trial experience could make a difference in the outcome of your case.

Racine DUI Lawyer Walter Piel received an undergraduate degree from the University of Stevens Point and a juris doctorate from the University of Nebraska, where he participated in the College of Law Client Counseling Competition. He interned with the Portage County District Attorney's Office, giving unique insight into both sides of a Wisconsin DUI case. Walter Piel clerked with the Nebraska Department of Transportation where he worked with the legal department in enforcing the state's drunk driving Implied Consent Law.

Attorney Walter Piel is a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin (Criminal Law Section), the Wisconsin Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He has attended the Wisconsin Public Defender Trial Skills Academy and participated in an Advanced Cross Examination Course at the National Criminal Defense College.

For a free consultation and immediate help with your license and your WI DUI, contact Racine County DUI Lawyer Walter Piel by calling (877)-384-1384 or filling out the form to the left. All inquiries are confidential and will receive a prompt response.