For Appleton residents and those throughout Wisconsin, law enforcement will be actively seeking drivers who indicate hallmarks of being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. After a traffic stop, when the officer has investigated and come to the determination that the driver is under the influence, there will be an arrest. A conviction can carry with it significant consequences. This is especially true if the driver has previous convictions for an OWI charge. Having a legal defense is important regardless of the circumstances.
A 54-year-old resident of Appleton was arrested for OWI. What makes this case unique is that this was the ninth time he has been charged with OWI. According to law enforcement, a state trooper saw the vehicle commit a lane violation. The incident occurred in the early morning hours at around 4:15 a.m. The officer stated that he smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle.
The driver said he had smoked it and had it in the car. The vehicle was searched and the marijuana and drug paraphernalia were discovered. When asked to take field sobriety tests, the man refused. He was arrested for OWI. After the arrest, blood was drawn to determine what was in his system. He was charged with OWI, drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, refusal and violating parole.
One OWI charge is problematic enough, but when there are numerous charges, it can lead to extensive penalties and long-term problems. License revocation, fines, jail time and other penalties can come about when there is a conviction. Although the charges in this case are compounded by the driver refusing to take sobriety tests and that he had been arrested eight other times, he should remember the importance of a legal defense. Perhaps the stop was conducted in violation of police procedure. It could be that the investigation and arrest were not done in a valid way. There are many avenues of defense for an OWI charge and a law firm experienced in cases of drugged and drunk driving can help.
