In addition to criminal penalties, Wisconsin law also provides for administrative sanctions. An OWI arrest or conviction may have a very negative impact on driving privileges with the possibility of an immediate suspension by the department of motor vehicles; the same could apply to any person refusing to submit to chemical tests.
The driver’s vehicle may also be confiscated or impounded, and the OWI offender will likely incur significant costs. This loss of driving privileges can occur even before an OWI conviction.
As with criminal penalties, the impact of an OWI arrest or conviction on driving privileges will vary according to the driver’s history of OWI violations and the severity of the offense.