Do I have to submit to roadside sobriety tests?

On behalf of Nicholson, Gansner & Otis, S.C. on Wednesday, August 1, 2018.

If you had wine with your dinner or drinks with some friends, the sight of flashing lights behind you on the drive home may cause a feeling of panic. You try to play it cool, respond to the officer's questions with respect and even humor, and cooperate when the officer requests to see your license and car registration.

Then the officer asks you to step out of the car. Perhaps he or she smelled alcohol on your breath. Maybe your eyes are a little glassy or you slipped and mentioned you had a drink earlier in the evening. At any rate, you are now under suspicion of drunk driving, and the next few moments can mean the difference between heading home and riding in the back of a police car.

Those suffering from substance abuse may also face drug charges

On behalf of Nicholson, Gansner & Otis, S.C. on Friday, June 8, 2018.

You may have a drug abuse problem or know someone who does. These issues are serious, and you undoubtedly hope that one day you or your loved one can overcome the hold that the addiction has. Of course, even when individuals have a willingness and desire to get clean, the struggle can often prove too difficult without the right help.

Along the way, you or your loved one could wind up in a serious legal situation. Often, people with substance abuse problems have a tendency to act out of character due to the changes the drugs bring about in their minds, and they may feel willing to do almost anything to get another fix. In such cases, it is not unusual for addicts to wind up facing various drug-related charges.

I got arrested for a bar fight I didn't start! What happens now?

On behalf of Nicholson, Gansner & Otis, S.C. posted in blog on Thursday, April 12, 2018.

Any time you put a lot of people in a relatively small space and add alcohol, the potential for chaos exists. You never know how the person drinking next to you handles drinking too much. One innocent move or word could cause the other person to react violently.

If this happened to you, and a fight broke out, you could find yourself under arrest once police arrive. In these situations, many officers decide to arrest everyone and sort it out later. If you end up facing charges for assault and battery, don't panic. You may have options for your defense.

What makes certain evidence admissible in a criminal case?

On behalf of Nicholson, Gansner & Otis, S.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Tuesday, February 27, 2018.

If your arrest turns into criminal charges, you are likely working toward a defense. As part of that process, you and your criminal defense team will probably review all of the alleged evidence that prosecutors intend to use against you in court.

One of the first things you should know is that the court may not allow prosecutors to use all of that evidence in court. Part of your defense strategy may include determining what evidence is admissible and what evidence is not.

Do you have to let police take a 'quick look around'?

On behalf of Nicholson, Gansner & Otis, S.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Monday, February 19, 2018.

Police officers can be intimidating regardless of whether you committed a crime or not. If police knock on your door and ask to come inside, you might feel as if you have no choice but to let them in.

Although Wisconsin police officers have a degree of authority over residents, you still have legal rights. Learning a few basics about the law can prepare you for the best way to respond to this situation.

The right to privacy

A common misconception is that you must allow the officer to search because you have nothing to fear if you have nothing to hide. Refusing an optional search does not mean you are automatically guilty.

Instead, it means that you want to exercise your right to privacy. Historically, lawmakers and legal professionals have debated the extent of this right. However, the Fourth Amendment protects citizens from government searches without strong justification, such as probable cause and emergency.

Were you charged with assault while trying to defend yourself?

On behalf of Nicholson, Gansner & Otis, S.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Friday, February 16, 2018.

Growing up, you may have heard that you should always stick up for yourself and that standing up to bullies will get them to leave you alone. While these tactics may have proven useful to you as a child, getting into a physical altercation as an adult could have more serious consequences. Even if you feel that you had to take such action, you could still potentially face criminal charges for assault.

As many people in your situation choose to argue, you may feel that your actions were necessary due to acting out of self-defense. However, simply saying that you attempted to defend yourself may not cause the allegations of assault to disappear. Therefore, you may wish to better understand how the elements of self-defense could play into your criminal defense.

Your OWI And Ignition Interlock Devices

On behalf of Nicholson, Gansner & Otis, S.C. posted in OWI on Friday, October 13, 2017.

A conviction for drunk driving comes with various serious penalties, including jail time, expensive fines and more. One of the penalties that could have a negative impact on your life if you find yourself facing OWI charges is the required installation of an ignition interlock device.

Not every OWI offender in Wisconsin will have to have one of these devices installed in his or her car, but regardless of the nature of your case, you would be wise to learn more about the penalties you could face, along with how you can protect your interests as much as possible. With help, you can effectively confront any charge that stems from an alcohol-related offense.

Your cellphone and your rights

On behalf of Nicholson, Gansner & Otis, S.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Wednesday, August 2, 2017.

You probably keep many things on your cellphone. In addition to music, pictures and your favorite apps, you may have text messages archived or favorite websites bookmarked. If you are like many in Wisconsin, your phone is password protected because of the private information it contains.

What happens if police arrest you for a crime and suspect that you have evidence on your phone? Maybe they think you have photos of the crime or text messages that give details about your involvement. You probably know that police can't search your house or car without a warrant or probable cause, but can they search your phone?

How drinking diet soda can mess up a Breathalyzer test

On behalf of Nicholson, Gansner & Otis, S.C. posted in OWI on Monday, July 24, 2017.

Summer in Wisconsin is in full swing, and if you're one of many college students home for the holiday break, you're likely enjoying some down time with friends and family. You may participate in the multitude of fun things to do throughout the state during summer months, including live music concerts, picnics, trips to the beach and more. Sometimes, however, something unexpected occurs that can ruin your summer plans, such as a police officer pulling you over on your way home from a night on the town.

You may have heard horror stories about people getting convicted on drunk driving charges who swear they never touched a drop of alcohol before getting behind the wheel. There have indeed been past situations where faulty breath tests led to convictions in court. For this reason, you'll want to be aware of several things that can cause false positives to register on breath testing devices

How do I get my property back after charges are dismissed?

On behalf of Nicholson, Gansner & Otis, S.C. posted in Criminal Defense on Friday, June 30, 2017.

While investigating a suspected crime, your property can be collected as evidence. There are several times when police can take your property: after being arrested, with a search warrant, with your consent, or during any other lawful seizure. They may collect contraband, anything which is related to a crime, or which may be evidence of any crime. Once your property is seized, it is not simply returned if you are not charged with a crime, if the charges are dismissed, or if you are acquitted.