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Facing OWI charges in Wisconsin? Every case deserves a strong defense.

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Most people assume a conviction is inevitable, but it’s not. Attorney Pat Stangl has spent 32+ years exposing constitutional errors, faulty tests, and unlawful stops that get OWI charges reduced or dismissed.

Get your FREE 10-minute consultation to explore potential defenses in your case.

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See if your OWI can be reduced or dismissed. Fill out and submit the form to get your FREE consultation now.

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32+ Years Defending Wisconsin

Nationally Recognized Criminal Defense

3 Consecutive OWI 5th/6th Dismissals in One Month

Being charged with a crime in Wisconsin can be an intimidating, scary, and ultimately life-changing event. Stangl Law can help you get fair treatment, whether this is your first drunk driving or other criminal offense, or you have prior convictions. He can:

Review the case for defects.
Potentially move for the suppression of evidence.
Compel the discovery of evidence to support your innocence.

Your arrest may contain errors worth challenging.

Every traffic stop, field test, and arrest must follow strict legal procedures. Attorney Stangl can review how you were stopped, tested, and charged. In one recent case, he successfully argued that a brake light stop wasn't legally justified, leading to suppression of all evidence including a .22 BAC blood test. We can examine every detail of your case for similar issues.

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We've defended cases involving mandatory prison exposure and prior offenses.

Wisconsin law imposes mandatory prison sentences for some OWI convictions. Attorney Stangl has extensive experience challenging these cases by examining prior convictions for constitutional issues, investigating arrest procedures, and identifying testimonial inconsistencies. In one month alone, he successfully defended three separate 5th/6th offense cases.

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Time-sensitive deadlines affect your defense options. Act now.

From the moment you're charged, critical deadlines are running. We can work immediately to review procedures used in your arrest, request and examine all available evidence, identify potential constitutional issues, and explore all possible defense strategies.

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OWI success stories

Click to expand for success stories and client quotes.

From legal wreckage to total victory for a former UW athlete

"My case was mangled by another attorney, leaving me with a complex OWI and Implied Consent charge I couldn’t afford to lose. Pat picked up the fractured remains of my defense and, with surgical precision, built a winning case. From the moment I met him, I knew he had the mindset and heart of a champion. He takes an emotional stake in his clients and their futures. I could not be more relieved and grateful for his results."

OWI dismissal after unconstitutional arrest

A client facing OWI-PAC 1st after a crash and a language barrier was expected to plead guilty. At trial, Attorney Stangl dismantled the officer’s field sobriety testimony, leading the judge to disregard it entirely. He then argued a lack of probable cause, making the blood test irrelevant. The court dismissed all charges.

Sixth-offense OWI felony reduced, prison avoided for Shawn J.

"Facing OWI and PAC charges as a 6th offense, I was staring at a guaranteed prison sentence and losing my family, job, and home. Pat fought relentlessly and got the charge reduced, saving me from prison and preserving everything I worked for. Forget the rest—just hire the BEST. Pat gave me my life and future back."

Four consecutive jury trial acquittals

In St. Croix County, Pat Stangl’s client faced OWI and PAC with a BAC allegedly 3.5× the limit. Attorney Stangl got the PAC dismissed mid-trial for lack of expert linkage to driving time. The jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict—his fourth straight jury win, totaling eight charges beaten.

Felony 5th OWI downgraded to first offense for Robert Tomfohrde

“I was charged with felony OWI 5th and terrified I’d lose my liberty, livelihood, and future. Pat investigated my prior convictions, proved several were unconstitutional, and got my case reduced to a civil OWI 1st. I went from likely prison time to no criminal conviction at all. Hiring him was one of the best decisions of my life.”

About Attorney Pat Stangl

Nationally-recognized for excellence, Wisconsin Criminal Defense Attorney Patrick J. Stangl has been practicing law in the Badger State since 1991.

While his expertise spans the breadth of criminal law, Attorney Stangl is well-known for his impressive record as a Wisconsin OWI attorney, defending all types of drunk driving and driving under the influence charges such as OWI, DUI, DWI, BAC, PAC and more.

Your questions—answered

Click to expand for answers to frequently asked questions.

What is included in the free consultation and is there any obligation?

Stangl Law offers a free 10-minute, no-obligation consultation with attorney Patrick J. Stangl. During this session you’ll discuss your OWI/PAC/drunk-driving charge, review the circumstances, and determine whether the firm is a good fit for your defense. There’s no cost or obligation to hire the firm from this initial talk.

How quickly do I need to act after being charged with an OWI in Wisconsin?

It is very important to act as soon as possible. For example, after an OWI arrest you have only about 10 days to request an administrative hearing to challenge the driver’s license suspension. Getting an attorney involved early gives you a better chance to press for suppression of evidence, challenge the stop or testing, and protect your rights. Don't leave this page without submitting the form.

What kinds of drunk-driving (OWI/PAC) cases do you handle and what defense strategies do you use?

Stangl Law handles Wisconsin OWI, DUI, DWI, BAC, PAC and related intoxicated-operation charges—including first offenses and repeat/ enhanced offenses. The appraoch to defense depends entirely on the specifics of your case, which is why it is so crticial to get in touch as soon as possible. Possible defenses include, but are certainly not limited to:

Reviewing traffic stop for legal defects.
Examining field sobriety tests and officer training/certifications.
Challenging breath/blood machine calibration or chain-of-custody issues.
Contesting the administrative license suspension (implied consent) hearing.
Preparing the case as if it will go to trial rather than simply “pleading out”.

What should be prepared to discuss during our consultation?

For the consultation, it helps if you prepare or are ready to discuss:

The date/time of your traffic stop, where it occurred, and what you remember of the stop/interaction.
Whether you submitted a breath, blood, or urine test, or refused, and any communication from law enforcement.
Whether there was an administrative “Notice of Intent to Revoke” or similar from the DMV.
Your prior OWI/ PAC record (if any) or any relevant prior incidents.
Any documentation you have received (citations, lab results, pink “Informing the Accused” sheet, etc.).
The more accurate the factual details you provide, the better the initial assessment can be.

The more accurate the factual details you provide, the better the initial assessment can be.

What are the possible fees or costs and how do you handle payment?

Unlike other law firms, we are 100% transparent about our fee structure since we know it is so critical to you. While the consultation is free, representation for an OWI defense typically involves retainer fees, investigation costs, expert witness fees, and possibly additional expenses depending on the complexity of the case (e.g., enhanced offenses, prior convictions, trial preparation). Because we treat many OWI cases as going to trial rather than just pleading out, it’s important to discuss specific fee arrangements during the consultation. We will explain what work will be required and what costs you may face. Get in touch now.

Your case deserves an experienced defense—and you need an attorney who will examine every aspect of your case.

With over 32 years defending Wisconsin clients against criminal charges, Attorney Pat Stangl knows exactly what to look for in police reports, arrest procedures, and evidence. We'll thoroughly review your case for all possible defenses. Don’t wait—fill out the form below and get started. We’re waiting for your submission.