As BrewCrew5 said, there is a lot of bad information here. -As far as OWI, DUI, DWI, etc., the verbage all depends on the state. In Wisconsin, the state statute is 346.63(1)(a). The full description of the statute reads: Operating while under the influence of an intoxicant, controlled substance, or other drug. Wisconsin uses the word Operating instead of Driving because you can be charged with OWI if you are seated behind the wheel of a vehicle that is running. Technically you are not driving, but you have the ability to operate the vehicle. -People are confusing the terms Breathalyzer, PBT, and Intoximeter. The phrase Breathalyzer usually refers to the PBT, or preliminary breath test. This is the handheld machine that the officer usually has with him in his squad. The Intoximeter is the machine at the police department/Sheriff's Department/jail. Officers cannot base their arrest solely on the results of the PBT. PBTs can only be used to confirm their suspicions. For instance, if someone does horrible on their field sobriety tests, yet only blows a .02 on the PBT, the officer may then believe that the driver might have drugs in their system. An individual does have the right to refuse a PBT. However, the officer should have already made up his mind to arrest or not arrest before requesting the PBT anyway. The exception is Boating While Intoxicated. A person must submit to PBT if stopped for BWI. -As far as field sobriety tests, a person may refuse to do them. However, if a person refuses field sobriety tests, the courts have stated that the person is then considered to have failed them. Based on driving behavior, odor of intoxicants, and refused field sobriety, it's then handcuffs time. -Department policy decides whether the officer requests a breath, blood, or urine sample. For instance, if Rhinelander PD's policy states that breath is the primary test for 1st offense OWI, the person must submit to a breath test. They cannot say, "I won't do a breath test, but I will submit to a blood test." That would be considered a refusal. HOWEVER, if they submit to the breath test, the arrested person can then request an alternate test. So, if they give the breath sample, they can then request a blood sample as well. -If a person refuses the test, their license is automatically revoked for 9 months. I'm not 100% certain about this, but I have been told that people who refuse breath tests cannot get occupational licenses. If someone submits to the test and their sample is above the legal limit, their license is then suspended for 6 months. They are then issued a second citation (State Statute 346.63(1)(b) ) Operating a motor vehicle with a prohibited alcohol concentration or restricted drug presence. -As far as refusals go, some departments will force blood draws on 1st offense OWI. All departments I know will force on 3rd+ offense. So if you refuse, you are subject to the refusal penalties, AND the officer will hold you down and take the blood anyway. Sucks to be you. -As far as the difference between suspension and revocation, operating after suspension is a civil forfeiture. Operating after revocation (when the reason for revocation is OWI related) is a misdemeanor. Many departments take people to jail on operating after revocation offenses. Any more questions, fire away. EDIT: Not sure why my post showed up looking so strange. Sorry. (edit: fixed post strangeness --1992)