The Stop and Charges
Tony Romo faced legal action after police stopped his vehicle on July 23 in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Authorities issued citations for operating under the influence and unsafe passing during rush hour traffic. According to documents from the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, officers found an open bottle of alcohol on the passenger side of Romo’s Jeep. The bottle was discovered during an inventory before the car was towed.
The citation details an additional fine of $235 for unsafe passing. The officer noted that Romo drove in a marked right distress lane to pass vehicles in two adjacent lanes. He also cut across a marked gore, a triangular area between lanes and shoulders, and seemed unsure about what a gore was when asked. This confusion was included in the official report.
Bodycam footage from the incident shows Romo refusing to take a preliminary breath test. He told officers that legal advisors had warned against participating in such tests. The footage also captures Romo in handcuffs, asking if he could make a phone call. He claimed he was waiting there with his son, though the exact context was not clearly captured in the audio. Romo received a citation for refusal to take a test for intoxication and failing the field sobriety test.
A sheriff's report stated that Romo performed poorly on standardized field sobriety tests. The operating under the influence charge came with an additional fine of $1,066. Romo faces court on September 21, where he will address all charges.
What Romo Said
When stopped, Romo told officers he had come from a golf course and was visiting his grandparents. That explanation did not affect the citation process. The sheriff's office provided these details through official documents. Bodycam footage was also shared by NBC 5 DFW and WFAA, offering a visual record of the incident.