Tony Romo arrest details: What to know about NFL broadcaster jailed for suspected drunk driving

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Former NFL quarterback and current CBS analyst Tony Romo was arrested in his home state of Wisconsin for driving while intoxicated on Thursday night.

Romo was officially charged with an OWI, Operating While Intoxicated, and now will have to appear in court to settle the arrest. Romo grew up in Burlington, Wisconsin, less than an hour south of Milwaukee, and frequently returns home even though he primarily resides in Dallas.

By all accounts, this is Romo's first offense and will be treated as a first-time offender in the state of Wisconsin. Here's the latest on Romo's arrest.

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Tony Romo arrest details

On Thursday night, Romo was stopped on Interstate 43 at around 8:00 p.m. and arrested after performing poorly on a field sobriety test, the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office told WISN in Milwaukee. Romo was booked into jail and later released from custody.

According to the report, Romo has a court date set for Monday, September 21. A first-time OWI offense in Wisconsin is considered a civil offense and usually includes a fine of between $ 150 and $300. 

What does OWI mean?

An OWI in Wisconsin is Operating While Intoxicated, which is pretty much the same as a DUI or a DWI. Per the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, this occurs when someone is "operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs jeopardizes the safety of everyone who shares the road."

OWI vs. DUI

An OWI in Wisconsin is the same as a DUI in most other states. The state's Department of Transportation even says that an OWI is called a DUI or a DWI "in other contexts."

Tony Romo mugshot

Romo's mugshot from Milwaukee County was released to the public on Friday.

Former #Cowboys QB and CBS announcer Tony Romo was arrested overnight in Milwaukee on suspicion of operating while under the influence.

Romo was pulled over yesterday around 8 pm and taken into custody after performing poorly on standard field sobriety tests. He’s due in court… pic.twitter.com/9w3QpQKxCD

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 24, 2026
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