they SAY you lose the license, but like the other dude said, if you get a good attorney, and if its a first offense, they will most likley give it back to you. my best friend got a dui when he was 21. refused the test. when he went to court monday morning (got busted saturday) his attorney got his license back for him. he went to the DMV that day and said he misplaced his wallet and needed a new license. it was not in the computer that he got arrested 48 hours prior.
yup. you dont see the judges and senators taking it when they get pulled over 3 sheets to the wind. the reason is simple. DUI is a crime of OPINION.
its the cops OPINION (based on your actions... swerving etc) that you are over the legal limit. maybe you just stagger around and slur your words and act like an asshole all the time... the only way they have to PROVE you are over the legal limit, is the test.
if you dont take the test, then they have no evidince to convict you. if you take the test, you are just giving the state the evidence to convict you. the cop will PRETEND to be your buddy, and tell you it will go easier for you blah blah blah. total bullshit and he knows it.
the other thing the cops DONT tell you (because he really ISNT your buddy) is that yes, you may lose your license for a year if you dont submit to the test, but even if you do take the test, and you get convicted, then you're going to lose it anyway. for at least six months, maybe a year or more, depending on what you blow.