From the perspective of someone facing an operating under the influence charge, the immediate penalty for refusing to consent to field sobriety tests or a breathalyzer is harsher than the immediate penalty for taking said tests and ultimately failing, but the long-term penalty for failing the tests can be much more severe, so there is absolutely an advantage to refusing. As long as a defendant can stand to lose their license for a period of time, refusing to consent to the field tests or breathalyzer is almost always the smart move. While there will be a longer license loss upfront, there is a much higher chance that the criminal case will ultimately be resolved favorably compared to if a defendant had consented to the field, breath, or blood tests.
