Michigan OWI Attorneys

Types Of Michigan Drunk Driving Charges

Driving while under the influence is a crime across the country. In Michigan it is one of the most prosecuted crimes in the state, with a variety of punishments. Enforcement of these sanctions can greatly impact your future in a negative manner.  If you are stopped for drunk driving and charged with a crime, Friedman Law Firm will study your case and work to have it resolved with the least amount of adverse effect on your life.

If you are pulled over under suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol you could be charged with one of the following:

  • Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI) – Driving erratically or recklessly due to drugs or alcohol can lead to an OWVI charge.
  • Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) – This category has three different types of violations. Driving when there is enough alcohol or drugs in your body to impair your ability to drive safely is one violation. If the chemical test shows that your BAC is above 0.08, this is another violation. The third violation is one in which your BAC is at or above 0.17. At this level you are considered to have a high BAC.
  • Operating with Any Presence of a Schedule 1 Drug or Cocaine (OWPD) – A chemical test can easily determine the slightest presence of drugs even though you may not appear to be operating under the influence of a controlled substance.
  • Under Age 21 Operating With Any Bodily Alcohol Content – Michigan has zero tolerance for underage drinking. The alcohol level of an underage person cannot exceed that which would be expected from ingesting alcohol at a religious ceremony. If the BAC is 0.02 to 0.07 charges can be levied for a person who is not yet 21.

Michigan DUI Charges: Implied Consent

Michigan has an implied consent law which requires a driver suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs to take a chemical test. The test is used to determine the bodily alcohol content (BAC) or drugs in the system. If you are a driver in the state of Michigan it is assumed that you have given your consent to the test.

There are consequences for refusing to take the test when requested to do so. Your Michigan driver’s license will be destroyed and you will be issued a paper permit to drive until the court resolves your case. This consequence also applies if your BAC is over 0.08.

Michigan Drunk Driving Penalties

Penalties for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs may lead to a sentence that could include: jail time, hefty fines, license repeal, probation, random drug and alcohol testing, educational classes or community service or a combination of any of these. Friedman Law Firm can mitigate those sanctions through legal negotiation. We insure that your rights are protected and we will argue your case to minimize the negative impact on your future.

Contact Our Michigan DUI Lawyers For Help

Hundreds of people are killed or injured annually because of impaired driving. Michigan DUI laws are intended to keep the road safe. At the same time, punishment for failure to comply with the law can be harsh in certain circumstances. When you are facing charges for a DUI, say nothing. Make a call to Friedman Law Firm. Put your faith in our Michigan DUI Attorneys’ ability to protect your future. Contact us for a no-cost consultation regarding your Michigan DUI.