Blog Category | Dui
If you drive a commercial truck, tow truck or bus, there’s a good chance that you have a commercial driver’s license (CDL); it’s required by law if you want to operate any large or heavy vehicle over a certain weight. Since driving these vehicles is typically a career choice, losing...
People use their cars as makeshift beds all the time, but sleeping in a car while drunk isn’t a good idea. You may be surprised to learn that sleeping in your car while intoxicated could result in operating while intoxicated (OWI) charges for the accused. Let’s look at the law...
Does Drunk Driving Spike During Holidays? Drunk driving is a crime that does occur regularly, but often the number of arrests elevates during the holiday season. While this does happen due to more people going to holiday parties or eating out more often, the numbers also increase because law enforcement...
Maintaining the responsibility of children is difficult enough, but what happens if your child is arrested for driving under the influence? Although you might feel hurt or even betrayed by your child, you may also feel the need to help them fix their mistake. The question is how. Our team...
Getting pulled over by law enforcement can be a frightening and nerve-wracking experience, especially if you had a few alcoholic beverages before driving. Whether you consumed alcohol earlier in the night or a couple of minutes prior to getting behind the wheel, there is a possibility of getting arrested for...
In many states, the police set up DUI checkpoints designed to check drivers for signs of intoxication. The legality of these checkpoints has been a point of hot debate for several years. For most people, the concern seems to be whether DUI checkpoints violate the 4th amendment right to protection...
While the specifics will vary from state to state, generally it is agreed upon that a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) over a certain amount, the presence of any Schedule I or Schedule II medications or a being visibly impaired by alcohol and/or drugs constitutes as driving while under the influence....
Arrested for DUI in Michigan? If you are not familiar with the criminal justice process, you are not alone. Getting arrested for drunk driving is not something most people know how to handle. For many individuals, this is the first time that they ever had to deal with the law,...
DUI is one of the most common criminal convictions in the United States, and DUIs can follow you around for months to years following a conviction. Many accused of DUI assume that their otherwise clean driving record will gain them leniency by their local court and moot their need for...
How are They Defined? “DUI” stands for driving under the influence of alcohol or some other substance. “DWI” stands for Driving While Intoxicated. In Michigan, this charge is known as “Operating While Intoxicated,” and you will be charged with this crime if you are found to have a blood alcohol...
Open Container Law in Michigan Under Michigan’s open container laws, an operator of a motor vehicle shall not transport or possess in the passenger area of the vehicle alcohol in a container that is open, uncapped, or had the seal broken. Transporting an open alcoholic container could result in criminal...
Being convicted of multiple moving violations or for driving under the influence (DUI) in Michigan will likely result in the temporary loss of your driver’s license. As important as it may be to do all you can to prevent this suspension or revocation in the first place, it may be...
If you are minor, a police officer cannot force you to take a breathalyzer test without a warrant. This may seem hard to believe, but the federal district court for the Eastern District of Michigan made this the rule in 2007. Before 2007, Michigan had a law that gave police...
The Michigan Supreme Court will no longer allow date of birth and other personal information to be part of publicly accessible records. Community members are concerned that this change will influence the employment process – here’s what you should know. January 1, 2022 For most employers across the U.S., background...
It’s been a little over five years since Michigan’s “Super Drunk” Driving Law took effect. The law specifically targets drivers with a blood alcohol content (“BAC”) of 0.17 or higher. Thus, the law aims to deter extremely intoxicated individuals from getting behind the wheel by imposing harsher punishments than a...
As summer winds down and students head back to school this fall, East Lansing and surrounding areas can expect crowded bars and a lively night life. Of course, if alcohol consumption figures into your plans for the night, transportation to and from bars, clubs or restaurants is vitally important to...
The Michigan Secretary of State office released an update that they will stop releasing driving records for victims of violence to the news media. Here is what you should know. Media Secretary Jocelyn Benson’s office has announced that it will cease giving news outlets reports of driving records for victims...
Criminal charges can result in penalties like jail time, fines, and more. Surprisingly, Michigan criminal convictions can also result in a loss of license or temporary license suspension. If you or a loved one has lost the right to drive, contact an Okemos driver’s license restoration lawyer from White Law...
Like most states, Michigan defines drunk driving as any motorist with a BAC of .08 percent or higher. Additionally, Michigan also has laws regarding drivers with certain illegal drugs in their system—including marijuana. If you drive and get arrested for having drugs like marijuana in your system, it is critical...
It’s frightening to be arrested for DUI in Michigan, so you want real information and not a lot of fluff. If it’s your first offense, you don’t have to go to jail. You also don’t have to lose your driver’s license or your job unless having a clean driving record...
For those of us who have been driving for years, operating a vehicle is almost like breathing. It’s easy to get distracted during your commute, but can distractions be a crime? What Counts as Distracted Driving? According to the Michigan State Police, there are three types of distraction: Visual Manual...
If you have gone through the rigorous Secretary of State driver’s license restoration process, you are likely familiar with the interlock ignition device that can be placed in drivers’ vehicles to monitor sobriety. If you are familiar with these pesky devices, then you probably know that they can be a...
Operating while intoxicated (OWI) is a severe criminal offense, and unfortunately, prosecutors across the country create hundreds of thousands of OWI and driving while under the influence (DUI) charges every year. Many people wrongly assume that an OWI is a shut-and-closed case, but that’s not true. This reality becomes apparent...
DUI (“driving under influence”) laws have become increasingly strict. Since the ‘90s, organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving started shining a bright light on drunk driving across the country, and it has since become a serious crime everywhere. These days, the crime is not strictly confined to alcohol use. “Driving...
Most drunk driving accidents in Michigan are caused by drivers who have blood alcohol contents (BACs) of 0.15 or more. For this reason, Michigan officers may ask citizens suspected of drunk driving to take breathalyzer tests. However, what many don’t know is that it’s legal to refuse the test, but...
If you’ve been pulled over for driving under the influence, you could face some severe penalties. However, it’s important to remember that while you can defend yourself if the case goes to court, it’s best to consult a lawyer. DUIs in Michigan In Michigan, DUIs are called OWIs, operating while...
An OWI conviction in Michigan can lead to serious criminal penalties that can have a negative impact on your personal life and professional reputation. Fortunately, getting arrested doesn’t mean that you are guilty of the crime, which is why it is important to hire a skilled criminal defense attorney to...
When you think about the holidays, you imagine getting together with loved ones, fancy dinners, gift exchanges, and being jolly all season long. Yet, this time of year is also associated with a significant rise in crime rates. We must all understand that one mistake or lapse of judgment can...
DUI Charges and Drugs While many people know that driving with a blood alcohol content of over 0.08% can result in a DUI—How do the laws apply to driving under the influence of drugs? Can you be charged for a drug-related DUI? The answer to this question is yes, but...
Those arrested for operating while intoxicated (OWI) charges could face stiff penalties; which begs the question, can OWI passengers face charges as well? Let’s take a look at some circumstances where passengers could be charged. Open Container Laws Open container laws make it illegal for people to possess open alcoholic...
When law enforcement makes a traffic stop and suspects you of drunk driving, the officer may ask you to perform one or several field sobriety tests (FSTs). These tests are used by the police to determine whether or not a person is intoxicated. The three standardized FSTs approved by the...
Penalties for OWI in Michigan If you have been arrested for an OWI in Michigan, a conviction can result in serious penalties. It may result in: Serving time in jail Paying expensive fines Losing the ability to drive for an extended period of time Also, having a criminal record can...
In order to avoid an OWI charge, there are several alternatives as opposed to drunk driving. For instance, requesting a ride from an Uber driver or calling a sober friend to be your designated driver.However, there are many people who do not realize how intoxicated they are until they get...
The criminal offense known in many jurisdictions as driving under the influence (DUI) or driving while intoxicated (DWI) is referred to as operating while intoxicated (OWI) in Michigan. Just like most other states, Michigan will typically suspend or revoke the driving privileges of alleged offenders in these cases. Any person...
Your Diet May Get You Arrested Low-carb diets reportedly lead to health benefits such as weight loss and reduced blood sugar levels, but did you know that such diets can trick a DUI breath test into producing falsely high results? When you get pulled over on the suspicion of DUI,...
Drinking and driving is one of the more egregious crimes in our society and because of this, Michigan legislators have become increasingly tougher on those who commit the crime. One of the ways Michigan has cracked down on these offenses is to require those who have been convicted of two...
Whether you are of Irish heritage or not, St. Patrick’s Day is a great opportunity to enjoy a night out on the town with friends. Unfortunately, the high rate of people who consume alcohol during the celebrations has led to a significant increase in drunk driving accidents and fatalities. Studies...
Your Fourth Amendment right – the right to free from unlawful searches and seizures – is one of the most important rights you have, especially in terms of criminal law. Under the Fourth Amendment, law enforcement officers must have a valid justification for stopping you, searching you, and arresting you...
Many people rely on their drivers’ licenses to get to school, go to work, and take care of their kids. In fact, most people are so dependent on their licenses that they couldn’t imagine life without them. Unfortunately, an operating while intoxicated (OWI) conviction can turn this imagination into a...
What to Do if Charged with Marijuana-Related DUI in Michigan Over the past few years, marijuana laws have been changing all over the country, and ten states, including Michigan, have now legalized recreational marijuana for adults. For this reason, states that have legalized pot face an interesting dilemma: What is...
A Michigan OWI conviction results in serious penalties. A first-time offense leads to a jail sentence of up to 93 days, fines no more than $500, and license suspension for up to 180 days. However, there are certain “aggravating circumstances” that can increase the penalties drunk driving suspects face. The...
Now that September has arrived, fall and winter are just around the corner. Many Americans will be celebrating the season with family and friends, surrounded by large amounts of food, alcoholic beverages, and holiday cheer.Unfortunately, drunk driving accidents and fatalities rise dramatically this time of year, especially around Thanksgiving and...
Getting your driving privileges back after a DUI or OWI arrest can be a long and arduous process. It is critical to have a good understanding of the proceedings necessary to get you back on the road. Additionally, you need to be aware of the common missteps people often take...
