OWI/DUI Penalties

Michigan DUI Attorney

At Freedman Law Group, we encounter many individuals who are fearful for their futures after being placed under arrest for drunk driving. First time DUI offenders find themselves in unfamiliar territory after their arrests, and even multiple DUI offenders who have dealt with the criminal system before are unaware of what their subsequent OWI/DUI charges will mean to their lives. The penalties for both first time and multiple DUI offenses can vary and range in severity, but our Michigan DUI lawyer can examine your particular situation in order to give you a better idea of what type of penalties you may be facing for drunk driving charges.

Michigan Penalties for OWI

The state of Michigan takes offenses involving driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol very seriously and conviction may carry fines, suspended licenses and jail time. Michigan law prohibits driving while intoxicated or impaired by alcohol, illegal drugs and even some prescribed medication that may affect an individual's ability to drive. A blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08 percent or more is considered a crime of driving while intoxicated and if the BAC is .17 percent or more, the offense is considered a high BAC crime and subject to heavier penalties. These laws are for adults consuming alcohol, the requirements are stricter. Because it is illegal to consume alcohol under the age of 21, the BAC is lowered to .02 percent and the individual may only transport alcohol if they are accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older. Penalties for conviction of driving while intoxicated depend on the driver's record.

First Offense: If this is your first DUI offense, you may face up to 93 days in jail, 360 hours of community service and various fines. If convicted of the offense, your license will be suspended for 30 days and have restrictions for 150 days. You will receive six points on your driving record and your vehicle may be immobilized temporarily. If your BAC is.17 or higher, you will receive six points on your driving record and the potential jail time, fines and sanctions will be more severe.

Second Offenses: Upon the reoccurrence of a DUI offense, sanctions for the violation are made more severe. Potential jail time may vary from five days to a year, your license may be revoked for one year and your vehicle may be immobilized for up to 180 days.

Third Offense: Michigan operates under a three strikes principle concerning DUI offenses. The third DUI offense within a person's lifetime is processed as a felony crime. A prison sentence of one to five years may be given and if not, the defendant will receive a probation sentence with the possibility of 30 days to 1 year in jail. Revocation of license may vary between one to five years depending on the duration of time between the repeated offenses and vehicle immobilization of one to 3 years unless the vehicle was forfeited.

Serious Offense: If there was a death or serious injury caused by the DUI offense, the penalties are even more severe. A DUI offense which resulted in another person's death carries a sentence of up to 15 years imprisonment. If that death was of an emergency responder, such as a police officer, the sentence may be up to 20 years. If there were serious injuries caused by the DUI offense, imprisonment is up to five years. These prison sentences include fines of up to $10,000 depending on the offense and are subject to the same sanctions on license and vehicle registration as a normal DUI offense.

Michigan OWI Lawyer

Reading these possible penalties may be intimidating if you are facing a charge of DUI. The sanctions are in place to discourage driving while intoxicated. However, if you have been arrested for such a crime, our Michigan OWI defense attorney can advocate for you on the legal platform and ensure your rights and interests are protected. Freedman Law Group has been successfully defending clients against charges of DUI for years and would like to offer our skilled services to your case. To learn more about the penalties involved with DUI offenses and how Freedman Law Group may be able to protect you from being given an unfair sentence, contact a Michigan OWI attorney today.