Michigan OWI Lawyers
MICHIGAN OWI CHARGES
EXPERIENCED MICHIGAN DUI/OWI ATTORNEYS Under Michigan law, if you are 21 years of age or older and you operate a motor vehicle while your blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08 or higher, you can be charged with operating while intoxicated (OWI). Under Michigan’s Zero Tolerance law, it is a misdemeanor for a driver under the age of 21 to operate a motor vehicle with a BAC of .02%.
Penalties For Michigan Drunk Driving
Michigan’s drunk driving laws carry some extreme penalties: Being arrested for operating while intoxicated can result in a criminal conviction, jail time, 6 points on your driving record, a suspended driver’s license and up to 360 hours of community service. When faced with such severe punishment, it is important to have an experienced Michigan DUI defense attorney like Jeffrey Buehner defending you.
A lot of decent, hardworking people get arrested for DUI. Being charged with drunk driving doesn’t make you a bad person, but a drunk driving conviction can have adverse consequences beyond the courtroom. Mr. Buehner has defended many people charged with DUI and he has been able to find solutions, whether through trial or plea agreement, that allowed his clients to avoid or minimize the harshest consequences of a DUI conviction.
Additionally, Mr. Buehner has been able help many clients get their driver’s licenses reinstated. Whether through hardship petitions or license restoration appeals at the Driver Assessment and Appeal Division, he has had tremendous success in getting clients back on the road.
Mr. Buehner is a former Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor who has worked in the criminal justice system for over 20 years. He’s helped a lot of people charged with a Michigan DUI and he can help you, too. For a free phone consultation with an experienced Michigan DUI defense attorney, call Jeffrey Buehner at (248) 865-9640 or fill out our Free Consultation form.
Michigan DUI Offenses
“Super drunk” (.17 BAC or higher)
- Misdemeanor
- Up to 180 days in jail
- $200 to $700 fine
- Mandatory alcohol treatment
- One year license suspension; eligible for restricted after 45 day suspension if blood alcohol ignition interlock device installed in vehicle.
- Six points on driving record
- Court may immobilize vehicle up to 180 days
Operating While Intoxicated – Child Endangerment
- Misdemeanor
- Jail from 5 days up to 1 year
- 30 to 60 days community service
- Up to $1,000 fine
- 180 license suspension (restricted only available after 90 days)
- Six points on driving record
- Court may immobilize vehicle up to 180 days
Operating While Intoxicated
- Misdemeanor
- Up to 93 days in jail
- $100 to $500 fine
- Up to 360 hours of community service
- 30 Day license suspension and 150 day license restriction
- Six points on driving record
- Court may immobilize vehicle up to 180 days
Operating While Impaired
- Misdemeanor
- Up to 93 days in jail
- $300 fine
- Up to 360 hours of community service
- 90 day license restriction
- Four points on driving record
- Court may immobilize vehicle up to 180 days
Operating While Intoxicated 2nd Offense
- Misdemeanor
- Imprisonment for not less than 5 days or more than 1 year
- $200 to $1,000 fine
- 30 to 90 days of community service
- Minimum one year license revocation
- License plate confiscation
- 90-180 days of vehicle immobilization unless the vehicle is forfeited
- Court may order vehicle forfeited
Operating While Impaired 2nd Offense
- Misdemeanor
- Imprisonment for not less than 5 days or more than 1 year
- $200 to $1,000 fine
- 30 to 90 days of community service
- Minimum one year license revocation
- License plate confiscation
- 90-180 days of vehicle immobilization unless the vehicle is forfeited
- Court may order vehicle forfeited
Operating While Intoxicated 3rd Offense
- Felony
- Imprisonment from 30 days in jail up to 5 years in prison
- $500 to $5,000 fine
- 30 to 180 days of community service
- Up to a 5 year license revocation
- License plate confiscation
- 1 to 3 years of vehicle immobilization unless vehicle is forfeited
- Vehicle registration denial
- Court may order vehicle forfeited
Operating While Impaired 3rd Offense
- Felony
- Imprisonment from 30 days in jail up to 5 years in prison
- $500 to $5,000 fine
- 30 to 180 days of community service
- Up to a 5 year license revocation
- License plate confiscation
- 1 to 3 years of vehicle immobilization unless vehicle is forfeited
- Vehicle registration denial
- Court may order vehicle forfeited
Zero Tolerance
- Misdemeanor
- Up to $250 fine or up to 60 days community service, or both
- 30 days restricted license