Drunken Driving Crackdown Begins This Week

More officers will be on the roads between December 16^th and January 2^nd according to the Michigan Office of Highway Safety and Planning.  Federal traffic safety funds will be used to boost enforcement of drunken driving laws in 35 counties in an attempt to curtail drunken driving during the holiday season. 

It is illegal in Michigan to drive with a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher.  On October 31^st, the new “Super Drunk” law took effect establishing much harsher penalties for drivers having a blood alcohol level of .17 or higher.  First-time offenders will have their license suspended for one year, 45-days of which all driving privileges will be suspended.  Thereafter, a person may apply for a restricted license for the remainder of the year provided, that the person installs an “ignition interlock” device at his/her own expense.  The previous law required only 30-days hard suspension and no “ignition interlock” device.  Under the new law, the maximum potential jail sentence increases from 93-days to 180-days, higher fines will be imposed and all offenders will have to participate in a one-year alcohol treatment program. 

If you or a loved one are arrested for OWI or DUI under the regular or the new “super drunk” law, a drunk driving lawyer at Freedman & Freedman may be able to help. We handle OWI defense for clients throughout Warren, Sterling Heights, Troy, Rochester Hills and Royal Oak , Michigan . No matter the unique circumstances of your case, a Michigan DUI attorneycan offer you a free case evaluation and determine what we can do to help you.