Rely On Our Legal Experience When Facing Drunk Driving Charges

Drunk driving is one of the most commonly charged crimes in Michigan and across the United States. It can happen by accident or due to misjudgment about your own impairment. While the offense may be common, it is not treated lightly by law enforcement. A conviction for operating while intoxicated (OWI) can lead to jail time, steep fines, loss of your license and other serious consequences.

If you’ve been charged with OWI (which is the same as DUI and DWI in other states), contact the skilled attorneys at the West Michigan Defense Team. We take a team approach to your case, and our four attorneys have more than 85 years of combined legal experience. Because some of our attorneys are former prosecutors and have worked on both sides of the courtroom, we have participated in hundreds of OWI cases. No matter what the details of your case might be, chances are good that we can help you contest or otherwise resolve the charges in the most favorable manner available.

Ready To Defend You Against Any Alcohol-Related Driving Offense

OWI is most commonly defined as driving with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) at or above .08%. Related offenses include:

• Operating while visibly impaired (OVWI) – you may have a BAC under the legal limit but an officer determines that your ability to drive has been impaired by alcohol, drugs or both

• OWI with high BAC – your registered blood alcohol content was .17% or higher (more than twice the legal limit)

• A zero-tolerance offense for drivers under 21 – because you are below the legal drinking age, you can be charged with a drunk driving offense for having a BAC as low as .02%. In many cases, one drink would be enough to register this amount.

The specific consequences you face will depend on a variety of considerations, including your BAC, any previous convictions, aggravating factors like an accident or minors in the car, and others. Suffice it to say, regardless of whether you are charged with a misdemeanor or a felony, these are not charges you should try to handle on your own. Instead, contact our attorneys for experienced help and guidance. We can help you mitigate the consequences, including maintaining or restoring licensure.

Drugged Driving In Michigan

Michigan has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drugged driving. If the presence of illegal drugs can be detected in your system, prosecutors have enough evidence to convict. They don’t need to prove that you were impaired by these drugs. This is problematic because certain drugs remain detectable in your system long after the high has worn off.

It Is Possible To Contest The Charges

You may assume that a breathalyzer test result above the legal limit is a guaranteed conviction. But in some cases, you can successfully challenge this evidence and avoid a conviction. We may be able to help you challenge that the breathalyzer testing equipment was either faulty or that the test was administered improperly. We may also be able to argue that the officer failed to follow protocol in administering field sobriety tests. We may even challenge whether the officer had a legitimate reason to pull you over in the first place. The bottom line is simple: Don’t assume you are out of options before you consult with a knowledgeable defense attorney.

Contact Us Today For A Free Discussion About Your Case

The West Michigan Defense Team is based in Grand Rapids and serves clients throughout the surrounding region. For a free consultation, send us a message online or call.