If you have been charged with a second offense drunk driving case in Michigan, then you are probably wondering about how severely you will be punished. The type of punishment will be based on both criminal enhancement and driver license enhancement. Before discussing these differences, the first thing to know…
If you are charged with drunk driving in Michigan, then at some point after your arraignment you will need to decide if you wish to plead guilty or stand trial. This is because all Michigan drunk driving crimes are classified as either misdemeanors or felonies. This means that all people…
A Barry County Judge has indicated that he’s going to start cracking down on repeat drunk drivers by giving them a minimum of 30 days in jail. Judge Michael Shipper was appointed by Governor Snyder in 2011 and is already tough on first-time offenders. Now he says he’s ready to be…
The answer is somewhat unclear because so far no Michigan court has specifically ruled that police officers must administer standardized field sobriety tests in accordance with protocol set forth by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, a new law was recently passed in Michigan that suggests that the…
If you have been arrested for a first offense drunk driving in Michigan, then you are not prohibited in any way from buying, selling or leasing a car. However, if you have been arrested for a second offense drunk driving, then things get a bit trickier. In 1999, the Michigan…
In Michigan, a charge of drunk driving causing death is punishable by up to 15 years in prison. This possible sentence is set forth in Michigan Complied Laws 257.625(4)(a). In determining exactly what sentence to impose for an individual case a judge will be looking at many factors, including the…
Many people don’t realize that a drunk driving picked up on their “own time” can sometimes affect their jobs. This is particularly true for nearly anyone who carries a professional license, be it a pilot license, medical license, insurance license, real estate license or even a cosmetology license. In almost…
Michigan law provides that drivers convicted of drunk driving can have their cars forfeited. This means that upon conviction the state can take the convicted drunk driver’s car. In those cases where the car was used without the permission or knowledge of the owner the “innocent owner” defense would apply. …
To help make up for lost revenue, more Michigan counties are seeing forfeiture of the cars driven by people arrested for DUI. Will yours be next? If the Oakland County Prosecutor has her way, then the answer may well be “yes.” Jessica Cooper has instructed her prosecutors to seek forfeiture…
Michigan shares a rather large border with Canada and so it is very common for Michigan residents to travel to Canada for both business and pleasure. Being convicted of even a single instance of drunk driving can complicate such travel. According to an excellent In and Out of Canada Article…