Michigan law recently changed regarding the penalty imposed for a DUI with a high BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) where serious injury has occurred. This change enhances the causing serious injury DUI charge such that it is almost on par with a DUI causing death case. Now, if you operate a…
Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyer Blog
Driving Under Influence of Marijuana at Least Twice as Dangerous as Alcohol
A study prepared by researchers from Columbia University concludes that drivers under the influence of marijuana are more than twice as likely to cause motor vehicle accidents. The report, entitled Marijuana Use and Motor Vehicle Crashes which was a metanalysis of prior studies, found: Specifically, drivers who test positive…
NFL Linebacker Charged with Sexual Assault Involving a Minor
A former NFL linebacker, Telvin Smith, was recently arrested under suspicion of sexual assault of a minor. Mr. Smith is being prosecuted in Florida where the sex crime is alleged to have occurred. The charge is considered a felony of the second degree, which is punishable by up to 15-years…
A Single DUI Conviction May Result in Job Loss
Depending on how you are employed, even a single drunk driving conviction can result in termination. If you keep your job, then a DUI conviction might result in being passed over for a promotion. A drunk driving conviction might also result in future employers selecting other candidates for open positions,…
Will I Get a DUI if I Drive High?
Colorado was one of the first States to legalize the use of marijuana. Michigan has now followed suit and has legalized both the use of medical as well as recreational marijuana. However, in Michigan and all other states, driving under the influence of marijuana remains illegal. If you are caught…
According to Science, Odor of Alcohol Not a Reliable Indicator of Intoxication
In nearly every drunk driving arrest, the police officer’s narrative report will indicate the observation of “strong odor of intoxicants.” As with all the facts, it will ultimately be up to a jury to decide the meaning of this observation, and to “weigh” it along with all the evidence in…
Prosecutors Often Commit Professional Misconduct in DUI Trials
The trial of an alleged drunk driving brings out all sorts of personal biases and strong opinions. In their zeal to gain convictions, prosecutors, often without realizing it, violate their professional ethics. The most common place this happens is during opening and closing arguments. But it often happens during the…
After a Drunk Driving Death, the Power of Forgiveness Heals
Perhaps one of the most tragic drunk driving accidents in recent memory involved the simultaneous death of a mother and her two boys, aged 12 and 9. The husband and father of the boys, Mr. Gary Weinstein, was not in the vehicle, and therefore survived the crash that wiped out…
Officer Offers to Exchange Kinky Sex for DUI Arrest
Being arrested in Michigan for DUI can be a horrifying experience, and when the arresting officer tells you that if you give him kinky sex, you will not be arrested, it can become a total nightmare. According to a Florida lawsuit, this is exactly what two Florida cops recently did.…
Some DUI Lawyers Use Unethical Practices to Gain New Clients
Intense competition amongst attorneys in efforts to gain new clients has caused increasing numbers of lawyers to violate their code of professional conduct. Such unethical business practices have become commonplace on the internet. For example, at least one state has found that using another lawyer’s name to gain web site…