Michigan Criminal Defense Law Blog

OWI vs DUI: An OWI Charge in Michigan & the DUI Legal Term

Published on: December 27, 2022 | by Barone Defense Firm

Driving a vehicle while intoxicated is a serious criminal offense across the United States. In the United States, and in no other nation, this crime is not always called a “DUI,” but D.U.I. is America’s most widely used abbreviation for this common driving crime.

Broadly stated, the crime best known as DUI (driving under the influence of intoxicants) has separate and distinct statutes in each. All 50 states and the District of Columbia created their own laws, with no two states tracking another exactly on what constitutes the evidence needed for a DUI conviction.

OWI vs DUI in Michigan - What Is the Difference?
This seemingly schizophrenic roll-out of statutes has important and fascinating historic roots, that have occurred since the early 1900s. For example, forensic breathalyzers were only invented and deployed in the late 1930s. Before that, an officer had to obtain a blood alcohol content test in any case that needed that proof of intoxication (e.g., a crash occurred, and the suspected drunk driver was not conscious).

Is it Possible to Avoid Jail on a Child Pornography Charge in Michigan?

Published on: December 27, 2022 | by Barone Defense Firm

Michigan domestric violence lawyer Patrick Barone explains the possibility of jail time. Michigan’s criminal charges involving child pornography are rigorously enforced and harshly punished. For this reason, avoiding jail time on a child pornography (or, Child Sexually Abusive Material (CSAM), in Michigan) case can be extremely difficult.

This is true whether the case involves possession, distribution or production of material that includes a child engaging in a sex act of some kind. If you want to avoid jail time for a CSAM charge, then it is important to hire an experienced CSAM child pornography lawyer.

Michigan’s Law Regarding CSAM are Complex

Domestic Violence Lawyer: Accused in Domestic Violence Case

Published on: December 19, 2022 | by Barone Defense Firm

Those accused of family violence (FV) by being issued a TRO (temporary restraining order) will need the help of experienced domestic violence attorneys to defend these serious criminal domestic violence charges. This need to retain a domestic violence attorney is equally applicable to both misdemeanor and felony cases, since both can bring painful and disruptive jail consequences.

Many far-reaching implications (in this criminal practice area) can come from a client being accused by an alleged victim of domestic violence of some sort of domestic abuse. As required by federal guidelines, the rights of the accused will be placed behind the community’s efforts to provide a victim in domestic violence cases with protection of the complaining party and children who are affected.

Michigan domestric violence lawyer Patrick Barone explains the possibility of jail time.
By retaining one of the State’s best domestic violence lawyers, you can possibly obtain a modification of the protective order that is related to the criminal charges. However, this option is usually only viable if your criminal defense attorney talks with the law enforcement personnel who investigated the domestic violence (DV) allegations and then made an initial arrest decision.

Is Weed Legal in Michigan? Cannabis Laws, Michigan Marijuana

Published on: December 13, 2022 | by Barone Defense Firm

Is marijuana legal in Michigan? Marijuana weed possession laws in different states can be confusing. The drug possession laws in the State of Michigan are no different.

Federal law criminalizes possession of small amount of marijuana, yet a growing number of states only have enacted civil penalties or no penalties at all for those possessing certain amounts and types of marijuana.

This paranoia about controlled substances occurred in the 1970s, during the Nixon Administration. Richard M. Nixon insisted that marijuana had to be classified as a Schedule I drug (which was the most dangerous).

What Is Sodomy? Are Michigan Sodomy Laws Illegal?

Published on: December 13, 2022 | by Barone Defense Firm

Basically, sodomy is an act engaging in any type of any oral sex act or anal sex act that would not lead to procreation (having babies). See this web article that reviews some of the history of sodomy laws in America as the author explains sodomy laws 2022 and answers the common question of “is oral sex legal in Michigan?”

Why is sodomy a crime? The better question, as we move in the year 2023 is “where is sodomy a crime?” The short answer to that is “if done in public,” a sodomy offense in MI can be prosecuted as a felony.

“Sodomy” is a word that pertains to sex acts that historically were banned by many religions, but also found its way into most nations’ laws. So, religion came first, and governments were later organized that incorporated many concepts and principles from religious teachings (e.g., “thou shalt not kill.”)

Criminal Arraignment in Michigan – First Court Appearance

Published on: December 12, 2022 | by Patrick Barone

Michigan criminal defense lawyer explains arraignment or first court date in Michigan criminal cases.
The criminal arraignment in Michigan is your first court date. In all criminal cases you have an absolute right to an arraignment. This is an “absolute right” because it is protected by the U.S. Constitution’s Sixth Amendment. This Amendment reads in part “in all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation.”

Will I Learn What Criminal Charges I Face at My First Court Date?

The “nature and cause of the accusation” is set forth in a document called a complaint. The complaint sets forth the criminal charges. If you were given a ticket, such as in an OWI arrest, a complaint will be issued by the prosecutor before you are arraigned.

Can I Be Charged With a MI OWI After Smoking Pot?

Published on: December 10, 2022 | by Patrick Barone

Yes, if you smoke enough marijuana to become impaired, and drive after, you can be charged and eventually convicted for intoxicated driving in Michigan. In fact, every month, more of Michigan’s drivers are being arrested for driving under the influence of marijuana. There are many reasons for this increase in DUI marijuana cases.

Michigan OWI marijuana lass make it illegal to smoke pot and drive.
Increasing numbers of Michigan’s citizens are using marijuana now that it is legal in the State for both recreational and medicinal use. This includes previous “illegal” users of the drug but also includes new users of the drug, or those who last used sometimes decades ago. Now that the drug is legal, the stigma of its use is largely gone, and those in their 40s, 50s, 60s and even 70s+ are returning to its use.

Navigating OWI DUI Intoxicated Driving Laws under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act

What Should I Expect on a Michigan First Offense OWI Charge?

Published on: December 2, 2022 | by Patrick Barone

First, our OWI law firm in Michigan will answer the top 9 questions about the OWI meaning. Other than one letter, little difference between OWI and DUI exists.

A Michigan first offense OWI charge carries severe conviction penalties including jail time community service hours, court fines, and possibly job loss. Look for an OWI lawyer near me whose legal services include trial experience and plea bargaining strategies.

What is OWI, in the State of Michigan? A first-offense OWI in Michigan is a crime categorized as a misdemeanor in Michigan, unless the number of offenses reached a 3rd OWI in Michigan. Our state still uses different acronyms for being over the legal limit (OUIL).
What’s the difference between DUI and OWI meaning? Each acronym stands for the same general crime, drunken driving, or drugged driving. Each state’s legislature names its laws on impaired driving or intoxicated driving. Generally, DUI is for “driving under the influence.” O.W.I. stands for operating while impaired in Michigan.

DUI Expungement in Michigan – Talk to Our Lawyers First

Published on: December 1, 2022 | by Ryan Ramsayer

A drunk driving conviction has lifelong consequences. Long after your driver’s license has been restored, you’ll still have the DUI conviction on your permanent record. The good news is that the expungement laws in Michigan for DUI cases have recently been changed.

Michigan DUI expungement lawyer Patrick Barone leads the Barone Defense Firm and is partners with some of the best DUI attorneys who handle the toughest DUI cases.
This means your conviction involving an operating while intoxicated OWI offense can now be removed. And this removal or expungement comes with many benefits. Many kinds of DUI convictions are eligible, sometimes even those drunk driving convictions involving injury or death can be expunged.

What Does DUI Expungement Actually Mean?

Police Car Dash Cam Video and MI DUI/OWI Cases

Published on: November 1, 2022 | by Patrick Barone

Michigan police cruisers all aere equipped with video cameras (dash cam) that begins recording the moment a cop decides to pull you over.
Most police agencies in Michigan use dash cams to record citizen interactions. This means that if you’ve been arrested for DUI or

Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) in Michigan, there is an excellent chance that a dash-cam video exists.

Every drunk driving arrest is different, and not every video recording is the same. However, this arrest video may capture all the interaction you had with police, beginning with an audio of the officer’s first words to you as you were sitting in your car after being stopped. Next, the video may show you stepping out of the car and then walking to the rear and waiting for the officer to give you instructions on the field sobriety tests. If the officer asked you to state the alphabet, count backwards, pick a number, etc., then your responses to these requests may also be captured on the audio portion of the video recording. Also, it may be possible to determine how well you performed on the walk and turn and the one leg stand exercises. Finally, a careful observation of the video recording will allow your attorney to determine if the officer followed his or her training regarding these tests, and particularly, if the officer properly administered the horizonal gaze nystagmus test (DUI eye test).