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Grand Rapids DUI Lawyer

Operating a vehicle while intoxicated, or OWI, is a serious crime in the state of Michigan. An OWI conviction can lead to the loss of your driving privileges, community service, expensive fines, and even jail time. In addition to your sentence, you may also encounter problems in your personal life, as an OWI conviction can jeopardize future employment opportunities, and lead to higher auto insurance rates. To help avoid such penalties, an individual should not waste any time before consulting with a Grand Rapids DUI lawyer.

Fortunately, being charged with OWI does not automatically lead to a conviction—the state must first prove you are guilty of breaking one or more of the Michigan OWI laws. In order to avoid the most serious penalties associated with this offense, it is important those accused consult with an attorney immediately to discuss their case. An experienced criminal lawyer in Grand Rapids can help prepare you for what to expect and ensure that the damage is minimized as much as possible.

Elements of An OWI in Grand Rapids, Michigan

To convict an individual of OWI, the prosecution must prove they are guilty of one of three things: operating a vehicle while under the influence of liquor (OUIL), operating a vehicle with an unlawful blood alcohol level (UBAL), or operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs (OUID). Although the acronyms for these charges may seem similar, the methods for proving them are quite different.

For an OUIL violation, the prosecution must prove that an individual’s driving abilities were limited due to their alcohol consumption—regardless of their blood alcohol content level. On the other hand, in cases involving UBAL charges, the state only needs to show that an individual’s blood alcohol content level was above the legal limit of .08%. Unlike an OUIL charge, the prosecution is not required to prove an individual’s driving abilities were impaired in order for them to be charged with UBAL, which makes it important that a DUI attorney in Grand Rapids is available to assist in building a defense.

OUID Charges

In OWI cases that involve OUID charges, the prosecution must prove an individual was driving while under the influence of drugs. This charge can be justified by proving an individual had a prescription drug or a controlled substance in their system. In situations involving prescribed drugs, the prosecution must also prove the drug in question can impair a person’s driving abilities. However, in cases involving controlled substances (such as cocaine or marijuana), the prosecution does not need to prove an individual’s driving was impaired.

Hiring A Grand Rapids DUI Lawyer

Regardless of whether your case involves OUIL, UBAL, or OUID charges, the consequences for an OWI conviction are life-altering. As a result, it is important to speak with a Grand Rapids DUI attorney who knows the ins and outs of Michigan’s OWI laws.

With the right defense, you may be able to reduce or even eliminate your charges altogether. Contact a Grand Rapids DUI lawyer as soon as possible to begin navigating the legal process and building a defense to help reduce or dismiss any consequences associated with your charge.

Call Today! FREE Consultation Lawyer and Receive Immediate Attention for Your Criminal Law Case Patrick T. Barone is a Michigan Super Lawyer, who has maintained continuous top attorney ratings since 2007. In addition, the Michigan native is the author of multiple books on OWI, DUI and criminal law. The OUIL attorney near me has lectured at over 80 legal seminars all over America. He leads Barone Defense Firm in providing aggressive legal warriors for each client's criminal case.

Contact us 24 hours a day at our law firm’s easy to remember toll-free number, 1-877-ALL-MICH or 877-255-6424, for a free criminal case review. The Michigan attorneys near me at Barone Defense Firm travel the entire Great Lakes State, to help citizens in legal trouble in Michigan for alleged criminal law violations.

For your FREE lawyer consultation, call today to learn how to protect yourself from a possible unwarranted conviction. What do you have to lose, when the free legal advice with our litigation team’s criminal lawyers near me can answer many tough questions?

Client Reviews
★★★★★
Patrick Barone is the ONLY choice for DUI defense. He was realistic from the start and made it a point to look at my case before taking my money. As a business owner, when I think of attorneys, I think of the "shark infested waters. Patrick is a shark alright, but his prey is not the client; it's justice for his client. Ten stars Patrick!! Chris F.
★★★★★
Attorney Patrick Barone was very helpful and helped me understand the charge and sentence absolutely clearly. He also guided me through step by step helping me form a statement. His instructions were clear and detailed. It was obvious he cared about me understanding every important detail within my case. I would absolutely recommend this defense firm to anyone in need. Aaron B.
★★★★★
The Barone Defense Firm is the firm I recommend. They are truly concerned about the person, not just the legal issue, but the person as well. They are the most knowledgeable defense firm that I am aware of, having actually written the book on DWI Defense. If you are faced with a DWI you will not find a more professional and skilled law firm. But, most importantly, they care about how the accused individual recovers his or her life when the case is complete. Very remarkable group of lawyers. William H.