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OWI / Drunk Driving
Drunk driving—or Operating While Intoxicated—has quickly become one of the most specialized areas of criminal defense. While many attorneys attempt to handle drunk driving defense (including many who specialize in divorce or personal injury), few understand the ever-changing statutes, sanctions and defenses this charge entails. In 2004, Michigan’s legal alcohol limit was decreased from .10 to .08, meaning more and more “average” people have been charged with this embarrassing yet significant crime. Worse, on January 3, 2007, our legislature decided that a person can be charged with Felony Drunk Driving if they have 2 more priors in their entire lifetime. If you are under 21 years old, you could be charged with OWI if you have any level of alcohol in your system. Lastly, if you have the presence of any controlled substances in your blood—including marijuana—you might be charged with Operating With the Presence of a Controlled Substance, even if that substance had zero effect on your driving ability.
If you are convicted of OWI or OWVI, you will face significant sanctions including incarceration, probation, significant fines, immobilization of your vehicle, community service and more. Further, your driver’s license will be either restricted, suspended or revoked, you will have points added to your record, and you will have to pay our Secretary of State hundreds of thousands of dollars in “responsibility fees.” All of this and you will have a criminal record for the rest of your life. Lastly, many prosecuting agencies have policies preventing plea reductions if you were involved in an accident or if your breath/blood level was greater than .15.
In short, the reductions and changes in Michigan’s laws have dragged people into the criminal justice system and skilled, specialized attorneys are needed to handle this important defense. We understand the intricacies of breath testing machines. We constantly review new caselaw and statutes to look for defenses to these charges. We have utilized our skills, background and experience in defending countless people charged with this offense.
We have represented doctors, dentists, students, teachers, autoworkers, professors and even fellow attorneys charged with OWI. We verify that the police follow every single administrative rule, constitutional protection and evidentiary safeguard. We use several experts to challenge artificially high blood/breath levels. In sum, we have the skill, desire and experience to handle your OWI case.
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Simon & Geherin, PLLC
1310 South Main Street
Suite 11
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
View Map
Phone: 734-997-0870
Fax: 734-997-0872
info@simongeherin.com
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