A night out on the town, maybe a few drinks during a Tiger’s game, a few more after the Tiger’s victory, and a decision to drive home while intoxicated could have serious consequences if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is over .17. In October of 2010, Michigan implement a high blood alcohol content enhanced penalty law—also known as the “super drunk law”—which introduced severe penalties for those found driving with a blood alcohol content of .17 or higher. While driving with a BAC of .08-.17 comes with its own penalties and fines, penalties escalate for super drunk drivers in Michigan. These penalties can include: jail time, fines, community service, license suspension, rehabilitation, and a hefty Driver Responsibility Fee.
Charged With Super Drunk Driving?
Driving under the influence of alcohol in Michigan is classified as an operating while intoxicated (OWI) crime. If your BAC is over .17, you could be charged with super drunk driving. Penalties for super drunk driving can include:
- Up to 180 days incarceration
- $200 to $700 in fines
- Up to 360 hours of community service
- Suspension of driver’s license for 1 year
- 6 points added to a driver’s record
- Driver’s Responsibility fee of $1000 for 2 consecutive years
- Installation of an ignition interlock device on the vehicle
- Mandatory alcohol treatment program
A second offense, within 7 years, of driving while super drunk, can also include:
- 5 days to 1-year incarceration
- $200 to $1000 in fines
- Revocation of driver’s license
- Confiscation of license plate
- Possible forfeiture of vehicle
- 6 points added to driver’s record
- Driver’s Responsibility fee of $1000 for 2 consecutive years
A third offense for any drunk driving conviction results in a felony with even harsher penalties.
When You’re Facing DUI Charges, Contact a Lansing OWI Atorney
Being charged with super drunk driving can have serious consequences that can haunt you for years after your initial incident. Because penalties worsen with each subsequent conviction, it’s often smart to fight your first charge so as to avoid even harsher penalties in the future. If you’ve been charged with super drunk driving, contact a Lansing criminal defense attorney in order to avoid the worst of these penalties.
An experienced Lansing OWI attorney will fight to get your charges reduced or dismissed. He or she will work with you to evaluate a number of strategies in order to determine the best strategic defense. Possible strategies include:
- Proving that an officer didn’t have probable cause to stop you
- Demonstrating that the administration of your blood test was flawed
- Showing that your blood test itself was faulty
- Proving that you weren’t actually driving
If you’ve been charged with super drunk driving, contact a Lansing criminal defense attorney at Debruin Law. Tiffany Debruin represents clients throughout Michigan who are facing OWI charges, including super drunk drivers. Through a free consultation, Tiffany Debruin can speak with you about possible ways of defending yourself against the worst of super drunk driving penalties. Call 517-324-4303 for a free consultation today.