The State of Michigan has tough penalties for operating a motor vehicle on its roads and highways while intoxicated from alcohol or drugs. This hard stance also extends to operating a motorboat on any of Michigan’s open waters while under the influence. The...
DUI Offenses
When Are You Required To Have An Ignition Interlock Device On Your Vehicle In Michigan?
Michigan law has little tolerance for any person who is drinking and driving on a public roadway. The first DUI offense will generally result in a restricted or suspended operator’s license. A person who has two or more DUI offenses within a seven-year period...
Can You Be Charged With A DUI Offense On Private Property In Michigan?
Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to be on a public road to be pulled over, questioned and arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Michigan. MCL 257.625(1) states “[a] person… shall not operate a vehicle (1) upon a highway; or (2) other place open...
Can You Refuse To Take A Field Sobriety Test In Michigan?
If you are pulled over in your vehicle on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, the police officer may demand that you perform field sobriety tests to demonstrate whether you are actually impaired. In performing these tests, they can either provide some...
Can You Refuse To Take A Preliminary Breath Test (PBT) In Michigan?
If you are pulled over in your vehicle on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, the police officer may demand that you submit to a preliminary breath test (PBT). Unlike the larger and more accurate Datamaster machines at the police station, the PBT is a...
What Are The Penalties For Allowing An Intoxicated Person To Operate A Motor Vehicle In Michigan? – MCL 257.625(2)
Everyone knows that if you are intoxicated by alcohol or drugs and then get into a vehicle to drive, then you become subject to prosecution under Michigan’s DUI laws. However, did you know that you can get into trouble with the law if you allow ANOTHER person...
What Is “Heidi’s Law” In Michigan?
On January 3, 2007, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed Public Act 564 and Public Act 565 of 2006 into law and significantly increased the maximum penalties for habitual drunk drivers. Known as “Heidi’s Law”, the new statute was named in memory of Heidi Steiner,...
Michigan State Police Takes Datamaster Breathalyzer Out Of Service During Fraud Probe
On January 13th, 2020, the Michigan State Police took its 203 Datamaster breathalyzer machines out of service due to fraudulent records submitted during maintenance. The state police have a $1.26 million per year contract with Intoximeters, a St. Louis-based company,...
What Are The Penalties For Operating A Vehicle Under The Influence With A Child Present (“Child Endangerment”) in Michigan? – MCL 257.625(7)
Michigan law has little tolerance for drivers operating a motor vehicle on the road while under the influence of controlled substances and alcohol. Any conviction under these statutes can lead to substantial fines and costs, license sanctions, probation and even jail....
What Is Michigan’s Implied Consent Law?
If you find yourself in a situation where you are pulled over by the police on the road after having too much to drink, you might figure that the best way to avoid prosecution is to simply refuse to take any chemical tests. After all, how can the police prove that the...
