Drunk Driving

Drunk Driving Defense in Michigan: DUI - OWI - DWI

Few states can possibly have as many names and acronyms for drunk driving as Michigan does — OWI, OWVI, DUI, OUIL and even UBAL. However, the fine legal distinctions between these offenses have largely been eliminated since the 2004 amendments to the state's drunk driving laws. No matter whether you've been formally charged or previously convicted of DWI, OWI or DUI, you are facing serious criminal penalties and a possible driver's license suspension.

Contact the Southfield office of criminal trial attorney Frank K. Rhodes III, Esq. for a free consultation about your options in defense against drunk driving charges in Greater Detroit or elsewhere in southeast Michigan. With more than 30 years of experience with the representation of people accused of serious crimes, he can advise you about the risks you face, help you protect your driver's license and present your strongest possible defense to the OWI or DUI charges.

Most commonly charged today as OWI, or "operating while intoxicated," drunk driving is more severely punished today than ever before. A second or subsequent conviction within a seven-year period of any alcohol-related driving offense will usually result in a jail term and a suspended license. Third offenses are charged and sentenced as felonies. Because current law and court procedures make it very difficult to plead OWI or DUI charges to a lesser offense, the service of a skilled and experienced trial lawyer might well represent your best chance for an effective defense on such grounds as the following:

• Lack of reasonable suspicion on the part of the arresting officer to pull your car over
• Absence of probable cause to arrest you
• Failure to give you your Miranda rights while arresting you or taking a blood alcohol sample from you
• Improper storage or analysis of the blood alcohol sample
• Forensic evidence of alternative reasons for a high blood alcohol concentration, such as prescribed medication, digestive reaction to certain foods or even gastric reflux

Frank K. Rhodes III, Esq. will take the time to identify, develop and present your strongest possible defense against OVI or DWI charges. He can also represent you if you were arrested for unlawful operation of a boat or snowmobile while intoxicated. While working on your defense to the drunk driving charges, he can also represent your interests before the Driver's License Appeal Division (DLAD) of the Michigan Secretary of State. Driver's license suspension and appeal hearings are conducted in separate proceedings before the DLAD and are usually essential to minimizing the length of a suspension or obtaining a conditional or occupational driver's license.

To learn more about your legal options in the defense against any Michigan drunk driving offense, contact criminal defense lawyer Frank K. Rhodes III, Esq. in Southfield for a free consultation.