Howell DUI Lawyers

Our Attorneys Explain What You Need to Know About DUI Charges in Livingston County

It only takes a few hours for your whole life to change after a DUI / OWI charge in Livingston County. If this is what you’re experiencing, it’s essential to know what to expect and what to do.

The DUI attorneys at Gentry Nalley have successfully helped countless drivers all across Michigan regain hope in these difficult situations. By skillfully using our legal insights and resources, we often achieve results beyond what our clients ever expected.

Let us help you understand the most important aspects of DUI / OWI charges to help you achieve the best possible outcome.

What Is a DUI / OWI?

Many are surprised to learn that a DUI in Michigan is technically referred to as an OWI, which stands for “Operating While Intoxicated”.

Under Michigan law, a person can receive an OWI charge by:

• Operating a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08% or higher
• Driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, intoxicating substances, or a combination of both (regardless of the driver’s BAC)
• Driving with any amount of alcohol in their body if they are under 21 years of age

Michigan also recognizes a similar offense known as Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI).

This takes place when a driver’s inability to safely operate a vehicle is clearly evident; in other words, it’s obvious to law enforcement that the driver can’t safely drive after drinking, regardless of their BAC.

OWVI evidence includes:

• Observation of the driver’s inability to safely maneuver the vehicle
• The driver’s speech, coordination, balance, or movements demonstrate the influence of alcohol
• The smell of alcohol on the driver’s breath

If you’ve been charged with an OWI or OWVI, let the drunk driving defense attorneys at Gentry Nalley help you understand what steps to take and how to handle DUI / OWI charges.

Important DUI Statistics for Livingston County

Residents of Howell and Brighton are not immune to the rising effects of impaired driving in their communities.

These effects are clearly reflected in a recent Michigan State Police Annual Drunk Driving Audit:

• There were 367 alcohol-related driving arrests in Livingston County alone, with a significant number occurring in the Howell and Brighton areas.
• Refusal to submit to a breath or blood test has also been on the rise in Livingston County, with 57. This often leads to more cases involving license suspensions.
• 933 people were injured and 13 people killed due to OWI involvement.
• 4,107 crashes involving property damage occurred that was related to OWIs.

These statistics reveal how seriously Howell and Brighton law enforcement take DUI / OWI offenses, highlighting the importance of having proven OWI representation on your side from Gentry Nalley.

Penalties for a DUI in Livingston County

As demonstrated above, the state of Michigan takes impaired and intoxicated driving very seriously.

As a result, Michigan law stipulates significant penalties for anyone charged with a DUI or OWI in Livingston County: up to 93 days in jail, up to 360 hours of community service, and fines up to $500.

A driver convicted of an OWI may also have to face other consequences, which can include a 30-day license suspension, a 150-day license restriction, and having an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle.

With each repeat offense, these penalties and consequences can increase. That means an increase in fines, longer jail time, and greater license restrictions.

Additionally, having a higher BAC of .17 or more leads to significantly increased penalties: up to 180 days in jail, a maximum $700 fine, 1 year license suspension, and mandatory alcohol treatment.

To help reduce the penalties you may be facing from an OWI charge, turn to the OWI defense attorneys at Gentry Nalley.

DUI Charges for Underage Drivers

While Michigan takes all DUI / OWI offenses seriously, operating a vehicle while intoxicated is especially serious for drivers under the age of 21.

For example, Michigan’s Zero Tolerance Law provides even tougher guidelines for underage drivers, making it illegal for individuals who are younger than 21 to consume alcohol and operate a vehicle. Under this law, anyone under age 21 who has a BAC of more than 0.02% to 0.07% may be arrested for OWI.

This law basically applies to any person under the age of 21 who has been found to have “any bodily alcohol content”, unless it can be proven that it was from a generally recognized religious service.

If you’re an underage driver charged with a DUI / OWI, let the DUI attorneys at Gentry Nalley help you handle your charges.

DUI / OWI Charges from Marijuana Use

Some Livingston County drivers mistakenly think that driving while under the influence of marijuana won’t result in a DUI / OWI charge because it’s not alcohol.

Yet, Michigan law clearly explains that a driver cannot operate a motor vehicle while impaired by any substance, which includes marijuana. That means a Livingston County driver can receive an OWI charge from consuming marijuana and then driving.

Additionally, the Michigan Marijuana Act provides further clarity that individuals under the influence of marijuana are not authorized to drive any motor vehicle.

As a result, a driver can expect to face the same OWI penalties for drinking alcohol as for consuming marijuana.

If you’re facing a DUI / OWI charge from marijuana use, contact the DUI defense lawyers at Gentry Nalley for help.

Howell DUI Attorneys You Can Trust

With the serious consequences and penalties you’re facing from DUI / OWI charges in Howell or elsewhere in Livingston County, you need legal representation that’s proven, trustworthy, and fights for you.

The DUI attorneys at Gentry Nalley have helped thousands of Michigan residents successfully navigate complex legal charges like these.

Let us use our legal insights to put the law on your side, understand what to expect at each step, and help you achieve the best possible results.

Contact Our Livingston County DUI Lawyers

If you need help with DUI / OWI charges in Howell, Brighton, or anywhere else in Livingston County, then turn to the DUI attorneys at Gentry Nalley.

We’ll use our knowledge and insights gained from decades of successfully handling these cases to help reduce or even dismiss your charges.

Contact us today by calling (517) 552-4092 or using our contact form.