Michigan OWI/DUI Attorney

DUI Lawyer Serving the Oakland County and Wayne County

Michigan criminal law refers to drunk driving offenses as OWI (operating while intoxicated.) These crimes are most often referred to as DUI or DWI in other states. DUI, DWI and OWI all involve operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance. A relatively common offense, a Michigan DUI may be punishable by jail time, fines, driver's license suspension, community service, probation and more. Most DUI offenses in Michigan are misdemeanors but may be charged as felonies in specific circumstances, such as a case involving a multiple offender or a drunk driver causing an auto accident resulting in injury to or the death of another person.

If you or someone you know was arrested for DUI or OWI anywhere in Oakland County or Wayne County, Michigan, our firm can help. A Michigan DUI lawyer at Freedman & Freedman can review your particular case to determine what legal action can be taken on your behalf in order to help you avoid a conviction and therefore serious penalties. We take on cases throughout all of Detroit, Bloomfield Township, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Oakland County, Sterling Heights, Troy, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, and Warren. Although you may have been arrested for allegedly driving under the influence, this does not mean that you are guilty and it certainly does not mean that you should be convicted. You have the right to involve a lawyer to handle your case and protect your legal rights in the face of your charges, and that is precisely what a professional at our offices can do for you. We will work to protect your driving privileges and your freedom in criminal court proceedings and at your DMV hearing. You can count on an OWI lawyer at our offices to take the time to address your immediate concerns while protecting your legal rights to the fullest extent.

About Drunk Driving Charges in Michigan

As we already discussed, OWI stands for "operating while intoxicated." To be found guilty of OWI/DUI in Michigan, a driver must have been operating a motor vehicle while with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08% or greater, or while his or her mental/physical abilities were impaired due to alcohol or drug use. To prove this, law enforcement and the District Attorney may utilize the driver's result from a breath test or blood test, which measures the level of alcohol in the driver's breath or blood. Performance on field sobriety tests may also be used to support the result of a chemical test or to prove that a driver's normal abilities were impaired because of alcohol or a controlled substance. These methods can be challenged by investigating the case from every angle to determine if a procedural or evidentiary mistake was made or if your legal rights were violated in any way.

If you would like to learn more about DUI and OWI in Michigan, please feel free to review the information that we have included on this website, or call to schedule a consultation with an attorney. We can handle cases related to first time DUI/OWI offenses as well as multiple offenses and will apply all of our knowledge and skill in DUI/OWI defense in criminal court and at our clients' DMV hearings to help them avoid all of the penalties potentially associated with DUI. We investigate every angle of the case, from the initial stop to the arrest, chemical testing and formal charges.

OWI
OWI charges may apply when a driver is accused of operating a motor vehicle intoxicated or impaired. Michigan takes an aggressive stance against drunk driving and will zealously prosecute drivers who have been accused of driving with a blood alcohol content of .08% or more, while impaired by alcohol or drugs, or while with any amount of cocaine or Schedule I drug in their system. Drivers under 21 may face serious penalties for driving with any amount of alcohol in their systems. The defense of drunk driving charges is a key part of our firm's legal practice. We handle these cases with professionalism and an attention to detail that enables us to determine the best approach to challenge the evidence against our client, whether this involves a "failed" breath test or field sobriety tests. We welcome you to call our offices at any time to speak with an attorney about your case, or you can click here to read more about OWI.

What To Do After a Michigan DUI Arrest

After your arrest, it is important that you immediately contact an attorney. Law enforcement may wish to discuss your case with you and ask you questions about what you drank, how much, where you were going, etc. While you may want to cooperate as much as possible, they are only asking you these things in order to gather evidence against you. You may be pressured into accepting a plea bargain. Law enforcement officers are allowed to lie to you and deceive you when questioning you about an offense. They can tell you almost anything they want to, in an attempt to get a confession or to pressure you into accepting a plea bargain.

Having an OWI lawyer on your side means that your rights and interests will be protected from the moment you are arrested all the way through the criminal process and at your DMV hearing as well. If law enforcement wants to question you or tries to unreasonably pressure you in any way, you will have an attorney to protect you. You will have a legal professional in your corner, ensuring your Constitutional rights are not violated. And if protocol or your rights have already been violated due to an unlawful arrest, police stop without probable cause, or unreasonable search and seizure, your Michigan DUI defense attorney can use this to benefit the outcome of your case.

Why a DUI or OWI defense lawyer?

Drunk driving is harshly prosecuted in Michigan. You may face enhanced penalties in certain cases, such as if you have prior convictions on your record or cause an auto accident. It is important not to simply accept a plea bargain or waive your right to a criminal defense lawyer. Even if you believe that you have little to no chance of winning your case, there are usually still options that your Michigan DUI lawyer can explore in regards to your defense.

With over 34 years of collective legal experience and an unwavering commitment to the rights of our clients, we can offer you the level of attorney representation that your case rightfully deserves. We at Freedman & Freedman understand that facing serious charges of driving under the influence or operating while intoxicated is a matter that should be handled with the utmost care and responsibility. One small mistake or misinformation provided to the police can result in a criminal conviction. Unfortunately, the criminal justice system is one of the most unforgiving places for a person to end up; even with a DUI conviction a person may face lifelong consequences. Consequences such as job loss, increased insurance premiums, and financial hardship are just a few of the long-term consequences a person will face. If you have been arrested for drunk driving, do not wait another moment to talk to a Michigan DUI lawyer from our office today.

Facing DUI or OWI charges in Oakland County, Wayne County, or the surrounding areas in Michigan? Contact a Michigan OWI attorney at Freedman & Freedman today for your free consultation.

We are proud to serve clients throughout the Bloomfield Township, Detroit, Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Oakland County, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Sterling Heights, Troy, Warren, and Wayne County.