An experienced and knowledgeable lawyer is critical when you are charged with an alcohol or drug driving offense. Police officers strictly enforce Michigan’s DUI laws and they are well trained to get convictions. Some people are surprised to find out that DUI also includes driving with the presence of any controlled substance in your blood. Michigan has what is considered a Zero Tolerance law for driving under the influence of drugs.

The law provides that any presence of a controlled substance, no matter how minute, is considered driving under the influence of that drug and you are sentenced the same as a drunk driver. At first, this sounds reasonable but many drugs stay in your system for days after the effects wear off. For instance, Marijuana. Because of the severe consequences of these type of offenses, it is necessary to have the right attorney review and analyze all the State’s evidence.

The DUI laws are continuously becoming more stringent in Michigan. In the past few years, our State legislatures have enacted a “Super Drunk” law which increases the penalty for those with a high blood alcohol content of .17 or greater. Even if it’s your first offense you face more jail time and a driver’s license suspension for a year which requires the installation of a breathalyzer instrument in your vehicle in order to drive.

Additionally, Felony drunk driving has been redefined so as to make a person’s third offense in his/her’s lifetime a felony. Previous law provided a third offense within ten years would be required for a felony. The ten-year requirement has now been changed to a ‘lifetime’. Felony drunk/drug driving has a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of at least 30 days. It is a very serious matter. Effective legal counsel is a must!

If you are charged with a DUI for alcohol or drugs in Washtenaw County you need an attorney well versed in the particulars of the offense and who has experience in the local court system. Contact Michael L LeGris for the best representation and result.