Drunk driving is a serious crime in Michigan, especially for those who have previous DUI, OWI, or OWVI convictions on record. Operating While Visibly Impaired (or intoxicated), also known as OWVI, is a charge that results when a person drives with a legal blood alcohol content, yet police determine that person to still be impaired because of drug or alcohol use. In OWVI cases, the burden of proof is placed on the prosecution, as there is no convincing BAC evidence to demonstrate a person was intoxicated. The penalties for OWVI conviction, however, are still extremely serious and it is vital that anyone accused of impaired driving contact an experienced OWVI defense attorney right away.
When you face felony drunk driving charges after a 3rd offense, you need a skilled defense team on your side throughout every stage of your case. Grabel & Associates has established a reputation as one of Michigan’s top OWVI defense firms, and our attorneys understand what it takes to achieve outstanding results in criminal cases. We combine for over 100 years of legal experience and for over a decade have been successfully defending clients in drunk driving cases throughout Michigan’s 83 counties. Contact an attorney immediately if you have been pulled over for drunk driving or charged with OWVI, and fight back against aggressive police and prosecutors who will be working to build a convincing case against you.
A first OWVI conviction and a second conviction within 7 years both result in misdemeanor charges, but a 3rd OWVI charge at any point in your life will result in felony charges and significantly enhanced criminal penalties. Although the legal blood alcohol content limit in Michigan is 0.08%, drivers with any alcohol or drugs in their system can still be charged with OWVI if police determine they were impaired by use of an intoxicating substance. Possible causes for police to suspect a person of OWVI can include traffic violations, swerving out of lanes, failing field sobriety tests, slurring words, and other actions. While it is possible to be impaired with a blood alcohol content under 0.08%, we recognize that multiple factors including weather and road conditions, vehicle malfunctions, and preexisting medical conditions can result in OWVI accusations, and our lawyers fight to protect clients from wrongful conviction and penalties.
A third Operating While Visibly Intoxicated offense in Michigan will result in felony charges, and conviction could result in serious punishment. You could be sentenced to between one and five years behind bars, or up to a year in jail along with probation and community service. In addition, fines of as much as $5,000 and driver responsibility fees could result. Your vehicle will also be immobilized, and possibly forfeited, depending on the details of your case.
Anyone convicted of a third OWVI offense will also receive 4 points on their driver’s license record, and will have their driver’s license revoked for at least 5 years. After revocation, your license is not guaranteed back, and you will have to win a DAAD hearing to regain your driving privileges.
Contact Grabel & Associates now to protect against felony drunk driving penalties. Our statewide attorneys will work with you to develop legal goals and implement defense strategies that will help you properly protect your constitutional rights while fighting for your best interests. We are recognized as a top-quality law firm because our attorneys have proven their skill in thousands of past criminal cases, and we will commit as much time as necessary to your case in order to help you fight excessive penalties or wrongful conviction.
Before taking legal action in any drunk driving case, it is crucial to contact a capable attorney who can review every detail of your case and work to create an individualized defense strategy with your legal goals in mind. Our lawyers know how medical conditions, weather and traffic factors, and other issues can affect OWVI cases, and will consider all chemical test evidence, field sobriety testing, and other aspects of your case that could be pivotal.
Our lawyers work closely with clients throughout every stage of criminal cases, and are always available to answer questions and help clients understand the legal issues affecting their cases. Our proven results demonstrate why Grabel & Associates is held as one of Michigan’s best criminal defense firms, and our attorneys are available 24/7 to begin working to add your case to our list of successes.
An experienced case analyst is standing by at our toll free number, 1-800-342-7896 any time of day to take your call, and it is crucial to contact our law firm as soon as you face criminal accusations. You can also set up a free consultation with trial lawyer Scott Grabel by calling or contacting our firm online. Protect your driving privileges and defend against jail and fines in your felony criminal case by working with Grabel & Associates now.