Michigan DUI Lawyer

Drunk driving charges requires a criminal defense attorney.

Arrested for a DUI? Let Us Help.

Many people charged with a DUI aren’t aware of the legal limit, so they drive without realizing the potential danger they pose to themselves and others. Being arrested for a DUI can be a shock to the system aside from being mortifying. Being charged with driving under the influence can lead to a change in people’s perception of you, even if you may be a regular everyday person who made a mistake. There’s a stigma that those arrested and charged with a DUI are irresponsible and dangerous. Prosecuting attorneys take alcohol-related offenses very seriously and this is the picture they will paint in court. If you’re arrested for a DUI with an OWI charge, you need to contact a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible.

Our Philosophy on DUI Defense

Drunk driving cases are some of the most complex legal cases to fight and we are committed to helping our clients win their lives back. The Schwartz Law Group looks at each case individually and we’ll fully investigate each DUI case. We know how to find opportunities and we are committed to the best possible resolution in your case.

If you’re facing a DUI or OWI charge, don’t go at it alone, contact us. We believe in helping clients when they need us the most and we’re here to help you all the way through from the next steps after a DUI arrest to what comes after your court appearance. Call us at (248) 266-8720 to discuss your case with an experienced DUI defense attorney serving metro Detroit.

DUIs are commonly called Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) or sometimes Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI). A prosecutor will charge you based on the circumstances surrounding your case. They will consider things such as your age, your blood alcohol content (BAC), your age, and any substances that were involved in your case.

DUI charges in Michigan include:

OWI: when your BAC is above the legal limit (0.08%)
OWVI: when alcohol or drugs impair you from a visual standpoint
Operating with any presence of a Schedule 1 drug or Cocaine (OWDP): even small traces of these controlled substances in your body can result in charges. You don’t need to be visibly impaired
Zero Tolerance or underage DUIs: an OWI or OWVI while under the legal drinking age of 21 and/or operating a vehicle with any amount of alcohol in your system

Many criminal defense attorneys will investigate your charges. A thorough investigation is necessary to identify opportunities to achieve the best possible resolution. In some situations, the best outcome will be having your charges reduced to impaired driving. However, there may be an opportunity to have your charges reduced much more dramatically or even completely dismissed, depending on what our investigation reveals.

This investigative process includes reviewing dashcam tapes to determine if field sobriety tests were conducted properly. The Schwartz Law Group will examine police reports to find out if the traffic stop was performed correctly and to see if the police had probable cause to stop you. We will also look at breathalyzer evidence to make sure it was used according to guidelines.

If you are arrested on suspicion of a DUI, you may be asked to take a field sobriety test, a preliminary breath test (PBT), or a blood test by the arresting officer. You may also be asked to submit to a urine sample but this is not common. Chemical tests refer to the PBT and the blood test.

If you refuse a chemical test, your license may be suspended for up to a year. Assuming your license was not already suspended or revoked at the time of your arrest, you will be issued a DI-93 permit. If you receive a DI-93 permit, it is crucial that you work with a metro Michigan DUI lawyer as soon as possible because you will need to schedule a hearing with the Secretary of State within 14 days of receiving the DU-93 permit. This is a critical hearing as it is where you will attempt to keep your license. If you lose this hearing, you will have the option to appeal for a restricted license from the Circuit Court.

If you are convicted of a DUI/OWI, the judge will hand down your penalties which can include fines, jail time, mandatory community service, and the suspension or revocation of your driving privileges. If you were just convicted of a DUI or this is not your first DUI offense, consider contacting the Schwartz Law Group immediately to make sure all of your options have be thoroughly explored. We will also help you with your next steps.