OWI Charges

If you were charged with an OWI or DUI in the Metro-Detroit area, fighting your charges in court is essential if you want to avoid a conviction and all the penalties that come with it. An OWI attorney in can help with your OWI charges by thoroughly investigating your arrest and building a strong defense for you.

The roads are slick from a recent snowfall as you’re driving westbound on I-96 from Detroit to Livonia. You’re swerving slightly, trying to avoid any patches of ice that may have formed on the road. It’s a Saturday night and you’re coming home from the bar, but you weren’t drinking—maybe you had one drink, but you knew you were OK to drive. When you see blue lights flashing behind you, panic sets in.

The police pull you over after witnessing you swerve on the highway. They assume you’re driving under the influence and charge you with operating while intoxicated (OWI). You try to explain that you were swerving to avoid ice, but they won’t listen. Now, you must go to court and explain yourself to a judge.

Thankfully, however, your OWI charge doesn’t automatically mean you’re convicted of a crime. To avoid a conviction, you can seek help from a Detroit OWI lawyer. At Schwartz Law Group, we’ll negotiate on your behalf and work hard to reduce or dismiss your charges.

How a OWI Conviction will Affect Your Life

If you’ve never been in trouble with the law, then you may be clueless about how a Detroit OWI can affect your life. The penalties associated with an OWI in Detroit can range in severity, but if you’re convicted for a first-offense OWI or DUI and your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is between .08 and .17 percent, then you may have to spend up to 93 days in jail.

A first-offense OWI or DUI in the Metro Detroit area can also result in up to 360 hours of community service and a fine of $500. Detroit police officers may also immobilize your vehicle for up to 180 days.

Understanding Michigan’s Implied Consent Law

The Detroit police must have probable cause to pull you over and further probable cause to charge you with an OWI or DUI. But, this probable cause may not mean you’re guilty of driving under the influence. For example, you may swerve while driving and you may slur your speech when speaking to the police, but this doesn’t mean you’re under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

You’re allowed to refuse any tests the police try to administer at the scene of your arrest, such as a field sobriety test or a breathalyzer test. If you refuse, though, you’ll be charged with a civil infraction and fined $100. The police can then arrest you and bring you to the police station to administer a more accurate breathalyzer test.

Michigan’s implied consent law assumes that you consent to the breathalyzer test at the Detroit police station, which means you’ll lose your license for one year if you refuse to cooperate with this test. six points will also be added to your driving record. 

Reach Out to an OWI Attorney

Once you’re charged with an OWI or DUI in the Metro Detroit area, you’ll need a strong criminal defense strategy to convince the judge and the jury of your innocence.

A Detroit OWI lawyer from the Schwartz Law Group can challenge the evidence in your case and the procedures used in your arrest. We take cases from the areas around Metro-Detroit including Taylor, West Bloomfield Township, Southfield, Livonia, Novi, Farmington Hills, and more. 

If you’re ready to discuss your case with a member of our team, fill out the contact form below or call 248-930-5019 to schedule a free consultation.