Strategic OWI Defense to Protect Your License, Record, and Future
An OWI arrest in Macomb County puts your license, your record, and your freedom at risk. The penalties are serious: potential jail time, difficult and demanding probation, heavy fines, and months off the road. As a Macomb County DUI/OWI attorney, Jeffrey Randa and Associates has spent more than 30 years defending Metro Detroit drivers in district courts throughout Macomb County, protecting not just the criminal case, but the driving future that follows. Good people end up in difficult situations. We’re here to help.
Why Choose Jeffrey Randa and Associates for Your Macomb County OWI Case?
Jeffrey Randa and Associates concentrates exclusively in Michigan OWI defense, driver’s license restoration, and criminal defense. Founded in 1993 in Mt. Clemens, the firm brings three decades of courtroom experience across all Macomb County district courts.
- 30+ years focused exclusively in OWI defense, license restoration, and criminal defense — not a side practice
- Headquartered in Mt. Clemens, with deep familiarity with every courthouse in Macomb County
- Dual expertise in DUI defense and driver’s license restoration gives a distinct advantage in second and third offense cases
- An ironclad Driver’s License Restoration Guarantee: our clients win the first time, or the firm continues representing them at no additional attorney fee until they do
- Recovery-based practice: our firm’s founder completed a post-graduate program in addiction studies, giving him clinical insight into how alcohol and addiction affect both the criminal case and the restoration hearing
- Genuine 5-star reviews on Google
- Free and confidential phone consultations
- Transparent and competitive fees
Jeffrey Randa founded the firm in 1993 in Mt. Clemens and has been helping good people out of bad situations ever since. His post-graduate work in addiction studies makes him one of the few Michigan DUI attorneys with formal clinical training in the subject at the heart of most OWI cases. Review case results, read client reviews, or learn more about the firm.
What Are the Penalties for an OWI in Michigan?
Michigan’s OWI statute sets penalty ranges by offense level. What you face depends on your BAC, your prior record, and the circumstances of your arrest:
- First offense OWI (BAC 0.08–0.16): Up to 93 days in jail, fines of $100–$500, and driver’s license suspension for 180 days (restricted license issued after 30 days).
- High BAC / Super Drunk (BAC 0.17+): Up to 180 days, fines of $200–$700, a 45-day hard suspension, and 320 days restricted with a required ignition interlock device.
- Second offense OWI (within 7 years): Mandatory 5-day jail minimum with up to 1 year in jail OR probation with 30 to 90 days of community service, fines of $200–$1,000, and license revocation for at least one year (five years if previous revocation was within seven years).
- Third offense OWI: A felony under Michigan’s Heidi’s Law, with 1 to 5 years in prison or at least thirty days and up to one year in jail (this can be waived if a person is admitted into a specialty court program, like Sobriety Court). Fines of $500–$5,000. Under current law, a third OWI in a person’s lifetime will trigger felony charges, but the 10-year lookback still affects how driver’s license revocations are calculated.
Jail is not the typical outcome for a first OWI in Macomb County, as courts can be persuaded to favor probation when the facts support it. The real risk is being jammed into difficult probation with all kinds of alcohol testing, mandatory counseling or treatment, and license restrictions. The less disruption in your life, the better.
If the evidence is solid, then the focus turns to negotiating a plea bargain to a lesser charge, like OWVI (Operating While Visibly Impaired). This carries no hard license suspension (a “hard” suspension means no driving is allowed for any reason) and only results in 90 days of restricted driving.
The first goal in every DUI case is to get the charge dismissed. If the evidence is solid enough to prevent that, then the focus is on avoiding as many of the potential legal penalties and negative consequences as possible. Our firm lives by the motto that “success in a DUI case is best measured by what does NOT happen to you.”
What Happens to Your License After an OWI Conviction?
The license impact depends on whether you end up with a suspension or a revocation: two very different outcomes.
A first-offense OWI results in a 30-day hard suspension followed by 150 days of restricted driving. When the restriction period ends, reinstatement is automatic once you pay the mandatory reinstatement fee.
A second-offense OWI within 7 years will result in the total revocation of your license. Unless you are admitted into a Sobriety Court program, where the judge can override this revocation, you’ll have to wait to file and win a formal license appeal before the Michigan Secretary of State through the Office of Hearings and Administrative Oversight (OHAO). The minimum waiting period before that process begins is one year from the revocation date, but you must be off probation to win, so a person will likely have to wait the better part of 3 years to have any chance of success.
For most people — those with three convictions within ten years — the waiting period to file extends to five years. A prior revocation within seven years at the time of the new revocation triggers the same five-year wait, though that situation is less common.
Refusing a breathalyzer after an arrest triggers a separate penalty. Your license will be suspended for one year under Michigan’s implied consent law, applied regardless of how the underlying OWI charge resolves. You can challenge this at a hearing, and even if you lose or you don’t appeal, you can file in the circuit court and request restricted driving privileges.
For those with two or more prior OWI convictions, sobriety court is always an option to consider. It is not available for first-offense cases, including High BAC first offenses. Eligibility criteria vary by jurisdiction across Michigan.
How Does a Macomb County OWI Lawyer Challenge the Evidence?
An OWI charge is not a guaranteed conviction. The evidence must hold up. With more than 30 years of experience in the Macomb County courts, our team knows where it often doesn’t.
A traffic stop requires valid probable cause. Without it, the entire case may be challengeable. Field sobriety tests depend heavily on conditions, officer training, and how they’re administered.
Breathalyzers require calibration records, certified operators, and proper testing protocol. Blood test results must document a complete chain of custody.
Any one of these issues can support a dismissal or charge reduction. Knowing which arguments carry weight in which Macomb County courtroom is the product of three decades of practice here. We will always do everything humanly and legally possible to produce the best possible result.
What About License Restoration After an OWI?
If a second or third OWI revokes your license, you’ll eventually face the OHAO restoration process. Most people who pursue it without experienced help fail the first attempt.
Jeffrey Randa and Associates handles both sides: the OWI defense that protects you now and the license restoration process that gets you driving again later. Few Metro Detroit firms carry equal depth in both.
The firm’s Driver’s License Restoration Guarantee covers every case we accept. If an appeal falls short, we’ll continue to represent you at no additional attorney fee until we do win. We make this guarantee because we count on winning. The idea of having to do a losing case all over again amounts to double the work for half the money. This makes us as invested as our clients in winning the first time.
Note, though, that eligibility requires genuine sobriety, honesty about your history, and meeting Michigan’s filing requirements.
License restoration hearings are statewide, conducted via video conference through the OHAO. In Macomb County, where driving is a daily necessity, getting that license back as soon as possible matters.
Which Courts Handle OWI Cases in Macomb County?
Macomb County has ten district courts (two located within the 37th district). Misdemeanor OWI cases are tried at the district court level with felony third-offense OWI cases going to the 16th Circuit Court in Mt. Clemens.
- 37th District Court — City of Warren
- 37th District Court — City of Centerline
- 38th District Court — Eastpointe
- 39th District Court — Roseville, Fraser
- 40th District Court — St. Clair Shores
- 41A-1 District Court (Sterling Heights) — Sterling Heights
- 41A-2 District Court (Shelby Division) — Shelby Township, Macomb Township, Utica
- 41B District Court — Clinton Township, Harrison Township, Mt. Clemens
- 42nd District Court, Division 1 — Cities of Memphis and Richmond, and Townships of Bruce, Washington, Armada, Ray, and Richmond
- 42nd District Court, Division 2 — New Baltimore, Chesterfield Township, Lenox Township
Jeffrey Randa and Associates has practiced in all these district courts for over 30 years, knowing the law and how each court and judge applies it.
What to Expect When You Call Jeffrey Randa and Associates
The process starts with a free phone consultation. A friendly and helpful member of our team will talk through your situation, explain what the charges mean, and outline what your defense could look like.
From there, the firm reviews the evidence, identifies defense angles, and builds a strategy from arraignment through resolution. Questions about your driving future, including license restoration, will be addressed from day one.
- Free phone consultation, no obligation
- Complete case review and defense strategy
- Representation from arraignment through resolution
- Virtual and in-person appointments available
- Transparent fees, explained upfront
Every call gets a real person, and every case gets our full attention — from the first conversation to the final result.
Facing an OWI Charge in Macomb County? Call Us Today
An OWI charge doesn’t define your next chapter. Jeffrey Randa and Associates has spent over 30 years helping good people in Macomb County and across Metro Detroit handle exactly these situations. Contact our office online for a free phone consultation. A member of our team is ready to discuss your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions About OWI in Macomb County
What is the difference between OWI, OWVI, and DUI in Michigan?
Michigan law uses the term OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) rather than DUI, though DUI is how most people search. OWI applies when a driver’s BAC reaches 0.08 or higher, or when alcohol or drugs impair their ability to drive. OWVI (Operating While Visibly Impaired) is a lesser charge for visible impairment below the OWI threshold, and a plea to OWVI typically means no hard license suspension and a less significant criminal record.
What is High BAC / “Super Drunk” in Michigan, and how is it different from a standard OWI?
Michigan’s High BAC law — sometimes called the “Super Drunk” law — applies when a driver’s BAC is 0.17 or above. The penalties are significantly harsher than a standard first-offense OWI: up to 180 days in jail (double the standard maximum), fines of $200–$700, a 45-day hard suspension with no driving allowed for any reason, and 320 days of restricted driving with a mandatory ignition interlock device. A High BAC conviction is still a misdemeanor, but the license consequences and mandatory interlock requirement make it far more disruptive than a standard first offense. Negotiating a High BAC charge down to a standard OWI or OWVI is a realistic goal with the right defense.
Can a first-offense OWI be reduced to a lesser charge in Macomb County?
In many first-offense cases, prosecutors will consider a plea to a less serious offense, like OWVI, as part of a negotiated resolution. The outcome depends on the evidence, the facts of the stop, and the skill of your defense attorney. Macomb County courts tend to favor probation over incarceration for first offenses, but knowing which arguments create room for negotiation takes years of experience in these specific courts.
If I’m convicted of OWI in Michigan, can my record ever be cleared?
A first-and-only OWI conviction may qualify for expungement under Michigan’s OWI expungement law. You must wait five years after your discharge from probation — not from the conviction date. Cases involving injury or death are not eligible, and the offense must be your only OWI conviction.