Michigan OWI Lawyer

Michigan OWI Attorney

If you or a loved one are facing an OWI charge, you need competent help exploring your legal options. A positive outcome can be within reach if you have an experienced Michigan DUI lawyer. Contact Jeffrey Randa and Associates for help with any Detroit area OWI. We know how to win these cases, and we will protect you while taking care of your legal rights. Our legal team has the skills to help with your case and to help avoid penalties from a DUI charge.

What Is an OWI Charge in Detroit, MI?

OWI is a legal term that means you were charged for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or with a bodily alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or greater. Whether called a “DUI,” an “DWI,” or an “OWI,” these terms all refer to the same offense of drunk driving, or driving while under the influence of drugs

If you’re facing an OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) charge, a conviction could have serious penalties, depending upon the specific charge(s) made against you, and your prior history, if any.

An OWI should always be taken seriously.

What Possible Penalties Could I Face in Michigan for an OWI?

If this is a first-time OWI offense, you could face these penalties:

• Fines between $100 and $500
• Up to 93 days of jail time
• Court fees and costs
• Community service
• Driver’s license suspension followed by restrictions
• Vehicle immobilization, and
• Court-ordered BAIID (Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device) installation during a period of probation following a conviction

For subsequent (2^nd and 3^rd) offenses, the penalties are substantially more severe and include potential jail time along with having your driver’s license being revoked. These are exactly the kinds of negative consequences and penalties we need to avoid.

Of course, staying out of jail is always job number one.

Also, if there are any aggravating factors, such as causing an injury or death, the possible penalties are significantly more severe. For an injury-related OWI, you could face:

• Prison time up to 5 years
• Fines ranging between $1,000 to $5,000
• Complete revocation of your driver’s license, and
• Mandatory, court-ordered vehicle immobilization

For an OWI that resulted in the death of another, you could face:

• Prison time up to 15 years
• Fines ranging between $2,500 to $10,000
• Revocation of your driver’s license
• Mandatory, court-ordered vehicle immobilization

For any OWI offense, it’s important to consult a trusted Michigan OWI attorney to discuss your options, the possible fallout, and how they can help you get the charges dismissed, or at least reduced. With an experienced Michigan OWI lawyer in your corner, they can build a solid defense and avoid as many of the legal penalties and negative consequences as possible.

At Jeffrey Randa and Associates, we measure success by what does NOT happen to you when as a result of your OWI case. We want to avoid any negative impact on your life and provide real assistance to our clients. We want to avoid penalties and zealously advocate on your behalf when negotiating with prosecutors. We build a strong defense on your behalf, and we work to explore whether every legal defense that might be available to help your case.

What Possible Legal Defenses Are There in Michigan for an OWI Charge?

In the Metro Detroit area, a DUI attorney can help explore whether any of the following legal defenses might be available to help your case:

• Challenging whether the underlying traffic stop was legal. If the police didn’t have a valid reason to stop you, a skilled OWI lawyer can argue they likely violated your constitutional rights and the underlying traffic stop that led to your arrest was illegal. In Detroit, if the police didn’t have reasonable suspicion for the stop, an attorney can argue the stop was unlawful.
• It is challenging to determine whether the tests used to charge you as an OWI were accurate. If the sobriety tests administered to you in the field were not properly given, your attorney can challenge their accuracy.
• Challenging the accuracy of a breathalyzer. If your breathalyzer machine wasn’t calibrated appropriately or the officer administering the test wasn’t properly trained, your attorney can use this as a defense.
• Challenging the accuracy of blood tests. If you were subjected to blood testing, your attorney could likely argue the test itself was faulty or that the warrant to get the blood sample was potentially invalid.
• Challenging whether you were actually driving the vehicle. Sometimes, people are charged with an OWI when they’re not the actual driver of a vehicle and an attorney can help get those charges dropped.
• Challenging any defects in the formal charges. If the police didn’t follow the proper procedure for formally charging you with an OWI, an experienced attorney can help challenge the OWI charges.
• Challenging your test results. If you were not impaired, but something else (like a medication) interfered with your driving or your test results, it can be used as a defense.

A knowledgeable Michigan OWI lawyer can explain and explore all possible legal defenses that might apply. If the evidence supports using one of these available defenses, an experienced DUI attorney in Michigan can explain how that can help your case.

How Can a Michigan OWI Lawyer Help With My Charges?

In dealing with your charges, an experienced Detroit OWI attorney can help:

• Provide strategically helpful legal assistance and advice
• Investigate your charges
• Carefully examine the evidence the prosecutor intends to use against you
• Create a strong defense strategy
• Explore whether any legal defenses may help your OWI case
• Negotiate to reduce the charges you face and/or the potential penalties
• Represent your interests in court to protect your future
• Help with safeguarding your driving rights
• Assist you with the most positive outcome under the circumstances of your OWI case

When considering a specific attorney, look for someone with substantial DUI experience in the court where your case will be decided, and who has a reputation for being a professional. It’s important to hire an attorney who can explain any complicated legal terms and who can clearly inform you of your case progress. Do your research and then call our team.

At Jeffrey Randa and Associates, our priority is to get your Detroit area OWI charge dismissed or reduced. We know that an OWI charge won’t just magically go away on its own, and you need someone in your corner fighting for you.

The law firm of Jeffrey Randa and Associates has over a half-century of combined legal experience as DUI lawyers. We can and will make things better for you. Contact us for a free consultation right away.

FAQs

Contact Jeffrey Randa and Associates – An Experienced Michigan OWI Lawyer

We’ve successfully handled thousands of DUI cases just like yours, but we tailor our approach to every case based on individual circumstances. We have a friendly, knowledgeable staff, and we care about all of our clients. We only take on clients where our past years of legal experience as a private defense team can help you.

If you need help, our consultations are free, confidential, and done over the phone, right when you call. We handle our cases on a flat-fee basis. You have nothing to lose by calling our legal team to discuss your case. If you decide to work with Jeffrey Randa and Associates, we can get started right away investigating your case and helping you avoid the consequences from a mistake in judgment that led to you being charged with a DUI.

Contact our Metro Detroit office anytime for a free consultation right away. We can be reached directly, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM, at either 248-986-9700, or 586-465-1980.