Michigan OWI Lawyer

Michigan OWI Attorney

If you or a loved one are facing an OWI charge, you need skilled legal help to get the best result. 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 of up to $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

If your BAC was .17 or greater, you could be facing a “High BAC” (often called “super drunk”) charge. This enhanced 1st offense charge carries more severe potential penalties, including:

• Fine of up to $700
• Up to 180 days jail time
• Mandatory completion of an alcohol treatment program
• Court fees and costs
• Community service for up to 360 hours
• Driver’s license suspension for 1 year, with a restricted license allowed after 45 days, and for the next 10 and 1/2 months with mandatory BAIID (Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device).
• Vehicle immobilization

For subsequent (2^nd and 3^rd) offenses, the penalties are substantially more severe and include potential jail time along with mandatory driver’s license revocation (NOT suspension). These are exactly the kinds of negative consequences and penalties we need to avoid.

Protect Yourself

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 any OWI offense, it’s important to consult a trusted Michigan DUI attorney to discuss your options, the possible fallout, and what can be done to get the charges dismissed, or at least reduced. When you have an experienced Michigan OWI lawyer from our firm, we 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 in an OWI case. We want to avoid any negative impact on your life and provide real assistance to our clients. We do everything legally possible to avoid penalties and zealously advocate on your behalf when negotiating with prosecutors.

We’ll 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 from our firm can help explore whether any of the following legal defenses might be available to help your case:

• Challenging the legality of the underlying traffic stop. If the police didn’t have a valid reason to stop you, our skilled OWI lawyers can argue that your constitutional rights were violated and that your arrest was illegal. In Detroit and the surrounding suburbs, if the police didn’t have reasonable suspicion for the stop, an attorney can argue the stop was unlawful.
• Whether the field sobriety tests used to charge you with OWI were accurate. If the sobriety tests 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, we can use this as a defense.
• Challenging the accuracy of blood tests. If you were subjected to blood testing, we may be able to prove the test itself was faulty or that the warrant to get the blood sample was potentially invalid.
• Argue that there is no proof that you were actually driving the vehicle. Sometimes, people are charged with an OWI when they’re not the actual driver of a vehicle and get the DUI charge dropped.
• Contesting 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 from our team can help challenge the OWI charges.
• Disputing 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.

Our knowledgeable Michigan OWI lawyers can explain and explore all possible legal defenses that might apply. If the evidence supports using one of these available defenses, our experienced Michigan DUI attorneys can explain how that can help your case.

How Can a Michigan OWI Lawyer Help With My Charges?

In dealing with your charges, our experienced Metro Detroit OWI attorneys 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 and your record
• Help with safeguarding your driving rights
• Ensure you get the best outcome under the circumstances of your OWI case

Our firm only take cases in the Greater-Detroit area, where we substantial drunk driving experience in the local courts. My team and I have earned a reputation for being honest, successful, and professional.

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

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

How Much Does a Michigan OWI Lawyer Cost?

What you’ll pay for attorney’s fees for an DUI in Metro Detroit depends on several case-specific factors, such as the complexity of your case and the experience level of your attorney handling OWI matters. Click here for our fee schedule. Contact Jeffrey Randy so we can help discuss your specific circumstances and give you an exact price, right when you call.

Can an OWI Be Reduced in Michigan?

An OWI can often be reduced in Metro Detroit, depending on a few factors like the severity of the incident, your BAC, the strength of the evidence against you, and your personal history.

An experienced attorney like those at Jeffrey Randa and Associates can help build a strong defense that gives you the best chances of beating or reducing your OWI charges. We know how to negotiate a good break, even when the evidence is rock-solid. Contact our office to discuss the strength of your case and how we can help get the best outcome possible.

Can an OWI be Reduced in Michigan?

An OWI/DWI can be reduced in Michigan in many circumstances. Depending on different factors, the original DUI charge may be reduced to something less severe, such as a lower DUI offense, or even all the way down a non-alcohol offense, like reckless driving.

Do I Need to Hire a Michigan Lawyer for an OWI?

A skilled DUI attorney can help you avoid severe penalties and help protect your legal rights. Not having the right lawyer can seriously impair your chances of getting the best possible results in your case.

Jeffrey Randa and Associates provides skilled representation and we make sure to clearly explain the legal process so that you understand your situation, and your options. We can defend you against your DUI charge(s), negotiate for a better outcome, and help avoid having your license suspended or revoked. Call us today for a free consultation so we can start building a strong defense.

How Likely Is Jail Time as a Consequence for a First OWI in greater Detroit?

For a first OWI anywhere in Metro Detroit, jail time is unlikely – although it depends on the location and the circumstances of your specific case. For a first-time OWI offense, the law limits jail time to no more than 93 days. Call Jeffrey Randa and Associates to discuss your individual case and explore all possible consequences you might face following a first-time DUI. Then, we can discuss your options for getting out of or reducing the charges and penalties you might face.

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 genuinely care about our clients. We only take cases 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 586-465-1980 or any of the other numbers on this website.

Michigan OWI Law Resources

• DUI, OWI and OUIL – The Alphabet Soup of Michigan Drunk Driving Charges
• Understanding Michigan OWI Cases: A Comprehensive Guide
• DUI Charges in Oakland County – OWI Cases are Different Here
• Understanding DUI, DWI, OWI Arraignments in Detroit Michigan

Meet Our Michigan OWI Defense Attorneys

We take pride in our team’s exceptional skills and compassionate approach, with a
commitment to being welcoming, extremely friendly, and transparent to all our clients.

Genevieve Taylor

Senior Associate

Genevieve Taylor

Jeffrey J. Randa

Founder

Jeffrey J. Randa

Eric C. Adams

Attorney

Eric C. Adams