DUI Attorney in Madison Heights, MI

Being pulled over by Dequindre Road or John R Road and accused of driving while under the influence can be a stressful ordeal. Michigan’s DUI laws carry heavy penalties for anyone found guilty of driving while intoxicated. If you are facing this charge for the first or even second time, you can rely on a Madison Heights DUI lawyer to provide you with the legal representation you need to avoid a potentially life-altering conviction.

Why Work With Jeffrey Randa and Associates?

At Jeffrey Randa and Associates, we know a DUI charge in Greater Detroit does not define who you are. An Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) case can threaten your freedom, your reputation, and your ability to drive, but representation from our firm can shape the outcome of your case in your favor. Since 1993, our team has provided focused representation to defendants across Farmington and the surrounding area.

Our practice is built on defending OWI cases and guiding clients through license restoration. As a recovery-based firm, we understand how substance use can affect decisions, and we consider that in building a strategy that works for you. By combining decades of experience with a commitment to practical solutions, we can seek a favorable outcome that leads to reduced or dropped charges.

Understanding DUIs in Madison Heights

Under MCL § 257.625, a first OWI offense with a BAC of 0.08 or above is classified as a misdemeanor. Penalties can include up to 93 days in jail (though jail is not required for every case), fines that can reach $500, and a suspension of your driver’s license.

If you are charged with a second OWI within seven years, the consequences become much tougher. A conviction brings fines between $200 and $1,000, at least five days of mandatory jail time at Oakland County Jail (1200 Pontiac Lake Rd), up to a year, community service, and the mandatory revocation of your license.

These punishments aim to reduce the public safety risk of drunk driving. In 2023, Michigan reported 2,250 drug-involved crashes leading to 256 fatalities, along with 8,817 alcohol-involved crashes. In Oakland County, where Madison Heights is located, drunk driving arrests dropped about 20% from 2014 to 2023

Effective Defense Strategies for Fighting DUI Charges

The strongest DUI defense is any that prevents prosecutors from meeting their burden of proof. One approach could be to challenge the reason for the initial stop. If officers lacked a valid basis to pull you over, the stop may be unlawful, and any evidence they collected could be thrown out.

Your defense may also hinge on the reliability of testing. A breathalyzer that wasn’t properly calibrated can produce inaccurate readings, and field sobriety tests are often subjective and open to being challenged, depending on how they were conducted.

For some defendants, showing a commitment to treatment for a substance use disorder can also strengthen the defense and lead the courts to show leniency to the defendant. Taking proactive steps toward recovery demonstrates responsibility and may influence how the court views the case.

Why You Should Hire a DUI Lawyer

The decision to hire a DUI lawyer should be seen as an investment in your freedom and future. A Madison Heights DUI attorney brings years of experience relying on Michigan’s DUI laws to protect clients from the serious DUI penalties that can follow a conviction.

Having legal representation allows you to benefit from your attorney’s years of experience and time spent inside the courtroom. Attorneys understand which strategies are well-suited to an individual case, whether that requires aggressively fighting a case to secure reduced or dropped charges or going to trial.

FAQs

Do I Have to Have an Attorney?

You are not required to have an attorney, but legal representation can play a critical role in protecting you from the serious and potentially life-altering consequences of a DUI conviction. An attorney can review your case, scrutinize the evidence, and formulate the right legal strategy to beat your charges. With strong representation, your charges can be reduced or dropped.

Are DUIs Ever Dropped?

DUIs can be dropped, especially if you have strong legal representation. An attorney can take steps to influence the outcome of your case, so you ultimately beat your charges. One way they can do that is by finding examples where your constitutional rights were violated. Law enforcement and the legal process have an obligation to provide you with due process and ensure that certain rights are met. Failure to do so can result in a dropped case against you.

What Should I Do After Being Pulled Over?

If you are pulled over by police, remain calm and cooperative. Provide them with basic identifying information and your name. Beyond that, you are not required to give any information that they could use against you. They will want to ask questions about any amount you may have drunk that evening. Respectfully inform them that you are not answering further questions without your attorney present.

Can I Go to Jail for a First-Time DUI?

You can go to jail for a first-time DUI. Michigan’s criminal laws allow judges to sentence guilty defendants to jail. Often, the biggest factor that protects defendants in court is the strength of their representation. An attorney can take decisive steps to protect your freedom by reviewing the evidence and considering effective defense strategies that safeguard your future.

Madison Heights DUI Lawyer

If you are facing DUI charges in Madison Heights, you need a defense team with decades of experience in Oakland County courts. For more than 30 years, Jeffrey Randa and Associates has defended clients across Metro Detroit with a focus on protecting their freedom, driving privileges, and future opportunities.

Our attorneys understand the serious consequences of a DUI conviction and are committed to challenging the state’s case. Whether success requires questioning the legality of the stop, scrutinizing test results, or exposing procedural errors, our goal is to safeguard your freedom. Contact our office today to call for a consultation and learn how we can defend you against DUI charges in Madison Heights.

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Madison Heights

DUI Attorney in Madison Heights, MI

Being pulled over by Dequindre Road or John R Road and accused of driving while under the influence can be a stressful ordeal. Michigan’s DUI laws carry heavy penalties for anyone found guilty of driving while intoxicated. If you are facing this charge for the first or even second time, you can rely on a Madison Heights DUI lawyer to provide you with the legal representation you need to avoid a potentially life-altering conviction.

Why Work With Jeffrey Randa and Associates?

At Jeffrey Randa and Associates, we know a DUI charge in Greater Detroit does not define who you are. An Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) case can threaten your freedom, your reputation, and your ability to drive, but representation from our firm can shape the outcome of your case in your favor. Since 1993, our team has provided focused representation to defendants across Farmington and the surrounding area.

Our practice is built on defending OWI cases and guiding clients through license restoration. As a recovery-based firm, we understand how substance use can affect decisions, and we consider that in building a strategy that works for you. By combining decades of experience with a commitment to practical solutions, we can seek a favorable outcome that leads to reduced or dropped charges.

Understanding DUIs in Madison Heights

Under MCL § 257.625, a first OWI offense with a BAC of 0.08 or above is classified as a misdemeanor. Penalties can include up to 93 days in jail (though jail is not required for every case), fines that can reach $500, and a suspension of your driver’s license.

If you are charged with a second OWI within seven years, the consequences become much tougher. A conviction brings fines between $200 and $1,000, at least five days of mandatory jail time at Oakland County Jail (1200 Pontiac Lake Rd), up to a year, community service, and the mandatory revocation of your license.

These punishments aim to reduce the public safety risk of drunk driving. In 2023, Michigan reported 2,250 drug-involved crashes leading to 256 fatalities, along with 8,817 alcohol-involved crashes. In Oakland County, where Madison Heights is located, drunk driving arrests dropped about 20% from 2014 to 2023

Effective Defense Strategies for Fighting DUI Charges

The strongest DUI defense is any that prevents prosecutors from meeting their burden of proof. One approach could be to challenge the reason for the initial stop. If officers lacked a valid basis to pull you over, the stop may be unlawful, and any evidence they collected could be thrown out.

Your defense may also hinge on the reliability of testing. A breathalyzer that wasn’t properly calibrated can produce inaccurate readings, and field sobriety tests are often subjective and open to being challenged, depending on how they were conducted.

For some defendants, showing a commitment to treatment for a substance use disorder can also strengthen the defense and lead the courts to show leniency to the defendant. Taking proactive steps toward recovery demonstrates responsibility and may influence how the court views the case.

Why You Should Hire a DUI Lawyer

The decision to hire a DUI lawyer should be seen as an investment in your freedom and future. A Madison Heights DUI attorney brings years of experience relying on Michigan’s DUI laws to protect clients from the serious DUI penalties that can follow a conviction.

Having legal representation allows you to benefit from your attorney’s years of experience and time spent inside the courtroom. Attorneys understand which strategies are well-suited to an individual case, whether that requires aggressively fighting a case to secure reduced or dropped charges or going to trial.

FAQs

Do I Have to Have an Attorney?

You are not required to have an attorney, but legal representation can play a critical role in protecting you from the serious and potentially life-altering consequences of a DUI conviction. An attorney can review your case, scrutinize the evidence, and formulate the right legal strategy to beat your charges. With strong representation, your charges can be reduced or dropped.

Are DUIs Ever Dropped?

DUIs can be dropped, especially if you have strong legal representation. An attorney can take steps to influence the outcome of your case, so you ultimately beat your charges. One way they can do that is by finding examples where your constitutional rights were violated. Law enforcement and the legal process have an obligation to provide you with due process and ensure that certain rights are met. Failure to do so can result in a dropped case against you.

What Should I Do After Being Pulled Over?

If you are pulled over by police, remain calm and cooperative. Provide them with basic identifying information and your name. Beyond that, you are not required to give any information that they could use against you. They will want to ask questions about any amount you may have drunk that evening. Respectfully inform them that you are not answering further questions without your attorney present.

Can I Go to Jail for a First-Time DUI?

You can go to jail for a first-time DUI. Michigan’s criminal laws allow judges to sentence guilty defendants to jail. Often, the biggest factor that protects defendants in court is the strength of their representation. An attorney can take decisive steps to protect your freedom by reviewing the evidence and considering effective defense strategies that safeguard your future.

Madison Heights DUI Lawyer

If you are facing DUI charges in Madison Heights, you need a defense team with decades of experience in Oakland County courts. For more than 30 years, Jeffrey Randa and Associates has defended clients across Metro Detroit with a focus on protecting their freedom, driving privileges, and future opportunities.

Our attorneys understand the serious consequences of a DUI conviction and are committed to challenging the state’s case. Whether success requires questioning the legality of the stop, scrutinizing test results, or exposing procedural errors, our goal is to safeguard your freedom. Contact our office today to call for a consultation and learn how we can defend you against DUI charges in Madison Heights.