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Article Discusses Why You Need An Attorney For A First Offense DUI in Michigan
Article Discusses Why You Need An Attorney For A First Offense DUI in Michigan
Anyone facing DUI charges in Michigan needs competent legal help; we explain why.
Southfield,
MI,
United States of America
(sardnews.org)
23/01/2013
DUIMichigan.com, the website of Michigan DUI Attorney Joseph Awad, aims to provide useful information and articles that help people who are either facing DUI charges, or are simply interested in knowing more about Michigan DUI laws, learn and understand the often thorny and confusing issue of legal sanctions against intoxicated driving.
Far from the idea of one simple "drunk driving" charge, many states make distinctions between different levels of impairment based on visuals and blood alcohol level, as well as other factors. All of these distinctions can make a penalty harsher or lighter. There is also a number of punishments that courts can mete out, from fines and jail time to managed parole at sobriety courts, which may not only help a person facing repercussions for DUI offenses avoid permanent marks on their record, but can also help people struggling with alcohol or drug habits.
A recent article on DUIMichigan.com discusses why you need an attorney even for a first-offense DUI in the state of Michigan. While many people may be inclined to view a first offense as something that they are likely to escape with a warning or a slap on the wrist, Michigan DUI laws are some of the strictest in the nation. Even if the driver didn't cause accidents or damage, they may be facing long community service hours, and jail is not unheard of.
The three different drunk driving charges are, in the order of severity, Operating While Visibly Impaired (OVWI), Unlawful Bodily Alcohol Content/Level (UBAL/UBAC), and Operating While Intoxicated (OWI).
An OVWI depends on the arresting officer's ability to detect visible signs of disorientation and intoxication, combined with a blood alcohol test, and the ability to prove that the accused was operating machinery at the time. The severity of the sentence for this offense depends on whether the defendant's blood alcohol level was over or under the federal limit.
A UBAC, on the other hand, will get you in front of the judge whether or not you were visibly impaired, since it's automatically triggered by the presence of alcohol in the defendant's bloodstream above the federal limit. In that case, the best strategy is to attack the legitimacy of the blood alcohol test, since it's extermely hard to get a UBAL charge dismissed on other grounds.
The final charge, OWI, is brought if the defendant can be shown to have had a blood alcohol limit in excess of the legal limit, that they were operating a motor vehicle and were severely impaired due to intoxication.
Michigan courts take a dim view of drunk drivers and are disinclined to be lenient even towards first offenders. If you are facing DUI charges in Michigan, don't count on luck and get competent legal representation right away. Your future depends on it.
Contact information:
Law Office of Joseph F. Awad
26677 W. Twelve Mile Rd.
Southfield, MI 48034
Telephone: 734-507-1333
http://www.duimichigan.com
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About legalwins.com
The Firm's mission is to provide a high standard of legal care with an emphasis on client satisfaction. The Firm provides legal care that is confidential and professional. Attorney Joseph F. Awad is experienced with Michigan DUI laws and a wide range of other case types.
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