Tafelski

drunk driving lawyers

Paul J. Tafelski, Criminal Defense Attorney, DUI Lawyers: Detroit, Troy, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills, Royal Oak, Plymouth, Canton, Wayne County, Oakland County, Macomb County, and throughout Michigan.

If you have been charged with an alcohol-related crime, you may feel helpless and uncertain of your rights. Our DWI attorneys have extensive experience defending alcohol-related crimes in Detroit, Troy, Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Hills, Royal Oak, Plymouth, Canton, Wayne County, Oakland County, Macomb County, and throughout Michigan. We know the courts, we know the judges – we know the system and we can help. For more information on drunk driving / DUI / DWI / OWI, please visit:

• Our DUI Law Center
• Michigan Drunk Driving Laws
• Super Drunk Law
• Drunk Driving FAQs
• BAC Calculator

CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IMMEDIATELY

Call us at 313-879-0001 or for the fastest response at night and on weekends, please click here to email. Our attorneys are checking messages around the clock, so don’t let the following happen unnecessarily to you:

• Jail time
• A criminal record
• Fines and court costs
• Loss or suspension of your driver's license
• Points posted to your driving record
• Vehicle impoundment
• Increased insurance rates
• Alcohol treatment counseling
• Job loss
• Driver’s Responsibility Fee through Michigan Secretary of State

TRUST OUR EXPERIENCE

You need a legal team familiar with the court system to ensure the best results for your case. There are many different alcohol-related offenses in Michigan – (OWI) Operating while intoxicated (Blood Alcohol Content above .08), driving with an unlawful bodily alcohol level/content (UBAL, UBAC), and (OWVI) operating while visually impaired (lesser penalties than operating while intoxicated). Our comprehensive knowledge of Michigan drunken driving law is your best defense. We can be your legal advocate – contact our DUI lawyers today.

Call us at 313-879-0001 or for the fastest response at night and on weekends, please contact us online  – let us start on your defense immediately, including:

• Seeking a dismissal
• Negotiating a lesser charge
• Minimizing penalties
• Aggressively defending you in court
• Leveraging our years of experience with sentencing judges to pursue the most lenient sentence possible
• Limiting court appearances and arranging for mail in probation for out-of-state clients

AVOID “COMBINATION” OFFENSES

"Combination" DUI cases involve alcohol and other drugs, often prescription or over-the-counter medications, and are becoming increasingly common.

Even if your alcohol consumption was below the legal limit, certain medications can combine with alcohol and cause you to appear impaired. These cases are complex – you need an attorney with the skills and resources to effectively defend you against a combination DUI.

If you have been charged with any alcohol-related crime, contact our DWI attorneys  today and protect your reputation, freedom and your future.

Call us at 313-879-0001 or for the fastest response at night and on weekends, please contact our drunk driving attorneys online.

DUI Resources

Click here for a partial list of Michigan laws pertaining to alcohol violations.

• Traffic Law: FAQs
• Macomb County District Courts
• Oakland County District Courts
• Wayne County District Courts
• Approved bail bondsmen for Oakland County, Michigan
• Approved bail bondsmen for Macomb County, Michigan
• Rehabilitation Resources throughout Michigan
• Resources for Driver Improvement in Michigan

PENALTIES

In general penalties get much more severe with each drunk driving case. For a first offense the maximum amount of time in jail is 93 days. There is usually a period of probation along with various conditions the judge deems necessary. The court has a tremendous amount of discretion to decide what punishment is right for you. All drivers license issues are handled by the secretary of state and not the judge. For a first offense license sanctions will be either a 30 day suspension with a 150 day restricted license for Operating While Intoxicated or a ninety day restricted license for Operating While Impaired. Operating While Intoxicated is 6 points on your license and has a drivers responsibility fee of $1000 per year for two years. Operating While Impaired is 4 points and has a drivers responsibility fee of $500 per year for two years. These fees are in addition to the court costs and fees.

A second offense OWI within 7 years of the first is a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. It also carries probation and a mandatory 1 year revocation of your license. You cannot get a restricted license during this period and are not guaranteed to get your license back after one year. There are very serious penalties involved.

On January 3, 2007 the Michigan legislature passed a law making a third offense drunk driving a Felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison. It doesn’t matter if the prior offenses were all 20 years ago. If you have two prior offenses it will be a felony. The old law required three offenses within a ten year period in order to be charged with a felony. That has been eliminated. Obviously, these cases are extremely serious and must be handled with care. Michigan sentencing guidelines apply to these cases. Driving privileges will be suspended or revoked according to the old law.

These cases are far more complicated than most people realize and the more people have to lose the more important it is to be well represented.

For the fastest response at night and on weekends please email me. I check my Blackberry frequently and will respond as soon as I see your message.