Yes, you should get a lawyer for a DUI in Michigan to help fight your case, lower your conviction, and possibly expunge the charge from your legal record. Proper legal representation protects you and your rights. Without a DUI lawyer, the charge could have detrimental effects on your employment, lifestyle, and finances. DUI fees, suspended licenses, and increased insurance rates can be expensive and impact several aspects of your life.

While you can refuse to take a breathalyzer test, Michigan has an implied consent law, meaning refusal results in an automatic license suspension and other penalties.

Yes, if convicted of a DUI, your driver’s license will likely be suspended. The suspension period varies based on the specifics of your case and prior offenses.

The probation for a first DUI conviction in Michigan is a driver’s license suspension or restriction of up to 6 months. With the right attorney and approach, you can get your license back within 45 days with some restrictions. A first DUI conviction also involves a fine of $100 to $500, up to 93 days in jail, up to 360 hours of community service, a misdemeanor or felony on your criminal record, and 4 to 6 points on your driving record. A second or third DUI conviction can result in longer probation, increased fees, and more community service requirements.

Yes, a DUI can be reduced in Michigan to a “reckless driving involving alcohol” or “careless driving” charge if your lawyer challenges the charge in court or makes a plea bargain with the prosecutor. You may need to complete a drug treatment program, such as sobriety court, as a part of the deal.

An OWI stays on your record permanently in Michigan unless it is expunged. An experienced DUI lawyer can help you request the expungement of an unlimited number of eligible misdemeanors and up to three eligible felony offenses. Prior to Michigan’s Clean Slate initiative becoming effective in 2022, OWI offenses were not expungable.

Yes, a DUI can be dropped in Michigan by reducing the conviction or making a plea bargain with the prosecutor. An experienced drunk driving lawyer can help fight your case to reduce the charge, represent you in a plea bargain, or expunge the conviction from your criminal record. Dropping a DUI in Michigan can lead to faster driver’s license restoration, a clean criminal record, and better long-term employment and financial outcomes.

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