Hey Viewers. You may not be aware of this, but in Michigan there are actually 2 different thresholds of drunk driving!
If your Blood Alcohol level or BAC is a .08 then you are legally drunk. But if your BAC is .17 or higher, you are now what is considered “super drunk”.
Michigan recently enacted a “Super Drunk” law that increases the penalties you face if you’re convicted of driving with a BAC of 0.17 or higher. That’s more than twice the legal limit of 0.08 for normal drunk driving.
What’s the difference in the real world? Well, a few drinks with coworkers at the end of a long day might get you pulled over for drunk driving. But a night of partying can become a case of Super Drunk driving.
Being convicted under the new Super Drunk law will restrict your driving privileges. It may also jeopardize your present and future employment. And you will have a permanent criminal record, which can certainly drag you down.
Compared to a typical OWI, the penalties for a Super Drunk charge are:
- Double the maximum jail sentence for a Super Drunk
- An increase in the length of time you cannot drive by 150%
- More than double the length of time you’re subject to restricted driving
- you’re required to install a breathalyzer in your car that you have to blow into every time you want to start your car – and your car won’t start if you’ve been drinking
- Double the fines you may have to pay
- And you may be ordered to alcohol treatment for at least one year
This Michigan Super Drunk law applies to anyone who is driving drunk with a BAC of .17 or over. But if you’ve had a prior OWI conviction within 7 years, you could be charged as a second offender. If this happens, you face penalties that are even harsher than with a first Super Drunk conviction.
This impacts your real life as well even after the criminal proceeding are completed:
- Your insurer is likely to grossly raise your insurance premiums or even cancel your policy.
- Anybody can access your criminal record, which can make it tough to get a job
- And you’ll have to pay to install a breathalyzer in your car and pay a monthly maintenance fee.
“Super Drunk” sounds kind of casual, but don’t take it lightly here in Michigan. Being accused of a Super Drunk offense is frightening; you have no idea what you are facing, or whether you will lose your freedom. Anyone charged with driving Super Drunk (or any kind of drunk or drugged driving, really) needs assistance from a highly skilled DUI/OWI defense attorney.
If you have questions, click the link below to get to visit our website, or call George Law at (248) 470-4300. We are available 24 hours a