If you were arrested and charged with a DUI in Sterling Heights, Michigan or a neighboring City, please call the 1-800 number below to get in contact with an experienced DUI attorney to fight your case.
1-800-420-9444 or

Sterling Heights, Michigan OWI Lawyer

Being arrested for OWI is a serious offense that can have serious repercussions, including fines, jail time, and loss of driving privileges. It is crucial that anyone facing a Michigan OWI charge understand what challenges they will encounter. Seeking the legal advice of a capable and skilled OWI defense lawyer will help you understand all of your rights and options, including any defenses you might use.

What happens if I was arrested for OWI in Sterling Heights?

Under Michigan law, once you have been cited for violating the OWI statute, the state initiates two simultaneous, yet separate legal actions against you. The criminal action is in response to the ticket that was issued to you, while the administrative action is brought against your license by the Michigan Bureau Motor Vehicles. While both actions can result in the suspension of your Michigan driving privileges, it is important to remember that there may be additional penalties to consider and each action must be handled on their own.

OWI Penalties for First Time Offenders

  • Monetary Fines - In Sterling Heights, Michigan, fines for a first time OWI are $500.
  • Michigan Driving Privileges and OWI - In Sterling Heights, Michigan, a first time DWI / OWI conviction results in the revocation of Michigan driving privileges for 180 days.
  • Chemical Test Refusal - Refusing to submit to a test when requested by law enforcement will result in the revocation of driver's license for 1 year.
  • Commercial Drivers - Commercial drivers are in violation of the OWI statute with a BAC (blood-alcohol concentration) of 0.04. A first time OWI conviction will result in the loss of the commercial driver's license for 1 year, while any subsequent OWI offenses will result in a lifetime loss of the commercial license in Michigan.
  • Jail Time - In Michigan, a first time DWI / OWI offender faces 93 days time in jail.

OWI Subsequent Offenses

Penalties are increasingly more severe for any additional OWI violations. Due to the complexity of OWI laws in Michigan, you may not be aware of options and rights. This is why a competent and experienced criminal defense attorney can guide you through this emotionally challenging process. Please contact a Michigan DWI / OWI for a fast, free consultation.

In Michigan, it is illegal to drive:

  • While intoxicated or impaired by, alcohol, illegal drugs, and certain prescribed medications.
  • With a bodily alcohol content of 0.08 or more (driving while intoxicated).
  • With any presence of a Schedule 1 drug or cocaine.

If you are under age 21 it is against the law:

  • To drive with a bodily alcohol content of 0.02 or greater, or have any presence of alcohol other than that consumed at a generally recognized religious ceremony.
  • To buy, possess, or consume alcoholic beverages. You may transport alcohol in a vehicle only when accompanied by an adult age 21 or older. If you are caught with alcohol in your vehicle and there is no adult accompanying you, you can be charged with a misdemeanor, whether you are on the road or in a parking lot.

Michigan drivers who may have been drinking or using other drugs may:

  • Weave within their lane.
  • Wander from one lane to another.
  • Run off the pavement.
  • Stop too quickly or slowly.
  • Drive too quickly or slowly.
  • Go through stop signs or other signals.
  • Drive on the wrong side of the road.

Michigan Anti-Drunk Driving Laws

Anti-drunk driving laws in Michigan require stiff penalties for drunk drivers. The laws:

  • Require courts to decide drunken driving cases within 77 days after an arrest.
  • Require a mandatory six-month driver license suspension even for a first conviction. A driver may be eligible for a restricted license after serving 30 days of the suspension.
  • Require five days to one year of consecutive jail time and/or 30 to 90 days of community service for a second conviction of drunk driving.
  • Include a felony for three convictions in a lifetime.
  • Include a felony for a conviction for drunk driving that causes death.
  • Include a felony for a conviction for drunk driving that causes a serious injury to another.
  • Require fines for a conviction of driving while a driver license is suspended or revoked of up to $500 for a first offense, and $1,000 for an additional offense.
  • Do not allow hardship appeals for habitual alcohol offenders.
  • Require a reinstatement fee of $125 if your driver license was suspended, revoked, or restricted.
  • Require a Driver Responsibility Fee of $1,000 for two consecutive years for driving while intoxicated and a $500 fee for two consecutive years for driving while impaired, with any presence of a Schedule 1 drug or cocaine, zero tolerance, or child endangerment.