Michigan law makes it illegal to get behind the wheel with drugs or alcohol in your system. If you've been arrested for drunk driving, Michigan law also requires you to consent to a chemical test which will determine your bodily alcohol content (BAC).
Whether or not you knew or understood it, when you received your Michigan driver's license, you consented to chemical testing in the future if arrested for drunk driving. This is known as implied consent. Implied consent also applies to anyone with an out-of-state license driving on Michigan roads.
Refusing a chemical test after arrest can have serious consequences including the addition of six points to your driving record and suspension of your driver's license for one year. These penalties are in addition to any criminal or civil charges that otherwise arise out of the drunk driving arrest.
Drunk or Impaired Driving Charges in Michigan
The legal BAC limit in Michigan is 0.08. Additional penalties are associated with a BAC of 0.17 or above. Specific charges related to drunk or drugged driving in Michigan include:
- Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWIV)
- Operating Under the Influence of an Intoxicating Liquor (OUIL)
- Operating While Intoxicated (OWI)
- Operating With Any Presence of a Schedule 1 Drug or Cocaine (OWPD)
- Operating With Any Bodily Alcohol Content Under Age 21
In Michigan, drunk driving is not limited to driving a car, truck or SUV. It also includes driving a snowmobile on a public highway, operating an ATV or off-road recreational vehicle (ORV) or driving a boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Penalties vary based on the offense charged and can include fines, jail time, required use of an ignition interlock device, community service and rehab, to name a few. Drunk driving offenses can be misdemeanors or felonies.
An experienced Central Michigan drunk driving defense attorney can more fully explain the charges against you and the related consequences.
