Michigan Drunk Driving Attorneys — Holiday Season Brought Drunk Driving Arrests

February 1st, 2012

We are officially past the 2011 holiday season, which was a time to get together with family, friends, and coworkers. Many of these gatherings involved the consumption of alcohol. On nights like Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, Michigan State Police and county and local patrol officers were on the lookout for drunk drivers. Judging by the number of calls we have received, many people were arrested for drunk driving during the holidays.

We are often asked, “Will I go to jail for drunk driving?” The penalties for an Operating While Intoxicated case depend on whether this is a person’s first drunk driving offense, second drunk driving offense within 7 years of the first, or third drunk driving offense in a lifetime. Sentencing also depends on whether the person’s blood alcohol level was high enough to be considered a Super Drunk offense.

Hiring a drunk driving defense lawyer is an excellent idea for those people charged with a drunk driving offense. This is because the attorney may not only argue that the charges should be dropped, but they may also argue against the imposition of any jail or prison sentence. At Kronzek & Cronkright, PLLC, we have successfully kept many of our clients who were charged with OWI out of jail.

If you have been charged with drunk or drugged driving, contact an attorney today.

Posted in Blood Alcohol Content, Blood Alcohol Test, Criminal Charges, Drunk Driving Charges, Holiday Drunk Driving in Michigan, Jail for Drunk Driving, Michigan Drunk Driving Attorney, Michigan OWI Offenses, Motor Vehicle Charges | No Comments »

Michigan Drunk Driving Defense – Drunk Driving App Available Today!

November 2nd, 2011

The Michigan Drunk Driving Attorneys are pleased to announce their first drunk driving tip-card application. This app is currently only available for the Android Operating System (OS) and requires version 1.6 or higher. This app is designed to work within the web-browser of your phone, and features tips on how to handle being pulled over by a police officer, what you can and cannot refuse during this roadside stop, and a quick contact form to instantly submit an e-mail to one of our DUI attorneys.

Please remember to drive safely and designate a sober driver when you are out with friends and drinking. If you do find yourself arrested for a DUI, we have an attorney on call 24/7 at 866-7-NoJail. That is (866) 766-5245.

Michigan Drunk Driving Defense Attorney App
Note: To install this app, please enable the install ‘unknown sources’ setting on your phone.

Posted in Drunk Driving App, Drunk Driving Charges, Immigration and DUI, Michigan Drunk Driving Attorney, Michigan OWI Offenses, Michigan State Law Matters, Motor Vehicle Charges | No Comments »

Michigan DUI Lawyer – Michigan State Police Drunk Driving Crackdown

September 19th, 2011

The Michigan State Police recently completed a drunk driving crackdown in Michigan. During such crackdowns, there are more state troopers searching for signs that someone is driving while drunk. Michigan drivers are not subject to sobriety checkpoints, which are legal in other states. However, efforts to crack down on Michigan drunk drivers usually result in hundreds of extra drunk driving arrests.

Though many people typically call drunk driving offenses “DUIs,” the actual names of drunk driving crimes in Michigan include Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) and Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI). Regardless of the name of the crime, a person convicted under Michigan drunk driving laws can expect to face any or all of the following: payment of multiple fines and fees, loss of a driver’s license, jail or prison time, community service, installation of an ignition interlock devise, and random urine tests.

One frequently charged Michigan crime is called Operating with the Presence of Drugs (OWPD). This is where someone uses drugs like Marijuana, Cocaine, Ecstasy, Meth, or Heroin and operates a vehicle on a public road in Michigan. Depending on the drug, officers may be able to arrest the driver if there is even the smallest amount of the drug in the body, even if the driving was not impaired by the drug. Prior drunk driving crackdowns in Michigan have led to numerous arrests for OWPD.

If you have been arrested for a drunk driving crime in Michigan, now is the time to contact a very good drunk driving lawyer. Your lawyer can review your case to determine if the police violated any of your constitutional rights during the drunk driving arrest. Law enforcement is required to follow a strict set of procedures when deciding whether you were intoxicated or impaired while operating a vehicle, and if those procedures were not followed, a top flight Drunk Driving Attorney may be able to use this fact to your advantage.

Our attorneys strive to offer clients the best possible defense. However, as you might expect, our advice is always that people who have consumed alcohol or any substance which impairs their ability to drive should never get behind the wheel.

Posted in Drunk Driving Charges, For Your Information, Michigan Drunk Driving Attorney, Michigan OWI Offenses, Michigan State Law Matters | No Comments »

Michigan Drunk Driving – DUI Could Stop Entry into Canada

September 14th, 2011

When people travel from the United States to other countries, they usually go through some sort of customs, border patrol, or security screening process in order gain entry. Often, that process involves screening people to see if they have any criminal convictions. If so, some countries may not allow the person to enter.

For example, Michigan residents often travel to Canada for vacation or work. For people with a drunk driving conviction, entry into Canada may not be allowed for many years. Ultimately, the border patrol agent conducting the security screening has discretion as to whether to refuse entry. This means that some people with drunk driving convictions may be granted entry without question. Canada allows a person to apply for “rehabilitation” status after a few years in order to be allowed into Canada and may allow temporary permits for some individuals to enter the country for a particular purpose despite a drunk driving conviction. It is always wise to consult with a knowledgeable immigration attorney before traveling to a foreign country if you have any kind of criminal conviction, are out on bond or on probation.

Michigan OWI, OWVI, and OWPD offenses can lead to potential jail time, fines, community service, probation, and more. But the immigration consequences of drunk driving—and all other criminal convictions—can also be quite serious. This is especially true for business travelers, because they may face loss of employment for not being able to gain entry into certain countries.

Our Michigan DUI lawyers regularly represent people who have been charged with Operating While Intoxicated. We understand the complexities of drunk driving defense in Michigan. We have delivered many excellent results to our past clients. Let us put our experience to work for you!

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Posted in Immigration and DUI, Michigan Drunk Driving Attorney, Michigan OWI Offenses | No Comments »

Michigan Drunk Driving – Former NBA Star Jalen Rose Sentenced to 20 Days of Jail Time for Drunk Driving

July 28th, 2011

Jalen Rose—born and raised in Detroit, Michigan—played NCAA basketball for the University of Michigan, where he was a member of the famed “Fab Five.” He then went on to play in the NBA for 13 seasons. In March, he was arrested in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, on drunk driving charges, to which he pled guilty in May.

On Wednesday, July 27, Jalen Rose was sentenced to 20 days in jail for drunk driving. Judge Kimberly Small presided over the sentencing in the 48th District Court in Oakland County, Michigan. To skilled Michigan DUI attorneys, she is known for being tough on people who drink and drive. Judge Small told Rose at his sentencing, “I don’t care if you want to get drunk — have at it. I do mind when you get behind the wheel of a vehicle and use it in a way that can kill all of us.”

In Michigan, the most common drunk driving crimes are called Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI), and Operating With the Presence of Drugs (OWPD). If there is a minor in the vehicle at the time of the violation, the driver will most likely also receive Child Endangerment charges in Michigan. Depending on whether this is a person’s first, second, third, or subsequent drunk driving offense, the penalties vary. For Jalen Rose, this was his first drunk driving offense, and it would have been quite possible for Rose to be given a sentence that included no jail time. Rose’s lawyers have publicly stated that they feel Judge Small abused her discretion by making an example out of such a public figure.

If you have been charged with a DUI crime in Michigan, you need to hire an attorney who is skilled at defending such cases. Fortunately, the attorneys at Kronzek and Cronkright have over 80 years of combined experience practicing criminal defense in Michigan, which includes drunk driving defense. We have delivered very favorable results for our clients all over the state of Michigan.

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Posted in Child Endangerment, Criminal Charges, Drunk Driving Charges, Jail for Drunk Driving, Michigan Drunk Driving Attorney, Michigan OWI Offenses, Michigan State Law Matters | No Comments »

Michigan Police Step Up Enforcement, Impared & Drunk Driving Arrests for Fourth of July

June 27th, 2011

Ask anyone that lives in Michigan, and they will tell you that the summer months are the best. Traditionally filled with boating, barbecues, family, and friends, summertime brings everyone outside and on the roads. However, frequent celebrations and an increased number of people driving has prompted law enforcement officials to step up patrols. DWI defense lawyers statewide warn motorists: as the Fourth of July approaches, more police will be on the look out for impaired and drunk drivers.

Police departments from 35 counties across the state have begun stepping up enforcement in preparation of the summer holiday, increasing patrols from July 1st to July 10th. Certainly, this is nothing new. Law enforcement officials nationwide keep an extra eye out for intoxicated motorists, particularly around celebratory holidays. This year, however, police will not only focus on drunk driving arrests, but also at keeping motorists impaired by drugs off the road as well. “While the focus of this effort is drivers under the influence of alcohol, officers will be arresting any impaired driver and removing not only drunk drivers from the roadway, but also those under the influence of drugs,” explained Michael Prince, director of the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning.

When one looks at the statistics, it’s not surprising that state police officers would also be keeping watch for drugged driving as well. While drunk driving arrests and accidents in Michigan have decreased, there has been a significant rise in drugged driving arrests. From 2009 to 2010 alone, the number of drug-involved arrests and crashes has increased by 29 percent!

No matter what, it is always the best idea to designate a sober driver after consuming any type of intoxicating substance. Not only can someone get seriously injured, but the penalties for drunk driving in Michigan are severe and life-changing. If arrested for driving while intoxicated, it is in your best interest to immediately contact an experienced DWI defense lawyer for assistance. Doing so as soon as possible will ensure the best legal advice and legal representation for your case, protecting your personal liberties and freedoms from being taken away.

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Posted in Criminal Charges, Drugged-Driving Charges, For Your Information, Michigan OWI Offenses, Michigan State Law Matters | No Comments »

DWI Defense Lawyers – Michigan Under 21 Drunk Driving Defendant Postpones Pre-Trial Conference

June 16th, 2011

One does not need to be an experienced DWI defense lawyer to know that drunk driving arrests are a very big deal. If convicted, the penalties for drunk driving are severe, and can include many life-changing consequences. Because of the harsh punishments associated with driving while intoxicated, it often takes time for a DWI defense lawyer to prepare their case and gather evidence. Sometimes, it is even necessary to postpone court appearances, so that the defense is fully ready to present their defense. Such are the circumstances in a Michigan drunk driving case involving an underage intoxicated motorist who struck another vehicle, killing the other driver.

In January 2011, Kelley Nagle, 20, was driving a Chevy Trailblazer south on Dequindre Road in Sterling Heights when she attempted to pass another vehicle in front of her, but ended up cruising into oncoming traffic and colliding head–on with a Ford Ranger. The driver of the other vehicle, Annette Evans, 53, was pinned in her car before being removed by emergency rescue services. Although she was rushed to the emergency room, Evans was pronounced dead.

The drunk driving penalties that Nagle faces are severe. After performing tests, law enforcement officials determined that Nagle’s blood alcohol content was 0.23 at the time of the accident–almost three times the legal limit of 0.08. Had this been her first offense, she could have been charged under Michigan’s new super drunk law, which enforces harsher punishments for “excessively intoxicated” motorists. However, since this is Nagle’s second drunk driving offense (the first was in 2009), she has also violated the terms of her probation which will likely work against her in court. Prosecutors are currently charging her with the 15-year felony of Operating While Intoxicated causing death and the one-year misdemeanor of Operating While Impaired.

With all the drunk driving consequences Nagle is facing, it is no surprise that this is the second time her drunk driving attorneys have asked the court to postpone the Pre-Trial conference. Especially when dealing with a minor, cases of drunk driving are very complex and defending them takes great skill and experience. This is why it’s essential for every person arrested for a DUI, DWI, or OWI in Michigan to immediately contact knowledgeable DWI defense lawyers. Doing so will not only ensure the best legal advice and legal representation, it will also guarantee you the best defense possible in your drunk driving case. Do not hesitate to be proactive to secure your defense. Your personal liberties and freedoms are at stake!

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Posted in Blood Alcohol Content, Blood Alcohol Test, Criminal Charges, Drunk Driving Charges, Michigan Drunk Driving Attorney, Michigan OWI Offenses, Motor Vehicle Charges, Negligent Homicide | No Comments »

DWI Defense Lawyers – Michigan Judge Deems Blood Tests from State Police Lab Unreliable

May 31st, 2011

One does not need to be an experienced DWI defense lawyer to know that being arrested for drunk driving is not only serious, but a process. If a law enforcement official suspects that a motorist is operating a vehicle while intoxicated, they will perform numerous tests to see if they are correct. Besides basic, field sobriety tests, police and prosecutors use the results of blood tests to charge defendants with drunk driving–if their blood alcohol content registers above 0.08 percent, they were driving while intoxicated.

The results of blood tests are very powerful in drunk driving cases–not only can it convince a jury of a defendant’s guilt, it can also convince them of a defendant’s innocence. Because of the significant role that blood test results play in drunk driving arrests and legal cases, it is essential that the data are absolutely correct, and carries an error of margin. Without it, a crime lab implies that their results are absolute and the true result–essentially that if tested 100 times, the results would always be the same.

This reasoning prompted District Court Judge Peter Wadel to toss out blood evidence against a Michigan resident who was charged with drunk driving. Jeffrey Jabrocki was arrested for driving under the influence, and underwent two blood tests by police. One registered that Jabrocki had a blood alcohol content of 0.29, while the other said that his BAC was 0.30. Even though both are significantly higher than the legal limit of 0.08, because there was no stated margin of error, Judge Wadel concluded that there was too much “uncertainty in measurement” to be reliable scientific data. “Without an error rate, the lab leaves an inference that the test result is an absolute or true result,” Judge Wadel wrote. “This uncertainty needs to be accounted for.” Because of Judge Wadel’s ruling, prosecutors can still charge Jabrocki with drunk driving, but will not be able to use the blood test results as evidence.

As experienced DWI defense lawyers in Michigan, the law firm of Kronzek & Cronkright applauds the judge’s decision to question the reliability of crime lab testing, particularly in drunk driving cases. Being convicted of driving while intoxicated can change a person’s life forever, resulting in enormous fines, time behind bars, and a permanent stain on one’s reputation. If the legal system is going to charge drunk drivers with permanent consequences, it is important to at least do so with reliable scientific evidence. Without it, true justice cannot be served for anyone.

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Posted in Blood Alcohol Content, Blood Alcohol Test, Criminal Charges, Drunk Driving Charges, For Your Information, Michigan Drunk Driving Attorney, Michigan OWI Offenses, Michigan State Law Matters, Motor Vehicle Charges | No Comments »

DWI Defense Lawyers – Michigan Lawmakers Look to Equal Drunk Driving Penalties for Boats, Snowmobiles

May 17th, 2011

Michigan DWI defense lawyers must stay alert to changes made in state drunk driving laws. The recently passed “super drunk” driving measures increased penalties for those who had blood alcohol contents registering far above the legal limit of 0.08. While this change has already increased the number of drunk driving fines in Michigan, legislators have made it clear that they intend on taking their fight against DUI arrests much further.

As a beautiful state that sees many seasonal changes, residents love the opportunity to go boating in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter. However, because so many people statewide take advantage of these fun recreational activities, increased participation creates the opportunity for more drunk driving and drug use. In Muskegon County alone, the many lakes are home to 12,600 registered boaters and their guests. “We’ve had boating accidents in the past that were alcohol-related¼ that resulted in death,” explained Deputy Todd Dunham, who controls the county’s marine and snowmobiling patrols. “Most of your snowmobile accidents that occur are alcohol-related,” he added.

While law enforcement officials in Muskegon were thrilled to escape the 2010 boating season without a single fatal crash, more than a dozen boaters were arrested for drunk boating. The snowmobile season is not nearly as promising—since 2005, over 130 snowmobilers have been killed in Michigan due to alcohol-related accidents.

The increasing number of drunk driving arrests involving boat and snowmobile operators has prompted legislators to take an active stance on the issue. Last year, a fatal drunk boating accident prompted State Representative Matt Lori to craft a series of bills that would level the playing field for drunk driving on all types of vehicles, including boats, snowmobiles, and off-road vehicles.

Although the 2010 bills never made it to a vote, Lori reintroduced a similar bill this year that would change the legal blood-alcohol content for boaters and snowmobilers. Currently, the legal limit for operating a boat in Michigan is 0.10, which is higher than the legal limit for persons operating a car while intoxicated. If the measure passes, it would lower the legal limit for boaters to 0.08, as well as make changes to address repeat offenders and those using drugs while operating a boat or a snowmobile. The law currently provides a ten year time limit to impose a felony drunk driving charge for people who have had two or more previous offenses. However, under the proposed change, if the violation occurs after two or more prior convictions the offender would be charged with a felony, regardless of the number of years that have elapsed since any prior conviction.

While Michigan lawmakers are hopeful that the measures will receive support, it is unlikely that they will be in place in time for the 2011 boating season. should changes be made, it will be much easier for law enforcement officials to target those operating boats or snowmobiles should they suspect one is driving while intoxicated. Because the penalties for drunk driving will be much stricter, it is even more important for arrested persons to contact the best DWI defense lawyer available. Not only will an experienced and skilled Michigan DUI attorney be able to explain the new laws to you, they will provide the legal advice and legal representation needed to defend you. Do not hesitate to contact counsel, as doing so can protect your personal freedoms and liberties from suspension.

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Posted in Criminal Charges, Drugged-Driving Charges, Drunk Driving Charges, For Your Information, Michigan OWI Offenses, Michigan State Law Matters | No Comments »

Michigan DUI Attorneys – Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) Test Thrown Out for Inaccuracies

May 11th, 2011

Michigan DUI Lawyers are celebrating the recent court ruling which seeks to create more objective standards for reporting the results of chemical testing in drunk driving cases in Michigan. In this case, Mason County  District Court Judge Wadell ruled that blood test results from the Michigan State Police crime lab are inadmissible in court. The judge reasoned that because the crime lab does not record or publish its margain of errors on blood alcohol blood tests, the test results are not reliable. Forensic evidence must be both relevant and reliable to be admissible in a Michigan court.

The legal limit for drinking and driving in Michigan is a blood alcohol content, or “BAC,” of .08 or less. The problem with crime lab blood tests being unreliable says Judge Wedell, is because a driver whose blood was measured at perhaps .08, .09, or .10 may actually be under the limit and therefore be innocent of a drunk driving crime. Similarly, a Michigan driver whose BAC was measured to be .07 or below may actually be guilty of intoxicated driving or impaired driving.

Being convicted of an OWI in Michigan is serious business. You could end up in jail, be required to pay fines, receive a suspension of your driving privileges and more. That is why you need Michigan’s expert dui attorneys. Serious drunk driving attorneys follow the latest developments in the Michigan DUI law and are skilled at presenting constitutional defenses.

The Michigan State Police say they plan to appeal this ruling. Currently, this new caselaw only applies in the 79th District Court but if defense attorneys have their way, a similar rule would apply in places like Ingham County, Clinton County and Eaton County. Only time will tell, and until then, Michigan DUI lawyers will be watching.

Posted in Blood Alcohol Content, Blood Alcohol Test, Drunk Driving Charges, Michigan Drunk Driving Attorney, Michigan OWI Offenses, Michigan State Law Matters | No Comments »

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