Think you’re broke now? Just wait till you get pulled over for a DUI!
Some people think drinking and driving is a “slap on the wrist” crime – much like a speeding ticket. But that couldn’t be further from the truth! Drinking and driving is a very serious crime here in Michigan. And not just serious, but expensive too! Here in the Great Lakes State, aDUI will cost you big bucks. But many people simply don’t understand the costs involved. So let’s take a look at what’s involved.
Fatal wrong way crashes: are they caused by drunk drivers?
Drunk driving is often considered to be one of the worst things a person can do, in part because it puts so many people at risk. While drunk drivers are frequently pilloried for getting behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or drugs, it is becoming abundantly clear that they aren’t the only problem. Distracted driving, usually the result of texting and driving, is equally deadly, as is fatigued driving. So in addressing the growing problem of fatal ‘wrong way driving’, Michigan authorities are trying to determine who exactly is at fault, and how can they fix it?
Michigan’s driver responsibility fees have kept many drivers off the roads. That ends soon!
The subject of Michigan’s driver responsibility fees is one we’ve discussed several times in the past. They’ve been a controversial subject for years, and a number of efforts have been made in the past to have them eradicated. Even the Michigan District Judges Association (MDJA) spoke up in favor of getting rid of driver responsibility fees.
Drugged driving is on the rise, and more people lose their lives to fatal drug-related car crashes every year!
Everyone knows drunk driving is dangerous. It’s not a contested fact. What many don’t know however, is that driving under the influence of drugs is actually more deadly than drunk driving! Surprised? Many Michigan people are. And yet several studies done in recent years are proving the uptick in drivers operating under the influence of drugs – both legal drugs and the illegal ones, and the fact that they are causing more fatal crashes than drunk drivers these days!
A DUI may get you a one-way ticket back to your home country!
For the average Michigan resident, being arrested for drunk or drugged driving presents a whole host of challenges. Coming up with the money for bail, finding a good DUI attorney, spending time in jail, and adjusting to life without a vehicle are all inconvenient and difficult. But for immigrants living in Michigan, those problems are only the tip of the iceberg. There’s another, even bigger issue that needs to be dealt with – possible deportation!
Does anyone need expert witnesses at a DUI trial? Yes they do!
For many people, when they think of testimony from expert witnesses at trials, they think of high profile court cases. But it isn’t only murder, drug trafficking and sex crimes charges that expert testimony might be useful in. Believe it or not, even drunk driving cases often need testimony from expert witnesses. Not sure why that would be? Stick around, we’re going to break it down for you.
Drug Recognition Experts in Michigan are trained to figure out if you’re high, and what you took!
There is currently a roadside drug testing pilot underway in five counties in Michigan. The Michigan State Police are trying to determine, over the course of one year, if roadside drug testing is a cost effective way to address the rising number of drugged drivers on the road. Should they decide it is, MSP will be faced with the challenge of training more Drug Recognition Experts (DRE’s) to administer the tests. But what exactly is a DRE?
The National Transportation Safety Board says the way to reduce the number of drunk driving fatalities is to reduce the BAC limit from .08 to .05.
If you follow The Kronzek Firm’s blog here on WinDrunkDriving.com, then you’ll remember our two-part article a little while ago addressing the issue of lowered BAC limits as a possible solution to drunk driving fatalities. As we discussed there, over 10,000 people die every year in alcohol related car crashes, and this number accounts for almost one-third of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.
Do you have to get out and do the field sobriety test when you’re pulled over for a DUI?
Michigan’s drunk driving laws can be somewhat confusing. Can you still be arrested for drunk driving if you’re below the legal limit? Do your charges get harsher the more you’ve had to drink? Can you refuse to participate in a roadside sobriety test? These are just a tiny sample of the questions that our drunk driving defense lawyers get asked on a regular basis. Today we’d like to talk about that last one – refusing field sobriety tests – because it’s a really important topic! (Not that the others aren’t important too!)
Being without a car after a DUI can be tough – but there are ways to get around!
One of the many downsides to a DUI conviction here in Michigan is losing your driver’s license. Or worse, losing your car. Being without wheels can make life really hard, especially when you need to get to and from work. Add in other commitments like grocery shopping, getting the kids to and from their activities, doctor appointments, social activities and family events, and you have some major life adjustments ahead.
