Oakland County OWI/DUI Attorney

Criminal Defense Lawyers Dedicated to the Aggressive, Passionate, and Effective Defense of Drinking and Driving Offenses in Oakland County, Michigan.

Proven, Consistent, and Exceptional Results in Oakland County

Driving under the influence of liquor or drugs is one of Michigan’s most commonly prosecuted criminal offenses. These charges can be felonies or misdemeanors, depending on the facts and circumstances and the defendant’s history. We can all agree that an OWI is dangerous and potentially life-threatening to the driver and other people on the road; however, public outrage over these offenses often results in over-zealous prosecutions and harsh punishments for defendants in Oakland County. OWI cases can cost a person money, loss of driving privileges, required community service, drug/alcohol testing, and the realistic possibility of jail or prison terms in Oakland County. An experienced, aggressive Oakland County OWI defense attorney can seek the reduction or dismissal of a misdemeanor or felony OWI charge.

It Might Be Possible to Avoid a Conviction and Jail Time for OWI

An Oakland County OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) arrest can come out of the blue and when you least expect it. The standard for OWI cases is low. Many people do not feel under the influence when they have a low bodily alcohol content (BAC). Police don’t care if you are rich or poor, or a good person or bad. The officers will likely arrest you if they smell alcohol on your breath. Oakland County is notorious for the harsh prosecution and punishment of drunk driving charges. Your best hope of an extraordinary outcome in your case is with a top-notch Oakland County OWI/DUI attorney by your side.

A great Oakland County OWI/DUI attorney is ready to fight for your rights. No matter the accusations or what you’ve done, the best Michigan OWI attorney will fight for you no matter what and be passionate and zealous about your defense. In other words, an experienced, successful OWI attorney will leave no stone unturned when developing a strategy to protect you and fight for you in court.

Aggressive OWI/DUI Attorneys

Because there is so much at stake, it is vital that you have legal representation with vast experience in defending those charged with these types of matters. An expert attorney can evaluate the circumstances of your case and present all defenses available. An aggressive, knowledgeable, and tenacious Oakland County OWI defense attorney can minimize or eliminate potential penalties. It is in your best interest to have the best legal representation available. The lawyers with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. exclusively defend criminal cases and are among Michigan’s top OWI defense lawyers. They have decades of experience representing people charged with driving under the influence statewide, and they are not afraid to fight for you!

Oakland County Criminal Defense Attorneys

Notorious for Harsh OWI Prosecution and Penalties

Whether or not you are innocent, you need an excellent Oakland County OWI defense attorney on your side. Even a first offense can carry jail time and result in a driver’s license suspension or restrictions. Without the most experienced help, you have little chance of getting the results you deserve. And a lousy outcome can follow you forever (some OWI convictions in Oakland County stay on a criminal history indefinitely).

A top OWI defense law firm will dedicate substantial resources to training its attorneys with the latest and most compelling trial techniques for OWI cases, including scientific and medical defenses and how to attack a shabby law enforcement investigation. The best OWI attorney will have expertise in all aspects of OWI cases, including the science of breath, blood, and urine testing, the full panoply of constitutional rights and violations, field sobriety testing, probable cause, and more.

The problem occurs when innocent people get caught up in overzealous police actions, or the police feel justified in violating a person’s civil rights to justify an OWI arrest and conviction. More innocent people get convicted of OWI than any other crime. DWI is a serious crime, and too many people are seriously injured and killed by individuals driving under the influence. We all want our roads to be safe. However, our attorneys strongly believe the playing field must be leveled for you if the government prosecutes you. Let us show you how we can turn the tables to your advantage!

Oakland County OWI/DUI Defense

It is illegal to operate a motor vehicle in Michigan with a blood alcohol level of 0.08% or greater, and you are subject to being arrested for OWI, OWVI, or DUI. How quickly a person can reach the 0.08% level can vary significantly with the person, and defective or uncalibrated testing equipment can result in false positives. A person’s weight and height play an essential role. Many defense lawyers don’t know the first thing about the science of OWI representation and the deficiencies that can occur with testing equipment. The Oakland County OWI defense lawyers with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. will thoroughly review all the evidence in your case to gain any possible advantage in your favor.

The top Oakland County OWI/DUI attorney’s goal is simple: get charges dismissed or a reduction in the charges and no jail. They will do everything possible to get a drunk driving case dismissed if possible. If a dismissal is not possible, a charge reduction may be a second priority (the best case being a non-alcohol-related conviction or a civil infraction). Some matters must go to trial (where the prosecution must prove the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt). Many experienced criminal defense attorneys do not know how to go to trial on an OWI case. OWI trials are often more complex than those that occur in domestic violence or homicide cases. A great OWI lawyer has experience reaching highly favorable plea resolutions for clients and a track record of winning trials. The better the OWI defense attorney’s reputation for legal representation in Oakland County, the better the chances of a prosecutor giving a favorable plea bargain or sentence agreement.

OWI Defense Attorney Oakland County Operating While Intoxicated

OWI is an Opinion Crime, and Opinions Are Subject to Attack

OWI is the only crime where you can be convicted based on a police officer’s opinion, which means it is an opinion crime. Can you name another crime where someone faces charges without harming anyone or property? Frequently, the prosecution centers its case around the opinion of a police officer. In the typical OWI case, the arresting officer may allege that the motorist exhibited signs of intoxication: the odor of an alcoholic beverage, bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech, and unsteady on their feet. These observations are subjective. Every motorist is presumed innocent, and the prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Only the most experienced and successful Oakland County Drunk Driving Attorneys have a track record of achieving extraordinary results in these complex, subjective cases.

Client Testimonials

OWI 1st Offense – Charge Reduced to Reckless Driving

“As a lawyer, I understand the importance of having a competent and dedicated defense team, but being on the other side as a defendant was terrifying. I was charged with my first OWI offense, and the impact it could have had on my career was daunting. LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. stepped in and provided exceptional legal representation. They meticulously examined the evidence and negotiated with the prosecutor. I could see no defense based on the evidence, including a high BAC. Loren and his team ultimately got my charge reduced to reckless driving. Their expertise and determination made all the difference. I highly recommend them to anyone facing OWI charges in Oakland County.” — John L.

DUI 3rd Offense (Fourth Drunk Driving Charge) – Sobriety Court and Minimum Jail Time

“I was facing a DUI 3rd felony (actually my fourth drunk driving charge), and my previous lawyer was not giving me much hope. The judge was leaning towards a prison sentence, which would have been devastating for me and my family. Switching to LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. was the best decision I made. They fought hard and got the assistant prosecutor and the judge to agree to sobriety court and the minimum jail time with probation. The letter they wrote for me was spectacular. Their dedication, knowledge, and persuasive advocacy turned my life around. I never had lawyers in the past who cared as much about me as they did about the money! I am incredibly grateful for their relentless effort.” — Mark S.

OWI 1st Offense – Case Dismissed Due to 4th Amendment Violation

“I was charged with my second OWI offense in six years and was overwhelmed by the potential consequences to me and my family. If I had lost my driver’s license, I don’t know how we would have survived because we have no family in Michigan to help us. LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. took my case and immediately scrutinized every detail. They discovered that the Oakland County sheriff who pulled me over did not have reasonable suspicion, a clear violation of my 4th Amendment rights. The judge ruled in our favor at the motion to suppress hearing, and my case was dismissed. Their expertise and thoroughness saved me from a wrongful conviction. I cannot thank them enough for their exceptional legal representation.” — Cathy R.

There is a reason we have legions of clients we’ve helped with alcohol and drug-related charges… because our firm is the right choice when the stakes are high, and you have no tolerance for false promises, errors, or weak representation. If you seek a top, experienced, and strong OWI defense attorney in Oakland County who will fight for you like family, you are in the right place!

OWI Penalties Are Serious In Oakland County, Michigan

OWI and DUI are politically unpopular in Oakland County, Michigan. As a result, legislators regularly try to give prosecutors and courts more tools to pursue convictions and increase the severity of the penalties in DUI cases. Some might argue that judges, prosecutors, and politicians rig the system to facilitate convictions. Advocacy groups such as MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) lobby for more stringent and harsh OWI laws and encourage law enforcement to make more arrests. The Oakland County OWI defense attorneys with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C., never back down and are not intimidated by politics, judges, or outside pressures.

A DWI is among the most common criminal offenses in the Oakland County, Michigan courts. Even in misdemeanor cases, you face possible jail sentences if convicted due to political pressure and some of the toughest judges in Michigan. Furthermore, a jail sentence may be in addition to:

substantial fines,
lengthy periods of community service,
months or years reporting to a probation officer,
loss or restriction of your driver’s license,
costly and time-consuming alcohol or drug therapy, and
numerous other intrusions that may invade your privacy and your wallet.

If you have a revoked driver’s license, you will not be able to drive again until Michigan grants you this privilege.

People with a DUI conviction may have trouble obtaining or keeping a professional license (doctors, lawyers, nurses, etc.) or a security clearance, preventing current or future employment. An alcohol-related conviction could interfere with obtaining loans or prevent you from traveling to other countries, such as Canada. The Oakland County Defense Attorneys with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. are your best hope for avoiding the consequences of a conviction.

Despite what you may have heard, judges do not impose jail in all OWI or DUI cases, even where the defendant has prior convictions. To achieve a sentence without jail and the minimum term of probation, the client and their Oakland County OWI defense attorney must be proactive. Going to AA and counseling may or may not help you avoid a harsh sentence, and there is no “cookie-cutter” solution in every case. It takes an OWI defense lawyer many years to achieve the level of experience necessary to properly guide a client through the court process and help them achieve a favorable sentence.

Plea Bargaining and Jury Trials

Not all OWI cases go to trial. Most do not. A savvy, respected lawyer can often negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecutor. The Oakland County OWI/DUI Attorney with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. has the poise, tact, experience, and professionalism required to negotiate a beneficial plea agreement on your behalf. Although achieving a dismissal of all charges is our highest priority, there are cases where a plea bargain to a reduced charge is in the client’s best interest. Sometimes, a quick plea agreement is in the client’s best interest. Other times, it takes perseverance, persistence, and significant effort on the attorney’s part to obtain a satisfactory plea agreement. However, if a plea agreement is impossible, it is critical to have an attorney who understands how to take an OWI case to trial and win! When a skilled defense lawyer aggressively and intelligently defends their client, there are circumstances when a prosecutor will reduce an OWI to reckless driving, careless driving, or a civil infraction.

How does a lawyer achieve an extraordinary resolution in a case? By being a credible threat. We are well-known in Oakland County, Michigan. Judges and prosecutors widely consider us among the top OWI trial lawyers. Prosecutors and judges know that if they do not treat our clients fairly, we will fight the charges and do whatever is necessary to protect their rights. Lawyers who claim to get special deals due to friendships with prosecutors or judges are dishonest and disingenuous. Do not get snookered by an attorney who pretends they get special favors. These unethical representations are untrue and intended to manipulate you. Those knowledgeable with OWI law and defense know that the attorneys who get the best deals are the reputable ones willing and able to credibly fight a charge.

A Team of Michigan Criminal Defense Attorneys Specializing in Defending OWI and DUI Offenses

You should not face the charge of OWI/DUI alone or with just any lawyer. The attorneys at LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. exclusively handle criminal cases and focus on drinking and driving offenses in Oakland County. Criminal law is the only area of law we practice, and we have a team of lawyers who work together to help our clients. Our attorneys are respected and recognized for being highly effective in defending people charged with drunk driving offenses or charges involving driving with the presence of drugs. Call us today for a free consultation. We will find a way to help you!

Call us today at (248) 263-6800 for a free consultation or complete an online Request for Assistance Form. We will contact you promptly and find a way to help you.