Ann Arbor Operating While Intoxicated Defense Attorneys
Michigan’s Elite Ann Arbor Operating While Intoxicated Defense Attorneys. We will find a way to help you.
Drunk Driving (DUI), also known as Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), is a serious offense in Ann Arbor with potentially serious consequences. If you have been charged with OWI, DUI, or a related offense, you need the protection of Ann Arbor operating while intoxicated defense attorneys. Prosecutors charging felony and misdemeanor drunken driving offenses in Ann Arbor, Michigan, are particularly hardnosed.
OWI is the only crime where you can be convicted based on a police officer’s opinion, which means it is an opinion crime. Frequently, the prosecutor bases their case on the opinion of an Ann Arbor 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. Remember that every motorist is presumed innocent, and the prosecution has the burden to prove their case beyond any reasonable doubt.
OWI Penalties are Serious in Ann Arbor
DWI, OWI, and DUI are politically unpopular in Ann Arbor, Michigan. As a result, legislators try to give prosecutors and courts more and more tools to pursue convictions and increase the severity of the penalties in DUI cases. Some might argue that the legislature has rigged the system to facilitate a conviction. Advocacy groups such as MADD lobby for tougher and tougher OWI laws and encourage law enforcement to make more and more arrests.
A DUI is one of the most common criminal offenses in the Ann Arbor, Michigan courts. Even in misdemeanor cases, due to political pressure and some of the toughest judges in Michigan, you face possible jail sentences if convicted. 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 Michigan has revoked your driver’s license, you will not be able to drive again until Michigan (or another state) grants you this privilege. People with a DWI conviction on their record 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.
An Experienced Ann Arbor DUI Lawyer Can Help You – There Is Hope
If you are arrested for Operating Under the Influence of drugs or alcohol, it is critical that you have Ann Arbor operating while intoxicated defense attorneys who understand the potential evidence in DUI cases, including breath testing, blood testing, and the pseudo-science of standardized field sobriety testing is that all the nuances and complexity specific to DWI trial advocacy make drunk driving defense one of the most challenging fields in criminal defense. The attorneys at LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. have this experience and are ethical, knowledgeable, and dedicated. We are also criminal defense specialists who exclusively handle criminal cases instead of the jack-of-all-trade lawyers who handle multiple areas of the law and are experts at none of them.
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. Prosecutors convict more innocent people of OWI than any other crime. No one is saying that OWI is not a serious crime. We all want our roads to be safe. However, the Ann Arbor operating while intoxicated defense attorneys at LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. strongly believe that the playing field must be leveled for you if you face being charged with a crime by the government and all the power that it has behind it.
DUI Plea Bargaining and Trial Lawyers
Most OWI and DUI cases do not go to trial. In many cases, a defense lawyer can negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecutor. Our attorneys have the reputation, tact, experience, and professionalism required to be effective plea negotiators. 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 best interest of the client. Other times, it takes perseverance, persistence, and significant effort on the part of the attorney to obtain a satisfactory plea agreement. However, if a plea agreement is not possible, it is critical to have an attorney who understands how to try a DWI case. An aggressive and intelligent lawyer can sometimes argue for an OWI charge to be reduced to reckless driving, careless driving, or another type of civil infraction.
How does a lawyer achieve an extraordinary resolution in a case? By being a credible threat. We are exceptionally well known in Ann Arbor, Michigan, to be among the top OWI trial lawyers. Prosecutors and judges know that if our clients are not treated fairly, we are capable and qualified to fight the charges and protect their rights.
Client Testimonials
Super Drunk Driving Charge Reduced to OWVI
“I was terrified when I was arrested with a 0.28 BAC and facing a Super Drunk Driving charge. I thought my life was over, but LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. stepped in and fought for me. They attacked the credibility of the breath test, discredited the field sobriety tests, and showed the prosecutor that I was a good person who made a one-time mistake. Thanks to their hard work, the charge was reduced to OWVI (Operating While Visibly Impaired). I avoided harsh penalties, and I’m forever grateful for their relentless defense.” – Art H.
Not Guilty Verdict After OWI Causing Accident Charge
“I was charged with OWI after being involved in an accident, and I thought my chances were slim. LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. believed in me and took my case to trial. They attacked the officer’s credibility and showed the jury that the breathalyzer results could have been inaccurate or glitched. I was found not guilty, and I owe it all to their incredible skill, dedication, and belief in my case. They saved my life, and I can’t recommend them highly enough.” – Seth M.
Felony DUI Reduced to Misdemeanor and Sobriety Court
“I was facing a felony DUI charge and thought I’d end up in prison. LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. fought hard to reduce my charge, and they convinced the prosecutor to drop the felony to a misdemeanor. Instead of prison time, they got me into sobriety court, and I was even able to keep my driver’s license. Their commitment and skill changed my life, and I’m now sober, working, and driving, thanks to their help. They truly care about their clients.” – Rob A.
DUI Attorneys Experienced in Handling Ann Arbor Operating While Intoxicated Cases
Many people arrested for DUI feel as though they have already been pronounced guilty of a crime. If you have been charged with DUI, you should speak to one of the experienced Ann Arbor operating while intoxicated defense attorney at LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. immediately. We will help you discover how to successfully resolve your Ann Arbor operating while intoxicated charges before making an ill-advised decision to plead guilty or no contest. We have a better pool of resources to draw on than other law firms in Ann Arbor, Michigan. At our disposal, we have a team of highly experienced investigators and leading forensic and toxicology experts. These specialists can sometimes help us disprove your breathalyzer or blood test results to win your case.
If you or a loved one is charged with operating while intoxicated or driving under the influence of alcohol or marijuana, contact the attorneys at LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C., and we will put decades of DUI defense experience to work for you. If you call us for a free consultation, we will take the time to talk with you, answer your questions, and work with you to develop a winning defense strategy.
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.
We will find a way to help you.
We Are Not Afraid to Win!
