OWI Defense Attorneys for Royal Oak, Michigan

Michigan’s Elite Operating While Intoxicated (OWI/DUI) Defense Firm Will Protect and Defend You in the 44th District Court in Royal Oak, Michigan.

44th District Court in Royal Oak, Michigan

A conviction for drunk driving (DUI), also known as Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), carries serious consequences. The belief that these offenses always result in convictions is a myth. A highly experienced criminal defense attorney can sometimes find a way to avoid jail, probation, and conviction. Prosecutors charging felony and misdemeanor drunken driving offenses in Royal Oak, Michigan, are notoriously tough; however, great Royal Oak Drunk Driving Attorneys can turn the tables to your advantage.

The evidence of an OWI is often nothing more than the opinion of a police officer. The prosecution’s case is frequently based solely on a police officer’s opinion and breath or blood tests that are commonly flawed and unreliable. In the typical OWI case, the arresting officer may allege that the motorist exhibited signs of intoxication, which could be the odor of an alcoholic beverage, bloodshot and watery eyes, slurred speech, or that the defendant was unsteady on her feet. These observations are subjective, and a thorough investigation often reveals that the allegations are untrue or exaggerated. Every motorist is presumed innocent, and the prosecution has the burden to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt, or the defendant must be found “not guilty.”

OWI Penalties Can be Serious in Royal Oak

An OWI or DWI is politically unpopular, and judges often advertise their harsh sentences when seeking to justify their re-election. Legislators work hard to give prosecutors and courts additional tools to pursue convictions and increase the severity of the penalties in these cases. Anyone familiar with the system knows it is biased and designed to facilitate convictions.

Advocacy groups such as MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) lobby for more stringent and tougher OWI laws and encourage law enforcement to make more arrests. The result of all this pressure is that officers sometimes become overzealous. Instead of doing a fair investigation, an officer trying to build a case frequently makes mistakes or arrests without probable cause. These types of errors, when exposed, can result in the dismissal of all charges.

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 of 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 which may invade your privacy and your wallet.

Royal Oak Drunk Driving Defense Attorney

Collateral Consequences of a Royal Oak Drunk Driving Conviction

In addition to penalties imposed by the court, the Michigan Department of State will impose license sanctions if there is a conviction. If your driver’s license is revoked, you cannot drive again until Michigan reinstates your driving privileges. People with an OWI 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.

There is no reason to accept these consequences without a fight! Even in cases with overwhelming evidence, the defense team with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. can frequently negotiate a resolution with the prosecutor for reduced charges and penalties. In some cases, we can advocate for a complete dismissal, a reduction to a non-alcohol-related offense, or an acquittal at trial.

An Experienced DUI Lawyer Can Help You – There Is Hope

If you face OWI or drunk driving charges in Royal Oak, you must have a lawyer who understands all the potential evidence in DUI cases, including but not limited to:

breath and blood testing,
field sobriety testing,
Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Evaluations,
4th Amendment – search and seizure laws,
body metabolism and physiology, and
Royal Oak police procedures.

The Royal Oak drunk driving defense attorneys with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. are experienced, 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.

The Royal Oak drunk driving attorneys at LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. strongly believe that the playing field must be leveled for you if you face criminal charges. The government has tremendous power and resources to use in your prosecution. We have the reputation and track record to defend you effectively.

Royal Oak Drunk Driving Charges Penalties

DUI/ OWI Plea Bargaining and Trial Lawyers

Not all OWI cases go to trial. Usually, a savvy defense lawyer can negotiate a favorable plea bargain. The attorneys at LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. have the reputation, experience, and professionalism required to negotiate the best possible reduction in charges. Although achieving a dismissal of a case is our first goal, there are cases where a plea bargain to a reduced charge is in the client’s best interest. If a plea agreement is not possible, it is critical to have an attorney who understands how to successfully take an OWI case to trial. An attorney who aggressively and intelligently defends an OWI case may succeed in negotiating a reduction of the charge to reckless driving, careless driving, or another type of civil infraction.

How does a Royal Oak drunk driving lawyer achieve an extraordinary resolution in a case?

A Royal Oak drunk driving attorney achieves an extraordinary result by being a credible threat to the prosecutor’s case. The defense attorneys with LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. are well known and respected in Royal Oak, Michigan. The prosecutors and judges consider us among the top Royal Oak drunk driving defense attorneys. They know that if our clients are not treated fairly, we are capable and qualified to fight the charges and protect their rights.

Drunk Driving Attorneys for the 44th District Court in Royal Oak, Michigan

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 Royal Oak drunk driving defense attorneys at LEWIS DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. We will help you discover how to successfully resolve your case before making an ill-advised decision to plead guilty or no contest. Our team is comprised of highly experienced investigators and leading forensic and toxicology experts who can sometimes help us disprove the results of your breathalyzer or blood test.

If you, or a loved one, is accused of operating while intoxicated or driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or another controlled substance within the 44th District Court in Michigan, contact the attorneys at LEWIS DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. and we will put decades of DUI defense experience to work for 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.