Interlochen OWI Defense Lawyers

Operating While Intoxicated Lawyers in Interlochen, Michigan

If you have been arrested for an OWI or are facing OWI charges, the OWI defense lawyers in Interlochen, Michigan at the Neumann Law Group are here to help. If you are facing OWI charges, you could be subject to a range of consequences that can include loss of your driver’s license, jail time, fines, fees, and collateral consequences that can include higher insurance rates, loss of certain professional licenses, and more. The good news is that there are steps you can take to fight your charges, defend your innocence, seek reduced charges, or petition to get your license reinstated. The Interlochen OWI defense lawyers at the Neumann Law Group are here to help you navigate the legal challenges that can arise if you’ve been charged or arrested with an OWI.

What Can I Do If I’m Asked to Take a Sobriety Test?

Under Michigan’s implied consent laws, you could have your driver’s license suspended if you refuse to submit to a blood or breath alcohol test. While you have the right to refuse to take this test, there are consequences to refusal, including your refusal being used as evidence against you if you challenge your OWI charges or arrest. Under Michigan law, you could face charges if your BAC is over 0.08, but you could also face arrest if an officer suspects you of driving while intoxicated. That is, you can be arrested if you show signs of being intoxicated.

You may also be asked to take a field sobriety test, where an officer may ask you to perform certain actions to assess whether you might be impaired. These tests include the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus test. The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus is a movement of the eyes that occurs when a person has been drinking. Under Michigan law, the results of the HGN can be admissible in a DUI case as long as the police officer conducting the test has the “knowledge, skill, experience, training, or education” to conduct the test. Yet, for any field sobriety test to be admissible in court, the test must be conducted in compliance with NHTSA standards. An OWI defense lawyer in Interlochen, Michigan can review your case to determine whether the officer conducting your test received proper training. Your OWI defense lawyer can also review the methods used to conduct your field sobriety test to see whether they follow NHTSA standards.

Michigan law makes it so that most sobriety tests and field sobriety tests will be admissible in court. But, if you have any suspicion that your test wasn’t conducted fairly or are innocent and are being accused of an OWI, the Interlochen OWI lawyers at the Neumann Law Group may be able to help you. We can review your case and help you take the next steps.

What Can You Do If You’re Under 21 and Face OWI Charges in Michigan?

Under Michigan law, if you’re under 21 years old, you can face OWI charges with a lower BAC level. Individuals can be arrested if their BAC is over 0.02 under Michigan’s zero tolerance law. If you’re under 21 and are facing OWI charges, you could be facing serious consequences that can impact your life, criminal record, and driving record. If you are a minor and your BAC was above 0.08 you could face adult OWI charges.

Having an OWI on your record when you are so young can impact you in the future, because the OWI can remain on your record and can result in repeat offender charges if you are arrested for an OWI later. Having an OWI on your record could also affect your ability to get a job or license in certain industries. Finally, having an OWI on your record could also impact your ability to get certain government student loans and it can even impact your ability to gain admission to certain universities.

The seriousness of these consequences is especially unfortunate because individuals under 21 can face serious OWI penalties even when their BAC is still rather low. With just one drink in your system, you could end up facing OWI charges or arrest. If you are under 21 and are facing OWI charges, you might want to reach out to the OWI attorneys in Interlochen, Michigan at the Neumann Law Group. Our lawyers can review the details of your arrest, the evidence officers gathered, and take steps to protect your rights. 

If you are facing OWI charges and are under 21 years old or are a minor, you might want to speak to an OWI lawyer as soon as possible because the OWI defense lawyers in Interlochen, Michigan at the Neumann Law Group may be able to work with prosecutors or the judge to help minors avoid adult charges. If your BAC was low and you are still facing OWI charges under Michigan’s zero tolerance law, an OWI defense lawyer in Michigan may be able to help you have your charges reduced, especially if you commit to alternative alcohol education programs.

The options you’ll have available will depend on how high your BAC was, how old you were when you were arrested, and other factors about your background. Teens and minors make mistakes. An OWI defense attorney in Interlochen, Michigan at the Neumann Law Group may be able to convince a judge to be more lenient on a minor and thus help him or her avoid some of the more long-lasting impacts of having an OWI on their driving record or criminal record.

How Can I Contact an OWI Lawyer in Interlochen, Michigan?

The OWI lawyers in Interlochen, Michigan at the Neumann Law Group can be reached at 800-525-6386. Contact our lawyers today to learn more. We are here to help.