Searching for a Criminal Defense Attorney in Traverse City, Michigan?

Criminal charges have the potential to derail the course of your life. If you or someone you know has recently been criminally charged, we recommend reaching out to an experienced and knowledgeable criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. Taking the time to discuss your case and examine your possibilities with an enlightened and skilled attorney can determine the success rate of your case. Not only can an attorney provide invaluable legal counsel, but they can inform and update you on state laws that may play an important role in your case, especially if it’s a DUI related case.

Things to Keep in Mind About Michigan DUI Laws

In the United States, every state operates like its own, independent country. Albeit certain acts are deemed as illegal and criminal under the federal constitution, most states get to set the rules and the penalties when it comes to criminal cases such as DUIs. In the state of Michigan, for instance, according to The Office of Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, “it is illegal to drive:

• While intoxicated, or impaired, by alcohol, controlled substance, or other intoxicating substance.
• With a bodily alcohol content of 0.08 or more. (This crime is one of the driving while intoxicated offenses.)
• With a bodily alcohol content of 0.17 or more. (This “High BAC” crime is one of the driving while intoxicated offenses.)
• With any amount of cocaine or a Schedule 1 controlled substance in your body. (For more information about Schedule 1 drugs, see section 7212 of the Michigan Public Health Code; MCL 333.7212.)

If you are found breaking any of these laws, there is a price to be paid and a penalty to endure. Oftentimes these penalties will come at a financial and emotional cost. You may be required to spend time in jail, complete an alcohol and drug program, have your driver’s license suspended or taken away, pay a fee, and have your vehicle’s ignition interlocked. The penalties you face will also depend on whether the offense you have committed has been your first, second or third offense. Of course, the system tends to be more lenient with first-time and even second-time offenders. What we do recommend is that those who are charged, get in touch with an experienced lawyer right away. Otherwise, they could be destroying their chances of success in the case. According to Lawyer Education, “A client can plead guilty to the charges but often a skilled DUI lawyer will attempt to get many of these charges dropped or lessened early in the process. These negotiations occur during the pre-trial conference. A DUI lawyer may recommend entering into a plea bargain or sentence bargain. He may file a motion to overthrow his client’s statements if arrested. In addition, he can schedule an evidentiary hearing for the purpose of uncovering the evidence the persecution holds against his client.” For a criminal defense lawyer in Traverse City, Michigan who can help, contact the Neumann Law Group today at (231) 221-0050.