Michigan’s Super Drunk Law

In 2010, the Michigan legislature passed the “High Alcohol Enhanced Penalty Law” to address first-time drunk driving offenders who have a very high Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). The law, known as Michigan’s Super Drunk OWI Law, or Super OWI Law for short, imposes more severe penalties on people who are convicted of an OWI with a BAC of .17 or greater.

The penalties for a conviction under Michigan’s Super Drunk Law are approximately double those for a conviction under Michigan’s standard OWI law. Penalties for conviction under the Super Drunk Law include:

• Up to 180 days in jail
• 45-day driver’s license suspension
• 320 days of restricted driving privileges after the license suspension period
• Six points on your driving record
• Fines of $200 to $700
• Up to 360 hours of community service
• Mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device (IID)
• Possible mandatory attendance at an alcohol treatment program
• Driver responsibility fee of up to $1,000 for two years

In Michigan, the legal limit to be charged with OWI is .08 percent. If you are charged under Michigan’s Super Drunk law, law enforcement believes that you are driving with a BAC that is twice the legal limit.

The law only applies to offenders who do not have a prior OWI offense within the last seven years.

If you are charged with a second or subsequent OWI you still face penalties that are more severe than those imposed for a standard OWI, but they do not fall under Michigan’s Super Drunk Law.

Additional Consequences of Conviction

In addition to legal penalties, you face collateral consequences of conviction under Michigan’s Super Drunk OWI Law. You will be required to pay higher insurance premiums and could even lose your insurance coverage. You will also have a criminal conviction on your record, which could make it more difficult to find a job or obtain a professional license.

Elmen Legal Defends People Accused Under Michigan’s Super Drunk Law

If you were charged with an OWI in Michigan or face allegations under Michigan Super Drunk Law, Elmen Legal can help.

I offer a free initial consultation and will do everything I can to put you at ease and help you understand the nature of the charges against you. I will answer all of your questions, gather information about the circumstances of your arrest, and explain the next steps in your case, the potential consequences of a conviction, and your options.

I will represent you at any court hearings, fight for a favorable plea bargain, and represent you at trial, if necessary.

I understand that people contact me when they are facing difficult circumstances, and I know that means that I’m not seeing them at their best. That is precisely why you will find that I take a caring and compassionate approach to representing people accused of committing a crime, offering personalized attention and accessibility that you won’t find at other firms.

Defending someone against the Michigan Super Drunk Law is complicated. You need an experienced attorney on your side who understands Michigan OWI laws, the complex science behind BAC testing and how alcohol is processed in the body, and who can defend you in court and advise you on how to minimize the consequences of an OWI conviction.

At Elmen Legal, I proudly represent people in and around Ann Arbor and throughout Michigan. Learn more about the services I offer, read reviews from other people I’ve helped, and get answers to Frequently Asked Questions. Then contact Elmen legal today to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case and how I can help.