Rochester Hills DUI / DWI / OWI Defense Attorneys
If you have been charged with an alcohol-related crime in Rochester Hills, Rochester, or any of the surrounding communities, you’ll probably have many questions. Am I going to jail? Will I lose my driver’s license? Contact Paul J. Tafelski to get answers by calling 313-915-5532, or for the fastest response at night and on weekends, please e-mail Mr. Tafelski. He checks his Blackberry frequently and will respond as soon as he sees your message.
Our Rochester Hills Drunk Driving Defense Team
Paul J. Tafelski will work hard to defeat your drunk driving charges or to minimize penalties such as fines, jail time, and license suspension. If you or a loved one has been charged with drunk driving, you need to speak with an experienced drunk driving attorney to protect your rights and begin to plan your drunk driving defense. Our DWI attorneys have extensive experience defending alcohol-related crimes in Rochester Hills, Rochester, Oakland County, and throughout Michigan.
Michigan Drunk Driving Laws
If you have been stopped for drinking and driving in Rochester Hills, Michigan, you may be charged with one of three misdemeanor offenses. The first is operating while intoxicated (OWI), the second offense is operating while visibly impaired (OWVI), and the third offense (applies only to persons under 21 years of age) is operating with any alcohol content in the body (UBAL/UBAC). A blood alcohol content (BAC) of .17 or higher will result in the charge of OWI with High BAC. When a driver is first arrested for operating while intoxicated, he or she is required to stay in jail for up to 24 hours, depending on the driver’s blood alcohol level.
Under Michigan’s Implied Consent Law, every driver is deemed to consent to submitting to a chemical test to determine his or her blood alcohol content. If you are charged with OWI, OWVI with High BAC, or other drunk driving charges, contact our experienced DUI attorneys immediately for assistance. A conviction for a drunk driving offense in Michigan will have long lasting consequences. A criminal defense lawyer experienced in drunk driving defense can make a difference in the outcome of your drunk driving charge.
Criminal Defense Attorney for Michigan’s “Super Drunk Law”
Criminal defense lawyer Paul J. Tafelski understands the concerns you may have about the expanded penalties as outlined by Michigan’s “super drunk” law. This law affects drivers in Rochester Hills who have a blood alcohol content of 0.17 percent or greater. The potential penalties include a suspension of driving privileges for 365 days, a larger fine, and a longer stay in jail.
About Rochester Hills, Michigan
Rochester Hills, Michigan is in Oakland County. The traditional downtown area of Rochester is surrounded by Rochester Hills. Rochester Hills’ 2009 U.S. Census estimation reports 68,368 residents enjoying both urban and rural living in this community. Rochester Hills’ location provides numerous advantages commonly found only in big metropolitan cities, and does so without losing the safe, slower, rural, peaceful neighborhoods and scenic parks. Rochester Hills is a grand crossover environment in the Detroit metro area of Oakland County, West Bloomfield, in the over 50,000-population group, ranked 8th in highest income cities in America. Rochester Hills has earned privileged space in Automation Alley, a dynamic technology cluster in Michigan.
About the Rochester Hills, Michigan Courts and Courthouse
In Michigan, the District Court has the responsibility for all traffic violations involving civil infractions and misdemeanors such as speeding, reckless driving and operating while intoxicated. The 52-3 District Court’s jurisdiction covers Rochester Hills in addition to the Cities of Auburn Hills, Lake Angelus, Rochester; the Townships of Addison, Oakland, Orion and Oxford; and the Villages of Lake Orion, Leonard and Oxford.
52-3 District Court
700 Barclay Circle
Rochester Hills, Michigan, USA, 48307-4515
(248) 853-5553
http://www.oakgov.com/dc52div3/
The 52-3 District Court now offers Sobriety Court, a special, non-adversarial court docket designed to offer immediate treatment to a nonviolent offender including drunk drivers. In order to participate, defendants must meet the following criteria:
- Defendant’s current offense is alcohol or drug related;
- Defendant has at least two prior alcohol or drug related convictions;
- Defendant has no prior convictions of violent crimes;
- Defendant is a full time resident within the jurisdiction of 52/3 District Court;
- Defendant is at least 17 years of age.
There are also felony offenses involving drunk driving, including operating while intoxicated or operating while visibly impaired, causing death or serious injury, and child endangerment. If you are arrested for a DUI felony offense, the arraignment is held before a district court judge or magistrate. If the district judge determines there is enough evidence, the case will be transferred to circuit court for trial within 14 days after your arraignment. At the circuit court level, another arraignment is held, unless your attorney waives it. After the arraignment, a trial date will be set.
6th Judicial Circuit Court
Courthouse Tower
1200 N. Telegraph Rd.
Pontiac, MI 48341
(248) 858-0345
http://www.oakgov.com/circuit/about/
The Michigan Judicial Institute has published a Handbook of Legal Terms to explain any of the terms you may hear as you navigate your way through the judicial system. If you have a question about a specific legal matter, you should consult with an attorney.
Contact Paul J. Tafelski Today
Contact Paul J. Tafelski, Michigan criminal defense attorney, right away to protect your rights if you have been charged with an alcohol-related crime. Call 313-915-5532, or for the fastest response at night and on weekends, please e-mail Mr. Tafelski. He checks his Blackberry frequently and will respond as soon as he sees your message.
Our Michigan criminal defense lawyers assist clients charged with alcohol-related traffic offenses in Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Troy, Plymouth, Canton and surrounding communities in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties.
