Is a DUI considered a felony or a misdemeanor in Michigan?

DUI in Michigan is considered a misdemeanor for the first offense, as long as no accident or injuries were involved. However, Michigan has tough penalties even for a first conviction on DUI charges. In addition, a misdemeanor is a criminal conviction that stays on an offender’s record for life.

There are three levels of drunk driving charges in Michigan with slightly different penalties:

• OWI (Operating While Impaired)

• UBAL (Driving With an Unlawful Bodily Alcohol Level)

• OWVI (Operating While Visibly Impaired)

While the penalties for these offenses may vary slightly and may also be affected by the conditions of the arrest, they generally include:

• A jail term of up to 93 days

• Fines of up to $1,000

• Up to 360 days of community service

• License suspension of between 90 days and 2 years

• In some cases, DUI school

Because these penalties are so high, even for a first offense, it can be important to obtain competent legal help. A DUI attorney knows the intricacies of Michigan laws and can help defendants defend against these charges if they were unlawful or did not follow correct procedure. In addition, if there is evidence that they are false, they may be able to have them dismissed altogether. It can be well worthwhile to consult a DUI attorney to protect your record and avoid these penalties if at all possible.