Operating While Visibly Impaired in Michigan
OWVI Lawyers Serving Michigan & All of Michigan
Unlike Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) charges an Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI) charge does not require you to have a high BAC (blood alcohol content) in your system. To be charged with an OWVI the officer only has to believe your driving was influenced by the consumption of alcoholic substances, controlled substances or a combination of alcoholic liquor and a controlled substance.
While these charges will not result in as serious punishment as an OWI, an OWVI charge should still be taken seriously and you must obtain legal counsel to assist you in your case. Being charged with drunk driving can be overwhelming because the consequences of a conviction could impact your everyday life including your job and your family. Our experienced Michigan drunk driving defense attorneys are ready to help you defend your OWVI case in East Lansing, Lansing, or Okemos.
Call (888) 211-5798 or contact Grewal Law PLLC online to schedule your no-obligation case consultation.
OWVI Charges
Unlike Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) charges where the prosecution will need to prove your Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) was above a certain level, an OWVI conviction does not require this evidence. A police officer just needs to believe that you are visibly impaired. In fact, your BAC does not have to be over the legal limit in order to receive these charges.
Our Grewal Law PLLC defense team is ready to help you face your OWVI charges. As your legal counsel, we will build the best defense possible to help you avoid a conviction.
Consequences for OWVI Convictions
If you are convicted for Operating While Visibly Intoxicated the consequences are not as severe as other drunk driving charges. Often times as your attorney we will be able to work out a plea bargain related to this offense. Compared to Operating While Intoxicated charges, the sanctions are not as severe if found guilty. Despite the reduced severity of the charges, it is still essential to have an attorney on your side to defend your case. While working with your case, we will examine all the evidence brought forth by the prosecution in order to craft a defense to avoid the punishments outlined below.
Anyone who is convicted of their first offense may face the following penalties:
- A fine up to $300.
- Up to 93 days in jail, 360 hours of community service or a combination of both jail time and community service.
- Restrictions on your driver’s license for up to 90 days. The length of time will increase to 180 days if impairment was caused by a controlled substance.
- Immobilization of your vehicle.
- 4 points added to your driving record with the Michigan Secretary of State
- Convictions may include Driver Responsibility Fees of up to $500 for two years, but these are being phased out by 2018.
A second or subsequent conviction has increased penalties including:
- A fine between $200 and $1,000.
- A jail sentence ranging from 5 to 365 days, 30 to 90 days of community service or a combination of both jail time and community service.
- Revocation of your driver’s license for up a year or more.
- Immobilization of your vehicle.
- 4 points added to your driving record with the Michigan Secretary of State
- Convictions may include Driver Responsibility Fees for two years, but these are being phased out by 2018.
Defending You Against a Potential OWVI Conviction
The Michigan DUI attorneys at Grewal Law PLLC are ready to defend your OWVI case. Do not wait to start building your defense, call us now to help you avoid the penalties a conviction will bring. As your drunk driving defense team, we will carefully examine the evidence in order to build a case against the prosecution.
We will fight to help you avoid fines, jail time and points on your license in Michigan, Okemos, Lansing, East Lansing, and across Michigan.
Call Grewal Law PLLC’s experienced drunk driving defense team for your no obligation quote at (888) 211-5798 today.
