WHAT ARE THE COMMON PENALTIES FOR OWI/DUI IN GRAND RAPIDS?

by Van Den Heuvel Law Office

Have you been pulled over recently in Grand Rapids on suspicion of DUI/OWI? Perhaps you’ve already been arrested and charged for driving under the influence and now you’re wondering what’s going to happen. Being charged with a drunk driving offense can be scary. You probably have a lot of questions, including: “what are the penalties if I’m convicted?” You might also have some of these questions:

• Will I go to jail? If so, for how long?
• Am I going to lose my license?
• Do I have to use an ignition interlock device?
• How big a fine will I have to pay?
• Do I need to take a traffic safety course?

These are common questions people have when they are facing DUI charges. Drivers in this position also usually have many other questions, like: will I lose my job if I’m convicted and how long will this offense stay on my record? At the Van Den Heuvel Law Office we understand what you’re going through and we can help answer these questions.

OWI/DUI penalties are strict in the state of Michigan. If it’s your first offense then you could spend up to 93 days behind bars, pay a fine anywhere from $100 – $500 and have your license suspended for up to six months. If you are convicted a second or third time then the fines increase from $200 0 $1,000 and you will lose your license for a minimum of one year. You will also have to install an ignition interlock device in your vehicle when you regain your driving privileges. This is mandatory for a second or third offense, and is a possible penalty even for first-time offenders. Jail time for repeat offenders also goes up to 5 days to a year for a second offense, and from 30 days to a year for a third offense.

There are additional penalties that you could also receive if convicted of an OWI/DUI, including the following:

• The possibility of having your vehicle immobilized
• Community service time with a maximum of 360 hours
• Six points added to your driving record
• Driver responsibility fee for two consecutive years
• Driver license reinstatement fee

As you can see there are significant penalties that come with a DUI/OWI conviction in Grand Rapids, which is why it’s so important for you to seek the help of a qualified DUI defense attorney if you have been charged with an alcohol-related driving offense. We can help you get through this often-intimidating process and we’ll fight for the best outcome possible. Please contact the Van Den Heuvel Law Office as soon as possible at 616-698-0000, or click here.

Posted in DUI/OWI | No Comments »