What is the Super Drunk Law?
Perhaps one of the biggest problems in the United States is driving under the influence of alcohol. In terms of damages, the yearly cost of crashes reaches up to $44 billion. Additionally, about 29 people die every day in the US due to motor vehicle accidents caused by people driving under the influence.
From these data alone, it is apparent that driving under the influence severely impacts the community. That is one of the reasons why even at the local level, states try to curb these issues by educating their people. They also let people understand the gravity of their actions. Finally, they inflict necessary punishment to dissuade individuals from attempting to drive under the influence.
Michigan’s Position on Driving Under the Influence
The state of Michigan has been rigid in its position against driving under the influence. Throughout the years, it has enacted several policies that directly and indirectly try to discourage the behavior of driving under the influence. One of the most effective ways by which Michigan responds to this issue is legislation. It has produced results when it comes to lessening the number of casualties caused by driving under the influence through the years.
In fact, the fatalities attributed to drunk driving has decreased by 2.3% from 2012 to 2013. That’s an amazing feat considering that the national average doesn’t seem to be getting any better even today. The state has many existing laws that seek to combat drunk driving. One of the most compelling pieces of legislation brought out by the state of Michigan came in the form of Super Drunk Law.
What is The Michigan Super Drunk Law?
Michigan’s Super Drunk Law basically states that individuals without prior DUI offenses in the last seven years can still face severe consequences. That is if their blood alcohol concentration level reaches a certain percentage. Previously, laws were more lenient in responding to individuals driving under the influence if the accused has had a clean record for seven years. However, such laws do not necessarily penalize the ones driving under the influence enough, even if the damages they caused were severe.
Michigan figured that it’s not just about the number of times one has committed the act. What the end result of your actions and how severely drunk you were also contribute to the type of penalties you will receive. The Super Drunk Law states that even individuals without prior DUI offense will receive extensive punishment if their blood alcohol concentration level reaches 0.17%. Note that the legal limit is 0.08%. That means that the person has more than twice the allowable blood alcohol concentration level in their body. Thus, they become a hazard on any road.
What are the Penalties Under Michigan’s Super Drunk Law?
When convicted with a Super DUI in Michigan, the penalties you can face even on the first offense will be double the amount compared to those having BAC levels below 0.17%. Here are some of the criminal penalties you may face upon conviction under Michigan’s Super Drunk Law:
- Jail Time & Community Service
You can face up to 180 days of jail time when you are found guilty of driving under the influence with a 0.17% BAC level or more. Additionally, you may need to do as much as 360 hours of community service.
- Driver’s License Suspension
Your driver’s license can get suspended for 45 days, and you can have restricted driving privileges for 320 days after the license suspension period.
- Monetary Expenses
You can pay fines worth anywhere from $200 to $700. For court costs, it can range between $500 and $1000. Your accidental cleanup will cost you $300 to $600, and you need to pay a driver responsibility fee of $1000 for two years.
- Driver’s License Record
You will lose six points on your driver’s license record.
Apart from these penalties, you may also need to install an ignition interlock device for 320 days and attend mandatory sessions in alcohol treatment programs. These are the possible penalties on your first offense. If you were found to be driving under the influence for the second time within seven years with a BAC level of 0.17%, the consequences and penalties would be even more severe.
Get a Dependable Super Drunk Lawyer Now
When faced with a Super Drunk case, it is crucial that you come with an experienced Lansing DUI lawyer to make sure that you’re well-defended. As much as possible, a great Michigan Super Drunk lawyer can try to minimize the penalties you will receive for your actions. You just need to find a firm with enough experience in doing so— like The Clark Law Office.
We’ve been operating for years, and we can help you deal with a Super Drunk DUI case if you or a loved one ever get involved in one. To know more about our services, call us now!