Michigan’s drunk driving laws are among the country’s toughest.

These are some of the penalties you face when convicted of Michigan second offense DUI:

• A mandatory minimum of five (5) days in jail with a maximum of one (1) year in jail. Many judges will exceed the five-day minimum depending upon the circumstances, such as the recency of the prior offense and the blood alcohol content (BAC). 
• A minimum of 30 days and up to 90 days of community service.
• Maximum fine of $1,000.00.

If the second offense conviction is within seven (7) years of a prior conviction, the offender’s license will be revoked for a minimum of one (1) year. This means that driving privileges will not return automatically. Instead, you must prove that you will be a safe driver through a license restoration hearing with the Secretary of State (SOS).

Michigan second offense DUI convictions rely heavily on various types of evidence, including:

1. Standardized Field Sobriety Testing
   The Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus, Walk-and-Turn, and One Leg Stand are standard.
2. Chemical Bodily Alcohol Testing
   This includes the Preliminary Breath Test, Datamaster and Blood Test.
   
   
3. Police Dashcam and Bodycam Footage
   The police dashcam reveals why the police officer decided to pull you over, while the bodycam footage will show angles of the field sobriety tests, breath test result, and arrest.
   
   
4. The Police Report
   Did the officer observe erratic driving? Did they observe slurred speech or alcohol smell on your breath? These are just some of the observations that are noted in the initial police report.
   
5. Prior Offense Recency
   How soon after your first offense OWI were you arrested for your second offense? Was it months or years? Was it in the same city? 

All of the evidence listed above can help negotiate plea deals or provide winning evidence at trial.

But you must hire an aggressive lawyer since trials are more common for second offense DUI cases.

Prosecutors almost always go for the maximum allowable sentence for DUI cases.

They expect to win.

There’s very few reasons to negotiate with a defense attorney.

However, the threat of a jury trial handled by a defense attorney with significant experience trying and winning DUI jury trials will drive them to negotiate.

While very few defense lawyers have tried more than five DUI cases to a jury, Barton Morris has tried more than 30 DUI cases in his career. 

Our firm has executed multiple defense strategies that many firms are unaware of or are unqualified to try.

This guarantees the best outcome possible for second offense DUI clients that you’re unlikely to get from other firms.

Example of some of our strategies include:

1. Challenging the Traffic Stop

The police must have a valid reason, or “probable cause” for pulling you over before arresting you for OWI.

A thorough review of the dashcam footage may show that the traffic light was yellow, a turn signal was used, or “swerving” was minor and within your own lane.

This would reveal that there was no probable cause for the traffic stop. 

2. Determining If There Was a Probable Cause for Arrest

The Fourth Amendment of the Constitution holds that unreasonable search and seizure is unconstitutional.

Therefore, the police need probable cause to arrest you for 2nd offense OWI.

If the Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and Preliminary Breath Test were administered incorrectly or by the wrong person, then there’s no probable cause for an arrest.  

3. The Rising Alcohol Defense

This defense explains that a person having a BAC over .08 at the time of the arrest may not have been over the legal limit when the vehicle was operated.

To use this defense, a lawyer must have an extensive background in understanding and evaluating scientific evidence. 

4. Evaluating Your Medical Conditions

Acid Reflux and Diabetes are just some of the medical conditions that can cause an inaccurate breath test result.

However, this can’t be successfully used as a defense if you hire a lawyer with no scientific background. 

5. Determining If You Were Involuntarily Intoxicated

While this is a difficult defense to execute, it’s a strong one that we’ve used successfully in cases.

If someone’s drink was spiked with alcohol or drugs unknowingly, or if they took the wrong medication, then they shouldn’t face the penalties of a second offense DUI conviction.

6. Substance Abuse

Millions of Americans are victims of substance abuse.

In this case, our attorneys will fight to have you sentenced to sobriety court rather than face massive fines and jail time.

Sobriety Court is designed for recovery and to reduce the chance of repeat Drunk Driving offenses.

If Sobriety Court isn’t an option, then you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by going to trial.