March and April are the worst months in the state of Michigan for drunk driving accidents that involve extremely serious or fatal injuries. Some may attribute it to the excitement surrounding March madness, as well as other factors such as spring break and the trend to drink more on St. Patrick’s Day than any other day in the year. No matter what the cause, the statistical anomaly has been noted and 26 counties have stepped up their police forces to catch drunk drivers. While a typical drunk driving attorney in Ottawa County may or may not notice a busier period during these months, they have the skills and requisite expertise to assist those charged with a DUI with either having the case thrown out, or at least softening the charges or sentencing.
Probably the best step one can take if participating in a spring break road trip or going to watch competitive college basketball tournaments is to designate someone to stay sober and drive who is of age (obviously) and who has a valid driver’s license. Further education about the dangers of binge drinking might also be helpful to keep college age kids alive on the Highways of the Midwest as a preventative measure, stopping the terrible fatality before it happens. The simple fact is that if one refuses to drink and drive, one will never need to hire a drunk driving attorney in Ottawa County.
On the other side of the coin, of course, is the fact that although it is illegal in Michigan to drive with a BAC of .08 or higher, Michigan police can arrest anyone, regardless of their BAC level, if the officer believes the person is impaired. Increased enforcement programs may play into the reality of occasional bad arrests, and a seasoned drunk driving attorney in Ottawa County will fully pursue all avenues for throwing out charges if someone is arrested with a BAC level lower than the legal limit.
In 2012, 718 out of 2,488 arrests were made due to the driver’s having a BAC level of .17 or higher, which means that three quarters of the arrests made under the pretense of other factors. Those who have been arrested in Michigan for drunk driving often have recourse to lines of defense that are not obvious, which a lawyer can pursue, related not only to BAC levels, but to the legality and process of the administration of the breathalyzer test, as well as other components of the process by which drivers were stopped, questioned, tested or arrested.
