If you are charged with a DUI in Howell MI, you need an experienced, award-winning Howell DUI attorney to help you obtain and challenge evidence that can help you in your case. I have been in practice for 20 years, and I have handled over a thousand drunk driving cases. I am an experienced Howell DUI attorney, and I know the science and the law that can help you fight a DUI charge in Howell.
A DUI in Howell Michigan will be handled in the 53rd District Court located in Howell, Michigan.
53rd District Court Contact Information and Address:
The 44th Circuit Court for Livingston County located in Howell, MI presides over the 53rd District Court. This means that the Livingston County Circuit Court holds superintending control over the 53rd District Court in Howell. The Livingston County Circuit Court also handles all felony criminal cases (including felony drunk driving charges after the preliminary examination) and any appeal from a decision or verdict of the 53rd District Court.
What my clients are saying about me:
If you are seeking a qualified Howell DUI Attorney or a drunk driving attorney in Howell, I want to provide you with enough information so that you can make an informed decision regarding your selection of a drunk driving lawyer. A DUI in Howell Michigan cannot be expunged, and it remains on your record for life. A second DUI within seven years counts as an OWI 2nd and results in a lifetime driver's license revocation, and a third drunk driving conviction any time in a lifetime counts as an OWI 3rd felony DUI in Michigan.
If you plead guilty to drunk driving in Howell or if you are found guilty of a DUI in Howell, you face the following penalties:
If you take your case to a bench or jury trial and lose, you have an appeal of right to the Livingston County Circuit Court, but if you take a plea, any appeal is discretionary and granted only by leave of the 44th Circuit Court.
If you take your case to a bench or jury trial and lose, you have an appeal of right to the Livingston County Circuit Court, but if you take a plea, any appeal is discretionary and granted only by leave of the 44th Circuit Court.
If you take your case to a bench or jury trial and lose, you have an appeal of right to the Livingston County Circuit Court, but if you take a plea, any appeal is discretionary and granted only by leave of the 44th Circuit Court.
The Howell drunk driving conviction will count as a felony in Canada, even though Howell will abstract a conviction as a misdemeanor. US citizens who intend to travel to Canada may be denied entry following a DUI conviction in Howell, Michigan.
A second offense for either OWI or OWVI within seven years of a prior OWI or OWVI results in tougher penalties, greater likelihood of jail, and a lifetime revocation of a person's driver's license. In many courts, depending upon the circumstances, a jail sentence of a few weeks to six months is imposed on an OWI 2nd offense, with the maximum penalty being a full year in the Livingston County jail.
A third offense for any combination of OWI and OWVI charges any time in a lifetime is a felony OWI 3rd offense, which carries mandatory jail and a possible prison term of up to 5 years. The Michigan Court of Appeals has held that courts must impose a jail sentence of at least 30 days for a third offense drunk driving conviction, so you will spend at least 30 days in jail in the Livingston County jail if you accept a plea or are convicted of an OWI 3rd offense.
Howell drunk driving charges are serious, but an experienced criminal defense attorney in Howell can help. William Maze has challenged several Howell DUI charges and successfully defended many Howell DUI cases and drunk driving prosecutions by challenging the officer's reasonable suspicion for the traffic stop, the administration of standardized field sobriety tests, and the admissibility and relevance of the Datamaster or blood test. Mr. Maze has a solid reputation as an aggressive Howell DUI attorney and he has a reputation for fighting cases through motions and taking cases to jury trial.
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IMPORTANT: If you were arrested by the police but released the next morning from jail without a court date, you need to obtain videos from the police within 30 days before these materials are legally destroyed. This is why it is so important to hire an experienced Howell DUI attorney. In the case of an OWI blood draw, you may be required to submit paperwork to the Secretary of State within 14 days to save your license if you were charged with a refusal of a chemical test by Howell police officers. Refusal paperwork and the request for hearing does NOT go to the 53rd District Court or to Livingston County Circuit Court! YOU MUST REQUEST A HEARING WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE WITHIN 14 DAYS by submitting the 625g permit's Request for Hearing to the Secretary of State or else your license will be automatically suspended.
OWI 2nd and OWI 3rd charges in Howell may take months to file, but you must act now to protect your rights. Super drunk and child endangerment charges arising out of Howell will likely be handled by the Livingston County prosecutors office who may also take several weeks to authorize a warrant. During this time, critical evidence can be legally destroyed or recycled unless you act fast! Finally, drugged driving charges in Howell Michigan sometimes take a year before charges are filed because of a backlog of blood tests at the Michigan State Police Toxicology Unit. You cannot afford to wait until charges are authorized, so call us immediately to discuss your case.