How many people do you think drink and drive every week in Michigan? According to Michigan police, approximately 150 people received DUI charges each week during a three-week crackdown, totaling 451 DUIs.
The effort ended on April 7 and is the second time police have campaigned against drunk driving; A similar crackdown in 2013 yielded 510 DUI arrests. The Office of Highway Safety Planning coordinated the measure with federal grants to temporarily increase police presence.
Those numbers may seem high until you look at the national statistics. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, approximately 1.2 million drivers face DUI charges each year in the United States.
More than 18 percent of the arrests in Michigan fell under the state’s “Super Drunk Law,” which applies to drivers who have a blood alcohol content approximately 0.17 percent.
If you’re facing a drunk-driving charge in Lansing, you’ll need an experienced DUI lawyer on your side to protect your rights in court. At The Law Offices of Stuart R. Shafer, P.C., we have 40 years of experience helping our clients work through their charges.
We can help, whether this is your first arrest or you’re facing felony DUI charges. To arrange a consultation with a Lansing DUI attorney from our office, please call 517-487-6603.
Michigan Plans to Expand Initiative Program for Drunk-Driving Offenders
In Michigan, we’ve had an ignition interlock program for four years, but courts have been weary about expanding the program until seeing how successful it really is. The results of a recent study, which tracked the initiative over the past three years, shows that it helps to rehabilitate DUI offenders.
Now, WLNS News reports that the program will be expanding in the near future. The program is based on a reward system rather than on punishment. It used to be that DUI offenders just lost their licenses for a period of time corresponding with the severity of their offense.
Unfortunately, this system wreaked havoc on people’s lives, especially those who relied on their vehicle to hold a job. Taking their licenses actually caused many to repeat the offense later on after they’d lost their jobs.
The Ignition Interlock System Allows DUI Offenders to Keep Their Licenses
The new system motivates drunk drivers to embrace sobriety by allowing them access to their vehicle but forcing them to only drive while sober. The state installs a Breathalyzer into the offender’s car, which they have to blow into before driving.
If the system detects alcohol, it locks the ignition, keeping the person from driving. The machine also keeps a record of how many failed attempts each offender makes to drive, giving them a powerful incentive to stay sober.
At The Law Offices of Stuart R. Shafer, we are committed to helping our clients in any way possible. We often help them enter substance abuse programs in an effort to get them help and minimize their sentences through a possible plea deal.
To learn more about our services or to speak with a DUI attorney in Lansing about your charges, call us today at 517-487-6603.
