On behalf of Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Friday, May 18, 2012
As I have mentioned before, it is often the behavior of a driver that leads police to suspect that he or she is intoxicated. This behavior can include speeding or weaving on the road and can lead an officer to make a traffic stop. When the driver is suspected to have been drinking, an arrest on DWI charges can result.
Recently, a Michigan police officer noticed that a driver was traveling on the road with one of her front tires missing. The officer says the driver was weaving slightly, but that she did not appear to notice the missing tire. The observation led the officer to decide to make a traffic stop to determine why the woman was driving with her car in that condition.
On behalf of Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Thursday, May 10, 2012
Facing drunk driving charges can be a stressful experience. For many people, a DUI is their first run-in with the law. And if an accident was involved, the situation can be much more frightening.
Michigan DUI charges were filed against a Cadillac driver who apparently caused an accident after colliding with a semi-tractor trailer on April 25. The early morning collision occurred on I-94 near Parma. Police say that the tractor-trailer was in the right, westbound lane near West Michigan Avenue when the Cadillac, which may have been speeding, tried to pass the semi. According to reports, the Cadillac cut back into the right lane, but struck the front of the truck, catapulting the car into the guardrails.
On behalf of Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Friday, May 4, 2012
Drunk driving charges should not be taken lightly, no matter who is facing them. As I have mentioned before, facing a DUI can result in heavy penalties if a driver is convicted. However, there are many hurdles that must be overcome before any conviction can take place.
Recently Central Michigan University sports fans learned that DUI charges are being waged against one of the school's basketball players. Police report that on April 21, a senior basketball guard was arrested and charged with driving a vehicle while intoxicated.
By Stacey M Washington posted in Parenting on Thursday, May 3, 2012
When I first saw her, I was struck by how she looked exactly like my beloved grandfather.
When she was a toddler, she would stand on the coffee table and dance - with or without music. Eventually, the table broke and we didn't replace it for about 5 years - more room for her to dance.
On behalf of Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Friday, April 27, 2012
As many in Michigan know, being charged with drunk driving can be a stressful event. The DUI charges can lead to heavy fines and sometimes even jail time if a conviction is obtained. Facing such penalties is something no one hopes to go through.
Although we tend to think otherwise, celebrities are not immune to DUI charges. Pleading no contest to charges of drunk driving, former Miss USA Rima Fakih appeared recently in a Michigan court. By pleading no contest, she did not technically admit guilt, though the court treats the plea as an admission of guilt for sentencing purposes. The court accepted her plea, and she is expected to appear for sentencing on May 9.
On behalf of Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Thursday, April 19, 2012
A Michigan man from Marion faces a multitude of criminal charges, including DUI, after he allegedly led police on a chase recently. The man was initially reported driving the wrong way on a road in Montcalm County. Police, who were apparently alerted to a possible DUI, said they located the man driving erratically, prompting them to initiate a traffic stop.
However, the man drove away and reportedly reached speeds of 85 miles per hour while leading police on a chase through Montcalm County. After a brief stop on the lawn of Baldwin Heights Elementary School, the man allegedly backed up and struck a police vehicle. Police say they detained the man after he hit a tree near school grounds.
On behalf of Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Friday, April 13, 2012
DUI charges are very serious, whether it is a first offense or the third. But as many of my readers in Michigan know, being charged with multiple DUI offenses can lead to increased penalties. The potential penalties often include substantial fines or even jail time when a conviction is obtained.
Police report that a woman was arrested recently on DUI charges for the third time. She was said to have crashed her vehicle into a bank of trees while driving away from officers who were attempting a traffic stop. Her 2-year-old daughter was in the car at the time of the accident.
On behalf of Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Thursday, April 5, 2012
Police reports say that a Michigan woman was drunk when she struck a county sheriff's patrol car as she traveled on local roads in Commerce Township. Failing to remain at the scene of the impact, the driver was said to have been located on Commerce Street a short time later. The driver, an 18-year-old woman, was arrested and released on bond after being charged with DUI and leaving the scene of an accident.
The patrol car was apparently stopped on the side of the road while the officer was assisting assisted a driver that had just been involved in a hit-and-run collision. The accident occurred after midnight, when the young woman was said to have collided with the right front portion of the police vehicle even though the overhead lights of the cruiser were flashing. Fortunately, the patrolman was not in the car at the time of the collision, though the car was apparently rendered inoperable as a result of the crash.
On behalf of Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Michigan authorities take drunk driving very seriously. Police patrols know how to spot any possible signs that a driver may be operating a vehicle while impaired. Similarly, DUI and other potential charges can result if an accident happens on Michigan roads and police suspect it is attributable to drinking and driving. Sometimes drivers involved in an accident are charged with a DUI, even if they thought that they had not consumed enough to be in violation of state laws.
Michigan police are currently investigating the cause of an accident that occurred on March 11. Reports state that a car was heading southbound on Ridge Highway near Welch Road during the early evening hours. Unexpectedly, the driver crossed the center line as he drove and struck an oncoming car. The accident resulted in injuries to both the driver and passenger in the car that was hit.
On behalf of Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Friday, March 23, 2012
Last week I posted about the Michigan "super drunk" law that defines a higher level of drunkenness as a blood alcohol level of 0.17 percent. Under the drunk driving laws in our state, a blood alcohol level of 0.17 percent or greater can face harsher penalties than those whose BAC is under that threshold.
Many times it is the driving behavior of a person that attracts police attention. Speeding or weaving in and out of lanes can cause an officer to make a traffic stop. At the time of the stop, an officer can request a field sobriety test if he or she feels that there is a suspicion of drunk driving.
