On behalf of Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Wednesday, February 22, 2012
As many Michigan residents know, when teenagers begin driving they are inexperienced and are often more likely to be involved in accidents than other drivers. This is because they have not yet developed the skills needed to handle dangerous situations on the road. These young people are also less likely to be able to handle controlling a vehicle after consuming even just a few drinks of alcohol, which can result in a DUI charge.
This week, Ann Arbor police charged a 19-year-old woman with operating while intoxicated causing serious injury and operating while intoxicated. Reports indicate that the teen has been accused of failing to yield at an intersection in the early morning hours of Dec. 4. She struck a car on the driver's side, leaving that driver seriously injured. The teen told police that she was returning home from a party when the accident occurred, reports state.
On behalf of Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Thursday, February 16, 2012
As I have noted before on my blog, Michigan has a new "super drunk" law that applies to people who are charged with drunk driving charges and have a particularly high blood alcohol level. However, this legislation applies only to first-time DUI offenders. Those with multiple past arrests for suspicion of DUI cannot be charged under the "super drunk" statute, though if convicted they would face stiffer sentencing due to their past behavior.
Two Michigan men were separately arrested and charged with DUI on Feb. 6 and 7. Both men are accused of DUI and police records indicate that they each had blood alcohol levels in excess of 0.30. However, neither man has been convicted, and authorities will have to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law before any conviction can occur.
On behalf of Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Field Sobriety Tests on Saturday, February 11, 2012
It is sometimes hard for people to tell when they have had enough to drink to be over the legal limit. However, when they do, they run the risk of facing DUI allegations if they drink and drive. Sometimes it can take as little as a drink or two with dinner to expose a person to the 0.08 limit. Sometimes, however, police wrongly believe a person is intoxicated.
Police may administer field sobriety tests on a person that they stop for a reason other than drunk driving. During a routine traffic stop, if authorities suspect an individual may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, police may request that a driver submit to these tests and possibly also to a blood alcohol test. Failing a field sobriety can lead to an arrest for suspicion of DUI, as one state politician recently found out.
By Stacey M Washington posted in General Stuff on Thursday, February 9, 2012
I've been asked many times over the years when and why I decided to become an attorney. When I was a kid, I was what's called a latchkey kid. After school, I watched a lot of reruns on television. One of my favorite shows was Perry Mason.
At the end of every Perry Mason episode, Perry managed to deftly cross-examine and get a witness to confess on the witness stand. Poof! Perry's client always got off. Wow. The man and his team had skills.
On behalf of Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Thursday, February 2, 2012
Over the holidays, there were many advertisements for the statewide DUI enforcement program called "Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest." Michigan police increased their traffic patrols in an effort to track down and arrest those they suspected of driving while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
The increase in traffic stops by police resulted in more than 300 arrests for driving under the influence across the state. In addition to making those arrests, police made 7,300 traffic stops and issued more than 3,800 citations and warnings.
By Stacey M Washington posted in General Stuff on Thursday, February 2, 2012
As I write this blog, I have a copy of my latest book read on my desk - Choosing Civility by P.M. Forni, co-founder of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project. I was prompted to purchase the book after being more than a bit confounded as to why so many people were being so uncivil to me in recent months.
It's the nature of the practice of law to be involved in conflict. After nearly 25 years, I'm used to the free expression of different opinions and positions about cases. But, conflict does not have to be equivalent to contentiousness and uncivil behavior. Uncivil behavior from others has a way of shocking my system and ruining my good mood (if I let it).
On behalf of Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Thursday, January 26, 2012
Many people in Ann Arbor enjoy going over to a friend's house for dinner or meeting friends at a local restaurant. Sometimes, people enjoy a drink or two as they gather together. Unfortunately, sometimes people get behind the wheel after drinking. Even if a person thinks they are able to drive, that decision can end with an arrest for DUI.
The former Miss Michigan and Miss USA, Rima Fakih, was arrested in December after leaving a gathering of friends at a Detroit establishment. Fakih stated that she was concerned that some of her friends were under the influence of alcohol and that she made the decision to be the driver as they left the establishment. Police reports suggest that she was stopped for speeding, and an open bottle of champagne was found in her car. She was charged with DUI.
By Stacey M Washington posted in Art on Monday, January 23, 2012
This past Saturday, a friend and I saw the Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts. All I can say is "Wow!"
Despite the sold out crowd, I enjoyed the exhibit immensely. Rembrandt, apparently, decided to portray Jesus as Jewish and ethnic rather than the fair skinned, European rock star we often see.
On behalf of Stacey M. Washington, Attorney and Counselor posted in Drunk Driving Charges on Saturday, January 21, 2012
As I have mentioned before, being convicted of a drunk driving charge can lead to life-altering consequences such as a suspended license, hefty fines or even jail time. When someone is faced with a traffic stop, it is important that the driver knows his or her rights, especially in the case of a suspected DWI stop.
A recent news story detailed a situation where an Ann Arbor driver was trying to do the right thing but ended up facing drunk driving charges anyway.
By Stacey M Washington posted in Movies on Sunday, January 15, 2012
Last night, had dinner and a movie to celebrate a friend's birthday. Nice meal at the Smokehouse. The movie was Roman Polanski's "Carnage."
Interesting premise to the movie - two sets of parents meet to discuss how one son pretty much knocked the teeth out of the other son's mouth in a playground dispute. The parents begin with a very civilized discussion that slowly degrades into what feels like a competition as to which couple can cause the most damage - carnage - to the other.
