Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
On Monday evening June 1st, a 47-year-old Janesville woman was arrested for drunken driving; it was her 10th DUI offense, according to a news article at the Gazette Extra. According to a Janesville police news release, Tracy L. Hatcher refused a breath test, and was so intoxicated that field sobriety tests could not be administered by officers.
The arrest took place at approximately 6:30 p.m. when officers responded to a report of a woman lying outside her vehicle who was described as “belligerent” and “intoxicated.” Hatcher was transported to a medical facility due to the level of intoxication, where a blood sample was taken for alcohol testing. The release did not reveal her blood alcohol concentration, saying only that the results of the tests were pending. Hatcher’s license was revoked at the time, and she was cited for operating after license revocation.
Officers were initially dispatched to the 2500 block of Riverview Drive after a call was received reporting an “unwanted intoxicated subject.” In the interim, Hatcher left the location before officers received a second call and found her outside the vehicle in the 1800 block of S. River Road.
In the state of Michigan, a third or subsequent DUI is charged as a felony. The criminal penalties for a conviction are harsh, and include a mandatory minimum of 30 days in jail. In addition, the offender may be sentenced to between one and five years n prison, community service, vehicle immobilization, and have his/her license revoked for five years. Fines of as much as $5,000 are also possible. A criminal record is also the result of a DUI conviction, which could impact your employment, current career, and more.
If you have been arrested for driving under the influence it is important to work with an experienced Michigan DUI attorney regardless of whether it’s your first, third, or even fifth offense. Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a criminal offense, and not simply a traffic infraction. You could face life-changing consequences even for a first offense. Don’t take chances with your reputation, freedom, and future. Contact a skilled defense lawyer immediately.