Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
Michigan drivers license reinstatement attorneys know all too well the dangers of driving while under the influence of alcohol, and the serious penalties those convicted will face. Recently, a Saginaw woman allegedly drove through Bay County so intoxicated, she could not submit to a Breathalyzer test. A news article at Mlive.com said that Regina Slaughter-Barrera also had two small children in the vehicle with her at the time, who were 3 and 5 years old.
Slaughter-Barrera was pulled over by a Michigan State Police trooper on Monday July 22 after he witnessed a vehicle traveling at 71 mph on M-15 near Cass Avenue in Portsmouth Township. The trooper said the vehicle, a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix, braked hard before turning right without the use of a turn signal. Slaughter-Barrera did not stop immediately after the trooper put his emergency lights on, according to the news article.
The 39-year-old woman told the trooper she did not have a license; he observed her staggering and speaking in a slurred manner. Slaughter-Barrera was taken to McLaren Bay Region hospital for a blood test, because she was allegedly too inebriated to perform a satisfactory breath test or sobriety tests. In Michigan, it is illegal to operate a vehicle with a BAC of 0.08 or higher; Slaughter-Barrera’s blood alcohol level was 0.369, more than twice the 0.17 considered ‘super drunk’ in Michigan.
Ultimately, she was charged with OWI third offense, operating a motor vehicle while license suspended, denied or revoked, second offense, and two counts of OWI with an occupant younger than 16 – child endangerment, second offense.
When an individual is caught driving on a suspended or revoked license, the initial suspension period is typically doubled. Additionally, an individual who is found to be super drunk will face 45 days of license suspension and 320 days of restricted driving, whereas a traditional DUI carries a license suspension of 30 days with 150 days of restricted driving.
DUI offenses are the most common reason individuals have their drivers licenses suspended or revoked. Consult with an experienced Michigan drivers license restoration lawyer who will work aggressively to help have your driving privilege restored.