Here in Michigan, an individual with a conviction for drunk driving on his or her record can expect to pay at least double the previous insurance rates. That could translate to no less than $100 more each month and thousands of dollars more each year. It could actually rise higher than that depending on an individual’s driving record prior to the DUI conviction and other factors that go into determining insurance rates.

In addition to all the other financial losses that come with a DUI charge and/or conviction, these types of increases could put a person’s financial future in serious jeopardy. These increased rates will stay in effect for a minimum of three years since the insurance company will now consider such a driver as “high risk.” There is no way around having this more expensive insurance either since the individual will most likely have to file a form with the state proving he or she has coverage, and not all insurance companies will do this for an insured.

Adding this repercussion to the list of consequences associated with a DUI could be the tipping point for anyone who may be on the fence regarding whether to challenge the charges. Instead of simply pleading guilty or no contest, it may be better to find another alternative that could potentially lead to a better outcome. In order to explore all the potential options, an individual in this position usually benefits by consulting with an attorney as soon as possible.

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The FMCSA no longer uses the Compliance, Safety and Accountability Points system for violations. Now, it uses the Safety Measurement System, which breaks down violations into seven Behavior Analysis and Safety Improvement Categories. Certain violations are broken down within these categories and the fleet is assigned points for every violation. A company with enough points can expect the FMCSA to intervene in its operations.

What does this mean for drivers? Well, not only do traffic violations count against their CDLs, but their employers may also take notice if a particular driver is causing them to earn points under the SMS, which could put their livelihood in jeopardy. For instance, a driver caught using a cellphone behind the wheel earns the company a violation under the “unsafe driving” category in the BASIC, valued at 10 points. Speeding falls under several point values, depending on the miles per hour driven over the speed limit.

Michigan CDL holders probably would not want to find themselves in a position of causing their employers to earn points under the system and scrutiny by the FMCSA. For this reason alone, it would be a good idea to challenge any traffic violation, especially if it could fall under a higher point value. The stakes are high for commercial drivers who receive traffic tickets, and it would probably help to work with an attorney to either reduce or dismiss the violation in order to avoid any repercussions to their licenses or their employers.

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What does that mean for you if officers arrest you on suspicion of super drunk driving? The first thing to know is that it means the possible penalties are much harsher than for an ordinary DUI charge. Michigan’s super drunk driving law was passed back in 2010 in an attempt to keep people with a blood alcohol concentration of .17 or higher off the roadways.

What type of penalties could you face upon conviction? Alcohol treatment becomes mandatory, you will not be allowed to drive for a minimum of 45 days, and you will spend double the time in jail than for a “normal” DUI. You must install an ignition interlock device on your vehicle that prevents it from starting if you have even a minimal amount of alcohol in your system.

The impact of a Super DUI on your personal and professional lives requires consideration as well. The repercussions of such a conviction go far beyond any criminal penalties. For these and other reasons, it would be a good idea to enlist the aid of a knowledgeable attorney to help you fight the charges.

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What the ramifications are depend on several factors. The first is the severity of the traffic offense. Obviously, there is quite a difference between getting a ticket for driving a few miles over the speed limit and killing someone in a DUI-related accident. The first will not affect someone with a CDL as much as the latter.

Of course, too many speeding tickets could make a difference in what happens to a person’s CDL. Like every other state, Michigan has certain regulations regarding how many tickets an individual receives within a certain amount of time. When that limit is reached, a driver’s license may be suspended.

Either scenario would affect a truck driver’s ability to obtain gainful employment and/or insurance. A trucking company may not think twice about a driving record with only one or two traffic tickets within 10 years on it, but if a driver gets tickets more often and for more serious offenses, it may not hire that driver. Moreover, it may be challenging to obtain insurance for a commercial driver, and if he or she cannot be insured, getting a job just got even more difficult.

A CDL is a truck driver’s livelihood. Without it, he or she does not work. The above should make it clear to any truck drivers who receive traffic tickets here in Michigan that keeping them off their driving records is crucial. Working with an attorney experienced in helping truck drivers keep their licenses could prove invaluable in making that happen.

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Even so, here in Michigan, people do not have to wait in order to purchase firearms. Instead of a waiting period, the state requires everyone wanting to purchase a firearm to complete a safety questionnaire. In order to make your purchase, you will need to pass the test with a score of at least 70%. A passing score does not necessarily guarantee that you will be allowed to follow through with your purchase.

First, it may make sense that no one under the age of 18 can legally own a firearm. While there are plenty of responsible individuals under that age, this general rule is designed to provide a layer of protection for children and adults alike. As for adults, restrictions apply if you were convicted of a felony, committed to a facility due to a mental illness, or declared insane and a court order has not legally restored your sanity. Under these circumstances, you cannot own firearms.

Not all is lost, however. It may be possible to restore your right to bear arms. However, it requires going through a complex legal process. For this reason, you may want to consider working with an attorney experienced in navigating the guns laws that apply to the restoration of your rights in order to increase your chances of success.

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For instance, those who suffer from diabetes often have a significant amount of acetone on their breath due to their condition. When they participate in a roadside breath test, it can give a false reading that leads to an arrest. The same could happen to individuals suffering from heart disease or acid reflux.

While it may surprise people that a medical condition could cause a false positive on a breath test, it may not be quite as surprising to discover that certain foods can do the same thing. If an individual eats enough fermented foods, it could cause a false positive as well. Foods containing yeast may also increase the likelihood of an incorrect breath test result. For this reason, many courts will not even allow prosecutors to introduce the results of a roadside breath test into evidence.

Drivers who end up facing DUI charges due to roadside breath tests may not want to simply accept the consequences of a conviction. The results of those tests are unreliable and should not necessarily be taken at face value. In fact, if an individual has the chance, it would be a good idea not to participate in this particular test. Doing so does not constitute a crime in Michigan (but might result in a civil fine); however, refusing to participate in a chemical evidentiary test at the police station or jail would likely be a violation of the state’s implied consent law. Individuals cannot be arrested for refusing to participate in a roadside breath test, but that does not mean they will not face DUI charges based on other evidence.

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The primary distinction of reckless driving is the allegation that the driver accused of it willfully disregarded the safety of others by his or her actions. The driver knew or should have known that engaging in certain activities behind the wheel puts others in danger, but he or she ignored that fact. It is not necessary for an accident to have occurred in order to face this charge, but it would surely exacerbate the situation.

Most of the reasons why a truck driver would face such a charge are usually obvious. Extreme driving behaviors that put others in danger will often fall under this category. Common behaviors that could lead to a charge of reckless driving include driving 25 mph over the speed limit or more, attempting to pass when visibility is limited and eluding police.

Reckless driving is considered a misdemeanor here in Michigan. This means a conviction could include fines, jail time and more. However, these are not the only issues facing truck drivers accused of this offense. Their CDL may also be in jeopardy, which means their livelihood is in jeopardy as well. Challenging this and any other driving charge is paramount to try to limit the impact of any traffic-related issues that arise, and it would be wise to enlist assistance from a Michigan attorney experienced in helping truck drivers facing traffic violations, misdemeanor or felony charges associated with driving.

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Law enforcement officers rely on field sobriety tests because they often provide an easy way to establish probable cause for a DUI arrest. They help provide an easy avenue because even around one-third of sober people fail them. Yes, that is correct. Even people who have not had a drop of alcohol can fail these tests and end up under arrest.

This may surprise many people and make them think twice about participating. The problem is even though they may not want to take these tests, they may think they are legally obligated to do so. The good news is that is untrue. People who do not participate in these tests are not violating the law. However, police officers will often attempt to guilt, shame or intimidate people into doing so.

If an individual who is fairly certain he or she should not have failed field sobriety tests ends up under arrest, they have the right to challenge the results. These tests are highly subjective since they rely on the officer’s interpretation of the individual’s performance. The law may provide guidelines, but ultimately, each officer makes the final call. For this reason alone, people should respectfully and calmly decline to participate. They could still end up under arrest, but at least they did not help the officer further establish probable cause for the arrest.

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The answer is simple if you are under the age of 21 because you must wear a helmet. If you fail to do so, you can receive a ticket. However, the rules are not quite as clear if you are over the age of 21. The law does require you to wear a helmet, but does include some exceptions.

If you carry at least $20,000 in medical benefits for you as a first party in addition to the required motorcycle operator insurance, you do not have to wear a helmet as a driver or passenger. You also do not have to wear one if you pass a safety course approved by the state of Michigan. Finally, if you have had your motorcycle endorsement for a minimum of two years, you are not required to wear a helmet when you ride. If you intend to rely on any of these exceptions to the helmet law, you will want to make sure you carry the proof you need in case a police officer pulls you over.

Few would dispute the fact that wearing a motorcycle helmet increases safety for motorcycle riders. However, you may not want to wear one for whatever reason and you could end up with an expensive ticket if a police officer pulls you over and you cannot prove you meet an exception during the stop. Instead of simply paying the ticket, you may want to take the time to appear in court to clear up the matter since any negative information on your driving record could come back to haunt you at some point in the future.

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