Grand Rapids DUI Attorneys

Over 50 Years of OWI Defense Experience Fighting for West Michigan Clients

An OWI arrest in Michigan starts a process that moves quickly. Evidence is collected, hearings are scheduled, and the window to challenge the state’s case narrows the longer you wait. A charge isn’t a conviction, but the strategies available to you depend heavily on how soon you get an attorney involved.

At Tanis Schultz, our Grand Rapids OWI lawyers have helped thousands of individuals fight DUI and OWI charges across West Michigan. When you hire our firm, you get the insight of the entire attorney team, not a single lawyer working in isolation. We bring over 50 years of combined experience to every case, and we’re available for same-day appointments and after-hours consultations when you need to move fast.

Arrested for drunk driving? Contact us at (616) 227-3737 to arrange a free case evaluation with a Grand Rapids DUI lawyer.

Our Guarantee: If your license is not restored, your next hearing is free. 

Michigan OWI Charges: What You’re Facing Under MCL 257.625

Michigan uses the term OWI (Operating While Intoxicated) rather than DUI, though both appear in everyday use. Under Michigan Vehicle Code MCL 257.625, prosecutors can charge several distinct offenses depending on BAC level, the substance involved, and the driver’s age.

Michigan law has established the following as illegal in regard to impaired driving:

• Driving while intoxicated from alcohol or any other controlled or intoxicating substance
• Driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 percent or more
• Driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .17 percent or higher will result in a High BAC offense
• Driving with any quantity of cocaine or a Schedule 1 drug

Driving can be impaired by over-the-counter drugs, prescription drugs, and street drugs. For those under 21, it is illegal to drive with a BAC of .02 percent or more.

You can be charged with the following offenses:

• Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI): ability to drive is visibly impaired by alcohol, drugs, or a combination, regardless of BAC
• Operating While Intoxicated (OWI): BAC of 0.08% or higher, or impaired ability to operate a vehicle regardless of BAC
• Operating with a BAC of .17% or higher (“High BAC”): triggers enhanced penalties including up to 180 days in jail and mandatory ignition interlock device installation
• Operating with Any Presence of a Controlled Substance (OWPD): any detectable amount of cocaine or a Schedule 1 drug; no impairment required to be proven

Penalties by Offense Level

Penalties scale with the offense level and prior record. A first-offense OWI carries up to 93 days in jail, fines of $100 to $500, a 30-day license suspension followed by 150 days of restricted driving, and six points on your record. A second offense within seven years means a minimum one-year license revocation, mandatory ignition interlock, and possible jail time up to one year. A third offense is a felony carrying one to five years in prison, fines up to $5,000, and possible vehicle forfeiture. Penalties can increase further if a minor was in the vehicle or an injury resulted.

A conviction can also mean community service, probation, mandatory drunk driving education, and a license reinstatement process that requires a formal restoration hearing.

What to Do Immediately After an OWI Arrest in Grand Rapids

The steps you take in the hours after an arrest have a direct effect on your defense. Here are the actions that carry legal weight:

• Remain Calm: Stay cooperative during the arrest. Don’t argue with officers or resist in any way.
• Exercise Your Right to Remain Silent: Invoke your right to silence immediately. Don’t discuss the stop, your whereabouts, or any alcohol or drug consumption without an attorney present.
• Request an Attorney: Ask for a DUI defense attorney as soon as possible. Early retention directly affects what defense options remain available.
• Understand Implied Consent: Michigan’s implied consent law means refusing a breathalyzer or blood test results in an automatic license suspension that is separate from any OWI charge.
• Document Everything: Write down everything you remember as soon as you can: the reason for the stop, officer statements, field sobriety test instructions, location, and any witnesses present.
• Attend All Court Dates: Every scheduled hearing in the 61st District Court (or 17th Circuit Court for felony charges) must be kept. Failure to appear can generate an additional arrest warrant.
• Stay Off Social Media: Don’t post anything about the arrest or the events surrounding it. Prosecutors and investigators may review these accounts.

Consequences of an OWI Conviction Beyond the Courtroom

The damage extends well beyond fines and jail time. An OWI conviction creates a criminal record that surfaces in employment background checks, and certain professional licenses in Michigan can be suspended or revoked following a conviction. Auto insurance premiums typically rise sharply, and some carriers cancel policies entirely. Travel to Canada can be affected as well: Canadian border authorities routinely deny entry to individuals with DUI-equivalent convictions on their record. An OWI conviction stays on your Michigan driving record permanently, but the seven-year lookback period means a second offense within that window is treated significantly more harshly.

• License restoration
• Heavy fines and court costs
• Possible jail time
• Increased insurance premiums
• OWI expungement
• Impact on professional licenses and employment eligibility
• Restrictions on international travel, including to Canada

Michigan law now allows expungement of a single first-offense OWI conviction under specific conditions. An attorney can evaluate whether your case qualifies and whether pursuing that option makes sense given your circumstances. Visit our OWI expungement page to learn more.

Contact our Grand Rapids DUI attorneys at (616) 227-3737 or schedule your free consultation online today.