Michigan OWI
DUI lawyer in Michigan: 14 days to save your license
The license case moves first, and you have 14 days from the day you got the notice to ask for a hearing.
Answered day and night. A professional reviews your Michigan case for free and connects you with a Michigan OWI lawyer.
Arrested for OWI in Michigan? 14 days to ask for the hearing.
Counted from the day you got the notice. If that was today, the last day is Friday, October 23. Miss it and the suspension starts on its own (Secretary of State rule).
The two clocks: court and Secretary of State
Your Michigan OWI arrest opened a criminal case and a separate license case with the Secretary of State. If that time runs out, your license can be suspended before you ever see a judge.
Michigan calls the charge OWI. A failed breath test has no separate hearing; a refusal does, and its window is short. (Secretary of State rule)
A first offense in Michigan
| What | The rule |
|---|---|
| Fine | up to $500 (BAC below .17) |
| Jail | up to 93 days (BAC below .17) |
| License (court) | up to 180 days suspension and 6 points |
| High BAC | BAC .17 or higher: up to $700, up to 180 days, up to one year suspension, interlock after 45 days |
| Community service | up to 360 hours of community service |
The judge picks a number inside each range. So ask where cases like yours land in Michigan (Michigan penalty rules).
Second and later offenses
A prior raises the penalty in every state, and Michigan is no exception. Tell the lawyer about any earlier case on the first call. Second offense DUI rules lists the states with published ranges.
Add-on fines and the newest change
- If you refused the test: 1 year suspension for a first refusal; 2 years for a second within 7 years (refusal rule).
See how the interlock works and the DUI penalties table.
What a lawyer costs in Michigan
Lawyers in Michigan set their own fees. Ask what a quote covers: the court case, the Secretary of State hearing, a trial. DUI lawyer cost lists the questions to ask.
Check a lawyer's license
The lawyer who takes your case handles OWI cases in Michigan and holds an active Michigan license. Ask for the bar number on the call and it is yours to keep.
What to do now
Losing your license can mean losing your job, your rides and your routine. In Michigan, you have 14 days from the day you got the notice to fight for it. Call at any hour, and a lawyer for Michigan goes over your case tonight and asks for the police records.
Call about Michigan OWI (877) 317-9931
Answered day and night. A professional reviews your Michigan case for free and connects you with a Michigan OWI lawyer.
Send your case details
Send the date of your Michigan arrest and the date printed on your Secretary of State notice. Those two dates set your deadline, so the lawyer who calls you starts there.