Latest Michigan OWI Crackdown Targets "Professional" Drunk Drivers

September 14, 2012 (Press-News.org) In Michigan, drunk driving can carry harsh penalties. Various drunk driving offenses under state law include operating while intoxicated (driving with a blood alcohol content of .08 or above), high BAC or "superdrunk" OWI (driving with a BAC of .17 or above) and operating while visibly impaired (in which no chemical test is required, and arrest is solely at the discretion of the arresting officer if he or she feels you are unable to operate your vehicle).

While there are a variety of drunk driving charges, all of which include stiff penalties, many motorists think that an OWI will never happen to them. In fact, in a series of recent focus groups conducted by the state, a number of young drivers even referred to themselves as "professional" drunk drivers with strategies they use regularly to avoid police contact. But, no one is immune from an OWI arrest, and in the latest Michigan drunk driving crackdown, specially trained officers are actively looking for "professional" drunk drivers who attempt to outsmart police protocols.

Focus Groups Helped Shape Training for Officers Enforcing Drunk Driving Laws

In the spring of 2012, the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning interviewed young men in groups to find out more about drunk driving trends. Based on the latest figures, men represent more than 80 percent of drunk drivers in fatal alcohol-related crashes, and of these, more than 40 percent are in the 21 to 34 age range.

Officials were surprised when these focus groups revealed a subset of young men who called themselves "professional" drunk drivers; that is, they considered themselves better drivers when drunk, and had special strategies that they used to outsmart the police and avoid arrest. Intrigued, the Office of Highway Safety Planning investigated further. The agency compiled a list of the tactics used by the "professional" drunk drivers (in press releases, the state offered "taking side streets" and "not wearing a hat" as examples of common strategies used to evade the attention of police officers).

Armed with this data, Michigan law enforcement agencies began training officers on how to recognize signals indicating a "professional" drunk driver behind the wheel. With the new training under their belts, and a federal grant to fund additional officers on the road, an unprecedented drunk driving crackdown across 26 Michigan counties began in mid August and continued through early September.

OWI Arrest? Talk to a Michigan Drunk Driving Defense Attorney

If you were among those arrested in the recent OWI crackdown, you need to take steps to protect yourself. With the help of an aggressive Michigan drunk driving defense lawyer, you may be able to plead to a lesser charge and avoid the worst consequences of an OWI. Talk to an attorney today to learn more about your options in the wake of a drunk driving arrest.

Article provided by Aggressive Criminal Defense Law Firm
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