Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
On May 3rd of this year, 54-year-old Raymond Caggianelli of Waterford was involved in a one-car accident in Malta, New York. Saratoga State Police responded to the accident which occurred at the Round Lake Bypass and Curry Road at just after 10 p.m.
During the investigation of the accident it was suspected that Caggianelli was driving while intoxicated. Upon administering a breath test at the police station, it was found that Caggianelli’s BAC registered .25%, more than three times the legal limit of .08% in New York. Caggianelli was ticketed for DWI and aggravated DWI due to his high blood alcohol content.
In the state of New York, aggravated DWI is a misdemeanor offense which an individual may be charged with when operating a vehicle with a BAC of .18 or higher. Criminal penalties for a conviction include up to one year in jail, fines of up to $2,500, probation for up to 3 years, drivers license revocation for a minimum of one year, and more.
In Michigan, a BAC of .17 or higher is what is known as “Super Drunk” or high BAC offense. While it is a misdemeanor, the penalties are still harsh. If convicted of a super drunk DUI offense, the defendant will face penalties which include up to six months in jail, fines and court costs of up to $700, driver’s license suspension for 45 days followed by restricted driving privileges, possible community service, installation of an ignition interlock device, and more.
While the penalties are obviously severe, those who are convicted of a high BAC offense, or any drunk driving offense for that matter, face other life-changing consequences. Those who are found guilty or who plead guilty and do not fight the charges will have a permanent criminal record. This can impact employment opportunities, housing, and other aspects of the defendant’s life. In addition, a DUI conviction will result in points on your driving record, and could mean higher auto insurance premiums.
Drunk driving is a serious matter that requires the legal guidance and support of a skilled Michigan DUI defense lawyer. Even when a breath/blood test indicates your BAC is higher than the state’s legal limit of 0.08%, an experienced attorney will challenge those results along with any other evidence to protect your reputation and freedom. There are numerous effective defense strategies which may be used to defend those accused of drunk driving. Contact a reputable defense attorney to fight the charges.