Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
Michigan DUI defense lawyers are highly aware that some individuals have a real problem with alcohol, and are addicted to the point that they get out and drive on our nation’s roadways and interstates on a regular basis. This seems to be the case with a Tennessee man who has recently been arrested three times over the course of 11 days by three different agencies in Williamson County.
According to a news article at WKRN, 34-year-old Wayne Gearhart has been arrested for DUI on November 15, 23, and 25. He was first arrested by Brentwood police when they found him in a parking lot, passed out in his car with the engine running. He was stopped eight days later by Franklin police, and on Tuesday the 25 by a trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Each time, officers reported Gearhart smelled of alcohol, and was unsteady on his feet. According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, Gearhart has been charged with driving under the influence on at least one occasion prior to these three most recent incidents.
The news report indicates that Gearhart may still have his driver’s license, and that until he is convicted there is nothing that can be done to take it away. At last reports, Gearhart was incarcerated in the Williamson County Jail on a $5,000 bond. As a condition of his bond, he must wear an alcohol monitoring bracelet.
In Michigan, anyone who has been charged with DUI and convicted on three or more occasions faces extremely serious criminal penalties. A third DUI in the state is charged as a felony if the DUI occurs within ten years of the first two. Third-time offenders are prohibited from owning firearms, and will face up to one year in jail, along with fines of as much as $5,000. Six months of community service, probation, and vehicle immobilization are also possible. A third DUI conviction will also result in revocation of your driver’s license for a minimum of one year, possibly life. It is important to note that driving is a privilege, and not a right.
A third DUI conviction is a serious matter that could not only leave you facing serious criminal penalties and a permanent criminal record, but ruin of your reputation and career as well. A felony conviction may impact certain professional licenses, and your right to vote or serve on a jury. Ultimately, it is vital that you work with an experienced and aggressive Michigan DUI defense lawyer who will fight vigorously to protect your freedom and minimize the damage to your life.