Following up on the previous news about Davenport University president Randolph Flechsig who was arrested on Drunk Driving charges last month, and claimed to not be drunk, but to have been suffering from a diabetic episode. After his blood test results were revealed, Mr. Flechsig apologized for his handling of the incident, and having “jeapordized the trust” of the students at his school.

Tests showed his blood alcohol content at the time was .09%, above the legal limit of .08% set by Michigan OWI laws, and the standard nationally. His initial claim was that his blood test would establish that he was not impaired or over the limit at the time of his arrest.

He is expected to plead guilty in court today.

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If you are charged with a drunk driving OWI offense in Michigan, please contact our attorneys today for a case evaluation. We can help you defend your license, and protect your rights and freedom in court. The consultation is free.

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Ref: Mlive, WZZM

A prominent Michigan man pleaded not guilty to drunk driving in Cascade District Court Tuesday after being arrested Sunday night by East Grand Rapids, MI police on suspicion of OWI (operating while intoxicated).

Randolph Flechsig, the president of Davenport University, released a statement claiming that he was not intoxicated, but was having a diabetic reaction at the time, which caused him to drive and act erratically.  His statement suggested that blood test results taken will substantiate the claim that he was not under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Under Michigan’s OWI laws, Flechsig could face 93 days in jail and a $500 fine for a first offense OWI charge if he is found guilty.

He also refused a prelimary breath test at the scene of the stop, which is subject to a $100 fine. Most OWI defense experts recommend refusing the portable breath test (PBT) because the results are not scientifically accurate, and the penalty for refusing is minimal.

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If you are charged with drunk driving in Michigan, please contact us for a free case evaluaton. We’ll provide you with advice from an experienced Michigan OWI defense attorney, with no obligation.

Michigan newspapers are editorializing support for the proposed, so-called “Extreme Drunken Driving” bill, which would toughen penalties for those convicted of OWI / drunken driving in Michigan with high BAC levels (.15 BAC and above).

The bill has not been voted on on the Michigan state Senate, but it believed to have a support of the majority of legislators. The Governor is believed to be prepared to sign the bill into law, if passed. Delays have been based on some senators concerns about removing judicial discretion in sentencing, and details on the requirements for the alcohol treatment programs.

Among the proposed changes to the law are:

If a person is convicted of a first offense drunken driving charge in Michigan and registered a .15 BAC or higher on a breathalyzer (almost double the legal limit of .08 BAC), he or she will face:

• A 45 day driver’s license suspension
• Required entry into an alcohol abuse education and treatment program
• After the 45 day suspension, the offender will be eligible for a restricted driver’s license that would require an ignition interlock device be installed on his car for 1 year

If cases of a second offense Michigan drunken driving conviction, the “Extreme Drunken Driving” law changes would be in effect for any BAC over the legal limit of .08%.

If you are facing a drunken driving charge in Michigan, please contact us for a free legal case evaluation and consultation. Our Michigan OWI defense lawyers know how to help you fight the charges and protect your license and freedom to drive.

For your free OWI / drunken driving consultation, call us at (866) 382-8646.

This article suggests that there has been no movement in the Legislature in pushing forward the “Extreme Drunk Driving” bill. The bill would require ignition interlock devices on anyone convicted of a drunk driving OWI charge who registered a .15 BAC or almost twice the legal limit for alcohol consumption while driving. If passed, a person with a first offense OWI conviction and a high BAC would serve a 45 day license suspension, followed by a 1 year requirement for an ignition interlock device monitoring alcohol on the breath in a person’s car.

There is resistance both by Michigan’s Secretary of State who is concerned it might weaken OWI laws, presumably because it actually tries to change behavior rather than issue punishment.

In support of the bill are MADD and the Michigan Ignition Interlock Providers, who stand to make hundreds of thousands of dollars installing more devices, thanks to the legal mandate.

Michigan lawmakers are proposing an Extreme Drunk Driving laws package that, if passed, would result in:

• Required Ignition Alcohol Interlock Device for first offense OWI convictions with a BAC of .15% (nearly 2x the legal limit for impairment)
• Required alcohol abuse treatment programs
• 45 days license suspension, after which the interlock device must be in the person’s vehicle for 1 year

Passage seems likely, and legislative support is overwhelming despite resistance from the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association (MLBA). The MLBA questions the .15 BAC level, since nearly half of all Michigan OWI arrests are at that level, and is lobbying for more specificity in the contents of the requires alcohol education programs.

The bill is targeted at prevention, rather than punishment, which is a step in the right direction. More information on Michigan OWI Penalties.

In an article in the Detroit News, it is noted how Michigan has continuously ramped up OWI/DUI law punishment and enforcement, yet Michigan still has the 11th highest rate of drunk driving in the nation.

In the past, new laws have taken a punative approach, including:

• Reduction of the OWI BAC threshold from .10 to .08 BAC
• “Heidi’s Law”, which changed the lookback period for previous OWI convictions from 10 years to an unlimited lifetime lookback

New proposed legislation includes a “High BAC” provision, or “Extreme Drunk Driving”, where even a first offense OWI conviction with a BAC of .15% or above (nearly twice the legal limit of .08%) would result in a mandatory ignition interlock device in order to get your license back.

This is a measure that is supported by the victims rights lobbying group MADD, but is considered a reasonable approach by many lawmakers. Punishment for chronic alcohol abusers who drink and drive has largely failed. More treatment of alcohol addiction programs and prevention of drunk driving is more likely to result in safer roads for Michigan drivers.

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Please view out main site pages for additional information on Michigan’s OWI laws and penalties.