For most drivers, the legal limit in Michigan is a blood concentration of 0.08%. But for drivers under the age of 21, any detectable amount of alcohol will result in both administrative penalties and criminal charges. For people who drive commercial vehicles, the legal limit is 0.04%. For these reasons, all Michigan drivers need to know the legal blood alcohol limit. Refusing to drive after drinking is the only sure way to avoid an OHI criminal complaint. However, if you are facing an OWI charge, do not make a plea without first consulting an experienced Lansing OWI lawyer. Professional drivers with a Commercial Driver`s License (CDL) have their own special blood alcohol limit of 0.04, regardless of the circumstances. To make matters even more complex, police have the discretion to arrest and charge a person with impaired driving, strictly based on visual observation of what they believe to be impaired driving, even if the suspect is below Michigan`s applicable blood alcohol limit. These additional blood alcohol limits and rules can be an unpleasant surprise for people with the possibility of life-changing consequences. Commercial driver`s licence holders are subject to stricter standards than other drivers. The legal blood alcohol limit when driving a commercial vehicle is 0.04%.
CDL owners should also be aware that an OWI conviction in a non-commercial vehicle could impact their commercial driving privileges. Most Michigan drivers can`t test at 0.08% blood alcohol or higher without being charged with OWI. For drivers under the age of 21, any detectable amount of alcohol will result in criminal charges and penalties. Commercial licence holders and vehicle operators must test below a legal blood alcohol limit of 0.04%. In Michigan, a driver is allowed to drive drunk as long as their blood alcohol level is below 0.08. Once a driver consumes enough alcohol to reach or exceed 0.08, they are considered above the legal limit and are vulnerable to arrest for impaired driving, also known as OWIs. In addition to losing a current job, an OWI conviction can also make it difficult for a person to find a new job. Most OWI-related crimes are reported during a pre-employment check during a criminal background check. Depending on the type of conviction, impaired driving offences can remain in a person`s record for years or even forever. Although federal law generally prevents employers from hiring a person solely on the basis of an OHI conviction, certain industries, such as transportation and health care, are generally exempt from this law. In addition, while it may be illegal for an employer to reject an application based on an OWI conviction, they may find another reason not to hire the person in question.
For this reason, it is important that all drivers understand what the legal limit is. Perhaps most importantly, drivers should remember to never drive with alcohol in their system – this is the only way to be sure to avoid criminal charges for drunkenness (OWI). According to Rick Albin, a report from Wood TV 8, legislation has been proposed that would be a major burden on Michigan`s drinking and driving law. Under the plan, Michigan would become one of the strictest states in the country by lowering the legal blood alcohol level from 0.08 to 0.05. A state official said the law would save lives and prevent drunk driving. According to this representative, the BAIID resembles an integrated breathalyzer test. For the vehicle to start, the driver must blow, which measures his blood alcohol level. If you have consumed enough alcohol to push your blood alcohol level above the legal limit, your car will not start. Plus, the device requires you to retest within a 15-minute window to make sure you didn`t just let a sober friend blow into the device before starting the car.
Drivers caught trying to crush the BAIID face even harsher penalties and longer licence suspensions. If you have questions about Michigan`s blood alcohol limit, call Shawn today at 616-438-6719! The call is free and all your questions and concerns will be answered clearly. Contrary to popular belief, a person can certainly be charged with impaired driving if their blood alcohol level is below 0.08. In addition, if they are very drunk with a blood alcohol level of 0.17 or higher, they may be subject to increased penalties under Michigan`s «Super Drunk» law. For drivers under the age of 21, the blood alcohol limit is significantly lower than 0.02, as minors are not legally allowed to possess or consume alcohol. After 45 days after a driver`s licence is suspended, offenders may be eligible for a limited licence, but only if an ignition lock is installed on the vehicle. In addition, offenders may be liable for a $1,000 driver`s liability fee paid to the Crown for up to two years to legally operate their vehicle. You can be charged with drunk driving in the state of Michigan if your behavior, appearance, and smell show poisoning to a law enforcement officer, or if a blood alcohol test indicates you were over the legal limit to drive. Many Michigan drivers don`t know what the legal limit is. If a driver is 21 years of age or older, the legal limit is less than 0.08 BAC.