Being arrested for drunk driving is potentially a life-changing event. If you have been arrested for a DUI in West Michigan, your first call should be to an experienced and seasoned drunk driving attorney. Attorney Jerry Lykins has over 27 years of combined experience as a former assistant prosecutor and defense attorney. Jerry has handled over 1600 DUI-OWI cases as a criminal defense attorney. Jerry has practiced in almost every court in West Michigan, including courts in Kent, Ottawa, Newaygo, Allegan, and Ionia County.
Jerry is known in the West Michigan area as one of the best-drunk driving defense attorneys. Jerry has been actively involved with one of the Sobriety Courts in Kent County for the past four years.
Jerry helps his clients with a three-pronged approach to representation
- Educate and prepare the client for each phase of the case. The present, near future, and life beyond their OWI case.
- Case manage the file and help the client navigate the Court Process.
- Review the evidence and negotiate a possible resolution or prepare the case for trial.
Jerry helps his clients set realistic expectations and uses his experience, knowledge of the law, and rock-solid relationships with prosecutors and judges to bring cases to a resolution or prepare for trial.
A DUI conviction can have a variety of punishments that can affect a person’s future. Hiring Jerry can prepare you and, in many cases, reduce those punishments.
Michigan punishes drunk driving convictions differently based upon a person’s Bodily Alcohol Content (BAC) and whether that person has prior drunk driving convictions. Below are some possible punishments permitted under the current Operating While Intoxicated statute, MCL 257.625.
OWI 1st OFFENSE
Court Sanctions: (Imposed by the Judge)
- Up to 93 days in the County Jail.
- Up to 45 days of community service (360 hours) Each day equals 8 hours.
- Up to a $500 fine + costs + probation fees + restitution/reimbursement to police.
- Supervised Probation up to 2 years.
License Sanctions: (Imposed by the Secretary of State out of Lansing)
- 6 points added to your driver’s license; note you have 12 points permitted.
- The Michigan Secretary of State will suspend your driving privileges for 180 days (6 months). The first 30 days are you are not permitted to drive at all. For the remaining 150 days, you are issued a restricted license to go to work and in the course of work, school, medical appointments, alcohol treatment, and other court-ordered related events.
IMPAIRED DRIVING OFFENSE
Court Sanctions: (Imposed by the Judge)
Same as above, except
- Up to a $300.00 fine + costs + probation fees + restitution/ reimbursement.
License Sanctions: (Imposed by the Secretary of State out of Lansing)
- 4 points added to your driver’s license, not you have 12 points permitted.
- The Michigan Secretary of State will suspend your driving privileges for 90 days (3 months). That suspension will include a restricted license to drive to work, school, medical appointments, alcohol treatment, and other court-ordered related events.
OWI HIGH BAC – SUPER DRUNK – .17% or Greater: (Effective October 31, 2010)
Court Sanctions: (Imposed by the Judge)
- Possible imprisonment up to 180 days in jail.
- $200 to $700 in fines, plus cost, plus reimbursement to police and prosecutor.
- Mandatory participation in an Alcohol Treatment or self-help program at own expense for one year.
License Sanctions: (Imposed by the Secretary of State out of Lansing)
6 points added to your driver’s license. Driver’s license suspension for 365 days; only after 45 days of absolute suspension, a restricted license may be approved if a Breath Alcohol Interlock Ignition Device (BAIID) is legally installed on the defendant’s vehicle. Note subsequent violations while using a BAIID can cause additional suspensions!
OWI 2nd OFFENSE
Court Sanctions: (Imposed by the Judge)
- Up to 365 days in the County Jail; Per updates in Michigan Law, Judges are given the discretion to suspend Jail time if you participate in a Sobriety Court.
- Up to $1000.00 fine + costs + probation fees + reimbursement to police.
- Up to 45 days of community service (360 hours).
- Mandatory Immobilization of your Motor Vehicle of 3 to 6 months, unless the motor vehicle was totaled in an accident, or it is sold to a Bonafede purchaser.
- Supervised Probation up to 2 years.
License Sanctions: (Imposed by the Secretary of State out of Lansing)
- The Michigan Secretary of State will REVOKE your driver’s license for a minimum of 1 year. Please note in my experience, this revocation can be longer than one year unless you prepared yourself from the date of your sentence for the Reinstatement hearing before the Secretary of State. See me for additional information.
NOTE: ANY 2 CONVICTIONS WITHIN 7 YEARS FOR AN ALCOHOL-RELATED DRIVING CONVICTION WILL QUALIFY A PERSON FOR REVOCATION OF THEIR DRIVER’S LICENSE UNDER CURRENT MI LAW.
YOU SHOULD EMPLOY A ZERO-TOLERANCE WHEN DRINKING AND DRIVING AFTER A FIRST CONVICTION!
OWI 3rd OFFENSE: (ANY 3 CONVICTIONS IN A LIFETIME WILL QUALIFY)
Court Sanctions: (Imposed by the Judge)
- From 1 to 5 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections or Probation with 30 days to 1year Jail, at least 48 hours to be served consecutively. Per updates in Michigan Law, Judges are given the discretion to suspend Jail time if you participate in a Sobriety Court.
- 60 to 180 days of community service (480 hours to 1,440 hours).
- A fine of not less than $500 not more than $5000.00.
- Mandatory Immobilization of your Motor Vehicle for one year.
- Possible Forfeiture of your Motor Vehicle.
- Probation Up to 5 years.
License Sanctions: (Imposed by the Secretary of State out of Lansing)
- The Michigan Secretary of State will REVOKE your driver’s license for a minimum of 5 YEARS! Please note in my experience, this revocation can be longer than five years unless you prepared yourself from the date of your sentence for the Reinstatement hearing before the Secretary of State. See me for additional information.
Jerry is available to consult with people who are facing Dui charges and can be reached by phone 24/7 at 616-540-0443.