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Michigan DUI Defenses

If you have recently been charged with DUI/OWI in Michigan, you may feel like there is no hope. Nothing could be further from the truth! An experienced DUI defense attorney can carefully investigate your case to determine which defenses may be used most effectively to vigorously defend you.

There are two separate components of the prosecutor's case: the circumstantial or observational testimony of the police officer, and the evidence from the blood or breath test results.

While every DUI/OWI case is different, there are several general defenses that may apply based on the circumstances of your case. Below are some of the most common DUI defenses.

Improper stop is one of these defenses. One of the first things your attorney should do when investigating your case is to determine the basis of your traffic stop. If your attorney can show that the arresting officer did not have probable cause to pull you over and begin performing an investigation, your case may be dismissed. However, speeding, weaving, or other traffic violations may be a sufficient basis for a traffic stop.

Michigan law states that there must be probable cause for an arrest. If the police officer did not collect enough evidence during the investigation to prove that you were drunk driving, this can be used for your benefit. During a DUI stop, the officer will ask the driver to take a roadside breath test. If this test was not administered properly, this will impact the validity of your arrest.

The validity of your evidentiary breath or blood test may also be brought into question. The DataMaster, used by Michigan law enforcement agencies to determine blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is far from perfect. Attorney Patrick T. Barone has been certified to operate and perform diagnostic and calibration checks on the DataMaster by the manufacturer. Because of this training, he understands the flaws with the machine and can use this to your advantage.

There are many problems with improper procedures in regards to the field sobriety tests. If the instructions for these tests are not explained properly, or the test is administered in less-than-ideal circumstances, it can lead to a failing grade and an arrest. Your attorney will investigate your field sobriety test to see how accurate the results are. Attorney Barone has been certified as a standardized field sobriety test instructor by the NHTSA.

If you made self-incriminating comments before the police officer read your Miranda Rights, it is possible that they may be suppressed in court. You should discuss this with your attorney to see if it applies in your case.

To discuss the Michigan DUI defenses with an experienced attorney, contact the Law Offices of Patrick T. Barone today.



Helpful Videos

• The Cost of a Michigan DUI
• The Emotional Impact of a Michigan DUI
• Hiring a Michigan DUI Attorney
• Retain the Representation of the Barone Defense Firm
• About Michigan Breath Test Defenses
• Michigan DataMaster Information
• Call The Barone Defense Firm Today
• The Michigan DUI Book
• Other Problems with the DataMaster Breath Machine
• Conviction Consequences for a DUI in Michigan
• Michigan DUI Counseling Information
• Defense Strategies for a Michigan DUI
• About DUI Discovery in Michigan
• Michigan DUI Investigation FAQ
• Our Dedicated Lawyers and Support Staff
• All DUI Lawyers are Not Created Equal in Michigan
• What are the Potential DUI Penalties in Michigan?
• Michigan DUI License Suspension
• About the Michigan DUI Plea Bargain
• How to be a Witness for Your Own DUI Case
• Michigan DUI Field Sobriety Testing
• Definitions of OWI laws in Michigan
• What is drunk driving Per Se crime in Michigan?
• Michigan DUI Pre-Trial Motions
• Sample Michigan DUI Jury Selection and Trial (Part 1)
• Sample Michigan DUI Jury Selection and Trial (Part 2)
• Sample Michigan DUI Completed and Opening Arguments (Part 3)
• Sample Michigan DUI Jury Trial (Part 4)
• Am I Going To Jail For DUI
• DUI Arrest Information and How the Barone Defense Firm Can Help
• Deciding on Trial in a DUI Case
• How to Beat the Breath Test
• Drunk Driving Arraignment
• The Drunk Driving Pre-Trial
• OWI First Offense Information
• About Sobriety Court Law
• The New DUI DataMaster (DMT) Machine
• Super Drunk Law Information
• Parts of the DUI Trial Process
• Sentencing for Drunk Driving
• About The Barone Defense Firm Team
• Unreliability of Field Sobriety Tests