What is an OWI?
It's around 10 pm, and you've been out drinking with your friends. You've only had a few, so you know you're good to drive. However, for some reason or another, you get pulled over and get a breathalyzer test. Even though you passed the sobriety test, you still get charged with an OWI. If this has never happened to you, consider yourself lucky. It's happened to many people all over the United States. And while it's certainly never a good idea to drive while drinking, that doesn't mean a person shouldn't be able to have a drink or two and then drive themselves home as long as they're legally sober. This begs the question, what is an OWI?
The Law About Operating While Intoxicated
If you've never heard of "operating while intoxicated," then you may live in a state without that particular wording. Some states use the term "driving while under the influence" and "driving while intoxicated" to set the BAC levels a person is allowed to have.
In Michigan, a state that has OWI's, it's considered to trip that level if your Blood Alcohol Content is at 0.8% or higher. There are different levels of penalties incurred depending on how much higher your BAC is than that level. Anything under 0.8% BAC could be charged with "operating while visibly impaired," or an OWV.
In Michigan, a state that has OWI's, it's considered to trip that level if your Blood Alcohol Content is at 0.8% or higher. There are different levels of penalties incurred depending on how much higher your BAC is than that level. Anything under 0.8% BAC could be charged with "operating while visibly impaired," or an OWV.
Some states use different levels, so you should always check your local laws. But in general, if you're under 0.8% BAC and you're not visibly impaired (you pass the sobriety test), then you'll be fine. Sadly, not everyone has a breathalyzer on hand, meaning that they can't always test their exact BAC. Not only that, but BAC rises over time, hitting a peak around an hour after the last drink. So if you're not careful, you could wind up with a higher BAC than you thought you had. So what happens then?
When You Get An OWI
If you're wound up on the wrong side of an OWI, what are your options? You wind up going to court and either contesting the charge or pleading guilty and taking a sentence. The more offenses you have, the more likely the penalty is to be severe. Most states employ a "three strikes" type rule, taking away your license for up to several years or even permanently if you have enough DUI charges.
This means that you should take the time to find a professional OWI attorney. Getting an DWI lawyer can help you contest the charge if you truly feel you were wrongly charged, or help you get a reduced sentence if you really are guilty. Getting an attorney for an OWI means that you can at least feel secure that you won't wind up with the worst possible outcome.
You should never drive while drunk, and you should always try to ensure sobriety before you get behind the wheel. But life does funny things sometimes, and people make mistakes. If you've made such a mistake, an OWI attorney can help you.
This means that you should take the time to find a professional OWI attorney. Getting an DWI lawyer can help you contest the charge if you truly feel you were wrongly charged, or help you get a reduced sentence if you really are guilty. Getting an attorney for an OWI means that you can at least feel secure that you won't wind up with the worst possible outcome.
You should never drive while drunk, and you should always try to ensure sobriety before you get behind the wheel. But life does funny things sometimes, and people make mistakes. If you've made such a mistake, an OWI attorney can help you.