Michigan also is home to professional sports teams and top-level college sports teams that draw in visitors for games. With these kinds of events and attractions available, Michigan roads and highways often are traveled by drivers from Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, or any number of other states.
Whenever you drive in another state, you have the risk of getting pulled over by law enforcement. Some officers may pay more attention to perceived infractions by people with out-of-state license plates, and since you can be charged with a DUI in Michigan when a police officer or even another driver witnesses something they think means you’re under the influence, you could find yourself facing a criminal charge.
In Michigan, you can be charged with DUI, or OWI as its more commonly known here, for driving while impaired or driving when your blood alcohol concentration exceeds the state’s .08 legal limit. You also can be charged with operating a motor vehicle while visibly impaired when another driver reports observing you driving in a way that seems impaired, such as weaving in and out of lanes, driving too fast or too slow, or driving on the shoulder or otherwise off the roadway.
Consequences of a Michigan DUI Conviction
An OWI is a serious criminal charge in Michigan. The offense can be a misdemeanor or a felony depending on the circumstances, including factors such as whether someone was injured or killed as a result of your alleged drunk driving. Even a first offense can result in a jail sentence — which can be especially problematic when you live in another state.
If you’re convicted of an OWI charge in Michigan as an out-of-state driver, the potential consequences you may experience include:
- Depending on the nature of the OWI charge, you could face days, months, or even years in jail depending on what a judge thinks is a reasonable sentence
- You could be ordered to pay fines of hundreds or thousands of dollars
- Your vehicle could be immobilized or declared forfeit
- Your driver’s license may be suspended
- Your conviction may be reported to your home state and affect your driving record
- You’ll likely have to pay higher premiums for car insurance if your insurance company deems you a greater risk to insure
- You’ll have a permanent criminal record
- Your ability to travel outside of the United States may be affected, or if you are not a U.S. citizen a conviction may affect your immigration status or result in your application for a visa, green card, or citizenship to be denied
