A new Michigan law provides a significantly stiffer level of penalties for drivers arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol if their blood alcohol content is more than twice the legal limit. The Grand Rapids Press reports:
Starting on Oct. 31, there will be two kinds of drunken drivers in Michigan: standard and “super.”
Standard are those with blood alcohol content of 0.08 to 0.16 percent. The super drunk, a new category under state law, are first-time offenders who test at 0.17 or above…
Fines and other costs could top $8,000, some defense attorneys predict. Alcohol treatment is mandatory, possible jail time is doubled, and driving is forbidden for 45 days.
The penalties include another first for Michigan: a requirement to install an in-car breathalyzer.
More than 40 states have passed such laws with little opposition.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Joe // Oct 18, 2010 at 11:32 pm
It’s about time someone penalized this differently. The question now, however, is whether these new laws will actually keep people from drinking and driving in the first place.
2 Tougher Michigan DUI Laws Officially in Effect | Michigan DUI News | Drunk Driving DUI Law // Nov 3, 2010 at 11:13 pm
[...] Mich. —A new drunk driving law took effect Oct. 31 which enhances the penalties for first-time offenders with a blood alcohol content of .17 or [...]
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