IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR AN ALCOHOL RELATED OFFENSE, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WILL PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO THE PROCESS
Alcohol Related Driving Offenses Require Ignition Interlock
Alcohol Related Driving Offenses Require Ignition Interlock Device
Repeat Offender Laws
Michigan’s Repeat Offender laws are designed to get tough with drivers who repeatedly drive drunk or drive while on a suspended or revoked license. You are a Repeat Offender if you have:
Two or more alcohol-related convictions within 7 years.
Three or more alcohol-related convictions within 10 years.
Three or more convictions for driving while your license is suspended or revoked in 7 years, if those convictions resulted in mandatory additional suspensions or revocations.
Penalties Under the Repeat Offender Laws
Vehicle Registration
If you are arrested as a repeat offender, the law-enforcement officer will destroy the metal license plate of the vehicle you are driving, even if you don’t own the vehicle. A temporary paper license plate will be issued, which will allow the vehicle to be driven legally. A new metal license plate cannot be issued until your case is resolved in court.
A registration denial is imposed against a Repeat Offender. Registration denial includes all vehicles that are owned, co-owned, leased, or co-leased by the Repeat Offender. During the period of registration denial it is a crime for the Repeat Offender to purchase, lease, or obtain a vehicle, or to attempt to do those things. Unless the Repeat Offender gets a court order, he or she may not transfer the vehicle’s registration to any family member if that vehicle is immobilized, forfeited, or subject to registration denial, or a temporary registration plate has been issued for the vehicle. Registration denial continues until the Repeat Offender is eligible for another driver license.
Other Penalties
The Repeat Offender laws include other penalties, in addition to metal plate confiscation and registration denial. There may be driver license suspensions or revocations, an ignition interlock device may be required, and there may be mandatory substance abuse treatment. There may also be vehicle immobilization or forfeiture.
Repeat Offenders who cause an accident that results in long-term injury or death may be charged with a felony..
A Guide to Ignition Interlock Devices
Ignition Interlock: What you should know
THE LAW:
If you have any of the following combination of drunk or drugged driving convictions, the law indicates that you are a Habitual Offender:
Two or more convictions within 7 years.
Three or more convictions within 10 years.
The Secretary of State is required to revoke the driver license of a Habitual Offender and deny his or her application for another license.
After the minimum period of revocation/denial, a Habitual Offender may be eligible for a driver license appeal hearing. If a restricted license is ordered, the hearing officer must require that the Habitual Offender install a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][BAIID] on any vehicle he or she owns or intends to operate. The person cannot drive until the BAIID is properly installed and proof of installation is presented to a local Secretary of State branch office.
Beginning October 31, 2010, anyone with a restricted license that requires a BAIID must continue to drive with the device until the Secretary of State authorizes him or her to remove it.
HOW IT WORKS:
A BAIID is a breath alcohol analyzer, with computer logic and an internal memory. It connects with a motor vehicle’s ignition and other control systems. The BAIID measures the driver’s bodily alcohol content [BAC], and keeps the vehicle from starting if the BAC is .025 or higher. The device will also ask for random retests while the person is driving [rolling retests].
If the BAIID records 3 start-up test failures in a monitoring period, or 1 rolling retest failure, or if it detects tampering, the vehicle must be taken to a service center immediately. If that service is not done, the BAIID will go into a “lock-out” mode, and the vehicle cannot be operated.
Test failures, tampering, or other BAIID-related violations will result in an extension of the time before the driver can ask for another driver license appeal hearing, or may require that the original license revocation/denial be reinstated.
If you have ANY questions about the BAIID installed on your vehicle, ask your installer. Make sure you understand how to operate the BAIID before you leave the installer’s place of business. You will be responsible for the consequences of the device’s operation.
COST:
The State of Michigan does not regulate the cost of BAIIDs. However, the law does limit the amount that can be charged to low income persons to a maximum of $2.00 per day. To qualify for this reduced fee, your gross income for the previous tax year must be less than 150% of the current poverty guidelines of the United States Secretary of Health and Human Services. A copy of the Michigan state income tax form you filed for the previous year will be required to verify your gross income. Contact your BAIID vendor for more details to determine if you qualify for the reduced fee.
LOCATION OF SERVICE CENTERS:
BAIID manufacturers who want to install devices in Michigan must have a statewide network of service locations. There must be a service center within 50 miles (one way) of any location in the state. If a driver lives more than 50 miles from a service center, the BAIID company may use a mobile unit to travel to a location within 50 miles of the driver. NATIONWIDE INTERLOCK IS THE ONE OUR FIRM RECOMMENDS FOR OUR CLIENTS. They can be contacted at 1-866-694-6099.
GETTING A BAIID INSTALLED:
You must use a vendor and device that have been approved by the State of Michigan.
I recommend you contact Nationwide Interlock at 1-866-694-6099
BAIID REPORTS and REMOVAL AUTHORIZATION:
If a hearing officer orders a restricted license for you with a BAIID requirement, you must drive under the restrictions, with a properly installed BAIID, for at lest 1 full year.
If there are alcohol readings or other BAIID violations after the device is installed, your vendor will report them to the Secretary of State. As indicated before, the possible consequences of those reports may include an extension of the time before you can request another license appeal hearing, or the reinstatement of the original license revocation/denial.
When you are eligible, you may request a license appeal hearing to ask that the restrictions be removed from your license. At that hearing, you must present the report(s) from your BAIID provider(s) to prove that the device was installed for at least the minimum required length of time, and to establish whether there were any alcohol readings or other BAIID violations.
If your hearing was held, or your restricted license that requires a BAIID, was issued on or after October 31, 2010, you must keep the device on your vehicle until the Secretary of State authorizes you to remove it
CHANGING VENDORS:
You have the option to change BAIID vendors, but you must have a new device installed within 7 days after the previous one is removed. You must also send your new installation certificate to the Administrative Hearings Section. You must submit a BAIID report from each vendor at your next license appeal hearing.
You will be responsible for all the fees you agreed to in your contract with each vendor.
TROUBLESHOOTING:
If you have a question or problem that is not covered here contact Nationwide Interlock, they have customer service representatives standing by. 1-866-694-6099
It is to your benefit to keep a notebook listing any problems you have, and all contacts with your vendor with as much detailed information as possible.
BAIID VIOLATIONS:
Violations of the BAIID program for habitual offenders are divided into “minor” and “major” categories.
Minor Violations:
A driver has 2 months after the BAIID is installed to become familiar with the device, and to learn that certain substances, such as mouth wash, may cause the device to record a test failure. After the first 2 months, it is a minor violation if the BAIID records 3 start-up test failures within a monitoring period. A start-up test failure means the BAIID has prevented the vehicle from starting. A monitoring period is the full length of time the BAIID is required to be properly installed.
If the driver fails to report the BAIID installer for servicing within 7 days after his or her scheduled monitoring date, it is a minor violation.
Major Violations:
Rolling retest violation:
Failing to take the rolling retest when prompted by the BAIID; or
The random retest detects a BAC of .025 or higher, and there is no subsequent sample with a BAC of less than .025 within 5 minutes.
An arrest or conviction for drunk and/or drugged driving.
Tampering with the BAIID.
Circumventing the BAIID.
Three minor violations within a monitoring period.
Removing the BAIID without having another device installed within 7 days, unless the Secretary of State has authorized the removal.
Operating a vehicle without a properly installed BAIID.
VIOLATION CONSEQUENCES:
Minor violations will result in a 3-month extension of the time before you may request another license appeal hearing.
Major violations will result in the immediate reinstatement of your original driver license revocation/denial. You may appeal that action to the DAAD. The appeal must be in writing, and must be submitted within 14 days after the effective date of the reinstatement.
BAIID REQUIRED FOR AN OFFENDER WITH A HIGH BAC:
Effective October 31, 2010, the law requires tougher sanctions for a driver convicted for operating a vehicle with a BAC of .17 or higher, even if it is her or her first conviction.
If you are convicted of the High BAC crime, in addition to any penalties ordered by the court, your driver license will be suspended for 1 year. You will be eligible for a restricted license after serving 45 days of the suspension if a BAIID is installed on every vehicle you operate. The restrictions remain in effect for the remainder of the 1-year period, and until the Secretary of State authorizes you to remove the BAIID, and until you pay a license reinstatement fee.
A High BAC offender has the option to keep the license suspension for the full year, and not have the BAIID installed. At the end of that year, if no other sanctions have been imposed, you may pay the license reinstatement fee and return to full driving.
If you decide that you want the restricted license, you will have 2 months after the BAIID is installed to become familiar with the device, and to learn that certain substances, such as mouth wash, may cause the device to record a test failure. After the first 2 months, if monitoring of the BAIID reveals any instance of a .025 or higher BAC reading, you will receive another 1-year suspension of your driver license, and again be eligible for a restricted license after servicing 45 days of the suspension if a BAIID is properly installed on every vehicle you operate.
If you are arrested for driving without a properly installed BAIID, the law enforcement officer must impound the vehicle. If you own or co-own the vehicle, the officer must destroy the metal registration plate.
If you are convicted of operating a vehicle without a properly installed BAIID, there will be another 1-year suspension of your driver license, and you will again be eligible for a restricted license after serving 45 days of the suspension if a BAIID is properly installed on every vehicle you operate.
BAIID REMOVAL AND REPORTS
As a High BAC offender, you will be eligible to ask for permission to remove the BAIID 1 year after the beginning of your original license suspension ? if you have not violated the terms of your driver license restrictions.
You must include a report(s) from your BAIID vendor(s) to the Administrative Hearings Section with your request for authorization to remove the BAIID.
Your request may be approved if there are NONE of the following:
Instances of BAIID test samples with a BAC of .025 or higher.
Convictions for operating a vehicle without a properly installed BAIID.
Evidence of tampering with, or circumventing, the BAIID.
If your request is approved, you must take your Order Authorizing BAIID Removal to your provider before the device can be removed.
If no other license sanctions are in effect, you may take the Order Authorizing BAIID Removal to a Secretary of State branch office, pay the reinstatement fee, and return to full driving.
If you have your provider remove the BAIID without Secretary of State authorization, the provider is required to report the removal to the Secretary of State. This may be treated as an unauthorized removal, and may result in driver license sanctions.
Attorney, Todd Levitt, has been representing both instate and out of state individuals who have lost their drivers license under Michigan’s Repeat Offender Law, Super Bac and other Alcohol charges for more than 17 years. Todd Levitt, is known by his peers as one of the best lawyers at reinstating drivers license throughout Michigan including Northern Michigan, Upper Penninsula, Central Michigan, and out of state residents who lost their license when they lived in Michigan. Contact Todd Levitt, at 989-772-6000 for representations and questions regarding restoring your drivers license.
Source: michigan.gov/sos
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