Operating With The Presence of Drugs, Michigan, Section 257.625, Northern Michigan Lawyer, TODD L LEVITT, Mt Pleasant, Clare, Gladwin, Crawford, Big Rapids, Gratiot, Midland, Roscommon

by | Nov 26, 2018 | Blog

Levitt Law Firm PC, 989-772-6000
Operating Presence of Drugs

In Michigan, the law states the following:

A person, whether licensed or not, shall not operate a vehicle upon a highway or other place open to the general public or generally accessible to motor vehicles, including an area designated for the parking of vehicles, within this state if the person has in his or her body an amount of a controlled substance listed in schedule 1 under section 7212 of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7212, or a rule promulgated under that section, or of a controlled substance described in section 7214(a)(iv) of the public health code, 1978 PA 368, MCL 333.7214.

A  DataMaster only detects alcohol, thus  law enforment will use a blood or urine test to test for the presence of a controlled substance in your body.   Michigan courts have ruled that marijuana metabolites (11-carboxy-THC) in the body is not a schedule 1 controlled substance under MCL 333.7212, thereby precluding a prosecution under MCL 257.625(8) for operating a motor vehicle with any amount of 11-carboxy-THC in the body.

It should also be noted that a recent Michigan law stated that the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act supersedes MCL 257.625(8) and allows a registered patient to drive with indications of marijuana in his or her system so long as the patient is not otherwise under the influence of marijuana.

Effective March 31, 2013, 2012 PA 543 amended §625 by adding the offense of operating under the influence of an “other intoxicating substance.” MCL 257.625(1)(a). Intoxicating substance is defined atMCL 257.625(25)(a).

Possible Michigan OWI Penalties for a first offender:

*  a $100 to $500 fine and one or more of the following:
*  Up to 93 days in jail.
*   Up to 360 hours of community service.
*  Driver’s license suspension for 30 days, followed by license restrictions for 150 days.
*   Possible vehicle immobilization
*  Possible ignition interlock
*   Six points added to driving record

Possible Michigan OWI 2nd Offense Penalties 

* $200 to $1000 fine, and one or more of the following:
*  5 days to 1 year in jail.
*   30 to 90 days of community service
*  Driver’s license revocation and denial for a minimum of 1 year (minimum of 5 years if there was a prior revocation within 7 years).
*    License plate confiscation.
*  Vehicle immobilization for 90 to 180 days, unless the vehicle is forfeited.
*   Possible vehicle forfeiture.
*   6 points added to the offender’s driving record.
*  Driver Responsibility Fee of $1,000 for 2 consecutive years.

Contact 989-772-6000 for a consultation