NEW LAW! News! - Michigan Passes new drunk driving laws: Detroit, MI. (January 9, 2007) - On January 3, 2007 Governor Granholm signed into law legislation that removes the 10 year look back period for all drunk driving offenses. Under prior law, a third offense would be considered a felony only if it occurred within a prior 10-year time period. With this new amendment a driver arrested for drunk driving with two prior offenses, regardless of their age, will face felony charges.
Detroit Michigan's Laws
In 2003, Michigan adopted a blood-alcohol threshold of .08 for drunken-driving offenses, replacing the previous standard of .10. Other aspects of the state's drunken-driving law were also changed.
• The old law presumed that anyone with a blood alcohol count of .10 percent or greater was operating under the influence; visibly impaired with a BAC between .07 and .10, and not impaired with a BAC of .07 percent or less. The new law eliminates a standard for impairment and there is no longer a standard to find a person not impaired. A prosecutor can charge impaired driving with .07 or less -- but the standard of proof is less clear.
• Although the operating while impaired offense now requires a lower standard of proof, the penalties are similar to operating while intoxicated. A first-time offender can get 93 days in jail for either offense, and points and fines are higher for operating while intoxicated. Third-time offenders in either category can be sentenced to five years in jail.
Other News
| Lions' linebacker Curry faces DUI charges |
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By Mike Fowler
Detroit Lions reserve linebacker Donte Curry was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol early Tuesday morning.
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Detroit Lions reserve linebacker Donte Curry was arrested and charged with driving under the influence of alcohol early Tuesday morning.
Police discovered Curry's 1998 Ford Expedition was in the middle of a busy intersection in Covington, GA. When they approached the vehicle, they discovered Curry asleep at the wheel with the engine still running and his foot on the brake.
Authorities then entered the vehicle through an unlocked door, turned off the vehicle and woke Curry. A subsequent search of Curry's vehicle revealed an open container of an alcohol beverage according to police.
Authorities say that the Detroit linebacker tested at .195 over twice the legal limit in
Georgia, which is .08.
Police arrested Curry but he was later released on his on recognizance after posting a $1,300 bond.
According to police reports, Curry claimed he was on his way to pick up his children to take them to school. Curry is a native of Savannah, GA and was apparently traveling to Milledgeville, GA where his family resides.
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