As Michigan college kids return home for the summer, the first thing to do is unwind and go out drinking with your high school or childhood friends. This sounds like a fun idea, and for the most part is harmless. The problem comes when these college kids no longer have the convenience of a college town. In most college towns, you can walk to the bars, and get quick cabs around town. Most cities in Michigan don't have the same nightlife or easy access to transportation.
So what are these kids to do? Well, their drinking habits and tolerance don't change much when they return in the summer, but now they need to go home from the bar. What happens? Well one of the friends, is going to drive the other friends to and from the bar. This is a great idea if this person refrains from drinking alcohol, but this is not a typical response to the situation. It's likely that the driver will go to the bar, maybe with a slight inclination that they can't overdo it, but overdoing it for a college kid who has been drinking heavy for 9 months is different than your typical social drinker.
In Michigan, there are four drunk driving charges involving alcohol for first time offenders. The first is what is called Michigan Zero Tolerance drunk driving, which means if you're under 21, you cannot have any alcohol in your system while driving. You then have Michigan impaired driving meaning that your blood alcohol content doesn't need to be at a certain level, but the alcohol has affected your ability to drive; this is usually based on observations of the police officer. From there you have Operating While Intoxicated meaning your blood alcohol level is 0.08 or greater, and finally the Michigan Super Drunk with a blood alcohol above 0.17.
All four of these charges are Michigan DUI convictions that will never come off of your criminal record. Your mistake will cost you a lot of money in fines, costs, place you on probation, send you to jail and take away your ability to drive a car. So before you get behind the wheel and celebrate your Michigan summer break, think about the consequences of drinking alcohol. Your Michigan summer will be a lot more fun if you're not stuck going back and forth to court, sitting in jail and paying a lot of money that should be going toward your education and fun vacations.
So what are these kids to do? Well, their drinking habits and tolerance don't change much when they return in the summer, but now they need to go home from the bar. What happens? Well one of the friends, is going to drive the other friends to and from the bar. This is a great idea if this person refrains from drinking alcohol, but this is not a typical response to the situation. It's likely that the driver will go to the bar, maybe with a slight inclination that they can't overdo it, but overdoing it for a college kid who has been drinking heavy for 9 months is different than your typical social drinker.
In Michigan, there are four drunk driving charges involving alcohol for first time offenders. The first is what is called Michigan Zero Tolerance drunk driving, which means if you're under 21, you cannot have any alcohol in your system while driving. You then have Michigan impaired driving meaning that your blood alcohol content doesn't need to be at a certain level, but the alcohol has affected your ability to drive; this is usually based on observations of the police officer. From there you have Operating While Intoxicated meaning your blood alcohol level is 0.08 or greater, and finally the Michigan Super Drunk with a blood alcohol above 0.17.
All four of these charges are Michigan DUI convictions that will never come off of your criminal record. Your mistake will cost you a lot of money in fines, costs, place you on probation, send you to jail and take away your ability to drive a car. So before you get behind the wheel and celebrate your Michigan summer break, think about the consequences of drinking alcohol. Your Michigan summer will be a lot more fun if you're not stuck going back and forth to court, sitting in jail and paying a lot of money that should be going toward your education and fun vacations.
