Memorial Day Weekend OWI Enforcement in Wayne County: What Plymouth-Canton Drivers Should Know

Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer in Michigan, and law enforcement across Wayne County treats it accordingly. The Michigan State Police, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, and local police departments routinely increase patrols over holiday weekends in connection with statewide impaired-driving enforcement campaigns.

If you live or drive in the Plymouth-Canton area, here is what you should understand about OWI enforcement before heading out over the holiday weekend.

Michigan OWI Law in Plain Terms

Under MCL 257.625, you can be charged with Operating While Intoxicated if:

• Your blood alcohol content (BAC) is .08 or higher,
• You are under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance, or any combination, or
• You have any amount of a Schedule 1 controlled substance or cocaine in your system while operating a vehicle.

Michigan also recognizes a lesser offense, Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI), which does not require a specific BAC — only proof that your ability to drive was visibly impaired.

Penalties for a First-Offense OWI

A first-offense OWI in Michigan is a misdemeanor. The maximum penalties include:

• Up to 93 days in jail (up to 180 days for High BAC of .17 or above),
• Fines from $100 to $500 (or $200 to $700 for High BAC), plus court costs and assessments,
• A 30-day hard license suspension followed by 150 days of restricted driving,
• Six points on your driving record,
• Possible vehicle immobilization, and
• Substance abuse assessment and treatment.

A High BAC conviction adds a mandatory ignition interlock device on any restricted license.

Why Holiday Weekends Are Different

During Memorial Day weekend, you can expect more patrols on heavily traveled corridors like I-275, M-14, I-94, and major surface streets in and around Plymouth, Canton, Westland, and Livonia. Stops that begin as a speeding or lane-violation traffic stop often turn into OWI investigations when an officer detects the odor of alcohol or marijuana.

Michigan does not use OWI checkpoints — the Michigan Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional under the Michigan Constitution years ago. What you will see instead are saturation patrols and stepped-up traffic enforcement.

If You Are Pulled Over

• Be polite and provide your license, registration, and proof of insurance.
• You are not required to answer questions about where you have been or what you have had to drink.
• The roadside preliminary breath test (PBT) is separate from the chemical test at the station. Refusing the PBT is a civil infraction; refusing the chemical test after arrest violates the Implied Consent Law and results in an automatic one-year license suspension and six points.
• If you are arrested, ask for a lawyer immediately.

Call Boria Law Today

If you were arrested for OWI in Wayne County over Memorial Day weekend, attorney Aaron J. Boria of Boria Law can review your case, the traffic stop, and the chemical-test evidence to help build your defense.

Call (734) 453-7806 today for a free consultation.