St. Frances Cabrini Festival in Allen Park (June 5-7): OWI, MIP, and Carnival Arrests in Western Wayne County

The St. Frances Cabrini Festival in Allen Park is one of the longest-running summer festivals in Western Wayne County. Carnival rides, food vendors, live music, beer tents, and large crowds make it a destination weekend for families and young adults alike. With those crowds come a predictable spike in calls to the Allen Park Police Department for alcohol-related offenses, fights, and traffic stops.

If you were arrested at or after a weekend at Cabrini Festival, here is what to expect from the Michigan criminal system.

OWI on the Drive Home

Allen Park sits at the crossroads of I-94, I-75, and Southfield Freeway. After a long evening at the festival, drivers heading back to Plymouth, Canton, Westland, or Livonia have a multi-mile drive home through three different police jurisdictions. Saturation patrols and stepped-up enforcement are common in this corridor on festival weekends.

Under MCL 257.625, the legal limit in Michigan is .08 BAC. A first-offense OWI is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in jail (180 days for a High BAC of .17 or above), fines of $100–$500 (or $200–$700 for High BAC), a 30-day hard license suspension followed by 150 days of restricted driving, six points, and substance abuse treatment. A High BAC conviction also requires an ignition interlock on any restricted license.

Refusing the chemical breath or blood test after arrest triggers an automatic one-year license suspension under Michigan's Implied Consent Law — unless you request a hearing with the Secretary of State within 14 days of arrest.

Minor in Possession

Carnival-style events with beer tents draw a younger crowd, and Allen Park Police actively enforce MIP laws on the festival grounds. Under MCL 436.1703, a first MIP offense is a state civil infraction with a fine up to $100, possible substance abuse education, and community service. Second offense is a misdemeanor with up to 30 days in jail under certain conditions. Third offense increases penalties further.

A first-offense diversion under MCL 436.1703 can lead to dismissal without a public record — but it must be requested correctly through the court.

Fake ID Charges

Beer tents check IDs, and the fake IDs that get caught lead to a separate set of charges under MCL 436.1703(2) and MCL 28.295. False representation of age to purchase alcohol is a misdemeanor with up to 93 days in jail. If the ID contains another real person's information, identity theft (MCL 445.65) is a felony.

Disorderly Conduct and Assault

Crowds, alcohol, and a long day in the sun produce friction. Disorderly conduct (MCL 750.167) is a 90-day misdemeanor. Simple assault and battery (MCL 750.81) is a 93-day misdemeanor. Aggravated assault (MCL 750.81a) is a one-year misdemeanor when injuries occur. Felonious assault (MCL 750.82) is a four-year felony if a weapon or anything used as a weapon was involved — even a bottle, a chair leg, or a steering wheel club.

Drug Possession at the Festival

Carnival weekends produce more drug arrests than people realize. Possession of marijuana over the personal-use limit, possession of cocaine, MDMA (commonly called “molly”), psilocybin mushrooms, or prescription medications that are not yours are all felonies under MCL 333.7403. Marijuana paraphernalia and public consumption (MCL 333.27954) is a $100 civil infraction for a first offense, but the bigger risk is when officers find anything more serious during a contact.

Michigan does provide diversion for first-time controlled substance possession under MCL 333.7411 — a powerful tool that can result in dismissal without a conviction.

Where Allen Park Cases Are Heard

Charges arising in Allen Park are arraigned in the 24th District Court in Allen Park. Felony cases are bound over to Wayne County Circuit Court in Detroit after preliminary examination. If you were stopped on the drive home in another jurisdiction — Taylor, Lincoln Park, Romulus, Westland, or further north — the case will be in that city's district court.

What to Do After an Arrest

• Document everything you remember about the stop or arrest.
• Save your festival wristband, ticket stubs, and any receipts.
• Take screenshots of any social media posts from the evening before they are deleted.
• Do not discuss the case with anyone except your attorney.
• Calendar the 14-day Implied Consent deadline if you refused a chemical test.
• Contact a lawyer before your arraignment.

Common Defense Issues at Festival Cases

• The legality of the traffic stop or initial contact at the festival.
• Field sobriety test accuracy in dim, noisy, uneven conditions.
• Chain of custody for any seized drugs or alcohol.
• Identification when multiple people were present.
• Whether ordinance citations were properly issued.

Plymouth Residents Charged in Allen Park

If you live in Plymouth or Canton and got swept into a charge while at the Cabrini Festival, you do not have to handle a downriver court case alone. Aaron J. Boria represents clients in Wayne County district courts including the 24th District in Allen Park. Reach out at (734) 453-7806 for a free consultation and a clear plan for what comes next.