(734) 591-0100 • (313) 792-8800 • (734) 941-8800

Brighton DUI Attorney



If you are facing DUI charges in Brighton, Michigan . . .

If you are charged with a DUI in Brighton MI, you need an experienced, award-winning Brighton DUI attorney to help you obtain and challenge evidence that can help you in your case. I have been in practice for 20 years, and I have handled over a thousand drunk driving cases. I am an experienced Brighton DUI attorney, and I know the science and the law that can help you fight a DUI charge in Brighton.

A DUI in Brighton Michigan will be handled in the 53rd District Court located in Brighton , Michigan.

53rd District Court Contact Information and Address:

53rd District Court
224 N 1st St
Brighton, MI 48116
Phone: (810) 229-6615

The 44th Circuit Court for Livingston County located in Howell, MI presides over the 53rd District Court. This means that the Livingston County Circuit Court holds superintending control over the 53rd District Court in Brighton . The Livingston County Circuit Court also handles all felony criminal cases (including felony drunk driving charges after the preliminary examination) and any appeal from a decision or verdict of the 53rd District Court.

What my clients are saying about me:

Brighton Michigan DUI Penalties

If you are seeking a qualified Brighton DUI Attorney or a drunk driving attorney in Brighton, I want to provide you with enough information so that you can make an informed decision regarding your selection of a drunk driving lawyer. A DUI in Brighton Michigan cannot be expunged, and it remains on your record for life. A second DUI within seven years counts as an OWI 2nd and results in a lifetime driver's license revocation, and a third drunk driving conviction any time in a lifetime counts as an OWI 3rd felony DUI in Michigan.

If you plead guilty to drunk driving in Brighton or if you are found guilty of a DUI in Brighton, you face the following penalties:

First Time Offender: Super Drunk Over .17 BAC in Brighton, Michigan

If you take your case to a bench or jury trial and lose, you have an appeal of right to the Livingston County Circuit Court, but if you take a plea, any appeal is discretionary and granted only by leave of the 44th Circuit Court.

First Time Offender: OWI - Operating While Intoxicated in Brighton, Michigan (Same as DUI or DWI in other states)

If you take your case to a bench or jury trial and lose, you have an appeal of right to the Livingston County Circuit Court, but if you take a plea, any appeal is discretionary and granted only by leave of the 44th Circuit Court.

First Time Offender: OWVI - Operating While Impaired in Brighton, Michigan (Counts as a DUI or DWI in some states, but not all)

If you take your case to a bench or jury trial and lose, you have an appeal of right to the Livingston County Circuit Court, but if you take a plea, any appeal is discretionary and granted only by leave of the 44th Circuit Court.

Know the consequences of a DUI Conviction in Brighton Michigan

Brighton DUI Convictions in Michigan: Entry into Canada

The Brighton drunk driving conviction will count as a felony in Canada, even though Brighton will abstract a conviction as a misdemeanor. US citizens who intend to travel to Canada may be denied entry following a DUI conviction in Brighton, Michigan.

OWI 2nd and OWI 3rd in Brighton Michigan

A second offense for either OWI or OWVI within seven years of a prior OWI or OWVI results in tougher penalties, greater likelihood of jail, and a lifetime revocation of a person's driver's license. In many courts, depending upon the circumstances, a jail sentence of a few weeks to six months is imposed on an OWI 2nd offense, with the maximum penalty being a full year in the Livingston County jail.

A third offense for any combination of OWI and OWVI charges any time in a lifetime is a felony OWI 3rd offense, which carries mandatory jail and a possible prison term of up to 5 years. The Michigan Court of Appeals has held that courts must impose a jail sentence of at least 30 days for a third offense drunk driving conviction, so you will spend at least 30 days in jail in the Livingston County jail if you accept a plea or are convicted of an OWI 3rd offense.

Brighton drunk driving charges are serious, but an experienced criminal defense attorney in Brighton can help. William Maze has challenged several Brighton DUI charges and successfully defended many Brighton DUI cases and drunk driving prosecutions by challenging the officer's reasonable suspicion for the traffic stop, the administration of standardized field sobriety tests, and the admissibility and relevance of the Datamaster or blood test. Mr. Maze has a solid reputation as an aggressive Brighton DUI attorney and he has a reputation for fighting cases through motions and taking cases to jury trial.

What other attorneys are saying about me:

If you were arrested and released without charges in Brighton

Arrested But Released on a DUI In Brighton Michigan?

IMPORTANT: If you were arrested by the police but released the next morning from jail without a court date, you need to obtain videos from the police within 30 days before these materials are legally destroyed. This is why it is so important to hire an experienced Brighton DUI attorney. In the case of an OWI blood draw, you may be required to submit paperwork to the Secretary of State within 14 days to save your license if you were charged with a refusal of a chemical test by Brighton police officers. Refusal paperwork and the request for hearing does NOT go to the 53rd District Court or to Livingston County Circuit Court! YOU MUST REQUEST A HEARING WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE WITHIN 14 DAYS by submitting the 625g permit's Request for Hearing to the Secretary of State or else your license will be automatically suspended.

OWI 2nd and OWI 3rd charges in Brighton may take months to file, but you must act now to protect your rights. Super drunk and child endangerment charges arising out of Brighton will likely be handled by the Livingston County prosecutors office who may also take several weeks to authorize a warrant. During this time, critical evidence can be legally destroyed or recycled unless you act fast! Finally, drugged driving charges in Brighton Michigan sometimes take a year before charges are filed because of a backlog of blood tests at the Michigan State Police Toxicology Unit. You cannot afford to wait until charges are authorized, so call us immediately to discuss your case.