Alcohol related offenses in Flint can range from misdemeanor to felony. Some misdemeanor charges include having open intoxicants in a motor vehicle, drunk and disorderly conduct and Minor in Possession of Alcohol (MIP). If convicted of one of these crimes, you typically face jail time up to 93 days, and fines up to $100. A minor convicted of alcohol related charges may have his or her license suspended. Even minor cases like these, however, can have far reaching effects on your life after a conviction hits your permanent record. A criminal defense attorney is essential to ensure the best outcome for you and your future.

Other alcohol related offenses include drinking and driving. The state if Michigan takes these charges very seriously and a conviction can have devastating effects on your daily life. Charges include Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI), and Unlawful Bodily Alcohol Level (UBAL).

Attorney Matthew L. Norwood has experience with drivers license restoration. He is one of the very best drivers license restoration attorneys in Michigan. Losing your drivers license is devastating to any individual. Your drivers license is a symbol of your freedom. You need your license to make a living, to get a job, to keep your job and to legally get you and your family from one place to another place.

Many times, losing your drivers license causes a downward spiral in your life. You lose your license, then your job. Then with no way to get to interviews and school, you feel like you’re stuck. You just want your life back, a chance to earn a living like everyone else. You want to be able to stop driving illegally, to stop worrying about getting pulled over and to stop having to look over your shoulder.

Your license means everything to you and I understand that. I have the experience and knowledge to successfully help you get your license back. Not only get your license back, but get your life back. I can help.

No matter why your license has been taken away, I can help. I am experienced in all areas of license restoration. I help individuals get their drivers licenses back everyday. I do not have to learn how to get your license back. I already know how.

Learn more about the practice areas of Attorney Matthew L. Norwood.

Revoked Driver’s License

A revoked driver’s license takes a year before you can try to get it back. If you plead guilty or are found guilty of driving under the influence in Michigan, your license can be revoked by the state. With the termination of your operator’s license, you lose the privilege to operate a motor vehicle.

If you have had your license revoked more than once in 7 years, it can take 5 years. But your license doesn’t automatically come back when the terms of your revoked license ends. Instead, you must reapply for your license to be restored through the Secretary of State Driver’s License Appeal Division (DLAD).

Many people have difficulty getting their licenses back after being revoked. But chances of restoring your driver’s license can be greatly improved with the help of a skilled lawyer who has daily experience helping individuals get their licenses back. The state’s main concern is to ensure that drivers on the road are safe, and it is tantamount that you be able to prove you are a safe sober driver at a hearing. This can involve testimony, character witnesses, and documentary evidence. Matthew L. Norwood has experience and is knowledgeable about what types of evidence and testimony the court is most likely to accept and will be the most helpful in your case.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is one of the most serious charges in the state of Michigan. Pleading guilty or being convicted of two or more alcohol or drug related driving offenses in a time frame requires an automatic revocation of your Michigan driver’s license. A driver’s license can be revoked for a year if an individual has had two alcohol or drug related driving offenses within 7 years. Further, an individual’s license will be revoked for 5 years if they have had three alcohol or drug related driving offenses within 10 years.

To get your driver’s license reinstated, you will have to go through a hearing process with the state department. The hearing can involve testimony, character witnesses, and many other complicated issues that can factor into your unique case. Getting your license back can be difficult. Michigan courts have a high rate of denial. A skilled attorney can improve your chances by preparing your case to properly answer the courts’ inquiries. Matthew L. Norwood has experience fighting for clients’ rights and he can help you navigate through the complicated, bureaucratic court process. He will be able to gather the right evidence and character testimony to fit your case.

A suspended driver’s license is set for a period of time, stated as “from” when your license is first suspended, “through” a date when your license is no longer suspended. When the time of suspension is ended, you may go to the Secretary of State to pay a fee to have your license reinstated. If fees are not paid, your license is considered invalid. Reinstating your license in this way does not usually require any legal advice. Individuals in Michigan who are found guilty or plead guilty to certain traffic violations will face a suspension of their driver’s license and will stay unable to legally operate a vehicle until the suspension has ended.

Other forms of suspension are for an indefinite period of time, that is, once your license is suspended, you do not know for how long it will stay suspended. Your license will be suspended until the state department or court system approves your license to be reinstated. In order to reinstate a license that has been indefinitely suspended, you will have to prove to the court or Secretary of State that there is no longer any reason for the suspension. This may include medical, criminal, or other legal reasons. A skilled lawyer with experience reinstating suspended licenses can help you understand the necessary steps for reinstatement and make sure you are on the right track.

If you are caught driving on a suspended or revoked license, or incur any new violations while driving on a suspended or revoked license, there may be serious deterrents to reinstate your license. If the Secretary of State gets notice from a court that you have been convicted of an offense during a period of time that your license was suspended or revoked it can double your term of revocation. By hiring an experienced lawyer, you can avoid these problems and improve your chances of getting your license back.

A Michigan driver’s license will be suspended because of reckless driving and operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. If your license is suspended for a set period of time, you will be able to get your license back by paying a fine when the suspension has ended.

Many times, however, a license may be suspended or revoked indefinitely. A license that is suspended or revoked indefinitely will stay suspended until you take the necessary steps to reinstate it. You will have to prove that your driving is no longer a danger to the community. Depending on the reasons for your suspension, this could involve alcohol treatment and abstinence, and other behavioral changes. Matthew L. Norwood is an experienced lawyer whose professional expertise is representing individuals with suspended and revoked licenses, and getting those license privileges back. He can prepare your defense to best protect your rights and give you the best chance to get your license reinstated.

Hunting is an important part of many Michigan residents’ lives. Every hunter has wonderful memories of hunting in Michigan’s great outdoors with family or friends. Attorney Matthew L. Norwood is experienced with firearm restoration cases. Under Michigan law a felony will take away your ability to hunt with a firearm and in many hunters takes away a part of who they are. However, Michigan law also allows you to restore your ability to hunt with a firearm once again.

Expungements

Is your criminal record holding you back? A conviction for a crime you did years ago can act like a weight you may not need to drag around anymore. Attorney Matthew L. Norwood is experienced with expungements.

In today’s competitive employment field, getting a job or a promotion is harder than ever. A conviction for a crime that you committed years ago may unfortunately close doors and cut off opportunities to you. An expungement of your past mistake can help you stay competitive. In some cases a criminal record can keep you from government benefits. Contact Attorney Matthew L. Norwood to help you erase those past mistakes and keep you moving forward.

Expunging your criminal record means that your prior conviction for a felony or misdemeanor is set aside. If you have a conviction expunged, you are considered not to have been convicted for most purposes. You could legally tell employers that you have no criminal record. An expunged conviction should not show on a background check.

Both adult convictions and juvenile adjudications for misdemeanors and felonies may be expunged. However, an individual must meet specific requirements to be eligible for an expungement under MCL 780.621.

You may only get an expungement if the conviction you are trying to expunge is the only conviction on your record. In certain circumstances there may be a possibility to get a prior conviction set aside so the only conviction remaining will be the crime we are attempting to expunge. Contact our office to discuss this possibility.
You can get an expungement for up to two misdemeanors, but you can’t have more than two misdemeanors on your record.
You can not get a felony or attempted felony expunged if that felony is punishable by life in prison.
You can not get a conviction for criminal sexual conduct expunged.
You can not get a conviction that is reportable to the secretary of state or a traffic offense expunged. This means drunk driving or impaired driving can not be expunged.
You must wait five years since your case has been closed. That also means 5 years since discharged from probation or parole.
If you were imprisoned you must wait five years from your release from incarceration to apply.

Motor Vehicle Offenses

Michigan law covers a range of motor vehicle offenses, including several that involve drinking and driving, as well as leaving the scene of an accident, and others that involve dangerous or reckless driving. Matthew L .Norwood has years of experience successfully defending clients against motor vehicle offenses and can use his experience to help you.

An individual who is caught driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol faces three potential charges. These are Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI), and Unlawful Bodily Alcohol Level (UBAL). In these cases, it is the duty of the prosecution to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant drove a motor vehicle on a public road or highway, and was under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Matthew L. Norwood has experience representing clients fighting these charges, and can help you reduce or dismiss charges.

If an individual has been injured as a result of driving under the influence, the charge would then become OWVI Causing Serious Impairment of Body Function or OWVI Causing Death. The prosecution then must also prove that the defendant voluntarily decided to drive, knew that he or she was intoxicated, and that his or her operation of the vehicle was responsible for the injury or death of another. If convicted of injuring another person while driving while intoxicated, the defendant would face 5 years in prison or a fine between 1,000 and 5,000 dollars, or both. If convicted of causing death while driving while intoxicated, the defendant would face imprisonment for not more than 15 years or a fine between $2,500.00 and $10,000.00, or both.

Any individual convicted of driving under the influence within 7 years of another similar conviction will face tougher sentencing. Matthew L. Norwood has experience defending individuals charged with OWI, OWVI, UBAL, and injury charges and can help you get a reduced sentence or a lighter charge.

In Michigan, it is against the law to leave the scene of an accident. Leaving the scene of an accident that has caused death or bodily harm is a felony offense that involves serious prison time and huge fines. By law, you are required to leave the driver’s name and address, the vehicle owner’s name and address, and the vehicle registration. By law, you are also required to provide reasonable assistance in securing medical aid or reaching emergency responders for any injured person.

Felonious driving and reckless driving are serious charges under Michigan law. Felonious driving is defined as a person driving a vehicle in a negligent manner that willfully disregards the safety of others. Reckless driving is defined in a similar way, but it is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 93 days in prison and a fine of up to $500.

Reckless driving is defined by the Michigan statute as driving on highways, roads, or other places open to the general public (including parking lots) with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property. The consequences for these charges can include required license suspension, fines, insurance rate increases, and major points on your license, possibly culminating in a suspended or revoked license. Matthew L. Norwood has experience defending clients from motor vehicle offenses and can build your case to best resolve your traffic charges.

8b) Matthew L. Norwood is an experienced motor vehicle offense attorney and can help you resolve traffic tickets, moving violations, and other charges in the best manner possible. Moving violations like speeding, reckless or felonious driving, or leaving the scene of an accident are taken very seriously by the state of Michigan, which views such actions as dangers to others on public roads. As a result, a conviction from these charges often means huge fines, hikes in insurance rates, and major points added to your license. If you accrue up to 12 points your license will legally be suspended or revoked. Matthew L. Norwood has the knowledge and experience in Michigan courts to defend your rights and protect your driving privileges. He will develop your case to secure the best possible outcome.

Other motor vehicle offenses include drinking and driving charges. These break down into Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI), and Unlawful Bodily Alcohol Level (UBAL), which can often result in the automatic suspension or revocation of your license. Attorney Norwood has extensive experience representing clients facing these charges and has successfully helped clients have the charges reduced or dismissed.