Drunk Driving Charges in Wayne Michigan
Quick Facts about the 29th District Court in Wayne, Michigan, Wayne County
District Court
If you are charged with a DUI offense in Wayne, Michigan then
your case will be heard in the 29th District Court in the City of Wayne. There is only one current judge assigned to 29th District Court, and that is the Honorable Laura Redmond Mack.
Although Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy and the various assistant prosecuting attorneys working under the elected official have the ability to prosecute drunk driving cases in the City of Wayne district court, most DUI cases in the 29th District Court are prosecuted by the local jurisdiction using private attorneys who work under a contract with the city. This allows the City of Wayne to make more money on the drunk driving prosecutions, retaining more of the fines and costs from convicted offenders.
The City of Wayne Police Department has proven to be a very good police department over the last decade. The patrol cars are equipped with video systems, and we have been able to use these videos in several cases to help defend motorists accused of DUI in the City of Wayne. Until very recently, the department had never given our firm any problem obtaining access to materials that we needed to defend a person on drunk driving charges. Recently, however, with a new team of prosecutors obtaining the City of Wayne contract, we have had a few FOIA lawsuits that we have been forced to file. (If you are denied materials under Michigan's Freedom of Information Act, please do not hesitate to call us!)
Thumbnail Sketch of DUI / OWI Penalties You Face in Wayne in the 29th District Court If Convicted
If you plead guilty or if you are found guilty of an alcohol-related offense in Wayne following a trial, you are facing the following penalties. Please note that your driver's license remains valid unless or until you enter a plea or are found guilty, even though the police may have issued you a temporary paper license.
First Time Offender: Super Drunk Over .17 BAC
- Recorded as "misdemeanor" conviction as opposed to felony conviction on criminal record
- Jail up to 180 days
- Probation for up to 2 years with alcohol and drug monitoring
- Fines of $200 to $700, "plus court costs" which totals well over $1,000.00
- One year of alcohol rehabilitation
- 45 days hard suspension, eligible to drive for the balance of the year (320 days) if the offender pays to have a breath alcohol ignition interlock device installed in the vehicle
- Up to 360 hours community service
- Six points on your Michigan driver's license
- $1,000.00 per year for two years "Driver Responsibility Fee" charged by the Secretary of State through the Michigan Department of Treasury
First Time Offender: OWI - Operating While Intoxicated (Same as DUI or DWI)
- Recorded as "misdemeanor" conviction as opposed to felony conviction on criminal record
- Jail up to 93 days
- Probation for up to 2 years with alcohol and drug monitoring
- Fines up to $500, "plus court costs" which totals over $1,000.00
- 30 days hard suspension on Michigan driver's license, eligible to drive for the balance of the six months (150 days) on a restricted basis, i.e. to / from / and in connection with work, court ordered programs, and emergency medical treatment
- Up to 360 hours community service
- Six points on your Michigan driver's license
- $1,000.00 per year for two years "Driver Responsibility Fee" charged by the Secretary of State through the Michigan Department of Treasury
First Time Offender: OWVI - Operating While Impaired
- Recorded as "misdemeanor" conviction as opposed to felony conviction on criminal record
- Jail up to 93 days
- Probation for up to 2 years with alcohol and drug monitoring
- Fines up to $300, "plus court costs" which totals over $1,000.00
- 90 days restricted driving on Michigan driver's license, i.e. to / from / and in connection with work, court ordered programs, and emergency medical treatment
- Up to 360 hours community service
- Four points on your Michigan driver's license
- $500.00 per year for two years "Driver Responsibility Fee" charged by the Secretary of State through the Michigan Department of Treasury
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. A third offense for any combination of OWI and OWVI charges in a lifetime is a felony OWI 3rd offense, which carries mandatory jail and a possible prison term of up to 5 years.
Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Wayne District Court
Although drug and alcohol does occur during the course of probation at the 29th District Court, it is typically ordered at random times.
29th District Court Sobriety Court Program
The Wayne District Court does not have a sobriety court program at this time. Important: Since the 29th District Court does not have a sobriety court program, motorists facing a second offense for OWI 2nd will NOT be eligible for a restricted license. If you are facing a second alcohol-related offense within seven years of a prior conviction, it is critical that you hire a lawyer and challenge the case. Two alcohol-related convictions within seven years results in a lifetime driver's license revocation with no restrictions and no ability to get a license in another state for work or any other reason.
The 29th District Court Prosecutors
Please note: We do not recommend that you contact the prosecutors directly!
It is always wiser to have your lawyer engage in all communications with the
prosecutor because statements that you make can be used against you.
State Prosecutor for Wayne County
Kym L. Worthy (P38875)
Wayne County Prosecutor
1441 Saint Antoine St
Frank Murphy Hall of Justice
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 224-5777
Fax: (313) 224-8180
e-Mail: kworthy@co.Wayne.mi.us
Wayne Prosecutor
Melissa Cox (P71972)
Fausone Bohn LLP
41700 West 6 Mile Rd Ste 101
Northville, MI 48168
Phone: (248) 380-0000
Fax: (248) 380-3434
e-Mail: mmcnamara@fb-firm.com
Web:
www.fb-firm.com
29th District Court Judge
The following opinions are drawn from our experiences and dealings with the
judge in the 29th District Court. It's important to understand that these are
just opinions, and other lawyers might disagree. Because we routinely challenge
drunk driving cases, however, our firm's experience with a particular judge
might be different from lawyers who do not take cases to trial. None of the
comments here should be viewed as an attempt to discredit a particular judge or
reflect poorly upon the judiciary.
Hon. Laura Redmond Mack
Judge Laura Redmond Mack of the 29th District Court is an awesome judge, and most of the staff at the 29th District is really great, with only the court administrator being difficult. This is one of the few courts where practicing DUI defense can be actually considered pleasant. On drunk driving cases, we have had several evidentiary hearings and jury trials before Judge Mack. We have had some success on motions before Judge Mack, but with that said, we have had a great deal of success in the past with the local prosecutor. Judge Mack has not been forced to hear motions in many of our more meritorious cases under the retired prosecutor. The new prosecutor's contract with Fausone Bohn LLP might change this longstanding trend. While we have worked with prosecutor Melissa Cox and others from her firm for many years, the firm can be difficult. The number of motions going before Judge Mack will likely increase with this change in prosecutors. That said, however, Judge Mack has always appeared to be willing to grant a defense lawyer's motion if the evidence supports the motion, and she does not appear to hold any bias or prejudice against either the prosecution or the defense. At trial, she allows the attorneys to conduct a full voir dire of the jury, and she allows lawyers to argue their case to the jury. Her disposition in these cases is very fair. We have had not guilty verdicts handed down by jurors in the City of Wayne in many years.
29th District Court Map
The court is located at 34808 Sims Ave. Wayne, MI 48184, one street north of Michigan Avenue off Wayne Road. From I-275, take Michigan Avenue east until you reach Wayne Road. The court is across the street from Leo's Jewelry. The court's telephone number is (734) 722-5220.
If You Are Searching for Qualified Wayne DUI Lawyers . . .
If you are currently charged with drunk driving in Wayne, Michigan, and
seeking a qualified Wayne DUI lawyer to represent you in the 29th District Court, please complete our
free on-line evaluation form
or call our office at (888) 941-1122 or locally at (734) 591-0100.
The Maze Legal Group can provide you with the highest quality representation in
your Wayne drunk driving case. Mr. Maze is an award-winning attorney and one of Michigan's leading drunk
driving defense lawyers. He limits his practice to handling only drunk
driving cases and DUI-related traffic matters, and he has handled many cases in the 29th District Court. He is certified in standardized
field sobriety tests and teaches other lawyers how to defend DUI cases. He has been trained on the BAC Datamaster breath testing device at National
Patent Analytical Systems and owns two BAC Datamaster devices. He has received
toxicology training in blood and urine testing, and he has attended hundreds of
hours of specialized training in DUI defense across the county.
The Maze Legal Group has handled many Wayne DUI cases, successfully
representing clients through motions and jury trials that have resulted in
favorable rulings. If you want to know more about our experience in handling
drunk driving cases in the 29th District Court or what you might expect in your case, call our office and
schedule an appointment with Mr. Maze.
