Michael J. Nichols

In The News

Sunday, April 15, 2012

THE PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS THAT YOU TOOK BEFORE DRIVING ARE NONE OF A POLICE OFFICER'S BUSINESS SAYS MICHIGAN OWI-OUIL-DUI LAWYER MIKE NICHOLS OF EAST LANSING

By Michael Nichols
Categories: Michael J. Nichols

Police Officers are becoming so-called drug-recognition-evaluators in growing numbers around Michigan in order to make more arrests for driving while impaired by prescription medicine. "Right now it is a pretty good possibility that a police officer is going through training on how to become a DRE," says Mike Nichols of Lansing. Nichols adds: "the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration are targeting you if you are on prescription medications" Nichols has joined forces with a small group of other lawyers to form the Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys (MIAOWIA).              

The Assocaiation just hosted a DRE course for lawyers in Detroit. Nichols said: "we brought in nationally-known, highly-trained experts to educate us on how to combat the 12-step 'DRE protocol.'" Nichols added, "it became clear that the only effective tool for an officer to diagnose a person who is driving while on prescription medication is the interview of the driver. That leads me to conclude that the best thing for you to do is simply tell the officer that you are not going to answer his question if he asks you 'what have you been taking today?' There is nothing wrong with declining to answer, especially if you are respectful - even if the officer threatens you with 'I'm going to give you one chance and only one chance to be honest with me' or words to that effect." Nichols said: "one way to respond is 'I am not going to be answering questions about my personal health. That is private.'"

     Nichols is author of the Michigan OWI Handbook for West Publishing. Nichols. Mike Nichols has been practicing criminal defense in Lansing for 13 years. Nichols focuses on the defense of those who are charged with driving while impaired by alcohol and other drugs. Nichols is also chair of the Ingham County Bar Association Criminal Law Section and a founding member of the MIAOWIA. He is also a member of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. The DRE training that Nichols and 20 other lawyers attended is available to lawyers through Dr. Lance Platt, PhD (http://www.plattandassociates.com) via warhorse marketing. http://www.warhorsemarketing.com Nichols added "this training not only made me a better lawyer but it is vital to defending citizens from overzealous government intrusion and restraint of liberty. I recommend every lawyer take it and every citizen just say "no thanks" when asked to answer questions about prescriptions."
 
     If you need a lawyer who has special skills, training and focus to turn over every stone in your OWI or OWI Drugs case, contact Mike Nichols at mnichols@nicholslaw.net

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Peer Recognition

Mike Nichols is a national leader in drunk driving defense. He is a member of the Forensic Committee and Michigan delegate to the National College for DUI Defense. He is also a Sustaining Member of the College. Nichols is also a founding member of the Michigan Association of OWI Attorneys; a member of the American Chemical Society; an associate member of he American Academy of Forensic Science, Adjunct Professor of Forensic Evidence in Criminal Law and OWI Law and Practice at Cooley Law School. He is also author of the West OWI Practice book and several chapters in other books on science and the law.

Mike Nichols is recognized by his peers in Michigan as a “SuperLawyer” in DUI/Criminal Defense. Nichols has also been asked to speak at conferences by groups such as the NCDD; Various Bar Associations in other states.