In The News

A Grand Rapids jury returned verdicts of not guilty acorss the board on charges of operating while intoxicated, operating while visibly impaired and possession of a switch blade.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

East Lansing Jury Just Says No to Convicting an MSU student of Minor in Possession

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Why You Should Just Say No to the PBT

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

East Lansing Drunk Driving Attorney Mike Nichols Secures Dismissal of Drunk Driving Charges

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

The reason for the stop was failing to turn on headlights at night

Monday, September 22, 2014

Michigan DUI Attorney Applauds Judge for Standing Up for Justice

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Mike Nichols of East Lansing has convinced a judge in Macomb County to exclude a datamaster breath test result of .24 on the old "bac datamaster." Nichols' advocacy is covered by the Macomb Daily in a high-profile case.

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Michigan DUI-DUID Attorney Featured in Statewide Legal News Article and Speaks On 'Dashboard Justice' and Forensics"

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Williamston Man Serves 6 days But Gets to Move on Following a Reduced Plea and Emotional Sentencing

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

The tragedy that left a Holt woman dead and left a young Ingham County man charged with “moving violation causing death” is over at least from a legal standpoint. 55^th District Court Judge Thomas Boyd imposed just a fraction of the potential jail sentence and the man qualified for early release to serve 24 months probation.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Non-criminal Conviction for a Operating While Intoxicated Charge

Categories: Wendy M. Schiller-Nichols, OWI

Wendy Schiller-Nichols was able to get a careless driving (civil infraction) for a client charged with Operating While Intoxicated (OWI).

Friday, August 8, 2014

Michigan Drunk and Drugged Driving Attorney Mike Nichols Leads The Way To Creating An Uncertainty Measurement With Breath Alcohol Testing

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

A Grand Rapids District judge has concluded hearings on measurement uncertainty and breath testing. The court ruled that there is always a variance for error associated with a measurement for breath alcohol.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Breath Testing and Pulling the Curtain: Even the Highest Breath Alcohol Results are Meaningless if The Results Are Not Admitted Into Evidence

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

A brief update on our ongoing efforts at the Nichols Law Firm to educate the pubic, judges and other lawyers on the probems with breath alcohol testing

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Breath Testing and Pulling the Curtain: Even the Highest Breath Alcohol Results are Meaningless if The Results Are Not Admitted Into Evidence

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

A brief update on our ongoing efforts at the Nichols Law Firm to educate the pubic, judges and other lawyers on the probems with breath alcohol testing

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Drunk Driving Charges Dismissed - Ingham County Man Keeps his License ... and Career

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Ingham County man got the news that he was praying for about drunk driving charges pending against him: dismissal of the case in exchange for a plea to disorderly conduct and careless driving

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Michigan "SuperLawyer" Mike Nichols Appears on Statewide Radio to Discuss an Injustice and How to Right a Wrong

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

East Lansing attorney Mike Nichols was a guest on the "Michael Patrick Shiels" radio show on Monday July 7th discussing a case in which an 18 year old man was given a sentence that was 3 times what the Michigan Sentencing Guidelines calculated. Nichols, who is designated a SuperLawyer in DUI/Criminal Defense for 3 years running said the case "calls into question the fairness of the process in this case."

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Does the Lawyer Representing You Know the Collateral Consequences of Settling your Drunk-Drugged Driving Charge Before Giving Up Your Right to a Jury Trial?

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

Driver license suspensions and sanctions are the most well-known and discussed collateral consequence of a conviction for drunk or drugged driving in Michigan.

Monday, May 19, 2014

Is Your Driving Impaired By Your Medications?

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Will a gizmo decide for you?

Friday, May 16, 2014

Driving While on Medications is the New Push by Michigan State Police

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

House Bill 5385 was passed by the judiciary committee on May 15, 2014. The bill was amended after opponents like Mike Nichols led the charge about the overreaching of the bill.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

2 Dismissals on Drunk Driving Charges and a Reckless Driving - Let Michigan OWI Attorney Mike Nichols Help You Get Your Life Back - But Help Yourself by Keeping Quiet to the Officer

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Mike Nichols achieved a dismissal on drunk driving charges in mid-Michigan and northern- Michigan and a reckless driving in the East Lansing area for clients who absolutely had to win their lives back.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Client Gets His License and His Life Back When an OWI 2nd Charge is Dismissed

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, OWI

Nichols Law Firm attorneys Mike Nichols and Stephanie Tzafaroglou obtained a dismissal of an OWI 2nd charge against an Eaton County man.

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Keeping Your Super Bowl Sunday Super and Avoiding a DUI or DUID

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

How to answer the question of intoxication.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Lansing DUI Attorney Mike Nichols Strikes Again: Blood Alcohol Analysis Excluded Based on a Lack of Reliability

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

A Judge excluded a blood alcohol analysis in an Ingham County drunk driving case after Mike Nichols challenged the reliability of the test.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Michigan Forensic Science Leader Mike Nichols to Serve on Mastering Scientific Evidence Course Faculty in 2014; Will also Present at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Mike Nichols, a leader in defending those accused of crimes involving forensic evidence, accepted an invitation to speak at the Mastering Scientific Evidence Course in New Orleans in March, 2014.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Is Your Criminal Record Holding You Back? Make Expunging Your Criminal Conviction Your New Year’s Resolution.

Categories: OWI

A new year means a fresh start. For those with criminal convictions, this means the opportunity to expunge a criminal conviction from your record. Michigan’s ‘expungement’ statute, MCL 780.621, allows those with one criminal conviction, or two convictions for ‘minor offenses’, to set aside the conviction.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

"Can a Judge Banish My Child from Campus or Effectively Kick My Child Out of School if He or She was Involved in the Civil Disobedience in East Lansing Over the Weekend?" East Lansing Attorney Mike Nichols Says: "Yes."

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI, Minor in Possession

Over a dozen young people will be charged with various crimes after a disturbance over the weekend off Michigan State University's campus. East Lansing DUI-DUID and Criminal Defense Attorney Mike Nichols says that the episode was apparently the result of celebrations over the Michigan State University's football team that got carried away.

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

East Lansing Attorney Mike Nichols Says the Reason for the Stop Should Always be Questioned in a Michigan Drunk Driving Case

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Recently Mike Nichols fought for clients in several Michigan counties including Allegan, Osceola and Ingham (Meridian Township) over whether police properly stopped the citizen-drivers who were then arrested on suspicion of drunk driving charges.

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Deputies Handed out Tickets and Made Arrests for Alcohol Offenses without Regard to Team Loyalty at the MSU/U-M Football Game

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI, Minor in Possession

East Lansing Police, MSU Campus Police, Meridian Township Police and Ingham County Sheriff Deputies Handed out Tickets and Made Arrests for Alcohol Offenses without Regard to Team Loyalty at the MSU/U-M Football Game

Monday, November 4, 2013

Mike Nichols Again Leading the Way in Forensic Evidence in Criminal Cases; Will Present at the 2014 American Academy of Forensic Sciences Annual Conference

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

East Lansing attorney Mike Nichols, a leader in dui-criminal defense will present at the 2014 American Academy of Forensic Science in Seattle Washington. Nichols, a resident of Meridian Township will take part in a workshop on science in the courtroom.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Developments in Science Allow Judges and Juries to be Fully-Informed About the the Limits of Breath Testing

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Our criminal justice system is at the core of our democracy. We have the ability to be a beacon for the world about the responsibility of a government to prove a crime when it charges a crime.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Charges of Operating with the Presence of Marijuana Dismissed

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI, Josh Covert, Medical Marijuana

Nichols Law Firm client facing criminal charge for second offense of driving while under the influence of drugs receives a reckless driving instead

Monday, October 14, 2013

Michigan DUI Attorney Mike Nichols to Again Educate Michigan Lawyers on Uncertainty and Metrology in Blood and Breath Testing

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Mike Nichols of East Lansing will educate lawyers from around the state on the science of blood and breath alcohol testing on October 18th.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Why are we still guessing?

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Our criminal justice system is at the core of our democracy. We have the ability to be a beacon for the world about the responsibility of a government to prove a crime when it charges a crime. Even something that so many of you say is "minor" like a drunk driving. Ask yourself - if you were making one of the most important decisions in your life - would you want to be shown all of the evidence to make a decision?

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Does State Revenue Outweigh The Safety Of Motorists?

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Senator Rick Jones (R) Grand Ledge says that scientific studies indicate that Michigan Motorists are already speeding in these areas making slower law abiding citizens the hazard on highways.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over Campaign Has More Officers Ready To Pull You Over

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

If you are traveling or tailgating for Michigan State’s first football game over the Labor Day weekend, be aware that extra patrol cars are ready to pull over anyone whose driving appears to be impaired.

Monday, August 26, 2013

MSU Students are Back - ELPD and MSUPD will be Back to Looking Out for Arrest Opportunities for Drunk Driving and Other Alcohol Offenses

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

The return of MSU students means the return of a major source of revenue for East Lansing and MSU police: arrests for drunk driving, minor in possession, drug possession and all sorts of crimes involving drugs and/or alcohol.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

New Bars Open In East Lansing - ELPD Has 'Scaled Questions' For You

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Downtown East Lansing features 2 new exciting bars: and 2 new sources of revenue for the City of East Lansing via DUI enforcement by the East Lansing Police Department.

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Michigan Law Enforcement Officers Make Over 4,000 Traffic Stops over the 4th of July

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

It is important for Michigan motorists to remember that a drunk driving crackdown does not permit law enforcement officers to stop drivers sufficient legal justification.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

The Death of "Working Backwards" to Calculate a BAC in DUI - Another Reason Not to Take a Roadside PBT

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

. . . try to match a bodily alcohol content at the time of driving. AW Jones said recently "you shouldn't do it"

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Michigan DUI Attorney Mike Nichols and Wendy Schiller Nichols Attend the Summer Session of the National College for DUI Defense

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Wendy M. Schiller-Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Mike Nichols Represents Michigan as the Michigan Delegate to the National College for DUI Defense

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Michigan DUI Attorney Mike Nichols and Wendy Schiller Nichols Attend the Summer Session of the National College for DUI Defense; Mike Nichols Represents Michigan as the Michigan Delegate to the National College for DUI Defense

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Wendy M. Schiller-Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

The best drunk driving defense attorneys in the nation converge on Boston in late July every year and Mike Nichols and Wendy Schiller Nichols of East Lansing are among them in 2013.

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Michigan State Police Claims You Will Be “Red, White and Busted” If Caught Drunk Driving

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

26 specific counties have been targeted and provided with extra officers to crack down on their campaign.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Lansing Drunk Driving Lawyers say to “Leave Your Keys Behind” at Lansing Beer Week Events

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Lansing Beer Week starts June 21^st, 2013.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Always Ask for a Lawyer When Offered a Chemical Test – The Impact of “Hall vs State” at Secretary of State License Hearings

Categories: Wendy M. Schiller-Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Michigan’s Implied Consent Act states that everyone is “deemed” to have consented to a chemical test.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Michigan Attorney Mike Nichols Speaks on Statewide Radio about Operating Under the Influence of Drugs

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, OWI

Lansing Attorney Mike Nichols is helping hundreds of thousands of Michigan radio listeners understand the evolving laws about operating under the influence of drugs.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Drunk/Drugged Driving Defense Attorney-Author and Law Professor On Marijuana Patient Treatment

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI, Medical Marijuana

Friday, May 17, 2013

Pushing You Over The Limit

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

This week, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) recommended that all states lower the legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to have while operating a vehicle from .08 g/210 liters of breath to .05 g/210 liters of breath.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Did the officer arrest you based on your performance on sobriety tests? Did he do them correctly

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, OWI

South Haven case dismissed

Monday, April 29, 2013

Traffic Accident: High BAC in Blood; Refusal of the Chemical Test and Still a Dismissal of all Charges in Exchange for a Careless Driving

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

A young man has his future back thanks to the Nichols Law Firm

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

“Just Say No” to Probation: Client convicted with a second OWI is sentenced to weekend class and fines/costs!

Categories: Wendy M. Schiller-Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Client on probation receives weekend class and fines and costs for a OWI second charge

Friday, April 19, 2013

Rave Reviews for Michigan drunk driving attorney Mike Nichols After He Presents at the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar Conference on the Truth Behind Detecting Marijuana in Human Blood

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

Criminal defense attorneys in Colorado were among the latest to hear the truth about the scientific limitations of detecting marijuana in human blood from criminal defense attorney Mike Nichols of East Lansing.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Drunk Driving in Jackson County DISMISSED after Jackson-DUI-attorney Wendy Schiller-Nichols files a motion challenging the Michigan State Police Trooper’s Stop!

Categories: Wendy M. Schiller-Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

It is becoming the typical ploy by Michigan State Police these days: pull over someone for a “dangling object” then arrest them for driving under the influence.

Monday, March 25, 2013

"I don't want to have to check that box" - You Are Arrested for DUI in Michigan During March Madness

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

"I don't want to have to check that box" - You Are Arrested for DUI in Michigan During March Madness But You May be a Victim of Targeted Enforcement says Drunk Driving Attorney Mike Nichols of Meridian Township. The Question You Have to Answer is Whether You Deserve to Have to Disclose a Criminal Conviction for the Rest of Your Life

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Michigan State University DUI patrols will be up from East Lansing to Okemos to Charlotte while beloved coach Tom Izzo warns basketball fans “I’ll never be accused of drunk driving”

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

Michigan State University basketball coach Tom Izzo that “I’ll never be accused of drunk driving” in a press conference in which Izzo encouraged people to get a safe ride during the NCAA March Madness tournament after drinking.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Michigan State Police have stepped up drunk driving enforcement as a spring surprise for Michigan citizens

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

Michigan DUI attorney Mike Nichols of East Lansing says that the Michigan State Police have stepped up drunk driving enforcement as a spring surprise for Michigan citizens

Friday, March 8, 2013

The Nichols Law Firm Lawyers Lead the Way in Investigating a Major Development in Breath Alcohol Testing in Michigan

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

Manufacturer of the datamaster breath test instument sold to Intoximeters, Inc. What does this mean for your case?

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

East Lansing DUI Attorney Mike Nichols Co-counsels Case To A Not Guilty In The East Lansing District Court

Categories: OWI

An East Lansing man stood before a jury with a breath estimate of .10 and .11 and a claim by a police officer that he ran a stop sign.

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Client Charged With OWI Second Will Not Have License Revoked Thanks to Plea Agreement Negotiated by Nichols Law Firm

Categories: OWI

“I think the prosecuting attorney saw the writing on the wall and instead of arguing a motion that they were likely to lose they offered a plea that my client could not refuse”

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Michigan Drunk Driving Attorney Mike Nichols of Meridian Township says "breathal-eyes" and "novelty pbt" Devices are Just that: Novelties

Categories: OWI

"if you blow in a portable pbt or use those "breathal-eyes" devices, it will not give you a true representation of your bodily alcohol content."

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Meridian Township drunk driving attorney Mike Nichols may know the key to clearing your name of OWI-OUIL-DUI charges in the Okemos Michigan area

Categories: OWI

"What many people don't know is what may be going on behind the scenes to try to give the public a false sense of confidence in the evidence gathering unit at the MTPD."

Monday, January 14, 2013

Michigan drunk driving attorney responds to United States Supreme Court Case on warrantless blood draws in OWI-OUIL cases: Is the Missouri case going to change anything in Michigan?

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

The United States Supreme Court heard oral arguments on January 9th on whether or not police should be allowed to conduct warrantless blood draws of drivers suspected of driving under the influence if the driver refuses to give consent.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

MICHIGAN DRUNK DRIVING ATTORNEY MIKE NICHOLS: EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS AND BEATING THE NUMBERS

Categories: OWI

A study by a law firm in Massachusetts reports the conviction rate for OUI cases in Michigan is among the highest in the nation at 94%.

Monday, November 5, 2012

EATON COUNTY DUI-OWI-OUIL ATTORNEY MIKE NICHOLS APPLAUDS APPEALS COURT OPINION GRANTING CLIENT A NEW TRIAL IN HIS DRUNK DRIVING CASE

Categories: OWI

An Eaton County Judge has ruled that district court judge Julie Reincke committed an error that should be reversed in a drunk driving trial in 2011

Friday, October 26, 2012

MICHIGAN DRIVERS SHOULD EXPECT AN INCREASE IN TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT FOR THE HALLOWEEN WEEKEND

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

Michigan drivers may receive a new kind of scare this Halloween weekend.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

NORTHERN MICHIGAN DRUNK DRIVING ATTORNEY MIKE NICHOLS SHOWS WHY HE IS COMMITTED TO RESULTS FOR A CLIENT WITH A COMMERCIAL DRIVER LICENSE (CDL) WHO BEAT A DRUNK DRIVING CHARGE

Categories: OWI

The police stopped this man, claiming that he was weaving through downtown Ludington last summer.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

EAST LANSING 50/50 ORDINANCE

Categories: OWI

The possibility of increased alcohol sales at East Lansing bars carries the possibility of increasted traffic stops nad Operating While Intoxicated (OWI) investigations in East Lansing.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

PROPOSED LEGISLATION KEEPS MICHIGAN'S DRINKING DRIVING LIMIT AT .08

Categories: OWI

In May 2012, the Michigan House of Representatives introduced a bill that would maintain .08 as Michigan's legal drinking limit.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

LEARN THE LABOR DAY DUI CRACKDOWN TARGET TIMES - RIGHT DOWN TO THE SHIFT FROM MICHIGAN OWI ATTORNEY MIKE NICHOLS

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, OWI

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED JAIL TIME FOR NICHOLS LAW FIRM CLIENT WHO SHOWED SIGNS OF HOPE TO JUDGE

Categories: OWI

Attorney Karen Phillips walked into the courtroom in Eaton County, Michigan, with a client facing sentencing by a District Court judge.

Friday, July 27, 2012

NO JAIL TIME FOR NICHOLS LAW FIRM CLIENT WHO SHOWS SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS TOWARDS SOBRIETY

Categories: OWI

Attorney Karen Phillips entered Judge Reincke's courtroom in Eaton County, Michigan with her client for Sentencing on an OWI 1st offense prepared to prove to Judge Reincke that her client was rehabilitated. The probation officer had recommended 10 days jail.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

IF YOU REFUSE THE CHEMICAL TEST IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOUR LICENSE IS AUTOMATICALLY REVOKED:

Categories: OWI

“The lesson is that you should always request a hearing before the Secretary of State hearing officer"

Saturday, May 26, 2012

EAST LANSING DRUNK DRIVING ATTORNEY MIKE NICHOLS VOWS TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO CONFRONT A WITNESS WITH TESTIMONY AGANST THE ACCUSED - DESPITE A NEW RULING FROM MICHIGAN'S HIGHEST COURT

Categories: OWI

...if the trial judge thinks that good cause exists then the trial judge has discretion to let a witness testify via 2-way technology.

Friday, May 11, 2012

MICHIGAN OWI-OUID LAWYER MIKE NICHOLS TO MICHIGAN LAWMAKERS: DON’T DISCRIMINATE AGAINST VETERANS WHO PARTICIPATE IN VETERANS COURT BY STAINING THEM WITH A DRUNK DRIVING CONVICTION THAT OTHERS CAN AVOID

Categories: OWI

“I can tell you about one young man who served our country in the army, went overseas and came back without any of the structure that he was trained and lived under for years. He had a hard time adjusting after his service: drank too much while he was out one night and he was arrested for operating while intoxicated – which is a traffic offense.. . ."

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

LICENSE RESTORED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR CLIENT CHARGED WITH OWI

Categories: OWI

...the hearing, which could have resulted in a 1 year suspension of his driving privileges, resulted in the best possible outcome after the hearing officer granted the appeal, reinstating all driving privileges.

Friday, April 20, 2012

MORE MONEY SPENT ON LANSING POLICE HEADQUARTERS, LESS MONEY SPENT ON POLICE RESOURCES, MATERIALS, AND STAFF

Categories: OWI

If you are accused of a crime by the Lansing Police Department and want an attorney who will be committed to results, contact the Nichols Law Firm at (517) 432-9000.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

MIKE NICHOLS WINS LICENSE BACK FOR CLIENT

Categories: OWI

License returned to Michigan law maker

Sunday, February 12, 2012

OWI CHARGE IN EAST LANSING DISMISSED: CLIENT'S FACEBOOK STATUS CHANGED FROM PRESUMED INNOCENT TO VINDICATED

Categories: OWI

A Lansing man was stopped at 2:30 in the morning shortly before Christmas last year. His car's passenger side tires were straddling the lane marker. The officer asked him why?

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

A HOLIDAY GIFT COURTESY OF THE NICHOLS LAW FIRM DUI LAWYERS: NO PROBATION, NO JAIL AND NO INTERLOCK DESPITE A HIGH BAC IN A MICHIGAN-DRUNK DRIVING CASE

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

A court agreed to impose no probation or jail pending the outcome of a substance abuse assessment in a Michigan OWI-OUIL-DUI case in order to resolve the case without the need to rule on a motion. . .

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Out-of-state Drivers with a DUI-OUIL-OWI Charge in Michigan Can Find Help Quickly

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

If you are charged with DUI-OUIL-OWI in Michigan but you are from out-of-state, the Nichols Law Firm webpage has help to guide you on the sanctions from another state.

Monday, October 24, 2011

MIKE NICHOLS NAMED MICHIGAN DELEGATE TO THE NATIONAL COLLEGE FOR DUI DEFENSE

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

OWI-OUIL-DUI expert Mike Nichols of Lansing has been named Michigan delegate to the National College for DUI Defense for the 2012-2015 term.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Mike Nichols quoted on new super drunk law for local newspapers

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Mike Nichols quoted on new super drunk law for both Livingston County and Ingham County local newspapers.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

ARRESTED AT THE ART FESTIVAL?

Categories: OWI

Thursday, May 12, 2011

NEW-BREATH-TEST-INSTRUMENT-IN-MICHIGAN-APPEARS-TO-BE-FAR-FROM-PERFECT-ACCORDING-TO-MICHIGAN-DUI-OWI-OUIL-EXPERT-ATTORNEY-AND-LAW-PROFESSOR-MIKE-NICHOLS

Categories: OWI

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Blood-tests-in-Michigan-DUI-OUIL-OWI-cases-found-to-be-unreliable

Categories: OWI

Watch full coverage of the Bad Blood Challenge as seen on Wood TV

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

DISTRICT JUDGE RULES THAT THE MICHIGAN STATE POLICE DO NOT USE RELIABLE BLOOD ALCOHOL TESTING PROCEDURES

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

OWI Charge dismissed allowing client to keep job and rehabilitate

Categories: Wendy M. Schiller-Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Wendy Schiller-Nichols obtained a dismissal for her client who was charged with Operating While Intoxicated.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Michigan OWI-DUI-OUIL expert Mike Nichols of East Lansing to instruct other lawyers on communicating the new DMT to juries

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Attorneys have the opportunity to learn the theory and operation of the new datamaster dmt device in Lansing on June 3rd.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Can my Michigan OWI-OUIL-DUI be dismissed? Mike Nichols on the 4th Amendment and how it can help

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The Right To Present A Defense: What the Law Says

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

I often wonder when it was that many judges decided citizens accused of a crime had to prove something during a trial. After all, the judge tells the jury not once but twice during the instructions that the defendant does not have to do anything to be entitled to a verdict of not guilty. The prosecution opines “it’s the defendant’s job to keep evidence out.” However, it seems like every time I submit a case and call witnesses, the prosecution often plays exactly that role.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

New Options for Repeat OWI-OUIL Offenders in Michigan

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

A new law takes effect January 1, 2011 that will give OWI-OUIL-DUI arrestees in Michigan an option to preserve a restricted license.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

OWI-OUIL-DUI Arrests on the rise with new crackdown

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

"Law enforcement officers are specifically targeting drunk drivers right now through the end of the year,"

Thursday, September 30, 2010

Why people arrested by the Ingham County Sheriff Department of violating the Michigan-OWI-OUIL-DUI statue in 2010 should plead not guilty

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

In some cases, the only evidence that can convict an accused of violating Michigan’s-drunk –driving-law is a chemical test. However, anyone arrested in suburban Lansing, including Lansing Township, Williamston, parts of Okemos or the Mason area based on a breath sample –the breath may have been sampled by a failing breath test instrument.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Are SCRAM Tethers Perfect? "NO" says Mike Nichols

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Are SCRAM tethers perfect? “NO” says Michigan-OWI-OUIL-DUI expert attorney Mike Nichols, commenting for Michigan State University news coverage in the wake of increased alcohol-arrests.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Are tethers a viable option for jail? Mike Nichols weighs in for the Lansing State Journal

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI, Domestic Violence, Drug Crimes

Michigan-OWI-OUIL-DUI expert Mike Nichols weighs in for the Lansing State Journal

Monday, August 2, 2010

Mike Nichols to Speak on Michigan's Superdrunk Change to Michigan-OWI/DUI-Law

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Mike Nichols will educate other lawyers on Michigan’s so-called “superdrunk” law in October. Mr. Nichols will address the Ingham County Bar Association’s Criminal Law Section in October, 2010 on the changes to Michigan’s OWI law.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Case may affect admissibility of blood-alcohol tests

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Mike Nichols is currently involved in a case that may affect admissibility of blood-alchohol tests. Read the article at lsj.com.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

EXCELLENT RESULT IN A MICHIGAN-OWI/DUI-2d OFFENSE: NO JAIL

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

A Michigan judge imposed a sentence of no jail time for a citizen charged in southwest Michigan with OWI 2d.

Friday, April 9, 2010

The Consequences of a DUI Conviction on Student Visas or Work Permits

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

A US Citizen, who has previously been convicted of drunk driving, will be barred from entering Canada. But what of a foreign national who is convicted of drunk driving, while living in the States?

Friday, April 2, 2010

Drunk Driving Convictions will Prevent you from Entering Canada

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

If you are thinking of traveling to Canada with a drunk driving conviction on your record, you will want to re-think your travel plans. Canadian Customs will deny you entry into Canada and you will be turned back around right at the border.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Former Ingham county judge to be defended again by The Nichols Law Firm

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

The Nichols Law Firm is investigating the charges against their client and preparing her defense.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

License Sanctions Can Extend Beyond Michigan Borders

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

Imagine this: you’re a Michigan State University Student, with finals fast approaching. As if school wasn’t stressful enough, you make the mistake of having “one too many”. You then get convicted and sentenced for “Drunk Driving”. You know that the Michigan Secretary of State is going to sanction your Michigan driving privileges. But, what does it really matter since you’re originally from some other State (Virginia, for example)? It matters a lot more than most people realize.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Watch news broadcast of Michael Nichols speaking on DUI’s

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Watch Mike Nichols give his thoughts on personal sobriety tests.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Are Substance Abuse Assessments Appropriate Bond Conditions?

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

The flavor of the month for dealing with suspected drunk drivers in extreme cases like felonies, accidents involving injury or death, even some 1st time defendants with an extremely high BrAC or BAC seems to be ordering the defendant to undergo a substance abuse assessment.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

NLF Client Does Not Lose License Thanks To Cross-Examination

Categories: Wendy M. Schiller-Nichols, OWI

Thanks to the excellent cross-examination conducted by Wendy Schiller-Nichols of the arresting police officer, Client will not lose her driver's license for 1 year or receive 6 points on her driving record.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

The Anatomy of a DUI/OWI Case

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

Read an article about the anatomy of a DUI/OWI case.

Friday, December 18, 2009

NLF Client Goes To Trial On OWI and Walks Out of the Courthouse with a $100.00 check from the county

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, OWI

A judge dismissed an OWI charge in the middle of Mike Nichols' cross examination of the arresting officer. "The officer admitted that the datamaster gave him an ambient fail. I then made him read the portion of the operator's manual for the datamaster that said that ambient fail is a display message that means that there may be contaminated air in the room. A short time later the judge excused the jury for lunch and advised the prosecutor that he felt he needed to dismiss the case because the officer should have followed up and, as he admitted, the officer didn't even know what to do." To find out more about whether your breath result may be contaminated, click here for http://www.datamasterlimits.com.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Mike Nichols is NHTSA-certified in Standardized Field Sobriety Testing for OWI-investigations

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, OWI

Mike Nichols is certified in Standardized Field Sobriety Tests (SFSTs) after he attended a 24-hour course and passed a proficiency exam. “It was fascinating to administer the SFSTs on our intoxicated subjects” said Nichols. He added: “I have a much better understanding for how difficult the tests are for both the subject being tested and the officer administering the test. Hence, if the officer is not careful, cautious and patient the test can easily end up as an invalid indicator of intoxication; and that is no better than flipping a coin when deciding whether to arrest someone.”

Friday, November 20, 2009

DUI Expert Mike Nichols Testifies As An Expert In a Michigan DUI Case

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Mike Nichols was called as an expert witness by the defense in an Eaton County DUI-case on November 19, 2009. The issue in the case was the defense available to a defendant who pled guilty in a marginal case and didn’t realize it would cost him his driver’s license for a year because of his prior conviction. You can find out how to put Mike Nichols’ expertise to work for you in your DUI-case by contacting us at 517.432.900: 877-9DUI-LAW or www.michiganduidefender.com

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

OWI Charge Dismissed on the Eve of Trial

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, OWI

How can you get your OWI charge dismissed? Contact The Nichols Law Firm. On November 10th, a prosecutor dismissed all charges in a Battle Creek-OWI/DUI-case. "The client will not even have to plead responsible to a careless driving," said OWI-attorney Mike Nichols of East Lansing. The client was in an accident, in which he was not at fault. The responding officer smelled what appeared to him to be an odor consistent with alcohol. The client submitted to a blood test that resulted in a result of .08 grams of ethanol per 100 milliliters of blood. "However, the prosecutor did not realize that the officer had the citizen drive his truck 4 miles down the road from the accident scene to a park and ride where he administered field sobriety tests," said Nichols. "We videotaped the route from the accident scene to the investigation scene so the jury could see how far and feel how long that distance was ... because the officer never memorialized in his report that he saw any problems with this person's driving at that point in time. Further, he DIRECTED this person to drive. Would you do that as an officer sworn to protect the public if you thought that someone was too impaired to drive?" Nichols added.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

It's a Bird! It's a Plane! It's Superdrunk!

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Superdrunk legislation leads the way amongst new statutes that affect criminal law practictioners.

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Should You Take The Preliminary Breath Test?

Categories: Drunk-Driving, OWI

The short answer is no, you should not take a Preliminary Breath Test (PBT). Of course there are exceptions to the rule but you won’t be in a position to make the evaluation while the Officer is pushing the PBT at you on the roadside. Better that you stick to a rule of thumb and just say no!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Tough New Michigan-DUI Laws Take Effect Next Year

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

Michigan’s lawmakers are at it again: so-called “superdrunk” legislation will take effect in October, 2010. “It’s another onerous crackdown on Michigan-DUI cases” said attorney Mike Nichols. A link to an article published by Mr. Nichols in the BRIEFS for the Ingham County Bar Association is attached.

Friday, September 4, 2009

What's better than a Not Guilty Verdict? A Dismissal in Mid-Trial

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

The prosecuting attorney dismissed a DUI/OWI charge against a Nichols Law Firm client on September 3rd in a Michigan DUI case. "We prepared hard; I knew what I wanted to do with the arresting officer during voir dire and cross examination and it all came together" said attorney Mike Nichols. The prosecutor offered to allow the client to accept a civil infraction at a break, following a ruling by the court to take Mike Nichols' objection to the datamaster results under advisement. "The officer was very honest to his credit," Nichols added. "He just could not give sufficient foundation for the datamaster result," he said.

Monday, August 24, 2009

Charge Dismissed Afer NLF Files Motion In a Michigan DUI Case: Nichols Urges the Public Not To Plead Guilty if Charged with "Exhibition Driving"

Categories: Michael J. Nichols, Drunk-Driving, OWI

A charge of "exhibition driving" was dismissed against a Nichols Law Firm client in a Michigan-DUI case on August 19th. "We filed a motion to argue that the misdemeanor charge filed by the city was unconstitutional," said Mike Nichols. "The so-called Exhibition Driving violation was the basis for the officer to stop the citizen who we represent and it was without merit," Mr. Nichols added. The client was charged with violating Michigan's-DUI-law after he was stopped. Mike Nichols added "we'll see how this affects the DUI case if at all. However, at least one misdemeanor is now gone and it is not coming back. If you are stopped and ticketed or arrested for exhibition driving in a municipality in Michigan, I urge you not to plead guilty but talk to a lawyer. Municipalities are not authorized to pass such an ordinance under the Home Rule Cities Act (MCL 117.3) and I find that many of these ordinances are unconstitutional because they are so vague," Nichols said.

Monday, August 17, 2009