Michigan OWI Lawyer

OWI is short for Operating While Impaired. In 2004, Michigan changed its drunk driving laws to eliminate what was formerly known as Operationg Under the Influence of Liquor (OUIL) and the lesser offense of Operating While Impaired (OWI). Now, OWI is the more serious of the two types of drunk driving charges when you are arrested. Only OWI causing death, OWI causing serious injury or OWI with a child under 16 are more serious. There is a charge that is less serious known as Operating While Visibly Impaired (OWVI). If you are charged with OWI there are many options and you should not give up your right to a trial without fully exploring them and without fully analyzing the evidence that the government claims that it has against you. Moreover, you have the right to an evidentiary hearing at which you can ask the judge to throw out the evidence against you if the police violated your constitutional rights. Mike Nichols is certified by the manufacturer of the breath test device used in Michigan as competent in the theory and operation of the Datamaster.

Mike Nichols Educates Michigan Judges on Drugged Driving

Mike Nichols was invited to speak to the Michigan Judicial Institute on drugged driving issues for the annual MJI Winter Conference. Co-Presenting was Mr. Ken Stecker, the Traffic Safety Prosecutor for the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan (PAAM). Mr. Nichols said that it was surprising to see what some judges had no idea what was going on with Michigan law and drugs in the human body: “It was eye opening to hear the degree to which judges are in need of education about the metabolism of controlled substances like prescription drugs and even marijuana in the body. There is a lot of misinformation and misperception out there.”

Mr. Nichols also gave the same presentation, entitled “Not Your Father’s DUI,” to the National College for DUI Defense at their Winter Session in Atlanta, Georgia on January 19th. He is available to deliver his presentation to Michigan law firms and legal associations over the course of 2018 as changes to the law go into effect. To book Mr. Nichols for a presentation, call the Nichols Law Firm at (517) 432-9000.

• The Michigan State Police Blood Uncertainty Protocol for 2015 is Here
• The 1^st Version of An Uncertainty Budget for The Michigan State Police Breath Alcohol Testing Instrument for the Datamaster DMT is Here

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.