Arrested for an OWI in Southeast Michigan, whether it is your first or not?
OWI / DUI Defense Attorney in Southeast Michigan
Take a breath. If this is your first OWI, you are scared. You are embarrassed. You keep replaying one night, sure it just cost you your license, your job, and the way people look at you. It feels like the end of the world. It is not. A charge is not a conviction, and one mistake does not have to define the rest of your life.
Scott has spent years helping people through exactly this, and he will not judge you for it. Maybe this is your first time in trouble. Maybe it is your second or third, or something as serious as an OWI causing injury. Maybe drinking has become bigger than one bad night. None of that makes you a bad person. None of it changes what Scott is here to do.
He will look at exactly what happened and give you an honest assessment of where you stand and the best path forward. To Scott, you are a person, not a file. What you do in these first days matters most, so reach him now.
Call Now — (586) 243-4140A live person answers 24/7. Your first consultation is free. Just call, and Scott takes it from there.
What you can do right now
Right now it feels like all you can do is wait and worry. Not true. There are a few things you can do this week, none of them complicated, and every one of them helps.
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Write down everything you remember, today. The stop, the tests, what the officer said, the order it all happened. Memory fades fast, and the details are often where a case turns.
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Stop talking about it. Not to friends, not to family, not online. Anything you say can end up in the case. Save the story for Scott.
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Keep every piece of paper. Your ticket, the paperwork from that night, your court dates, the conditions of your release. Have them in front of you when you call.
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Show up, and follow the rules. Make every court date. Follow your bond conditions exactly. What you do between now and court is something the judge will see.
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If drinking or drugs were part of that night, tell Scott. Taking it seriously can help, but timing and where you go matter, so let Scott point you to the right evaluation rather than getting one on your own.
You don't have to figure out all the legal parts. That's Scott's job. Yours is to keep your head up, take the small steps above, and let Scott take it from there.
Understanding the Charge
In Michigan, the official charge is Operating While Intoxicated (OWI), though Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is the commonly used term. A standard OWI applies when your BAC is .08 or higher. A High BAC or "Super Drunk" charge applies at .17 or higher, carrying significantly harsher penalties, including mandatory ignition interlock (BAIID) installation.
Michigan also charges Operating While Presence of Drugs (OWPD) — commonly called drugged driving — which applies when any amount of a controlled substance is found in your system. OWPD carries the same penalties as a standard OWI.
Scott has defended OWI cases across Macomb, Oakland, Wayne, St. Clair, and Lapeer counties — including the 41B District Court in Clinton Township, 42-1 District Court in Romeo, 42-2 District Court in New Baltimore, 52-3 District Court in Rochester Hills, 52-4 District Court in Troy, and the 41A District Court in Sterling Heights/Shelby Township. He understands field sobriety testing, breathalyzer calibration issues, blood draw procedures, and the constitutional challenges that can make or break your case.
Whether it's your first OWI, your second OWI, your third OWI, or you're facing OWI causing serious injury or death, the consequences are serious. The right defense strategy can mean the difference between a conviction and a reduced charge, or even a dismissal.
Free initial consultation — ask questions and learn your options before you commit to anything.
Potential Penalties
| Offense | Penalty |
|---|---|
| OWI | Up to 93 days in jail, up to $500 fine, 180-day license suspension (30 days hard), 6 points on record |
| High BAC / Super Drunk (.17+) | Up to 180 days in jail, up to $700 fine, 1-year license suspension (45 days hard), mandatory BAIID ignition interlock |
| OWPD (Drugged Driving) | Same penalties as standard OWI — up to 93 days jail, $500 fine, license suspension |
| OWI Second | 5 days to 1 year in jail, up to $1,000 fine, license revocation (minimum 1 year), vehicle immobilization |
| OWI Third (Felony) | 1 to 5 years in prison, up to $5,000 fine, license revocation (minimum 5 years), vehicle forfeiture |
| OWI Causing Serious Injury | Up to 5 years in prison, up to $5,000 fine, license revocation |
| OWI Causing Death | Up to 15 years in prison, up to $10,000 fine, license revocation |
None of this is decided yet. A charge is the start of a case, not the end of one — and the earliest decisions carry the most weight. Tell Scott what happened.
Call Now — (586) 243-4140Free initial consultation — get clear guidance on what you are up against and what to do next.
Why Hire Scott for This Case
- ✓Has handled hundreds of OWI/DUI cases across Southeast Michigan — Macomb County, Oakland County, Wayne County, St. Clair County, and Lapeer County
- ✓Understands breathalyzer calibration, blood draw procedures, and field sobriety testing challenges
- ✓Regularly appears in district courts throughout Metro Detroit
- ✓Experienced with High BAC / Super Drunk (.17+), OWPD drugged driving, zero tolerance impaired driving (under 21), and felony OWI charges
- ✓Flat fee pricing — you know the cost before you commit
- ✓Second-generation defense attorney who has built a strong reputation in courtrooms across the region
Free initial consultation — speak with Scott about strategy and next steps at no upfront cost.
A real conversation, and an honest assessment.
Some lawyers will say whatever it takes to get you in the door. Scott will not. When you sit down with him, he tells you the truth about your case: what is possible, what is likely, and what it will take to get there. If he is the right person to defend you, he will say so. If he is not, he will tell you that too.
This is your future. You deserve someone who is honest with you from the very first call.
Call Now — (586) 243-4140Frequently Asked Questions
The Right Move Is the One You Make Right Now.
Every day that passes without the right attorney in your corner is a day the other side uses to build their case.
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(586) 243-4140Law Offices of Scott E. Rabaut
38600 Van Dyke Ave., Suite 200
Sterling Heights, MI 48312
Callback within 24 hours — sooner when urgency requires it.