Michigan police officers on road patrol typically watch for any signs of intoxicated driving. Even if a traffic stop began because of a different concern, the smell of alcohol, slurred speech or other warning signs of impairment could lead to a police officer administering breath tests or field sobriety tests to determine if a driver is under the influence.
Adults who occasionally enjoy alcohol may notice warning signs that they have had too much to drink. They might choose to rest after a party ends or an establishment closes to allow their bodies a chance to metabolize the alcohol they’ve consumed.
Sleeping in a vehicle could actually be a risky decision
The way that Michigan handles drunk driving cases allows for prosecution even in scenarios where a driver may not have been in motion when they encountered a police officer. If officers patrolling local roads notice a person asleep in their vehicle, they might stop to perform a safety check and make sure the person is not in the midst of an emergency.
A driver who is asleep in their vehicle could end up arrested for a drunk driving offense even if they hadn’t driven at all. A driver who is over the legal limit for their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and who is in control of a vehicle could end up facing charges. Simply being in a vehicle while in possession of its keys and over the legal limit could provide grounds for criminal prosecution in some cases.
Motorists who face drunk driving allegations often need help assessing the situation to determine the best defense strategy. Those facing charges in unique circumstances often need to discuss what led to their arrest at length with a criminal defense attorney accordingly.