Michigan Criminal Lawyers Blog
On Saturday, October 18, Robert E. Murphy of Ashland, Massachusetts was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, his third DUI offense according to a news article at ABC News. Murphy was also charged with operating a motor vehicle to endanger, as he was carrying 25 members of a cross country running team.
According to the article, one of the coaches on board the bus became concerned that the driver, who is 59 years old, was intoxicated. Murphy was bringing the cross country team with Hopkinton High School back from a meet when the incident occurred at about 10:30 p.m. A police officer met the bus when it arrived at the high school parking lot, then performed field sobriety tests on Murphy once the team had exited the bus.
Murphy was expected to be arraigned on the charges on Monday.
In the state of Michigan, a third DUI offense is definitely something to be concerned about. In fact, it is a felony offense. The third offense is the highest a person can go for driving under the influence, whether it is actually the third offense, fourth, or eighth. The criminal penalties for a conviction are serious, and include a maximum of five years in prison, fines of as much as $5,000, up to 180 days of community service, driver’s license revocation for five years, and more. For commercial drivers such as those who drive school buses, a blood alcohol content (BAC) of greater than .04% can result in an arrest. For other motorists, the legal limit of .08%.
Driving under the influence is serious, regardless of whether an individual is arrested in his/her vehicle, or while driving a bus, commercial truck, or for other commercial purposes. Even a first-time DUI charge may result in jail time and fines, and your license will be suspended for a minimum of 30 days.
If you have been charged with operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, consult with an experienced and aggressive Michigan DUI attorney immediately. Your lawyer will work vigorously to protect your legal rights and help you avoid harsh criminal penalties.