Teenager faces DUI charge in Macomb County

An arrest on a DUI charge can be a serious concern for any Michigan resident, but when the arrestee is a teenager the potential for life plans to be completely disrupted in the long term can a very real and very frightening consequence. For one teenager in Macomb County, this possibility is now a reality.

According to reports, a 17-year-old girl has been arrested as the primary suspect in a hit-and-run accident that occurred on March 4. The reports indicate that police responded to reports of a 28-year-old man being struck by a car - and that the car did not remain at the scene. The accident occurred in the early morning hours. The victim reportedly suffered severe injuries.

It appears that the teenage driver became a suspect when her grandmother called the police to report her about two hours after the accident. It was not immediately clear if the grandmother was in the vehicle with her teenage granddaughter at the time of the accident, or if she learned about the collision after the fact. Regardless, the police apparently went to the girl's house to investigate, at which time they administered a breath test and the girl was subsequently arrested.

Our readers may not know that Michigan has a zero tolerance law for underage drunk driving, which states that a juvenile's legal limit is .02 - much less than the legal blood alcohol content level for adults. So, in this case, while the results of the breath test were not immediately known, it could be possible that the young girl's drunk driving charge may be based on a BAC level that became an issue because of only one or two drinks. And if that is the case, one bad decision by a teenage girl may be enough to have a serious impact on the rest of her life. A reliable defense team may be able to help reduce penalties, if she is convicted.

Every situation is unique and a DUI attorney in Ann Arbor can help you figure out the best defense for your particular case.

Source: CBS Detroit, "Macomb County Teen Charged With Drunk Driving After Hit-And-Run Crash," March 28, 2014