2024
Last updated:
Our Recommended Top 18
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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Kalamazoo DUI Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.
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Providers
= Featured Provider
(29)Why choose this provider?
Levine & Levine, Attorneys At Law, deals with DUI cases in Kalamazoo. The firm's attorneys represent clients charged with driving under the influence and drugged or impaired driving due to alcohol, drugs, marijuana, or other controlled substances. They also handle cases of vehicular homicide, which applies if the victim in a DUI case dies. Other than DUI cases, the firm deals with domestic violence, sex crimes like rape and sexual assault, and white-collar crimes like fraud and embezzlement.
Attorney Information
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Randall Levine - Managing Partner | Active | 45 yrs |
Why choose this provider?
West Michigan Defense Team Attorneys at Law caters to the counsel needs of Kalamazoo individuals charged or arrested for criminal conduct. It represents clients involved in various kinds of drunk or drugged driving activities and assists them in restoring drivers' licenses and facing legal procedures. The firm's attorneys prepare cases for trial and negotiate pleas with the prosecution. One of these lawyers, Jeffrey Kortes, has been in practice since 2003. He is a member of the Grand Rapids Bar Association's Trial & Litigation Section.
- DUI with Injury
- Marijuana
Why choose this provider?
The Law Offices of Frederick J. Taylor is a general litigation law firm serving the Kalamazoo community. One of the firm's primary areas of practice is criminal defense, and its legal team has experience with DUI cases involving first-time and repeat offenders, severe injuries and wrongful death, property damage, and minor passengers in the vehicle. Founding attorney Frederick Taylor has been certified in DUI practice by the Minnesota Society of Criminal Justice.
Attorney Information
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Frederick Taylor - Principal | Active | 45 yrs |
| Peter Taylor - Associate | Active | 12 yrs |
Why choose this provider?
Banyon Fette Law Office is a multi-practice firm that caters to clients in Kalamazoo. It represents criminal defense cases that involve DUI, assault, embezzlement, domestic violence, and drug offenses. Its lawyers gather evidence to strengthen the claim by working with investigators and witnesses. They extend their practice to estate planning, business, real estate, and family law. One of its associates, Kevin Banyon, has been in practice since 2004. He serves on the DUI Defense Lawyers Association as one of its founding members.
- DUI Defense
- DWI
Attorney Information
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Kevin Banyon - Partner | Active | 17 yrs |
Expertise.com Rating
Why choose this provider?
Fletcher Law is a St. Joseph-based firm that caters to clients in the Kalamazoo metro and the surrounding communities. It offers legal advice and representation to individuals who have been accused of operating while intoxicated. It also assists those who have been caught driving a watercraft while under the influence. Other criminal defense cases it handles are assault and battery, domestic violence, and probation violation. Joseph Fletcher, the firm's attorney, has experience dealing with family law and Social Security disability claims.
- OWI
Why choose this provider?
Podolsky and Wickham PLLC is a woman-owned law firm that serves residents in and around Kalamazoo. It handles issues in estate planning, criminal defense, family law, abuse and neglect, and elder law. The firm represents individuals charged with DUI/DWI in plea deals and court hearings. It also provides license restoration services for motorists involved in drug and alcohol-related accidents that have had their driver's licenses temporarily suspended or permanently revoked. Founding attorney Kelli Podolsky has been practicing law since 2010.
- DWI
Why choose this provider?
West & West is a criminal defense and family law firm serving personal clients in the Kalamazoo community. It assists with under-the-influence charges like DUI, OWI, and OUI, creating a personalized approach to building a defense strategy. It also handles cases involving criminal sexual conduct, larceny, drugs, assault, and weapons. Additionally, it provides legal representation for divorce and child custody issues. West & West attorneys, Jeff and Kathrine West, have both been in practice for over 25 years.
- DWI
- OWI
Expertise.com Rating
Review Sources
- 4.8 (103)
Why choose this provider?
Barrix Law Firm caters to clients in Kalamazoo and the surrounding localities. The company provides legal counsel for criminal defense matters, including DUI cases. Jason Barrix, the firm's founder and sole practitioner, defends individuals who are facing drunk driving and driver's license suspension charges. He represents the accused to lessen their penalties and regain their driving privileges. Barrix has been practicing law since 1993. He also litigates cases involving domestic violence, sex crimes, theft, and personal injury.
- DWI
- OWI
Expertise.com Rating
Review Sources
- 5.0 (1)
Why choose this provider?
Ricky A. Carlson Attorney at Law represents clients in Kalamazoo and the surrounding areas. It is led by Ricky A. Carlson, who has been practicing law since 1982. His practice areas include DUI and criminal defense, business law, serious physical injury and wrongful death, family law, as well as probates and estates. He is available via phone and email and can be contacted for a consultation. Having lived and practiced law in the metro, Carlson is familiar with its local laws and customs.
Attorney Information
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Ricky Carlson - Principal | Active | 43 yrs |
Expertise.com Rating
Review Sources
- 4.5 (24)
Why choose this provider?
Timothy A. Slais, Attorney at Law PLLC, represents individuals in Kalamazoo facing criminal defense cases. Its managing attorney, Timothy Slais, has been in practice since 1995, handling DUI-related cases, including operating while impaired or intoxicated, open container, and driver's license restoration and appeal. He utilizes his courtroom experience and as a former prosecutor to formulate a plan to defend his clients. Slais also works on criminal charges involving home invasion, domestic violence, drug offenses, retail fraud, and expungements.
- DUI Defense
- OWI
Attorney Information
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Timothy Slais - Principal | Active | 14 yrs |
Why choose this provider?
Weise Law is a criminal defense firm that counsels clients in Kalamazoo. It represents individuals facing DUI charges and helps remove the possibility of license suspension, jail time, and driver responsibility fines. It assists those charged with state and federal crimes, including domestic violence, assault and battery, drug crimes, and probation violations. One of its attorneys, William Weise, has been practicing law since 1994. He holds trial experience with modern tracking technologies, such as DNA, ballistics, and cell phone triangulation.
- OWI
- DUI Defense
Why choose this provider?
The Law Office of Edward J. Sternisha, PLLC, protects the rights of individuals in the Kalamazoo area who have been arrested for DUI. It also represents drivers facing OWI, DWI, OUID, and OUIL charges. Its principal attorney, Edward Sternisha, uses his experience as a police officer and private investigator in identifying police mistakes and fabrications that can help clients get a lesser charge or case dismissal. He is affiliated with the DUI Defense Lawyers Association.
- DUI Defense
Why choose this provider?
Victor L Bland Attorney at Law provides legal consultation and representation to individuals and families in the Kalamazoo metro. It handles drunk driving cases, helping clients protect their rights by evaluating evidence and planning a defense strategy. It also helps individuals restore their driver's licenses. The firm provides services to clients dealing with criminal charges such as domestic violence, drug offenses, weapons violations, forgery, and armed robbery. Victor Bland, an attorney at the firm, has more than 34 years of legal experience.
- Drugs
- Injury Representation
Expertise.com Rating
Review Sources
- 4.9 (529)
Why choose this provider?
Grow Defense provides legal assistance to Kalamazoo clients. Daniel W. Grow, the firm's lawyer, works to bring justice to individuals facing charges relating to drug and traffic offenses, such as DUI. He personally handles each phase of the representation and keeps clients informed on the development of their cases. Grow is a frequent speaker on medicinal marijuana-related topics and the chair-elect of the State Bar of Michigan's Marijuana Law Section. He also serves on the board of the Criminal Defense Attorneys of Michigan.
- OWI
- Drugs
Why choose this provider?
Willis Law represents individuals and families in Kalamazoo. It assists clients facing DUI charges, including OWI causing severe bodily injury, reckless driving causing death, and OWVI. It creates a defense strategy based on the failure of police to use proper arrest procedures, improper traffic stops, and faulty FST and BAC tests. Willis Law's managing partner, Shaun P. Willis, has been named one of the Top 40 Under 40 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association and is a Million Dollar Advocates Forum member.
- DWI
- Alcohol
Expertise.com Rating
Review Sources
- 4.4 (25)
Why choose this provider?
Willey & Chamberlain LLP is a law office that caters to clients in the Kalamazoo area and the surrounding communities. It advises and represents individuals who have been caught driving while under the influence of alcohol. It utilizes various strategies, including exploring potential constitutional violations, examining for misapplication of field sobriety testing, and challenging implied consent charges. Larry C. Willey, a founding partner, has over 40 years of legal experience. He is a fellow of the International Society of Barristers.
- OWI
- DUI Defense
Expertise.com Rating
Review Sources
- 5.0 (5)
Why choose this provider?
Texas Corners Criminal Law offers defense representation for clients charged with drunk or drugged driving offenses in Kalamazoo and nearby communities. Its attorney, Daniel Schwalm, served as a prosecutor who tried hundreds of criminal cases and practiced solely on DUI matters from 2011 to 2016. He now uses these experiences to help defendants avoid convictions and penalties such as imprisonment and driver's license revocation. Other criminal cases he deals with include drug possession and sexual assault.
- OWI
- DWI
Why choose this provider?
Peter J. Johnson Law Office, PLLC, advocates on behalf of clients in Kalamazoo who have been arrested for DUI. Its attorneys help defendants reduce or avoid penalties like heavy fines, license suspension, and jail time by working with witnesses who can question the validity of the results of their breath and blood tests. Other cases that the firm handles include domestic violence, theft, probate, and family law. Its founder, Peter J. Johnson, is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
- OWI
- DUI Defense
- Drugs
Attorney Information
| Attorney Name | Bar Status | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Peter Johnson - Principal | Active | 57 yrs |
Disclaimer: Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services with Expertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
FAQs
What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
Call Kalamazoo Public Safety at (269) 488-8911 for non-emergencies.
Where can I get a copy of police reports for incidents related to my case in Kalamazoo, Michigan?
Visit the Kalamazoo Public Safety Records Bureau at 150 E Crosstown Pkwy (Suite A). For further information, call the records bureau at (269) 337-8106.
Can you decline to take a roadside breath test in Kalamazoo?
Yes. It is not considered a crime, so you can decline a roadside breath test in Kalamazoo. It can lead to a fine of around $150 and will not be reflected in your driving record or affect it. However, declining might still lead to arrest though, and if arrested, you will now be subject to a chemical test, which carries more severe consequences if you decline.
How many times do you need to go to court for a DUI in Kalamazoo?
You must go to court around two to three times for a DUI. Court proceedings are usually scheduled for either an afternoon or morning session, and cases are often set for the same time. For more information, call The Kalamazoo County District Court at (269) 384-8171 or visit its location at 227 West Michigan Ave. in Kalamazoo.
Is it possible to expunge an OWI record in Kalamazoo?
Yes, it is possible now. Expungement of an OWI conviction was not possible in Michigan until 2022. However, this is only applicable to first-time OWI offenders. OWI expungement applications began last February 19, 2022. With this, expungement is now available to OWI offenders in Kalamazoo due to the new law known as the Clean Slate initiative.
Is it still possible to file an appeal for a DUI conviction in Kalamazoo?
Yes. A misdemeanor DUI conviction in Kalamazoo can be appealed at the circuit court, while an appeal for a felony DUI can be filed at the Michigan Court of Appeals. There are various deadlines for bringing an appeal case to court and different rules for a jury trial compared to a plea bargain. When choosing legal representation for an appeal case, getting an attorney with an appellate practice is important.
Can your employer find out if you have a DUI case in Kalamazoo?
It depends. They usually will not know not unless you inform them. The court has no reason to inform your employer of your DUI in Kalamazoo. Additionally, employee handbooks or employment contracts do not usually talk about DUIs, so in most cases, it will not be a problem. However, if you are a commercial driver, it might affect your employment.
What does a DUI charge involve?
DUI, or driving under the influence, is a criminal charge applied to someone who is suspected of operating their vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicant, such as drugs and/or alcohol. Every state in the U.S. has a law on the books that bans driving while intoxicated; however, the specific criteria may differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In some states, a driver with blood alcohol content (BAC) in excess of 0.08% can be brought up on DUI charges while other states set a higher threshold or increase the severity of charges in accordance with the level of intoxication. In some cases, DUI is determined not via testing but by behavior; drivers who are intoxicated to the point of impairment and who cannot safely operate their vehicle may be arrested on suspicion of DUI.
What's the difference between DUI, DWI, and OVI?
The terms driving under the influence (DUI), driving while impaired (DWI), and operating a vehicle under the influence (OVI) are all legal phrases that refer to the crime of operating a vehicle while impaired by drugs (illegal or prescription), alcohol, or both. These terms are largely interchangeable though some states use only one acronym in their statutes for the sake of clarity. There are also other acronyms occasionally substituted for DUI, such as DWAI (driving while ability impaired), OWI (operating while intoxicated), OUI (operating under the influence), and DUII-CS (driving under the influence of intoxicants: controlled substances).
How long does a DUI stay on your record?
In addition to the more immediate penalties that come with a DUI conviction, this costly mistake can have other consequences. DUIs stay on your driving record for years with the exact length of time differing from state to state — the California Department of Motor Vehicles, for instance, tracks DUIs for 10 years and may use that information to determine things like license eligibility. In Alabama, DUIs stay on the record for five years while in Alaska they're permanent. In states that use point systems to track driving infractions, DUI points may stay on the record far longer than the DUI itself.
How much does a DUI lawyer cost?
The cost of a DUI lawyer depends largely on three things: geographic area, the lawyer's experience, and whether the case is settled quickly with a plea or ends up going to trial. Attorneys may charge a flat rate, more commonly used for simple cases that are likely to wrap up quickly, or they may charge by the hour, which can add up quickly if the case requires a lot of pretrial preparations and court time. Ultimately, a DUI lawyer could cost as little as $700 or bill in excess of $4,000.
How do I choose a DUI attorney?
Finding the right DUI lawyer is crucial, especially when it comes to preventing a suspended license and minimizing fees and other penalties. To choose the right one:
- Look for attorneys experienced in DUI case law
- Ask for referrals from family and friends
- Check the internet for reviews, keeping in mind that no two DUI cases are exactly alike
- Meet with prospective lawyers (many offer free consultations) to hear their perspective on the case and see whether their personality feels like a good fit
- Ask whether the lawyer will be the primary representative or if the case could be passed to an associate and how many clients the lawyer/firm represents at one time
- Discuss billing options — the difference between an hourly rate and flat fee can be considerable
What happens when you get a DUI?
Individuals detained on suspicion of a DUI are typically taken to jail, their vehicles impounded, and either held on bail or processed and released pending a court date. That initial court appearance is a chance to enter a plea; it's a good idea to retain legal representation prior to this hearing so they have an opportunity to argue for reduced charges or even dismissal.
Drunk driving charges are often enough to warrant a suspended license pending the outcome of the case. A DUI conviction could mean losing that license entirely as well as paying fines, court costs, and DMV fees and paying for treatment or other intervention programs as instructed by the court — perhaps even completing jail time. These penalties tend to be less severe for first-time offenders and increase significantly thereafter.
Can I contest a DUI without a lawyer?
While it's possible to contest a DUI without a lawyer present, case law is complex, and navigating those laws can be tricky. A DUI lawyer can't guarantee a positive outcome, but they are in a far better position to make crucial moves, such as challenging the legality of the original traffic stop, questioning the officer-led sobriety tests, and introducing evidence that could lead to an exoneration. In short, it's tempting to save money by going it alone, but the consequences could be costly. Before deciding against a lawyer, take advantage of a free consultation and weigh their recommendations. If budget is a factor, there are court-appointed public defenders who may take on the case.
How much does a DUI cost?
DUIs are expensive. In addition to attorney fees that often run the gamut from $700 to over $4,000, there may also be bail costs, court-ordered fines, alcohol education courses, traffic school, DMV fees, the cost of increased insurance rate, fees associated with recovering an impounded car, and the possibility of paying for a court-ordered ignition interlock device. All together, the average cost of a DUI sits at around $6,500 not counting peripheral expenses, such as alternate transportation while unable to drive and lost income due to court dates and incarceration.
When does a DUI become a felony?
Driving under the influence is classified as a misdemeanor unless the DUI meets certain state-specific criteria such as:
- It's not the first offense. Anyone arrested for DUI who has been convicted of driving under the influence previously may be charged with a felony, depending on the length of time since the last conviction.
- The offender was driving without a license. Getting a DUI with a license that has been suspended, revoked, or restricted is a felony in many states.
- The DUI resulted in someone else's injury or death. Some states cite bodily harm as one of the reasons to change a DUI from a misdemeanor to a felony.
How much does car insurance go up after a DUI?
Since car insurance rates are based on driving history and projected risk, it stands to reason that a DUI conviction will result in higher insurance rates. How much those rates go up depends on the state. In Colorado, insurance rates jump around 18% following a DUI conviction while North Carolina sees a median rate increase of more than 300%. To put that in further perspective, consider New Jersey; the state's average insurance rate is $1,419, but the average rate with DUI increases 132% to $3,292.
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