It says OWI on the paperwork, not DUI, and that's the least of what Michigan does differently. If you refused the evidentiary breath test at the station, the officer handed you a blue DI-93 form — and the Secretary of State will suspend your license automatically in 14 days. No judge, no conviction, no second chance once the clock runs out. Meanwhile a separate criminal case is heading to District Court. Two tracks, two decision-makers, two ways to get blindsided. Before you say another word to anyone, call 1-844-690-0555. It's free, 24/7, and it explains exactly where you stand.
Free legal information. Not legal advice. Available 24/7 across Michigan.
Find the paperwork the officer handed you and look for a form marked 'DI-93' or the words 'Officer's Report of Refusal to Submit to Chemical Test.' If it's there, you refused the evidentiary test — and you have 14 days from that date to mail a written hearing request to the Secretary of State's Office of Hearings and Administrative Oversight, or your license is suspended for a full year automatically, even if you're never convicted of anything. That single deadline is the most urgent thing in your case right now. Call 1-844-690-0555 and we'll walk you through whether the refusal notice applies to you and what the request has to say. It's free legal information, available any hour.
Here's the trap almost no one sees coming. If you blow over and plead to OWI-first, you're typically off the road only 30 days and then get a restricted license — you can still reach work. But if you refuse the breath test, the Secretary of State suspends you for a full year with no restricted driving and six points, on a completely separate track from your criminal case, with no conviction required. You only get one shot to stop it: a written hearing request to OHAO within 14 days of the DI-93 refusal notice. Beating the OWI in court does not undo it. That counterintuitive math is exactly why people call us first. Call 1-844-690-0555, free and 24/7, before the 14 days run.
If money is tight or you just want to understand your options first, these Michigan resources are real and worth knowing. Several are court-funded; some handle the license-restoration side specifically. For the criminal OWI itself, ask the District Court about court-appointed counsel if you qualify.
I refused the breathalyzer in Michigan — what happens to my license now?
Refusing the evidentiary chemical test triggers an automatic Secretary of State suspension under the implied-consent law: one year on a first refusal, two years on a second within seven, plus six points — with no criminal conviction needed. The officer should have given you a blue DI-93 form, and you have just 14 days from that date to demand a hearing and stop it. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, any hour, and we'll explain the request before that clock runs out.
What exactly is the 14-day deadline I keep hearing about?
It's the window to demand your implied-consent hearing with the Secretary of State's Office of Hearings and Administrative Oversight after a test refusal — counted from the DI-93 notice the officer gave you. Miss it and your license is suspended automatically, no court involved. It's the single most-missed deadline in Michigan OWI cases. Call 1-844-690-0555 and we'll help you figure out whether it applies to you and what the written request needs to say.
What's the difference between OWI, OWVI and OWPD in Michigan?
OWI is operating while intoxicated — a 0.08+ reading or actual intoxication. OWVI is the lower-proof 'visibly impaired' charge and often the favorable plea-down because it spares you the 30-day hard suspension and keeps you on a restricted license. OWPD covers any amount of a Schedule 1 drug or cocaine in your body. Which one you're facing changes everything about your case. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, to understand where your charge sits.
What is the 'Super Drunk' law and does it apply to me?
Michigan's High-BAC tier under MCL 257.625 kicks in at a 0.17 reading or higher, even on a first offense. It carries up to 180 days jail, mandatory alcohol treatment, a 45-day total no-drive suspension, and 320 days on ignition interlock at your cost — far harsher than a standard OWI-first. If your reading was at or above 0.17, call 1-844-690-0555 to hear what you're facing in plain English.
Can I still drive while my Michigan OWI case is pending?
It depends on the track. An OWI-first conviction usually allows a restricted license after a 30-day suspension, but a refusal suspension gives you no restricted driving for a full year, and Super Drunk cases have a 45-day no-drive period up front. Whether you can drive turns on the specifics of your case. Call 1-844-690-0555 free and we'll walk you through your driving options.
Will beating the criminal charge get my license back automatically?
No — and this surprises people. The criminal case in District Court and the license case with the Secretary of State run on separate tracks with different decision-makers. Winning or dismissing the OWI does not automatically undo an implied-consent suspension, and clearing the license side doesn't end the criminal case. Call 1-844-690-0555 to understand both tracks before you make any decisions.
Is a third OWI really a felony even if my priors are old?
Yes. Under Heidi's Law, Michigan uses a lifetime look-back, so any two prior OWIs ever — no matter how long ago — make a third offense a felony under MCL 257.625, carrying 1–5 years in prison and a long license revocation. There's no 7- or 10-year reset like some states have. If you've been arrested with priors on your record, call 1-844-690-0555 free, 24/7, to understand the stakes.
What happens at the implied-consent hearing with the Secretary of State?
It's held remotely over Microsoft Teams and answers only four narrow questions: did the officer have reasonable grounds, was the arrest lawful for a listed offense, were your chemical-test rights read, and was the refusal unreasonable. It is not a 'guilty or not guilty' hearing. Because the issues are so narrow, preparation matters. Call 1-844-690-0555 to understand what the hearing covers and what comes next.
I have a CDL — how does an OWI affect my commercial license?
Commercial drivers face a lower 0.04 threshold, and an OWI conviction means a one-year CDL disqualification — lifetime for a second — entirely separate from any sanction on your personal license. Your livelihood can be on the line even on a first offense. Call 1-844-690-0555 free and we'll explain how the CDL and personal-license tracks interact in Michigan.
I missed the 14-day deadline — is there anything I can do?
Possibly. MCL 257.323c lets you petition Circuit Court for a hardship restricted license and present testimony before a judge — a Michigan safety valve for people who lost or missed the OHAO hearing. There's a 63-day window to petition, extendable to 182 days for good cause. Don't assume it's hopeless. Call 1-844-690-0555 free, any hour, to find out what options you still have.
We connect frightened Michigan drivers — facing 14-day DI-93 refusal clocks, Super Drunk tiers, and OWI-3rd felonies — with licensed attorneys who handle these cases every week. If you defend OWI matters in District and Circuit Courts and before the Secretary of State's OHAO, we'd like to refer paid consultations your way. This is a referral path for clients who've already called and want a lawyer — it never competes with the free help we give them first. Reach out to join the network.
General legal information, not legal advice. We research every page from primary sources — legislation, the courts, and government legal-aid bodies — and check it for accuracy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us at admin@platfirm.ai.
Every hour after a Michigan OWI arrest matters — and if you refused the test, the 14-day window on that DI-93 form is already counting down toward an automatic suspension. You don't need a lawyer to understand where you stand. Call 1-844-690-0555 right now: it's free, 24/7, in plain English, with no income test and no web form. You'll get the OWI process explained, both tracks mapped out, and a clear next step — and if you want a Michigan attorney, we can help you book a paid consultation. This is legal information, not legal advice, and the call creates no attorney-client relationship. Make the call before the clock runs.
Free legal information. Not legal advice.