Michigan’s Repeat Offender laws are designed to get tough with drivers who repeatedly drive drunk or drive while on a suspended or revoked license. You are a Repeat Offender if you have:
- Two or more alcohol-related convictions within 7 years.
- Three or more alcohol-related convictions within 10 years.
- Three or more convictions for driving while your license is suspended or revoked in 7 years, if those convictions resulted in mandatory additional suspensions or revocations.
Penalties Under the Repeat Offender Laws
Vehicle Registration
If you have any of the following combination of drunk or drugged driving convictions, the law indicates that you are a Habitual Offender:
- Two or more convictions within 7 years.
- Three or more convictions within 10 years.
The Secretary of State is required to revoke the driver license of a Habitual Offender and deny his or her application for another license.
After the minimum period of revocation/denial, the Habitual Offender may be eligible for a driver’s license appeal hearing. It the hearing results in a restricted driver’s license, the Habitual Offender may be required to install a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID) on any vehicle they will operate. The Habitual Offender cannot drive until the BAIID is installed and provides proof of installation.
A BAIID is a breath alcohol analyzer that connects with a motor vehicle’s ignition and measures the driver’s bodily alcohol content (BAC). If the driver’s BAC is .025% or higher, the BAIID will prevent the ignition from starting. Effective June 6, 2016, the BAIID must include a camera that is capable of recording a digital image of the individual who is providing the sample. There are also rolling retests to randomly retest the driver’s BAC.
