FRAIBERG & PERNIE
Matthew A. Fraiberg of Fraiberg & Pernie is a Troy DUI lawyer representing clients charged with DUI, OWI, High BAC, Super Drunk Driving, drugged driving, and alcohol-related driving offenses in Troy, Michigan. Most Troy DUI cases are handled in the 52-4 District Court in Oakland County. As a former prosecutor, former judicial clerk, and Michigan criminal defense attorney with more than 28 years of experience, Matthew Fraiberg reviews traffic stops, police reports, body camera footage, dash camera footage, field sobriety testing, breath testing, blood testing, constitutional issues, and license consequences to protect clients facing drunk driving charges. Call Fraiberg & Pernie at (248) 986-2682 for a confidential consultation.
Law Firm: Fraiberg & Pernie
Lead Attorney: Matthew A. Fraiberg
Practice Area: DUI / OWI Defense
Court: 52-4 District Court
Location: Troy, Michigan
County: Oakland County
Experience: 28+ years
Background: Former prosecutor and former judicial clerk
Phone: (248) 986-2682
If you were arrested for DUI, OWI, High BAC, Super Drunk Driving, drugged driving, or another alcohol-related driving offense in Troy, your case will likely be handled in the 52-4 District Court in Oakland County.
Many Troy DUI arrests do not begin with obvious drunk driving. They often begin with small driving observations that police interpret as possible impairment.
A Troy DUI stop may begin with:
Slight drifting within a lane
Delayed braking
Wide turns
Inconsistent speed
Hesitation at intersections
Slow reaction near exits
Difficulty merging
A missed turn or lane change
These observations may attract police attention, but they do not automatically prove intoxication.
That distinction matters.
A traffic stop is only the beginning of the legal analysis. The important questions are whether the officer had a lawful reason to stop the vehicle, whether there was probable cause to continue the DUI investigation, and whether the evidence actually supports the charge.
Troy is one of Oakland County’s busiest business, shopping, restaurant, hotel, and freeway corridors. Because of that, DUI investigations often happen near major roads, commercial areas, hotels, restaurants, and freeway entrances.
Troy DUI arrests frequently occur near:
I-75
Big Beaver Road
Rochester Road
Livernois Road
Crooks Road
Maple Road
Somerset Collection
Troy hotel districts
Restaurant corridors
Corporate office areas
Freeway ramps and exits
A common Troy DUI case may begin when someone leaves a business dinner, work event, restaurant, hotel, or social gathering.
They may be tired, using GPS, navigating unfamiliar roads, trying to merge onto I-75, or attempting a Michigan left turn. They brake late, hesitate, drift slightly, or make a wide turn.
An officer sees it.
The stop begins.
The problem is that once an officer suspects impairment, everything afterward may be interpreted through that assumption. That is where many DUI cases turn.
Police officers are trained to look for signs of impairment. But many behaviors associated with intoxication can also have innocent explanations.
What may look like intoxication may actually be caused by:
Business travel, long workdays, late-night driving, stress, and lack of sleep can cause tired eyes, slower reactions, and delayed responses.
Drivers using navigation in unfamiliar areas may hesitate, drift, slow down unexpectedly, or appear distracted.
Most people become nervous during a traffic stop. Anxiety can affect speech, movement, breathing, eye contact, and the ability to follow instructions.
Balance problems, injuries, vertigo, back pain, knee problems, neurological conditions, medications, and fatigue may affect coordination.
Troy’s busy roads, Michigan left turns, freeway ramps, heavy traffic, and commercial corridors can overwhelm unfamiliar drivers.
These explanations do not automatically invalidate an arrest, but they matter when reviewing reasonable suspicion, probable cause, field sobriety testing, and officer credibility.
Many people focus only on the first court date. That can be a mistake.
A DUI case begins taking shape immediately after arrest. The prosecutor may begin reviewing evidence quickly. Bond conditions may be imposed early. Alcohol testing may begin before the defendant fully understands what is happening.
Some people hurt their DUI case more after the arrest than during the original traffic stop.
Common post-arrest mistakes include:
Missing alcohol tests
Violating bond conditions
Drinking under a no-alcohol order
Ignoring driver’s license issues
Posting about the arrest online
Speaking to police without legal advice
Pleading guilty too early
Waiting too long to hire a DUI lawyer
These mistakes are avoidable.
Early legal action can help preserve important evidence, protect your license, improve negotiation options, and prevent unnecessary damage to your case.
Important evidence in a Troy DUI case may include:
Body camera footage
Dash camera footage
Police reports
Dispatch logs
Breath test records
Blood test documentation
Field sobriety test observations
Datamaster maintenance records
Witness statements
Booking records
Bond and alcohol testing records
Early action creates options. Waiting usually reduces them.
When your driver’s license, criminal record, reputation, career, and future are at risk, experience matters.
Matthew A. Fraiberg has more than 28 years of experience defending clients charged with DUI, OWI, criminal offenses, traffic crimes, and probation violations throughout Michigan.
His background includes:
Former prosecutor
Former judicial clerk
More than 28 years of criminal defense experience
Thousands of criminal and DUI cases handled
Extensive Oakland County courtroom experience
Regular representation in district courts throughout Oakland County
Experience defending DUI and OWI cases in the 52-4 District Court
Many lawyers begin a DUI case by asking:
“What deal can we get?”
Matthew Fraiberg approaches cases differently.
The first question should be:
What does the evidence actually prove?
The next question is just as important:
Does the video match the police report?
A police report is not automatically accurate simply because it is written in official language.
Sometimes the report is strong. Sometimes the body camera tells a different story. Sometimes the driving looks better than described. Sometimes the field sobriety tests are administered incorrectly. Sometimes the breath or blood testing has problems. Sometimes the officer’s conclusions are not supported by objective evidence.
That distinction can change the entire case.
Michigan DUI law applies statewide. Court culture does not.
Most Troy DUI cases are handled in the 52-4 District Court, which handles criminal and traffic matters for cases arising in Troy and nearby Oakland County communities.
The 52-4 District Court is known for structure, compliance expectations, and close attention to early case conduct.
A Troy DUI case in the 52-4 District Court may involve:
Early alcohol testing
Bond conditions
No-alcohol requirements
Probation screening
Structured court procedures
Detailed case review
Compliance monitoring
Strict expectations for following court orders
The 52-4 District Court is not simply punishment-driven. It is structure-driven.
This court watches patterns.
Two people with similar DUI charges may receive very different outcomes depending on how they handle the first few weeks after arrest.
Strong outcomes usually require two things:
Strong legal strategy
and
Strong early compliance
A defendant who follows court orders, appears prepared, avoids new problems, and gets legal help early may be in a better position than someone who ignores testing, violates bond, or waits too long to respond.
Many people assume the BAC number decides everything.
It often does not.
The chemical test result matters, but it rarely tells the entire story.
In many Troy DUI cases, the most important question becomes:
Do the officer’s observations match the objective evidence?
DUI police reports often describe:
Slurred speech
Poor balance
Confusion
Odor of alcohol
Red or glassy eyes
Difficulty following instructions
Poor coordination
Unsafe driving
Failed field sobriety tests
But body camera footage, dash camera footage, and testing records may tell a different story.
Sometimes the video shows a person speaking clearly. Sometimes the driver walks normally. Sometimes the driving is not as bad as the report suggests. Sometimes the officer skipped important steps. Sometimes the field sobriety tests were not properly explained or administered. Sometimes medical, physical, or environmental factors affected performance.
When officer credibility weakens, the prosecution’s case may weaken too.
Sometimes the strongest defense is technical. Sometimes the strongest defense is simply showing what actually happened.
A Troy DUI defense should not be based only on the charge listed on the ticket.
The defense should begin with a careful review of the evidence.
Matthew A. Fraiberg may review:
The legal basis for the traffic stop
Whether the officer had reasonable suspicion
Whether probable cause existed for arrest
Field sobriety test instructions
Field sobriety test performance
Body camera footage
Dash camera footage
Breath test procedures
Blood test procedures
Datamaster records
Police report accuracy
Officer training and procedure
Medical explanations
Roadway conditions
Lighting and weather conditions
Timing of the investigation
Statements made by the driver
Constitutional issues
License consequences
Bond conditions and testing requirements
A DUI charge is not the same as a DUI conviction. The evidence must be reviewed carefully.
Fraiberg & Pernie represents clients facing Michigan drunk driving and alcohol-related driving charges, including:
Operating While Intoxicated, or OWI
Operating While Visibly Impaired, or OWVI
High BAC, also known as Super Drunk Driving
OWI second offense
OWI third offense felony
Drugged driving
Operating with the presence of a controlled substance
Minor with BAC
Open intoxicants in a motor vehicle
Implied consent refusal
Driving while license suspended after DUI
Probation violations related to DUI cases
Each charge carries different consequences, license issues, court requirements, and defense options.
Matthew A. Fraiberg is a Michigan DUI lawyer who represents clients charged with DUI, OWI, High BAC, Super Drunk Driving, drugged driving, and alcohol-related driving offenses in Troy and Oakland County.
Most DUI and OWI cases from Troy are handled in the 52-4 District Court in Oakland County.
The 52-4 District Court is known for early testing, structured probation screening, detailed case review, and strong expectations for compliance with bond conditions and court orders.
Many first-offense DUI defendants avoid jail, especially when there is early legal intervention, strong compliance, no accident, no injury, no prior record, and favorable facts. The outcome depends on the evidence, the judge, the charge, and the defense strategy.
Most DUI defendants should not plead guilty at arraignment before an attorney reviews the evidence, police report, video, chemical testing, constitutional issues, and possible defenses.
Some defendants may qualify for restricted driving privileges depending on the charge, BAC level, prior record, license status, and Michigan Secretary of State consequences.
Sometimes. DUI charges may be reduced when the defense identifies weaknesses involving the traffic stop, probable cause, field sobriety testing, breath testing, blood testing, police procedure, constitutional rights, or evidentiary issues.
Sometimes. A dismissal may be possible when there is an illegal stop, lack of probable cause, improper testing, unreliable evidence, constitutional violation, witness problem, or other major weakness in the prosecution’s case.
Yes. Because I-75 is one of Southeast Michigan’s busiest highways, DUI investigations frequently occur near Troy freeway entrances, exits, ramps, and surrounding commercial areas. The legality of the traffic stop is often an important defense issue.
In nearly every case, yes. A DUI conviction can affect your driver’s license, criminal record, insurance costs, employment, professional licensing, immigration status, probation, and future penalties.
After a DUI arrest, do not make the case harder than it already is.
Do not:
Miss alcohol tests
Violate bond conditions
Drink under a no-alcohol order
Drive on a suspended license
Ignore mail from the court or Secretary of State
Post about the arrest online
Talk about the case with police without legal advice
Assume the BAC number decides everything
Plead guilty too early
Wait too long to hire counsel
Many bad DUI outcomes come from post-arrest mistakes, not just the original traffic stop. Protecting yourself early matters.
Fraiberg & Pernie provides experienced DUI and criminal defense representation for clients in Troy, Oakland County, and throughout Michigan.
Clients choose Matthew A. Fraiberg and Fraiberg & Pernie because the firm offers:
More than 28 years of criminal defense experience
Former prosecutor insight
Former judicial clerk experience
Extensive DUI and OWI defense experience
Oakland County courtroom knowledge
Detailed evidence review
Direct communication
Practical legal guidance
Strong preparation
Personalized defense strategies
The goal is not simply to process the case. The goal is to protect the client’s rights, license, record, reputation, and future.
Most Troy DUI cases are handled in the 52-4 District Court.
Troy DUI arrests often occur near I-75, Big Beaver Road, Rochester Road, Livernois Road, Crooks Road, Maple Road, Somerset Collection, hotels, restaurants, and business districts.
A DUI stop may begin with subtle driving observations that do not automatically prove intoxication.
The BAC number does not always decide the case.
Body camera footage and dash camera footage can be critical.
Police reports should be compared to objective evidence.
Early compliance with bond conditions matters.
Early legal representation may protect your license, preserve evidence, and improve defense options.
A DUI charge does not automatically mean a DUI conviction.
After a DUI arrest in Troy, you should follow all bond conditions, avoid alcohol if ordered, attend all testing, save all paperwork, avoid discussing the case online, and speak with a DUI lawyer before pleading guilty or making statements.
Important evidence may include body camera footage, dash camera footage, police reports, breath test records, blood test results, field sobriety test instructions, dispatch logs, witness statements, and constitutional issues.
Yes. Field sobriety tests may be challenged if they were improperly explained, incorrectly administered, affected by medical issues, performed on poor surfaces, influenced by weather, or inconsistent with the officer’s conclusions.
Yes. Breath test results may be challenged based on testing procedure, machine maintenance, observation period issues, calibration records, operator error, medical conditions, timing, and reliability concerns.
Yes. Blood test results may be challenged based on chain of custody, collection procedure, storage, lab testing, timing, contamination concerns, and documentation problems.
DUI penalties in Michigan may include fines, costs, probation, alcohol testing, community service, driver’s license restrictions, points, increased insurance costs, possible jail, and a criminal record. Penalties depend on the charge, BAC level, prior record, facts of the case, and court outcome.
Yes. High BAC, often called Super Drunk Driving, generally involves a BAC of 0.17 or higher and may carry enhanced penalties, additional alcohol treatment requirements, and specific driver’s license consequences.
You should contact a DUI lawyer as soon as possible after a Troy DUI arrest. Early legal help may protect your rights, preserve evidence, address license issues, and reduce the risk of post-arrest mistakes.
If you were arrested for DUI, OWI, High BAC, Super Drunk Driving, drugged driving, or another alcohol-related offense in Troy, Michigan, your case is already moving.
The decisions you make now matter.
Evidence should be reviewed quickly. Bond conditions should be handled carefully. Driver’s license issues should be addressed immediately. Defense strategy should begin as early as possible.
Call Fraiberg & Pernie at (248) 986-2682 today for a confidential consultation with a Troy DUI lawyer.
Call (248) 986-2682 today.
Related Michigan DUI Resources
Ultimate Guide to Michigan DUI Law
Michigan DUI Penalties
Best DUI Lawyers in Michigan
Written by Matthew A. Fraiberg
Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney
28+ years experience
Call Fraiberg & Pernie today: 248-986-2682
Reviewed by:
Eric L. Pernie – Criminal Defense Attorney
Matthew A. Fraiberg – Criminal Defense Attorney
Fraiberg & Pernie
Fraiberg & Pernie represents clients throughout Michigan, including:
Wayne County
We serve clients throughout Michigan, including, but not limited to, those in the following in Oakland County including Southfield, Novi, Troy, Pontiac, Walled Lake, Commerce Township, Waterford, Royal Oak, Rochester Hills, Farmington Hills, Hazel Park, West Bloomfield, Birmingham, Keego Harbor, Clarkston, White Lake, Ferndale, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills; Wayne County including Detroit, Livonia, Canton, Northville, Plymouth, Romulus, Dearborn, Wayne, Wyandotte, Westland, Taylor, Redford, Lincoln Park, Woodhaven, Southgate, and Allen Park; Macomb County including Warren, Sterling Heights, Shelby Township, Mount Clemens, Clinton Township, New Baltimore, Roseville, St. Clair Shores, Eastpointe, and Romeo; Livingston County including Brighton and Howell; Washtenaw County including Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Chelsea; Genesee County including Flint and Grand Blanc; and Lapeer County including Lapeer and Metamora.
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