FRAIBERG & PERNIE
If you were arrested for OWI, DUI, High BAC, domestic violence, assault, drug possession, retail fraud, another misdemeanor, or a felony investigation in Troy, Michigan, your case will usually begin in the 52-4 District Court.
The first question most people ask is:
What happens now?
The answer depends on the charge, the evidence, your prior history, your bond conditions, and the court handling the case.
But several things can begin almost immediately:
Court dates are scheduled.
Bond conditions may take effect.
Alcohol or drug testing may begin.
Police reports and video become important.
Driver’s-license consequences may develop.
Prosecutors begin evaluating the evidence.
Decisions made during the first few weeks can affect the rest of the case.
A criminal charge is serious.
It is not a conviction.
The starting point should be understanding what the evidence actually proves.
Fraiberg & Pernie represents people charged with OWI and criminal offenses in Troy and throughout Oakland County.
Call (248) 986-2682 for a confidential consultation.
| Topic | Information |
|---|---|
| Primary Court | 52-4 District Court |
| Location | Troy, Michigan |
| County | Oakland County |
| Attorneys | Matthew Fraiberg and Eric L. Pernie |
| Common Cases | OWI, High BAC, domestic violence, assault, drug crimes, theft offenses, probation violations, felonies |
| Immediate Concerns | Bond, testing, evidence, driver’s license, employment, professional licensing |
| Defense Focus | Evidence analysis, constitutional review, court strategy, negotiation and trial preparation |
Troy is one of Oakland County’s busiest business, retail, hotel, restaurant, and transportation centers.
Many people arrested in Troy are not simply spending an evening close to home.
They may be:
Leaving a business dinner.
Staying at a hotel.
Attending a conference.
Driving home after a long workday.
Traveling on I-75.
Leaving Somerset Collection.
Attending a corporate event.
Navigating unfamiliar roads.
Traveling between Oakland and Macomb Counties.
That matters because criminal cases do not occur in a vacuum.
The circumstances surrounding the arrest often affect:
What witnesses saw.
Whether surveillance footage exists.
Whether body-camera video is available.
Why a person was driving in a particular manner.
Whether work-related travel becomes an issue.
Whether professional licensing or employment is at risk.
A strong defense should account for the person’s real life, not simply the charge printed on the complaint.
The first few days after an arrest are often overlooked.
They should not be.
Important issues may already include:
Arraignment.
Bond conditions.
Alcohol or drug testing.
Driver’s-license paperwork.
Witness identification.
Preservation of video.
Employment concerns.
Travel restrictions.
No-contact orders.
This is also when evidence can begin disappearing.
Business surveillance systems may overwrite recordings.
Witness memories fade.
Phone data changes.
Receipts and location records become harder to locate.
Early preparation is not about rushing to make decisions.
It is about avoiding the loss of information that may later matter.
Michigan criminal law applies statewide.
The practical experience of a criminal case does not.
Every district court develops its own procedures, scheduling practices, expectations, and methods of supervising defendants.
The 52-4 District Court commonly handles Troy cases involving:
Assault.
Drug offenses.
Retail fraud.
Driving offenses.
Probation violations.
Preliminary felony proceedings.
The early stages of a case may involve:
Bond conditions.
Alcohol testing.
Drug testing.
Travel restrictions.
No-contact orders.
Probation screening.
Court reporting requirements.
One practical lesson is especially important:
The defense of the criminal charge and compliance with the court’s orders must be handled at the same time.
A strong legal argument does not excuse a bond violation.
Matthew Fraiberg has practiced criminal law since 1997 and previously served as a prosecutor and judicial clerk.
Several themes appear repeatedly.
Reports matter.
But they should be compared with:
Body-camera footage.
Dash-camera video.
Witness statements.
Surveillance recordings.
Dispatch records.
Scientific testing.
Electronic evidence.
Sometimes everything lines up.
Sometimes it does not.
A timestamp, text message, hotel receipt, surveillance camera, GPS record, witness statement, or brief section of video may change the way an allegation is evaluated.
Missing tests, ignoring travel restrictions, violating no-contact provisions, or failing to appear in court can create problems that did not exist when the case began.
A physician may care most about licensing.
A business owner may care about reputation.
A salesperson may need interstate travel.
A commercial driver may care primarily about driving privileges.
Those concerns should be identified before a resolution is negotiated.
Eric L. Pernie is a criminal defense attorney and former police officer.
That background can provide a different perspective when reviewing:
Traffic stops.
Officer observations.
Arrest decisions.
Field sobriety testing.
Search procedures.
Interviews and interrogations.
Report writing.
Body-camera footage.
Evidence collection.
A criminal case frequently depends on what officers did, why they did it, and whether the evidence supports their conclusions.
Understanding police procedure can therefore become an important part of evaluating the prosecution’s case.
OWI cases are among the most evidence-heavy criminal matters handled in district court.
A Troy OWI investigation may involve:
Driving observations.
Field sobriety exercises.
Preliminary breath testing.
Datamaster testing.
Blood testing.
Body-camera footage.
Dash-camera footage.
Statements.
Witnesses.
Laboratory records.
The BAC number matters.
It is not the entire case.
Important questions include:
Was there a lawful basis for the traffic stop?
Did reasonable suspicion exist?
Was there probable cause to arrest?
Were field sobriety exercises administered fairly?
Was chemical testing performed correctly?
Does video support the officer’s written observations?
Were constitutional protections followed?
Michigan generally treats an alleged BAC of 0.17 or higher as a High BAC offense.
High BAC cases may involve additional concerns such as:
Increased penalties.
Ignition-interlock requirements.
Driver’s-license restrictions.
Additional treatment.
More intensive supervision.
A high number should still be evaluated.
Potential issues may involve:
Testing procedures.
Equipment records.
Observation requirements.
Medical conditions.
Timing.
Blood collection and storage.
Laboratory documentation.
A number should not be treated as infallible merely because it appears on a laboratory or breath-test report.
Sometimes.
No attorney can promise a particular result.
Potential leverage may come from:
An unlawful traffic stop.
Weak probable cause.
Video inconsistent with the report.
Field sobriety testing problems.
Breath-testing issues.
Blood-testing issues.
Constitutional violations.
Witness problems.
Mitigating circumstances.
Possible outcomes depend on the individual case and may include:
Dismissal.
Reduction.
Negotiated resolution.
Motion practice.
Trial.
The correct question is not simply:
What plea offer is available?
It is:
Why is that the right result given the evidence?
The criminal case and driver’s-license consequences are related but not always identical.
Potential consequences may include:
Suspension.
Restricted driving.
Ignition interlock.
Revocation in repeat-offense cases.
Implied-consent proceedings.
This is especially important for people who:
Drive for work.
Use company vehicles.
Hold commercial driver’s licenses.
Travel between job sites.
Have significant family transportation responsibilities.
License issues should be addressed early rather than after a problem occurs.
Bond conditions can affect everyday life.
Possible conditions may include:
No alcohol.
Alcohol testing.
Drug testing.
Travel restrictions.
No-contact orders.
Reporting requirements.
Attendance at all court dates.
The written order controls.
Do not assume that work, family obligations, vacations, weddings, conferences, or other events automatically create exceptions.
Possibly.
The answer depends upon the bond conditions imposed in your case.
People who regularly travel for work should identify this issue immediately.
Do not wait until the night before a flight to determine whether court permission is required.
A failed or missed test may create a separate bond issue.
Depending on the circumstances, the court may consider:
The reported result.
Prior compliance.
Testing history.
Whether a device malfunction occurred.
Whether another test was taken.
Whether documentation exists.
Possible consequences may include:
Increased testing.
Additional restrictions.
Bond modification.
A hearing.
Temporary incarceration.
If there is a legitimate testing problem, document it immediately.
Fraiberg & Pernie also represents individuals facing a wide range of criminal allegations.
These cases often involve:
Conflicting statements.
No-contact orders.
Body-camera footage.
Witness credibility.
Family consequences.
Important issues may include:
Self-defense.
Who initiated the confrontation.
Witness credibility.
Injuries.
Video evidence.
Potential issues may involve:
Searches.
Vehicle stops.
Search warrants.
Possession.
Ownership.
Laboratory testing.
These cases may involve:
Intent.
Surveillance footage.
Witness statements.
Store records.
Statements attributed to the accused.
A probation violation can involve:
Missed testing.
Missed appointments.
New criminal allegations.
Failure to complete required programs.
Technical violations.
The alleged violation should be reviewed independently rather than assumed to be correct.
Do not assume that a friendly or informal conversation is harmless.
A detective may say:
“We just want your side.”
“You’re not under arrest.”
“We need to clear something up.”
Those statements do not necessarily mean the investigation is minor.
If investigators are asking questions about potential criminal conduct, understand the purpose of the conversation before discussing the facts.
Yes.
Potential consequences may involve:
Employment.
Professional licensing.
Security clearances.
Company vehicle privileges.
Background checks.
Business relationships.
International travel.
Professionals commonly concerned about these issues include:
Physicians.
Nurses.
Attorneys.
Engineers.
Accountants.
Executives.
Financial professionals.
Commercial drivers.
Pilots.
The criminal case is only one part of the overall risk analysis.
Possibly.
Two separate issues may exist:
Whether the court permits the travel.
Whether Canadian authorities allow entry.
Court permission does not automatically guarantee admission into Canada.
Anyone whose job requires Canadian travel should identify the issue early.
Avoid creating additional problems while the original case is pending.
Common mistakes include:
Talking about the facts with police without understanding the purpose of the conversation.
Missing alcohol or drug testing.
Violating a no-contact order.
Traveling without checking bond conditions.
Posting about the case online.
Deleting texts, photographs, or other potential evidence.
Missing court.
Assuming the police report is completely accurate.
Pleading guilty before reviewing discovery.
Waiting too long to preserve evidence.
Most misdemeanor cases and the preliminary stages of felony cases arising in Troy begin in the 52-4 District Court.
Not necessarily. The answer depends on the facts, charge, history, bond compliance, and ultimate resolution.
Sometimes.
Sometimes, depending on evidentiary, legal, constitutional, or procedural issues.
Getting advice before arraignment may help a person understand bond, testing, travel, and other immediate issues.
Yes. It may confirm the report, contradict it, or provide important context.
Possibly. The written bond order should be reviewed first.
The court may impose additional conditions, modify bond, or take other action depending on the circumstances.
Potentially.
There is no single timeline. Some cases resolve quickly; others require investigation, motion practice, negotiations, or trial.
Fraiberg & Pernie combines two different professional perspectives:
Matthew Fraiberg — former prosecutor and former judicial clerk.
Eric L. Pernie — former police officer and criminal defense attorney.
The firm’s approach emphasizes:
Early investigation.
Detailed evidence review.
Constitutional analysis.
Scientific testing review.
Court-specific strategy.
Driver’s-license concerns.
Professional and employment consequences.
Negotiation.
Trial preparation.
No two cases are identical.
The defense should not be identical either.
If you were arrested, charged, served with a warrant, or contacted by law enforcement in Troy, the case may already be developing.
Preserve the evidence.
Understand your bond conditions.
Confirm your driver’s-license status.
Avoid unnecessary statements.
Identify employment and professional-license concerns early.
Then build the defense around what the evidence actually proves.
Call Fraiberg & Pernie at (248) 986-2682 for a confidential consultation.
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 Fraiberg
Attorney Reviewed August, 2026
Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney
28+ years experience
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
Reviewed by:
Eric L. Pernie – Criminal Defense Attorney
Matthew Fraiberg – Criminal Defense Attorney
Fraiberg & Pernie