FRAIBERG & PERNIE
An OWI, DUI, OWVI or High BAC arrest arising in Bloomfield Hills will generally be handled in the 48th District Court in Bloomfield Hills. The case may involve an arraignment, bond conditions, alcohol testing, evidence review, pretrial conferences, motion hearings and possible driver’s-license sanctions through the Michigan Secretary of State.
For many people arrested in Bloomfield Hills, the concern extends far beyond the immediate criminal penalties. A DUI allegation may raise questions involving employment, professional licensing, business ownership, public reputation, background checks and future travel.
The charge is serious, but an arrest remains an allegation. The prosecution must still prove the case with lawful, admissible and reliable evidence.
Many clients initially focus on whether they will lose their license or go to jail.
Those concerns matter, but they may not be the only ones.
People charged with OWI in Bloomfield Hills often ask:
Will my employer learn about the arrest?
Do I have to report the charge to a licensing board?
Could this affect my medical, nursing or legal license?
Will the case appear on a background check?
Can I continue traveling for work?
Could this affect a security clearance?
Can the conviction eventually be removed from my record?
The answers depend on the person’s occupation, licensing rules, employer policies, bond conditions and final outcome.
A defense strategy should account for these collateral consequences from the beginning rather than treating them as an afterthought.
| Issue | Information |
|---|---|
| Primary Court | 48th District Court |
| Court Location | Bloomfield Hills, Michigan |
| County | Oakland County |
| Common Charges | OWI, OWVI, High BAC, Drugged Driving |
| Investigating Agency | Bloomfield Hills Department of Public Safety and other agencies with jurisdiction |
| Attorney | Matthew Fraiberg |
| Experience | Former City Prosecutor • Practicing Since 1997 |
| Strategic Focus | Evidence, license exposure, court compliance and professional consequences |
A Bloomfield Hills OWI arrest may create several separate problems at the same time.
The 48th District Court addresses the misdemeanor charge and the conditions imposed while the case is pending.
The Michigan Secretary of State may impose sanctions based on the final conviction, chemical-test result or an alleged implied-consent refusal.
An employer, licensing agency, professional board or credentialing organization may have its own disclosure rules.
These processes do not always operate on the same timeline.
A favorable decision in one area does not necessarily resolve every other concern. That is why the complete situation should be evaluated early.
Not necessarily.
Whether disclosure is required may depend on:
The employment agreement
Written company policy
The employee’s position
Licensing or regulatory rules
Driving responsibilities
Security-clearance requirements
Whether the employer asks about arrests or convictions
Employees should avoid making unnecessary or inaccurate statements, but they should also avoid violating a legitimate disclosure obligation.
The correct approach depends on the individual circumstances.
Potentially.
Professionals who may face separate reporting or disciplinary concerns include:
Physicians
Nurses
Attorneys
Pharmacists
Dentists
Accountants
Financial professionals
Commercial drivers
Real-estate professionals
Educators
Government employees
Individuals with security clearances
The licensing consequences may depend on whether the matter involves an arrest, conviction, substance-use concern, failure to report or alleged dishonesty during the renewal process.
The criminal defense strategy should be coordinated with any separate professional obligations when necessary.
The 48th District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic matters and the preliminary stages of felony cases arising within its jurisdiction.
A typical misdemeanor OWI case may involve:
Arraignment
Entry of bond conditions
Alcohol or drug testing when ordered
Exchange of police reports and recordings
Review of breath or blood evidence
Pretrial conferences
Evidentiary or constitutional motions
Negotiations or trial preparation
Plea, dismissal, trial or other resolution
Sentencing if there is a conviction
The precise sequence varies from case to case.
Felony allegations generally begin with an arraignment, probable-cause conference and preliminary examination. A felony matter that is bound over typically proceeds to the Oakland County Circuit Court.
A person charged with OWI may be ordered to follow conditions such as:
No alcohol consumption
Alcohol or drug testing
Travel restrictions
Reporting requirements
No new criminal activity
Attendance at all court hearings
Other conditions entered by the judge or magistrate
These orders may affect work travel, client meetings, family obligations and professional schedules.
The written bond order controls. A defendant should not assume that travel, alcohol consumption or testing changes are permitted without authorization.
Many people charged in Bloomfield Hills have responsibilities that extend far beyond the courtroom.
Some own businesses. Others supervise employees, maintain professional licenses, travel extensively, manage employees, or hold positions of trust within their organizations.
An OWI allegation can create concerns involving insurance coverage, client relationships, licensing obligations, employment contracts, security clearances, and public reputation.
The legal defense is only one part of the process. Protecting a person’s livelihood, professional standing, and future opportunities often becomes equally important.
That is one reason why early preparation matters.
A DUI case is not determined solely by a BAC number.
The evidence may include:
The reason for the traffic stop
Driving observations
Body-camera video
Dash-camera footage
Dispatch recordings
Field sobriety-test instructions and performance
Preliminary breath testing
Datamaster records
Blood-draw documentation
Laboratory records
Witness statements
Statements attributed to the driver
Medical information
These sources should be compared with one another.
A police report may describe slurred speech, confusion, poor coordination or substantial intoxication. Video may support the report, contradict it or reveal important context that the written description does not contain.
Body-camera recordings, dash-camera footage, surveillance video, and witness recordings frequently provide valuable information.
At the same time, a recording captures only part of what occurred.
Lighting conditions, weather conditions, road conditions, traffic patterns, background noise, officer instructions, fatigue, medical conditions, footwear, and camera angles may all influence the way events appear on video.
The important question is not whether the recording exists. The important question is whether all of the available evidence supports the allegations being made.
An officer generally needs a valid legal basis to stop a vehicle. The stated reason should be compared with available video and driving evidence.
The arrest decision may rely on driving behavior, odor, statements, coordination, field testing and other observations.
Performance can be affected by instructions, pavement, weather, footwear, age, injury, balance conditions and medical issues.
Chemical testing depends on proper collection, observation, equipment maintenance, documentation, handling and laboratory procedures.
Video evidence can be particularly important when the written report uses subjective descriptions such as “confused,” “unsteady” or “highly intoxicated.”
Michigan’s High BAC offense generally applies when the alleged bodily alcohol content is 0.17 or higher.
A High BAC conviction may involve enhanced consequences, including:
Increased potential jail exposure
Additional treatment requirements
Longer license sanctions
Ignition-interlock requirements for restricted driving
Increased fines and costs
The chemical-test result should still be examined.
Potential questions include:
Was the required observation period completed?
Was the testing device properly maintained?
Did the operator follow required procedures?
Was the blood sample collected and stored properly?
Was the chain of custody documented?
Could a medical or scientific issue affect interpretation?
A high numerical result does not eliminate the prosecution’s obligation to prove the case properly.
Possibly, depending on the facts.
Potential leverage may arise from:
An unlawful traffic stop
Insufficient probable cause
Contradictory video
Weak driving evidence
Improper field sobriety testing
Breath-test procedural problems
Blood-test or chain-of-custody issues
Constitutional violations
Mitigating personal circumstances
No specific outcome can be guaranteed.
The available options become clearer only after the evidence and legal issues have been reviewed.
A pending charge can lead people to react impulsively.
Avoid:
Posting about the arrest on social media
Discussing the facts with coworkers or acquaintances
Contacting witnesses without legal guidance
Making public statements to “explain” what happened
Sharing police paperwork online
Assuming the case is confidential merely because it is unresolved
Statements made outside court can become evidence or create professional complications.
A careful communication plan may be particularly important for executives, business owners, licensed professionals and people with public-facing positions.
An arrest or pending case may appear in public records or commercial background-check systems.
Whether it appears—and how it is reported—may depend on:
The type of search
The database used
The status of the case
The final disposition
The employer’s screening practices
Applicable state and federal law
A dismissal does not always disappear from every private database immediately.
Michigan law may permit certain first-offense OWI convictions to be set aside if the person later satisfies all statutory eligibility requirements. Eligibility is not automatic and should be evaluated individually.
People are often surprised to discover that a case changes direction because of something that initially appeared insignificant.
A single statement, a receipt, a witness observation, a body-camera recording, a text message, surveillance footage, weather conditions, or the timing of an event can occasionally become extremely important.
Effective representation frequently involves identifying details that other people overlook.
Many clients are executives, physicians, attorneys, accountants, business owners, educators, engineers, and financial professionals.
Their primary concern is not necessarily a fine, probation, or a driver’s-license sanction.
Instead, they are concerned about protecting professional relationships, preserving privacy, maintaining business opportunities, and minimizing unnecessary public exposure.
An arrest may affect employment, licensing, insurance coverage, travel, security clearances, background investigations, and future opportunities.
Understanding those concerns early often allows a more comprehensive strategy to be developed.
Matthew Fraiberg has practiced criminal law in Michigan since 1997.
His background includes:
Former City Prosecutor
Former Judicial Clerk
More than 28 years of criminal-defense experience
Representation in OWI and criminal cases throughout Oakland County
He represents clients charged with OWI, OWVI, High BAC and related offenses in the 48th District Court.
His case review may include the legality of the stop, officer observations, video evidence, field sobriety testing, chemical-test reliability, bond compliance, driver’s-license exposure and professional consequences.
People naturally want to know as much as possible about the lawyer they are considering hiring.
The following information can be independently verified through publicly available sources:
Matthew Fraiberg has practiced law in Michigan since 1997.
Matthew Fraiberg previously served as a city prosecutor.
Matthew Fraiberg previously served as a judicial clerk.
Eric L. Pernie served as a police officer before becoming a criminal defense attorney.
Fraiberg & Pernie concentrates its practice on criminal defense and drunk and drugged-driving matters.
The firm regularly appears in district and circuit courts throughout Oakland County and Southeast Michigan.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, but experience and preparation frequently matter.
The court is often regarded as highly structured and attentive to bond compliance, alcohol testing and probation requirements. The actual conditions and outcome depend on the individual facts and court orders.
Jail is legally possible, but it is not automatic. The outcome depends on the charge, record, evidence, compliance, mitigation and court decision.
A defendant generally should not make a final decision before understanding the evidence, possible defenses, license consequences and long-term effects.
Possibly. The written bond order should be reviewed before traveling, especially outside Michigan or the United States.
In many cases, yes. Employment consequences depend on the position, employer policy, driving requirements and licensing obligations.
It depends on the profession, reporting rules and case outcome. Some boards require self-reporting within a specific period.
Yes. Video may confirm, contradict or add important context to the officer’s written observations.
Not necessarily. The answer depends on the charge, chemical-test result, alleged refusal and any Secretary of State action.
Some first-offense OWI convictions may qualify to be set aside under Michigan law, subject to eligibility requirements and judicial approval.
A Bloomfield Hills OWI case can affect the criminal record, driver’s license, employment, professional standing and public reputation.
Important early steps may include:
Confirming every bond condition
Preserving police and third-party video
Reviewing license deadlines
Obtaining breath or blood records
Evaluating professional reporting duties
Limiting unnecessary public statements
Comparing the police report with the actual recordings
Fraiberg & Pernie represents individuals charged with OWI, DUI, High BAC and related offenses in the 48th District Court and throughout Oakland County.
Call (248) 986-2682 for a confidential consultation.
Call (248) 986-2682 for a confidential consultation.
Call Fraiberg & Pernie at (248) 986-2682 today for a confidential consultation.
Serving clients throughout:
Bloomfield Hills
Bloomfield Township
Birmingham
West Bloomfield
Oakland County
Southeast Michigan
Ultimate Guide to Michigan DUI Law
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Written by Matthew A. Fraiberg
Attorney Reviewed August, 2026
Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney
28+ years experience
Fraiberg & Pernie represents clients throughout Michigan, including:
Oakland County
Macomb County
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