FRAIBERG & PERNIE
A DUI or OWI arrest in Royal Oak, Michigan can create immediate concerns that extend far beyond the courtroom.
Many people charged with drunk driving are less worried about fines and more concerned about:
Losing their driver’s license
Employment consequences
Professional licensing issues
Background checks
Security clearances
Insurance increases
Damage to their reputation
Future educational opportunities
For physicians, nurses, attorneys, teachers, engineers, executives, business owners, financial professionals, and other working professionals, a DUI conviction can have consequences that continue long after the court case ends.
If you were arrested for DUI, OWI, OWVI, High BAC, or another alcohol-related driving offense in Royal Oak, your case will likely be handled in the 44th District Court.
Matthew Fraiberg has more than 28 years of criminal defense experience representing individuals charged with DUI and criminal offenses throughout Oakland County and Southeast Michigan.
As a former prosecutor and former judicial clerk, he understands how prosecutors build DUI cases, how judges evaluate evidence, and how early legal strategy can influence outcomes.
Call (248) 986-2682 for a confidential consultation.
Maybe.
License consequences depend on:
Whether the charge is OWI, OWVI, or High BAC
Prior DUI history
Chemical testing results
Whether testing was refused
How the case is ultimately resolved
Many people are more concerned about driving privileges than any other aspect of the case.
Not necessarily.
Many first-offense DUI cases do not result in incarceration.
Potential outcomes often include:
Probation
Fines and court costs
Alcohol education programs
Community service
Alcohol testing
However, jail exposure may increase when a case involves:
High BAC allegations
Prior convictions
Injury accidents
Bond violations
Probation violations
Possibly.
The answer often depends on:
Your profession
Company policies
Background check requirements
Whether driving is required for work
For many professionals, employment concerns become more important than the court penalties themselves.
Potentially.
A DUI conviction may affect:
Physicians
Nurses
Attorneys
Teachers
Accountants
Financial advisors
Real estate professionals
Pharmacists
Healthcare workers
Commercial drivers
Professional licensing consequences should be evaluated early.
Sometimes.
Many DUI cases contain legal, factual, procedural, or evidentiary issues that may create opportunities to negotiate a reduction.
In some situations, yes.
Potential issues may involve:
Illegal traffic stops
Lack of probable cause
Constitutional violations
Unreliable testing procedures
Inconsistent evidence
Every case should be evaluated individually.
The 44th District Court handles DUI and OWI cases arising from Royal Oak and is often associated with:
Structured probation supervision
Alcohol testing requirements
Active case management
Early evidence review
Close attention to compliance
However, unlike many courts, Royal Oak DUI cases frequently involve professionals and first-time offenders who have significant concerns about their future.
As a result, defense strategy often extends beyond avoiding penalties and focuses on protecting:
Careers
Professional licenses
Driving privileges
Reputation
Long-term opportunities
The first 24 hours are often the most important period in the case.
Most individuals experience:
Release from custody
Bond paperwork
Driver’s license concerns
Court scheduling
Questions about work and employment
Questions about future consequences
This is also when important evidence may begin disappearing.
Potential evidence may include:
Body camera footage
Dash camera footage
Surveillance video
Witness statements
Electronic records
Early evidence preservation can be critical.
Most cases follow a structured timeline.
Police conduct an investigation and make an arrest.
The court formally advises you of the charges and may impose bond conditions.
Many defendants are required to:
Submit to alcohol testing
Submit to drug testing
Follow reporting requirements
Comply with travel restrictions
Evidence is reviewed and negotiations often begin.
Legal challenges may be raised involving:
Traffic stops
Search and seizure issues
Testing procedures
Constitutional violations
Cases may conclude through:
Dismissal
Reduction
Plea agreement
Trial
Many opportunities to improve outcomes arise before trial becomes necessary.
Generally involves an alleged BAC of 0.08% or higher.
Focuses on impairment rather than a specific BAC level.
Often called “Super Drunk” and generally involves an alleged BAC of 0.17% or higher.
May involve:
Marijuana
Prescription medications
Controlled substances
Second and third offenses carry significantly increased penalties and driver’s license consequences.
Refusal cases may create separate driver’s license issues.
Many people believe DUI cases are won at trial.
In reality, many successful outcomes begin much earlier.
A thorough review often focuses on:
Did police have a lawful reason to stop the vehicle?
Were standardized testing procedures followed?
Were calibration and testing protocols properly followed?
Were collection and laboratory procedures reliable?
Do body-camera and dash-camera recordings support the allegations?
Were legal rights protected throughout the investigation?
Even relatively small weaknesses may create significant opportunities.
Potentially helpful evidence may include:
Body camera footage
Dash camera recordings
Surveillance video
Witness statements
Medical records
GPS data
Cell phone records
Receipts and transaction records
Evidence often becomes more difficult to obtain as time passes.
For many people, driving privileges are the most immediate concern.
Potential consequences may include:
License suspension
Restricted driving privileges
Ignition interlock requirements
CDL consequences
Secretary of State sanctions
Driver’s license issues often require immediate attention.
| Issue | First Offense | Second Offense |
|---|---|---|
| Jail Risk | Lower | Higher |
| License Consequences | Suspension or Restriction | Revocation Possible |
| Probation | Common | More Intensive |
| Insurance Impact | Significant | Severe |
| Court Supervision | Standard | Increased |
Talking to police after arrest
Missing court appearances
Violating bond conditions
Ignoring testing requirements
Posting about the case online
Waiting too long to seek legal advice
Assuming the outcome is predetermined
Most DUI and OWI cases are handled in the 44th District Court.
The court is often known for structured probation, alcohol monitoring, and close attention to compliance.
Potentially, yes.
Potentially, yes.
In some circumstances, yes.
Potentially.
Driver’s license consequences depend on the specific charge and circumstances.
A warrant may be issued and additional consequences may follow.
Potentially. Calibration, maintenance, and testing procedures may become important issues.
Potentially. Collection procedures, chain-of-custody issues, and laboratory analysis may be relevant.
Certain convictions may qualify under Michigan law depending on eligibility requirements.
No. Many cases are resolved before trial through negotiations and legal challenges.
Possibly. The answer depends upon the facts of the case, the conditions of bond, and the particular circumstances involved.
Judges frequently impose conditions intended to ensure that defendants appear for future court dates and comply with court orders. Those conditions may include travel restrictions, alcohol testing, substance-abuse monitoring, or reporting requirements.
Business owners, executives, physicians, sales professionals, and others often travel frequently for work. One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming that business travel automatically creates an exception to a bond condition.
Never assume that travel is permitted simply because the trip is work-related.
Depending on the bond conditions, leaving Michigan without permission could create additional problems and potentially result in a bond violation.
If travel is necessary, it is almost always better to address the issue before making reservations, booking flights, or leaving the state.
The consequences depend upon the facts of the case and the conditions imposed by the court.
Many criminal cases, particularly OWI cases, involve conditions prohibiting the use of alcohol while the case is pending.
One of the most common mistakes we encounter is a client creating a second problem while attempting to resolve the first one.
Possibly, but you should never assume that attendance alone eliminates the obligation to comply with court orders.
Courts are generally concerned with compliance rather than convenience. Every case presents different circumstances, and every bond order should be reviewed carefully.
Clients frequently ask whether birthdays, weddings, concerts, vacations, and other social events create exceptions to court orders. The answer depends upon the particular conditions imposed by the court.
Potentially, yes, but it depends entirely upon the terms of your release.
Some individuals have few restrictions, while others are subject to extensive conditions involving travel, testing, reporting, or contact with certain individuals.
Many people mistakenly assume that everyday activities are automatically permitted. It is always better to ask questions beforehand than to explain a problem afterward.
Perhaps, but you should not assume that international travel will automatically be permitted.
Travel outside the United States raises issues involving both the court’s authority and the policies of border officials and immigration authorities.
Because of the proximity of Royal Oak to the Canadian border, this is a question we hear frequently. Business obligations do not necessarily override court orders or border requirements.
Avoid violating bond conditions, missing court dates, discussing your case on social media, contacting witnesses without permission, consuming alcohol in violation of court orders, or assuming that the case will simply disappear.
Many criminal cases become more difficult because of decisions made after the arrest rather than because of the original allegations themselves.
Over nearly three decades of practice, I have found that the people who achieve the best results are often those who remain patient, informed, and disciplined throughout the process.
The 44th District Court’s Hybrid Alcohol and Drug Treatment Court is designed to address substance-abuse issues through a combination of treatment, accountability, supervision, and judicial oversight.
Problem-solving courts frequently involve counseling, education, testing, treatment, regular court appearances, and ongoing monitoring. Eligibility requirements vary depending upon the circumstances of the case.
Treatment courts recognize that accountability and rehabilitation can sometimes work together. Successfully completing a program often requires commitment, honesty, consistency, and a willingness to follow the rules established by the court.
Most OWI, OWVI, High BAC, drugged-driving, repeat-offense DUI, and implied-consent cases arising in Royal Oak are handled in the 44th District Court.
Understanding the court’s procedures, probation policies, testing requirements, and judicial expectations is often just as important as understanding the underlying law because decisions made during the first days and weeks after arrest frequently influence the direction of the case.
The 44th District Court serves the Royal Oak community and handles a broad range of criminal, traffic, ordinance, and civil matters arising within its jurisdiction.
Judges frequently oversee:
Arraignments
Bond hearings
Motion hearings
Probation matters
Plea proceedings
Sentencing proceedings
Bench trials
Every judge develops individual procedures and expectations that may affect case strategy.
The clerk’s office commonly handles:
Case scheduling
Court records
Filing procedures
Payment processing
Hearing notices
Court forms
Court personnel can provide procedural information but cannot provide legal advice.
The probation department frequently supervises defendants during both the pretrial and post-conviction phases of a case.
Conditions may include:
Alcohol testing
Drug testing
Counseling
Educational programs
Community service
Reporting obligations
Bond conditions frequently include:
Restrictions involving alcohol consumption
Drug testing
Reporting obligations
Travel limitations
Compliance monitoring
Violations may result in additional court proceedings and penalties.
An arraignment is ordinarily the first formal court appearance.
During the proceeding, the court generally:
Advises defendants of the allegations.
Explains constitutional rights.
Establishes bond conditions.
Schedules future hearings.
Determines conditions of release.
The 44th District Court is frequently associated with:
Structured probation supervision
Careful review of compliance
Alcohol-testing requirements
Detailed evidence review
Active case management
Royal Oak cases frequently involve business owners, executives, physicians, nurses, lawyers, teachers, engineers, and other professionals who are concerned about the effect a DUI conviction may have on their careers and reputations.
Investigations commonly involve:
Royal Oak Police Department
Oakland County Sheriff’s Office
Michigan State Police
Evidence may include:
Body-camera recordings
Dashboard-camera recordings
Witness statements
Laboratory analysis
Field sobriety tests
Chemical test results
Alcohol-related driving investigations frequently occur on:
Woodward Avenue
Main Street
Rochester Road
Campbell Road
Eleven Mile Road
Twelve Mile Road
Thirteen Mile Road
Interstate 75
Matthew Fraiberg regularly represents individuals charged with OWI, OWVI, High BAC, drugged driving, repeat-offense DUI, and implied-consent violations in Royal Oak and throughout Oakland County.
His experience includes:
More than twenty-eight years of criminal defense experience.
Experience as a former city prosecutor.
Experience as a former judicial clerk.
Thousands of criminal and DUI matters handled throughout Michigan.
This experience provides valuable insight into how judges, prosecutors, probation officers, and police officers evaluate cases.
Matthew Fraiberg has represented individuals facing DUI and criminal charges throughout Michigan for more than 28 years.
His experience includes:
Former City Prosecutor
Former Judicial Clerk
Extensive DUI and OWI defense experience
Significant experience throughout Oakland County courts
This background provides insight into how prosecutors, judges, and probation departments evaluate DUI cases.
A DUI arrest does not automatically determine the outcome of your case.
Many outcomes are influenced by evidence review, constitutional issues, driver’s license concerns, professional consequences, and early legal strategy.
Protect your driver’s license.
Protect your career.
Protect your reputation.
Protect your future.
Call (248) 986-2682 today for a confidential consultation.
Call 248-986-2682 now.
Protect your record.
Protect your future.
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