MI Lawmakers pass amendment to expungement bill

LANSING, Mich. — A bill that passed through the Michigan House and Senate will give drivers with only one Operating While Intoxicated offense a clear criminal record, if signed into law.

The bill is an amendment to a package of bills passed earlier this year that cleared a number of criminal records, but did not offer any expungement to drivers with a only a first-time OWI offense.

If signed into law by Governor Whitmer, the bill would take place in April of 2021.

“This is an important milestone,” said Sarissa Montague, criminal defense attorney with Kalamazoo-based Levine & Levine Attorneys at Law. “I strongly believe that those with a one-time offense of operating a vehicle while intoxicated should be eligible to clear their records.”