Michigan · Handbook chapter 3 · 4 min read
Chapter 3: Alcohol and drugs
How alcohol and drugs affect Michigan drivers, standard drink sizes, why only time sobers you up, marijuana rules, implied consent, and license suspensions for drug convictions.
Why this chapter matters
Drivers who have been drinking or using drugs kill or permanently injure thousands of people every year. Michigan takes a hard line, and its rules on marijuana, test refusal and drug convictions show up regularly on the permit test.
How alcohol affects you
- A 12-ounce beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine and a 1.5-ounce shot of whiskey hold the same amount of alcohol. Beer is no safer than liquor.
- Even one drink can slow your reactions, dull your concentration, blur your vision and weaken your judgment and self-control.
- Coffee, a cold shower, exercise or fresh air do not sober you up. Only time does.
Making safe choices
- The best plan is never to drink and drive. Choose a designated driver who will not drink before you go out.
- Otherwise get a ride, call a taxi or use public transportation.
- Do not let a friend who has been drinking or using drugs drive, and never ride with them. If necessary, take their keys and offer a place to sleep.
Marijuana
Marijuana distorts your sense of time, space and speed. Being legal for medical or recreational use does not make it legal or safe to drive impaired.
In Michigan it is legal for adults 21 or older to transport up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana, of which no more than 15 grams may be concentrate. It is illegal to:
- Drive or be in physical control of a motor vehicle, aircraft, snowmobile, off-road vehicle or motorboat while under the influence of marijuana.
- Use marijuana while operating any of those vehicles. Drivers and passengers may not smoke it in the passenger area of a vehicle on a public road.
- Take marijuana into Canada.
Penalties for driving under the influence of marijuana are the same as for alcohol: up to 93 days in jail, a fine of up to $500, license suspension, six points and more, with heavier penalties if minors are in the vehicle.
Implied consent
Police judge impairment from your driving, what they observe and how you do on field sobriety tests, and may ask for a chemical test. By applying for or renewing a license, every driver is treated as having already agreed to testing. Refusing a chemical test brings a license suspension and six points. Drivers under 21 who refuse a preliminary breath test get two points.
Drug convictions and your license
Michigan suspends licenses for drug convictions even if you were not driving. Possessing, making or distributing drugs can all lead to suspension.
| Record | Suspension | No restricted license for |
|---|---|---|
| No prior drug violations | Six months | The first 30 days |
| One or more prior drug convictions in seven years | One year | The first 60 days |
The reinstatement fee is $125, separate from any other reinstatement fee.
Alcohol and points
- Operating while intoxicated or with any Schedule 1 drug or cocaine: 6 points.
- Impaired driving: 4 points.
- Under 21 with any bodily alcohol content: 4 points.
- An open alcohol container in the vehicle: 2 points.
- A conviction for impaired driving stays on your record permanently.
Frequently asked questions
Which drink has the most alcohol: beer, wine or whiskey?
None. A standard beer (12 ounces), glass of wine (5 ounces) and shot of whiskey (1.5 ounces) all hold about the same amount of alcohol.
Will coffee help me sober up?
No. Only time removes alcohol from your body.
Is it legal to drive after using marijuana in Michigan?
No. Driving under the influence of marijuana carries the same penalties as drunk driving, and no one in the vehicle may smoke it on a public road.
What happens if I refuse a chemical test?
Your license is suspended under the implied consent law, and refusal carries six points.
Can a drug conviction cost me my license if I was not driving?
Yes. A first drug conviction brings a six-month suspension, with no restricted license for the first 30 days.
Based on What Every Driver Must Know (Michigan Department of State).