Police Patrols will be Watching for Drunk Drivers on Thanksgiving Holiday

Mark Mandell, Esq.

As another holiday approaches with Thanksgiving, police officers across the state will be keeping a closer eye out for drunk drivers, especially on Michigan’s highways. Between football and the copious amount of food eaten on Thanksgiving, there are also copious amounts of alcohol consumed on this holiday in particular.

As you always hear about tragic accidents happening around this time of year, the message of not drinking and driving is worth repeating. Throw in the worsening road conditions as winter approaches, and alcohol and driving can be a particularly deadly combination.

Not only is drunk driving extremely dangerous, but there are hefty consequences associated with drunk driving. A person is considered “over the limit” if they are operating a vehicle with a BAC of .08 or greater. There are enhanced penalties for “Super Drunk Driving” if an individual’s BAC is 0.17 or higher.

The severity of the penalties depends on what number offense it is and the level of intoxication. The penalties include the following:

• If BAC is below .17 and it is a first offense the penalties includes up to a $500 fine and Up to 93 days in jail; 
• If BAC is above .17 and it is a first offense the penalties includes up to a $700 fine and 180 days in jail;
• If it is a second offense within 7 years the penalties include one or more of the following: a $200 to $1000 fine and/or 5 days to 1 year in jail;
• If it is a third offense within a lifetime the offense is considered a felony and the penalties include one or more of the following: a $500 to $5000 fine, 1 to 5 years imprisonment and/or probation with 30 days to 1 year in jail;
• Additionally, convicted drunk drivers are subject to a $1,000 penalty for two consecutive years under the Driver Responsibility Act, for a total of $2,000 in additional costs.

There are a number of safer alternatives to drunk driving. Safer alternatives include: designating a sober driver; calling a friend; taking a cab; walking or staying over the night at a family or friend’s home.

If you are facing drunk driving charges, or have questions regarding the law, contact experienced criminal defense attorney Mark Mandell at 888-674-1189 or online at www.MichiganFraudLawyer.com.

Veteran Charities – Not All Exist to Benefit Veterans

Matt Worley, Esq.

There are around 1.6 million non-profit organizations in this country.  Of those, upwards of 65,000 include the word “veterans” in their title.  With so many seeking donations, it is more important than ever to be confident that when you give to a veteran charity your donation will actually be used to help our veterans.

Many people assume that if an organization has been granted 501(c)(3) status by the IRS, it went through a stringent application and review process and must therefore be legitimate.  However, the truth is that there is minimal oversight of the process of creating a non-profit organization.  In fact, the IRS recently simplified the application for 501(c)(3) tax exemption from 12 pages (plus schedules) down to only 3 pages.

With almost no ongoing oversight, many of these groups use only a very small portion of donation money to fund products and services for veterans.  Worse still, there are fraudulent organizations that are used only to line the pockets of their creators.

For example, the United States Navy Veterans Association (USNVA) was a registered 501(c)(3) charity.  It had many markings of a legitimate non-profit – a quality website, supposedly in operation since 1927 and dozens of purported chapters across the country with thousands of members nationwide.  In reality, USNVA was run by one man out of his duplex in Florida.  This sham charity bilked donors out of nearly $100 million over a seven-year period.  The ringleader was arrested in 2012 and sentenced to 28 years in prison and $6 million in fines, but sadly most of these donations will never be recovered.

Fortunately, there are resources available to assist potential donors in verifying the legitimacy of a charity before donating.  First off, the charity’s website can provide a first step – most legitimate charities post their financial statements and annual reports on their website so that the public may view them.  Additionally, www.guidestar.org is a non-profit that provides detailed information about 501(c)(3) registered charities.  Further, legitimate charities should be completely transparent.  If an organization is not forthcoming about providing financial/audit statements, copies of their conflict of interest policy, or information about the board of directors and employees, there is cause for concern.

If you have questions about the authenticity of a veteran charity, or believe that you have been taken advantage of by a fraudulent charity, contact the experienced attorneys at Fausone Bohn, LLP.  We can provide you the sound legal advice that you need.  You can reach us at (248) 380-0000 or online at www.fb-firm.com.