Kimm  0:01  
Welcome to conversations with Kimm. We will be talking about alcohol and drug related offenses today.

Sarah  0:13  
What are you seeing as some of the biggest problems related to drug and alcohol in Hillsdale County?

Kimm  0:20  
The biggest problem that we see with drugs and alcohol here in Hillsdale County, kind of just as it is, through most of the nation, is methamphetamine. That's the biggest one here in Hillsdale County for other alcohol is kind of the next one up. There are some other offenses, you know, you've got your heroin or cocaine, but those are the two biggest ones that I see.

Sarah  0:44  
What happens if you are pulled over by police and arrested for drug or alcohol related offense?

Kimm  0:51  
So if you are pulled over for a drug or alcohol related offense, the officers will provide you with a sobriety test. You're kind of mandated to do that. You'll do the you know, walk on, you know, in a straight line, they'll ask you questions. And if they believe that you are actually under the influence they could do a PVT the breathalyzer test that you have, they can take you to the hospital, get your blood drawn, or take you out to the jail and do their datamaster, which is another form of a PBT.

Sarah  1:25  
And what happens if this is your first offense?

Kimm  1:27  
The first offense is punishable by up to 93 days in jail fines and costs of up to $500. It is also a loss of your license. If you don't have anything else on your record, you could lose your license for six months with a restricted license available after 30 days.

Sarah  1:49  
How can individuals get help with drug and alcohol addiction in the county?

Kimm  1:53  
Well, if you are doing it on your own, then you can seek out different rehabs. There's a couple here in Hillsdale County, there are many throughout the state of Michigan that will take different insurances, you can call and get yourself help through the court system, you're going to be mandated to do that you're going to be required to have a substance abuse assessment. And the courts will then go any punishment or your probation period off of those recommendations.

Sarah  2:24  
What are your rights if you're injured in a drug or alcohol related driving incident?

Kimm  2:29  
If you are injured in a driving related fences, meaning you are not the person that is drunk driving, there are civil remedies that you have you can sue in court for those body injuries, those property damages, and you can seek an attorney to get that information you can call my office, we'll be happy to set up an appointment and talk to you about those.

Sarah  2:51  
What can family members do if they're worried about someone in their family having a drug or alcohol addiction?

Kimm  2:58  
If you have a family member that is addicted to drugs or alcohol, you can do what they call the intervention and try to get them to admit their problem and get help themselves. However, that's usually pretty tough to do, because most people don't want to admit that they have these problems. If your loved one is in the court system, is on probation, you can always call the probation department talk to the probation officer give them the additional information that they need. And they can also help tailor their probation to that specific area.

Sarah  3:34  
And how can someone get in touch with you if they have questions?

Kimm  3:38  
You can call my office at 517-797-6021 or email me at kimm@kburgerlaw.com to get in touch with me and ask any questions that you might have. 

Sarah  3:51  
Thank you.