BY LARRY SOBCZAK
EDITOR
Bruce Township Clerk Susan Brockmann pled guilty to “super drunk” charges at a pretrial hearing held at the 42-2 District Court in New Baltimore on March 22 for a drunk driving incident that occurred in the township hall parking lot at 3 a.m. on Sept. 11.
Under Michigan law super drunk is considered operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated (OWI) with a high blood alcohol content (BAC) higher than 0.17 percent.
Brockmann’s blood alcohol content tested at 0.20 and 0.18 according to a statement she made to Judge William Hackel III.
A driver is considered drunk if their blood alcohol level is 0.08 or higher under Michigan law.
Brockmann’s attorney, Chris Fischer, said that she decided to accept the charges.
“I was trying, as her attorney, to arrange a plea agreement,” Fischer said outside the courthouse. “It was her idea to take the full plea.”
Brockmann would not speak to the press.
She now faces an alcohol assessment screening through the court on April 17 and sentencing on April 28.
Brockman could face misdemeanor penalties of:
- Up to $700 fine;
- Up to 180 days in jail;
- Up to 360 hours of community service;
- Up to one year license suspension;
- Six points on a driver’s license;
- Mandatory completion of an alcohol treatment program;
- Ignition interlock use and compliance after 45 days license suspension is required to receive a restricted driver’s license.
Convicted drunk drivers have limited driving privileges, are prohibited from operating a vehicle without an approved and properly installed ignition interlock device, and are responsible for all installation and upkeep costs for the device.
Convicted drunken 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.
Michigan adopted stiffer penalties for drivers found to have blood alcohol levels above 0.17 percent or “super drunk” in 2010.
