Michigan Democratic lawmaker Lauren Flynn has been charged under the state’s “super drunk” driving statute after authorities recorded her blood-alcohol level at more than twice the legal limit.
Flynn, first elected in 2022, was arraigned Tuesday in connection with an alleged drunken-driving incident from this summer.
The 46-year-old mother of two was stopped in Grand Traverse County on July 24, according to WPBN. Her blood-alcohol concentration was measured at no less than 0.17%, well above Michigan’s legal limit of 0.08%.
She faces a misdemeanor charge under Michigan’s “super drunk” law, which carries a potential sentence of up to 180 days in county jail upon conviction.
The statute imposes tougher penalties than a standard operating-while-intoxicated charge. A first-time OWI offense can bring a jail sentence of up to 93 days.
Flynn attended the arraignment by Zoom. Her attorney, Jesse Williams, entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf.
The politician has twice been elected to represent District 2 on the Grand Traverse County Commission. She remains free on an undisclosed bond and has been ordered to abstain from alcohol and drugs. She was also advised to avoid bars and casinos and must submit to breath testing twice a day.
Flynn said little during the hearing, speaking only to confirm basic personal information.
The arraignment was postponed before Tuesday’s proceeding because the case is being handled by neighboring Antrim County rather than Traverse County.
Flynn, a single mother of two teenage daughters, has not publicly addressed the arraignment. The date of her next court appearance was not immediately clear.
The case comes two years after Flynn secured re-election, defeating Republican challenger Daniel Smith by nearly 13 percentage points in November 2024.
Her political work has focused on expanding access to quality, affordable child care and promoting cost-effective housing for families in her district.
During her campaign, Flynn said she had put her degree program at Central Michigan University on hold after moving to Traverse City.
She also described personal challenges involving her and her late husband, saying steep child-care expenses created “stress that contributed to the breakdown of [their] marriage.”
“Ensuring affordable daycare is not just a priority for me—it’s a necessity,” she said.
