A Michigan Democratic lawmaker has been charged under the state’s “super drunk” driving law after allegedly recording a blood-alcohol concentration more than twice the legal limit.
Lauren Flynn, who was first elected in 2022, was arraigned Tuesday in connection with a suspected drunk-driving incident from the summer.
Flynn, 46, was stopped in Grand Traverse County on July 24. Her blood-alcohol concentration was measured at least 0.17%, more than double Michigan’s legal limit of 0.08%, WPBN reported.
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 law imposes tougher penalties than a standard operating-while-intoxicated charge, which can carry up to 93 days in jail for a first-time offender.
Flynn appeared at Tuesday’s arraignment by Zoom, while her attorney, Jesse Williams, entered a not-guilty plea on her behalf.
The politician has been elected twice to represent District 2 on the Grand Traverse County Commission. She is currently free on an undisclosed bond and has been ordered not to drink alcohol or use drugs. She has also been advised to avoid bars and casinos and must complete breath tests twice a day.
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Flynn spoke only briefly during the proceeding, limiting her comments to confirming personal information.
The arraignment was delayed because the case is being handled by neighboring Antrim County rather than Grand Traverse County.
Flynn, a single mother of two teenage girls, has not publicly commented on the arraignment. It remains unclear when she will next appear in court.
The case comes two years after Flynn won re-election, defeating Republican challenger Daniel Smith by nearly 13 percentage points in November 2024.
Her policy work has focused on expanding access to quality, affordable child care and promoting cost-effective housing for families in the district.
During her campaign, Flynn said she had been forced to put her Central Michigan University degree on hold after moving to Traverse City.
She also discussed personal challenges involving her and her late husband, including the high cost of daycare, which she said 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.