A drunk driving charge is known as Operating a Vehicle under the Influence, or OVI under Ohio criminal law. A “DUI” is the commonly used term and means the same thing. But no matter what it is referred to as, driving under the influence is a serious charge that can land you in jail and without a driver’s license for a long period of time. When you are facing the Ohio criminal courts and sanctions from the DMV, you need an experienced Ohio DUI defense attorney on your side. Call us for a consultation on your DUI charge today.
A drunk driving or OVI charge is something that can happen to anyone. A few drinks, a broken tail light, and suddenly you’re under arrest, regardless of whether or not you were actually impaired. If a police officer is even suspicious that you could be drunk, they will typically arrest you and sort it out later. Cops will almost always err on the side of arresting you if they think there is a chance you are drunk.
Not everyone arrested for drunk driving is guilty. The police make mistakes all the time. But maybe you made a mistake and didn’t realize you may have been intoxicated, or simply exercised some bad judgment. You may have been leaving a summertime barbecue or a company Christmas party when you picked up your DUI charge. Chances are you didn’t think you were too intoxicated to drive and the results of your breathalyzer may have surprised you.
Either way, from the time you see the flashing lights in your rearview, to the time you are sentenced; a criminal charge can put a lot of stress on you and your household. We understand the stress you are going through and want to take some of that weight off your shoulders.
Our attorneys have handled numerous DUI/OVI cases in Ohio courts and know what it takes to beat these charges or at least work to get you a deal you can live with.
We are prepared to fight your drunk driving case. Many cases can be beaten in court, and an aggressive defense is always a smart way to go. But if you ultimately want to work out a deal and more on with your life, we understand that too. So in that case, we are always prepared to fight to make sure you get the minimum sentence allowed by the law.
Find out what we can to to help you out of this unpleasant and difficult situation by calling us for a free DUI defense consultation on any Ohio OVI arrest.
What is DUI/DWI/OVI Under Ohio Drunk Driving Laws?
DUI and DWI are used interchangeable with the legal terms “Operating a Vehicle under the Influence”, or OVI. You can be charged with and found guilty of OVI by either:
- Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or
- Being found over the legal limit of blood alcohol content.
In the first case, the police can prove that you were under the influence, or impaired, by their observation of your behavior, and your performance on field sobriety tests.
In the second case, the law says that you are guilty per se of OVI if you blow over a .08% BAC which is the legal limit in Ohio. This assumes the number is valid, and the breathalyzer was operated under the required standards.
It is possible to be charged and convicted even when blowing under the limit. And it is also possible that you were able to operate your vehicle normally and safely and pass all other tests, but still blew over the legal limit.
How you are sentenced for your DUI in Ohio depends on many factors. The OVI laws in Ohio are very complicated and are always being changed. It is vital that you consult with a qualified attorney to know exactly what types of penalties you may be facing, and how to work out the best deal.
First Offense OVI Penalties
If this is a first DUI/OVI offense you will face:
- 3-180 days in jail (This means you will serve at least 3 days in jail if convicted)
- $200-$1,000 in fines
- Driver’s license suspension of 6 months to 3 years
There are many additional penalties a judge can impose even for a first offense. These depend on the seriousness and circumstances of your DUI as well as the laws governing it.
There are also some tricky driver’s license issues to work out to make sure any license suspension you may be facing is as short as possible.
Annies Law – Ignition Interlock Device
Annie’s law was passed in 2017 and officially takes effect on April 4, 2017. The law gives judges the discretion in first offense cases to require you to get an ignition interlock device on your vehicle for 6 months and can reduce the license suspension period.
It can be a good deal for some people, in that it gets them back on the road quicker, and reduced the suspension period. But if having an ignition interlock on your primary car is a problem, especially if you drive a company vehicle, then it can make the situation worse for you.
We can discuss your options in such a case and figure out what is the best outcome possible for your situation.
So please call us today for a consultation on your Ohio OVI case. We’ll let you know exactly what you are up against, and how we can help you get through it. No obligation.
