Ohio DUI? Why you need an experienced Ohio DUI lawyer

No matter how you spell it, if you have been charged with drunk driving in Ohio, you need an aggressive, experienced Ohio DUI lawyer.

In Ohio, driving under the influence of an intoxicant - alcohol or drugs - can be referred to as Ohio DUI - “Driving Under the Influence of alcohol,” Ohio OMVI -“Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated,” or “Ohio OVI - Operating a Vehicle under the Influence, Impaired or Intoxicated.”

You need an experienced lawyer to represent you in any Ohio DUI case because the charge is serious and can have an impact on your life for 20 years or more. Three DUIs in six years can result in permanent loss of your vehicle. Being guilty of four DUIs in six years is a felony; six DUIs in 20 years means jail for sure.

Charges for an Ohio OVI can be both civil and criminal in nature. Even if this is your first arrest for OVI, you will most probably lose your license and can be fined and given a jail sentence or be required to attend a driver intervention program. If you have had more than one OVI conviction, the penalties become more severe. Repeated OVIs can result in felony charges, permanent loss of license and jail time.

The police officer who stops you can suspend your license on the spot if you refuse to take a sobriety test or fail to pass a blood alcohol test. This is called an “Administrative License Suspension.” Depending on your previous record, this suspension can be for up to five years. Additional penalties accrue based on the charges and your record.

Attorneys at McDonough Sfiscko & Company can see that your rights are protected, proper procedure is followed, and your side of the story is clearly and properly presented in court.

Consequences of being found guilty of an Ohio DUI offense are listed on the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles web site (http://www.bmv.ohio.gov/driver_license/dui_law.htm) and summarized here:

First offense

• Fine: Minimum $200 up to $1000
• Jail: Minimum three days or attendance at three-day driver intervention program
• Court license suspension: six months to three years

Second offense

• Fine: Minimum $300 up to $1500
• Jail: Minimum ten days or five days jail plus 18 days electronically monitored house arrest up to six months
• Court license suspension: one to five years
• Vehicle immobilization and plates impounded for 90 days
• Other: discretionary driver intervention program

Third offense

• Fine: Minimum $500 up to $2500
• Jail: Minimum 30 days to one year or alternative sentence including electronically monitored house arrest up to one year
• Court license suspension: one to ten years
• Vehicle immobilization and plates impounded for180 days
• Other: mandatory alcohol treatment paid for by offender

Fourth or more offense or Motor vehicle related felony

• Fine: Minimum $750 up to $10,000
• Jail: Minimum 60 days to one year
• Court license suspension: three years to permanent
• Mandatory forfeiture of vehicle
• Mandatory drug/alcohol treatment paid for by offender

Driving a vehicle while your license is under suspension can result in court ordered vehicle immobilization and impoundment of license plates for 30 days to permanent forfeiture.

To determine your options and get personal, aggressive, experienced representation, contact McDonough Sfiscko & Company.