Cincinnati DUI Lawyer

Penalties for OVI in Ohio

For adults over the age of 21, the legal alcohol limit in Ohio is 0.08% BAC. If you are pulled over or stopped by a police officer and found to have a BAC level that exceeds the limit, or the amount of alcohol in your system is enough to cause impairment, you could face serious penalties for driving under the influence.

DUI penalties are extremely serious, including:

• First OVI – Several days in jail, an alcohol abuse program, and over a thousand dollars in fines
• Second OVI – Between 10 days and 6 months in jail, house arrest, and/or alcohol monitoring. Fines may reach up to $1,625.
• Third OVI – Up to 1 year in jail, with a minimum of 60 days for BACs of .17% or above. Fines can be as high as $2,500, in addition to payment for an alcohol treatment program. The license may be lost for 2 – 10 years.
• Fourth OVI – As much as 5 years behind bars and $10,000 in fines, as well as surrendering the car driven by the defendant. Permanent license suspension may also be enforced.

If you have been charged with multiple OVI offenses in the past, you could be facing a felony OVI charge. This could result in increased penalties.

Implied Consent Laws in Ohio

Ohio has implied consent laws that mandate anyone driving a vehicle in the state gives consent to submit to chemical testing to determine their BAC level.

The testing could be a breathalyzer, blood test, or urine test, and it must be administered at the request of a law enforcement officer who has reasonable grounds to believe the person is driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

If you are pulled over on suspicion of DUI in Cincinnati, it is important to comply with the officer’s orders and submit to the breath, blood, or urine test.

Failure to do so can result in serious consequences, even if you were not drinking and driving.

Refusing to take the chemical test is considered a violation of Ohio’s implied consent law and results in an administrative license suspension.

The length of the suspension depends on whether the driver has prior refusals or OVI convictions.

What to Do After a Cincinnati DUI Arrest

If you have been arrested for a DUI in Cincinnati, it is important to remain calm and take several important steps to protect yourself and your future case.

First, do not talk to the police. It is never a good idea to speak with the police without your lawyer present. If the police ask you to talk about your DUI arrest, you should decline and ask to speak with your lawyer.

Next, consult with a Cincinnati DUI attorney right away. A DUI case can be complicated, and an attorney can help answer your questions, explain the potential penalties, and guide you through the legal process.

Third, record all of the details you can remember about your arrest, including what you said to the police, how you first encountered the police, and any other relevant details.

Finally, work with your lawyer to identify potential witnesses and gather any potential evidence that may help your case.

For example, if you were at a restaurant or bar before your DUI arrest, you can request a copy of your bill or see if any security footage may help prove you were not under the influence while driving.

While waiting for your case to go to court, remember to stay out of trouble and be patient. DUI cases can take a long time to resolve, but your attorney will work with you to provide important updates and develop a compelling defense strategy in your favor.