Ohio DUI Lawyers

If you are caught driving your car under the influence of alcohol, you will be charged for DUI/OVI, and that will take a toll on your life and your career. You might lose your driving privileges for your whole life, or you might have to face impacts in your professional life too.

This is why you need to get in touch with Youngstown OVI lawyer who will be able to guide you through the process so that you can get the penalties reduced or perhaps the charges dropped. And for that you need to come to us at Youngstown Criminal Law Group. Our experienced Youngstown criminal lawyer will help you get through the case so that you can deal with the consequences and get things sorted quickly.

Ohio DUI Laws

It is unlawful to drive a car under influence or when drunk, according to the OHIO REVISED CODE (ORC) 4511.19. The following conditions will be considered in this case:

• The substance abuse, whether it is alcohol or drug or a combination of both
• If the BAC is 0.8 or more in your body during the time of accident

There are multiple ways you can be charged with OVI in Ohio,

• When the limit of BAC is high during the time of accident. For general driver, the limit is 0.8 and for commercial vehicle drivers, it has to be 0.4.
• You can be charged with DUI even if your BAC is not over the legit limit. In this case, according to ORC 4506.01, police will have to prove that you have consumed drug or any substance, or anything sold over the counter at a medical store, which has impaired your judgment and reflexes.
• According to ORC 4729.01, there are dangerous drugs that can potentially impair your judgment and reflexes. Even if you have a legal prescription of buying these drugs from a medical store, you won’t be able to make the best defense for your case.

These are the basic course of laws that can be used for charging you with DUI. There can be many other DUI laws that can be used to charge you for DUI. That is why contacting an experienced Youngstown OVI lawyer is a necessary step for you.

Difference of OVI and DUI

There is no such basic different. OVI and DUI are both abbreviations for similar charges. This is how the states choose to call the case. In Ohio, the offense is called operating a vehicle under the influence or OVI. The slight difference that these cases can have is that prosecutor must prove that the offender was actually drunk while driving. For dealing with these tricky cases, you need to hire an expert Youngstown criminal lawyer.

DUI Offenses Youngstown Criminal Law Group Handles

The Youngstown criminal lawyer handles the following cases,

• First DUI Offense: This is when you are charged with your first DUI case or in 10 years. You will be charged if your BAC is over the legit limit or you are impaired because of the medications.
• Second DUI Offense: You will be dealing with second DUI offense, if you are charged within 10 years of your first offense. The punishment and fines will be harsher with more jail time.
• Third DUI offense: This can happen when you are charged third time in 10 years. The consequences can be imprisonment, high fines and house arrest. Also, you have to put yellow OVI plate in your vehicle after you get back your license.
• Physical Control Of Vehicle: Under ORC 4511.194, it is prohibited if you are impaired. This is a misdemeanor with lesser punishment than the first DUI offense.
• Under Age DUI or OVUAC: If you are under the age of 21, you are prohibited from drinking in Ohio. If you are also impaired because of prescribed drugs, you will need the assistance of a lawyer.
• Aggravated Vehicular Assault and Homicide: While you are drunk driving, if you cause an accident which results in injury and death, it will be a felony with much harsher penalties.

DUI Laws and Penalties

The penalties of DUI charges can be varied. And dealing with that and getting your charges dropped will require you get the help of Youngstown OVI lawyer.

First DUI (First Degree Misdemeanor)

• 3 days of imprisonment or completing 72-hour certified driver intervention program approved by a judge
• Up to 6 months imprisonment
• Fines between $375 and $1,075
• Driver’s license suspension for 3-6 years
• Limited driving privileges after 15 days from the initial charge (optional)
• Alcohol education and treatment programs (optional)
• Yellow OVI license plate (optional)
• Ignition interlock device (optional)

First DUI With a High BAC or Chemical Test Refusal (First Degree Misdemeanor)

• Six days in imprison or completion of a seventy two-hour certified driver intervention program approved by a judge
• Up to six months in jail
• Financial penalties between $375 and $1,075
• Six month to three-year driver’s license suspension
• Yellow OVI license plate
• Limited driving privileges after 15 days from the initial charge (optional)
• Alcohol education and treatment programs (optional)
• Ignition interlock device (optional)

Second DUI (First Degree Misdemeanor)

• Between ten days and six months in prison
• Fines between $525 and $1,625
• Probation
• House arrest and/or electronic monitoring
• One to five years suspension of Driver’s license suspension
• Limited driving privileges after forty five days from initial charge
• Yellow OVI license plates
• Alcohol assessment, education, and treatment

Second DUI With a High BAC or Chemical Test Refusal (First Degree Misdemeanor)

• Between twenty days and six months in prison
• Fines between $525 and $1,625
• Probation
• House arrest and/or electronic monitoring
• One to five years suspension of Driver’s license suspension
• Limited driving privileges after forty five days from initial charge
• Yellow OVI license plates
• Alcohol assessment, education, and treatment
• Ignition interlock device

Third DUI (First Degree Misdemeanor)

• Between thirty days and one year, in prison
• Fines between $850 and $2,750
• Probation
• House arrest and/or electronic monitoring
• Vehicle forfeiture if the offender is the owner of the vehicle
• Limited driving privileges after 180 days, after the initial charge
• Driver’s license suspension between two and ten years
• Yellow OVI plates
• Alcohol assessment, education, and treatment
• Ignition interlock device

Third DUI With a High BAC or Chemical Test Refusal (First Degree Misdemeanor)

• Between sixty days and one year in jail
• Fines between $850 and $2,750
• Probation
• House arrest and/or electronic monitoring
• Vehicle forfeiture, if the title is in your name
• Limited driving privileges after 180 days after the initial charge
• Driver’s license suspension, between two and ten years
• Yellow OVI plates
• Alcohol assessment, education, and treatment
• Ignition interlock device

First Felony DUI (Fourth Degree Felony)

• Between sixty days to thirty months in prison
• Fines between $1,350 and $10,500
• Vehicle forfeiture, if the title is in your name
• Driver’s license suspension, from three years to lifetime
• Limited driving privileges after three years
• Yellow OVI plates
• Ignition interlock device
• Alcohol and drug addiction program

Second Felony DUI (Third Degree Felony)

• Between sixty days and five years in prison
• Fines between $1,350 and $10,500
• Vehicle forfeiture if the offender is the owner
• Driver’s license suspension, from three years to lifetime
• Limited driving privileges after three years
• Yellow OVI plates
• Ignition interlock device
• Alcohol and drug addiction program

Consult a Youngstown criminal lawyer at Youngstown Criminal Law Group. We will listen to your case diligently to offer you the best resolution for the situation. Call us today.