All Ohio DUIs OVIs and drinking and driving charges have serious, life changing consequences, however, the penalties for felony DUI, felony OVI and felony drinking and driving are some of the most significant under Ohio law. In Ohio, a felony DUI/OVI is a very serious criminal charge. If you have an Ohio DUI case, including felony DUI, you should consider talking to a top Ohio DUI lawyer to see if he can get the case dismissed or reduced to a lesser offense. The penalties on these pages only apply to drivers who are convicted of DUI/OVI, including felony DUI. An experienced Ohio DUI lawyer may be able to prevent that from happening.
An Ohio felony DUI conviction brings the following potential penalties:
- A prison sentence of up to 5 years
- $10,500 in fines
- Probation
- Mandatory drug treatment or alcohol treatment
- Mandatory lifetime Ohio DUI/OVI driver’s license suspension
- A permanent criminal record
- Loss of job
- Liability in a civil lawsuit
Minimum Penalties for an Ohio Felony DUI/OVI Conviction
If an Ohio DUI driver pleads guilty in court to a felony DUI/OVI/drinking and driving charge, at a minimum, he will be given the following sentence: (a) sixty days incarceration; (b) $1350 in fines plus other financial sanctions; (c) a mandatory three year driver’s Ohio DUI/OVI license suspension with no driving privileges; (d) probation with mandatory treatment supervised by the court; (e) mandatory Ohio DUI/OVI license plates and mandatory ignition interlock device after the suspension is complete; and (f) forfeiture of the driver’s motor vehicle if he was driving it at the time of the Ohio DUI/OVI/drinking and driving offense.
These are the minimums that a driver will receive if he is convicted of a first felony DUI in Ohio. That being said, the penalties can be much more severe depending on a number of factors.
Maximum Penalties for an Ohio Felony DUI/OVI Conviction
Courts have a lot of leeway in sentencing Ohio drivers in felony DUI/OVI/drinking and driving cases. While the above-paragraph lists the minimum penalties in an Ohio felony DUI/OVI case, the maximum penalties are as follows: (a) five years in a state prison; (b) $10,500 in fines along with other financial sanctions; (c) a lifetime Ohio DUI/OVI license suspension; (d) probation with mandatory treatment supervised by the court; (e) Ohio DUI/OVI license plates and ignition interlock device if the court grants the driver privileges after the mandatory waiting period of three years; and (f) forfeiture of the driver’s motor vehicle if he was driving it during the Ohio felony DUI/OVI offense.
Common Mistakes in Ohio DUI/OVI Investigations
No Ohio DUI/OVI/drinking and driving arrest is perfect and the best Ohio DUI/OVI lawyers knows this. Most Ohio DUI/OVI investigations include a number of witnesses, including police officers and the personnel who collect, store and test chemical samples. These witnesses are human and they make mistakes. Further, most Ohio DUI/OVI investigations include a breath testing device or other testing equipment that is not always maintained according to current Ohio DUI/OVI regulations.
Do You Want Award-Winning Ohio DUI/OVI Representation?
There are over 1 million laws in the United States. I am a top Ohio DUI/OVI defense lawyer who devotes his entire practice to ONE. Because of my experience and concentrated focus, I know the Ohio DUI/OVI laws better than most attorneys in the state. I am passionate about Ohio DUI/OVI defense and I get results, however, I only accept a limited number of clients. If you’re serious about your case and want a top Ohio DUI/OVI lawyer on your team, call me, the Ohio DUI Dude at 1-844-DUI-DUDE.
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