- May 10, 2018 |
- Category: DUI and Courtroom Process
According to an April 28, 2018 article from the Columbus Dispatch, almost two thousand Ohio residents have been arrested more than nine times in their lives for driving under the influence. While those numbers seem shocking, the large majority of DUI offenders are first-time offenders. According to the Columbus Dispatch, approximately two-thirds of Ohio citizens who are charged with drinking and driving have just one DUI case on their record. The remaining third have multiple DUI arrests and some have more than one drunk driving conviction. The Dispatch analysis was based upon information reported by the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
Those numbers loosely reflect my experience as a Cincinnati DUI lawyer. The majority of my DUI clients are dealing with their first DUI offense and have never been in the criminal justice system before. In my opinion, drinking and driving charges are unique compared to most criminal offenses in that they can happen to virtually anyone who consumes alcohol or drugs, even those who generally consume them responsibly. Once those individuals get their first DUI case, they change their behavior in such a way that prevents additional DUI charges in the future.
A first-time DUI conviction in Ohio carries significant penalties, including mandatory jail time up to six months, mandatory fines up to $1075, mandatory license suspension up to three years and substance abuse treatment. Depending on the facts of the case, some DUI defendants are required to obtain an ignition interlock device on their vehicle and obtain restricted plates from the Ohio BMV before being permitted to drive again. However, repeat-DUI offenders in Ohio face more serious consequences if convicted. The Ohio Revised Code drinking and driving provisions include DUI penalties as severe as five years in prison, a lifetime driver license suspension and fines over $10,000.
Keep in mind the penalties listed on this page only apply to DUI suspects who are actually convicted of DUI. In most cases, a DUI lawyer will try to get all DUI charges dismissed or reduced to a lower level offense without such penalties.
There are over a million laws in the United States and thousands in the state of Ohio alone. I am a top Ohio DUI lawyer who focuses his entire practice on just one. Because of my considerable experience and concentrated practice, I understand the Ohio DUI laws better than most attorneys in the state. I am passionate about Ohio DUI defense and I get results. If you have an Ohio DUI case and want a top Ohio DUI lawyer on your team, please give me a call.
