High School students who are charged with drinking and driving in Ohio face more penalties than the average DUI defendant. Students under the age of 18 who are charged with an Ohio DUI/OVI will face their charge in the county juvenile court. Possible consequences for these students include time at the juvenile detention center, probation, drug and alcohol counseling, alcohol awareness classes, a driver’s DUI intervention program, Ohio DUI/OVI license suspension and various financial sanctions. Ohio High school students charged with DUI who are over the age of 18 will face their charge in the local municipal court where the DUI occurred. These students face possible penalties that includes a possible jail sentence of up to thirty days, a fine of up to $250, an Ohio DUI license suspension that lasts anywhere from ninety days up to two years, and possible probation with alcohol and drug treatment.
In addition to the regular penalties associated with an Ohio DUI summarized above, high school students face additional consequences that arise under their school’s student code of conduct. Most Ohio high schools offer athletic programs and other extracurricular activities for their students. In exchange for the privilege to participate, students are generally required to sign a contract in which they agree to refrain from the possession or use of alcohol, drugs and tobacco. If the student is cited for underage drinking and driving, they will likely be disciplined as part of the student code of conduct.
Some Ohio high schools will warn a student-athlete for a first offense while others will suspend the student-athlete for a particular number of games, even for a first underage DUI offense. Most programs will allow the student to practice during any suspension, but may require an underage DUI offender to participate in drug and alcohol counseling as part of the disciplinary program. Student Codes of conduct will generally get more punitive for each subsequent Ohio underage DUI violation that occurs.
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.
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.