» Criminal Defense Lawyer in Pickerington, OH » OVI Lawyer in Pickerington, OH
You need a strong defense if you or your loved one face an OVI charge. Even minor drunk driving charges require a competent approach to protecting your rights.
With the assistance of an experienced Pickerington OVI defense lawyer like myself, you have an opportunity to minimize the penalty or even dismiss the charges altogether.
Understanding how OVI cases work can help you make the right decisions. As your seasoned defense attorney, I could provide valuable guidance and fight hard to avoid an unfair penalty. Call today to schedule an appointment.
Operating a Vehicle Impaired (OVI) is the legal term used in Ohio for what is commonly known as DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or DWI (Driving While Intoxicated). As stated in Ohio Revised Code § 4511.19, it is illegal to operate a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. The law sets specific legal limits for blood alcohol concentration (BAC) and other substances:
Detectable amounts of certain controlled substances, such as marijuana, cocaine, or opioids, can also lead to OVI charges.
As a skilled OVI defense attorney in Pickerington, I investigate every stage of the case to build a strong defense, including the following:
Law enforcement officers must have a valid reason to initiate a traffic stop, such as erratic driving, speeding, or a mechanical violation. During the stop, they observe the driver’s behavior and physical appearance for signs of impairment. If the officer suspects intoxication, they may proceed with further testing.
Officers often conduct standardized field sobriety tests to assess a driver’s physical and cognitive abilities, which may give them probable cause to arrest the driver. However, such testing is not always reliable, and I could challenge them in court.
If an officer believes there is sufficient evidence of impairment, they will arrest the driver. The officer must inform the driver of their Miranda rights before questioning them. If this does not happen, I could represent you as your Pickerington OVI defense attorney and fight to dismiss the charges.
Once in custody, law enforcement can ask the driver to take a test to determine their BAC. Under Ohio’s implied consent law, refusal to take the test can result in automatic license suspension and other penalties. However, I could dispute the test accuracy based on improper administration or equipment calibration issues.
The arraignment is the driver’s first court appearance, where they formally hear the charges and enter a plea—guilty, not guilty, or no contest. I could advise the best course of action. At this stage, it may be possible to negotiate for reduced charges.
If the case is not resolved at the arraignment, it may proceed to pre-trial. During this stage, the prosecution and I can:
If the parties do not reach an agreement, the case proceeds to trial. During the trial, I could challenge the prosecution’s evidence and provide a strong argument that can get the charges dismissed.
If you were charged with an OVI, you need competent legal assistance. As a competent Pickerington OVI defense lawyer, I could help you navigate the case and achieve a fair outcome.
My team and I have handled hundreds of OVI cases and want to use our experience to protect your rights. Call us for a consultation at any time.
Client was accused of being under the influence of narcotics. Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) was successfully challenged.
A young college student was stopped for speeding on Stimpson Ave. The Ohio State Patrol Officer administered field sobriety tests and placed the Client under arrest. The Client agreed to take a breath test and “blew” a .16. In reviewing the OSP video tape of field sobriety tests, Andrew found that the Trooper had unfairly graded the Client. Andrew was able to negotiate a reduced charge based on his client’s performance on the field sobriety tests.
Client was charged with OVI on the basis of being under influence of narcotics. The Officer who made the traffic stop was a Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) and the OVI charge was based solely on the Officer’s opinion as a DRE. Andrew’s cross-examination of the Officer at a suppression hearing revealed that the Officer’s opinion’s were based on flawed assumptions. The case was dismissed.
The client was charged with an OVI, facing a significant license suspension and fine. Their charge was negotiated to physical control of a vehicle while intoxicated, which carried a much more lenient sentence.
Client was charged with Operating a Vehicle while Impaired, a misdemeanor. Attorney Andrew Stevenson negotiated their participation in a Driver Intervention Program, preventing a conviction and a permanent criminal record.
Client was charged with a felony OVI while possessing a firearm. If convicted, they could be sentenced to a maximum of 30 months in jail, plus additional sentencing for the weapon enhancement. Attorney Andrew Stevenson negotiated a diversion in the case, reducing the charge to reckless operation of a vehicle while possessing criminal tools.
Client was charged with OVI and had a prior OVI conviction from 15 years earlier, outside Ohio’s 10-year lookback window. Attorney Andrew Stevenson negotiated the case to a Driver Intervention Program rather than a second OVI conviction.
Client was charged with an OVI, a charge that carries mandatory jail time, license suspension, and a permanent mark on their driving record. Attorney Andrew Stevenson negotiated with the prosecution to secure a reduction. The OVI charge was amended, and our client was able to complete a Driver Intervention Program in lieu of an OVI conviction avoiding jail time, protecting their license, and keeping an OVI off their permanent record.
Attorney Andrew Stevenson represented a client charged with Operating a Vehicle Impaired. After reviewing the case and negotiating with the prosecution, the charge was resolved through a Driver Intervention Program rather than an OVI conviction.
Attorney Andrew Stevenson secured a favorable outcome for his client charged with misdemeanor OVI by successfully negotiating a reduction to reckless operation. The result allowed the client to avoid an OVI conviction and the significant long-term consequences that accompany it.
Attorney Andrew Stevenson’s client was charged with OVI, an offense that can carry up to six months in jail, fines up to $1,075, and a license suspension of as long as three years. Stevenson worked out a resolution placing the client in a Driver Intervention Program in place of jail, and clearing the charge from their record.
A client facing an OVI charge retained Attorney Andrew Stevenson. After review and negotiation with the prosecutor, the OVI was reduced to a Reckless Operation offense avoiding mandatory jail time, a license suspension of up to three years, and a permanent OVI on the client’s record.
Client faced a first-offense misdemeanor OVI and the mandatory penalties that come with it: three days in jail, fines up to $1,075, and a one-to-three-year license suspension. Attorney Andrew Stevenson got the charge reduced to Reckless Operation carrying no jail time and a maximum fine of $150.
The client was charged with failure to comply with a police officer’s signal, OVI, and two counts of failure to stop after an accident, facing up to five and a half years in prison. The client pled to the indictment as charged, yet Andrew Stevenson’s sentencing advocacy still secured probation and kept the client out of prison entirely.
The client came to the firm facing aggravated vehicular assault, OVI, failure to stop after an accident, and driving under suspension potentially taking on up to 14 years in prison, with the aggravated vehicular assault count carrying mandatory prison time. Attorney Andrew Stevenson resolved the entire case to a single minor misdemeanor with only a fine, no jail, and no felony conviction.
Client faced both an OVI count and a paired unlawful-alcohol-concentration charge, along with the mandatory jail time a first-offense OVI conviction carries. Attorney Andrew Stevenson resolved the case to a single OVI plea served through Ohio’s 72-hour Driver Intervention Program (no jail), with the unlawful-alcohol-concentration count dismissed.
A .230 BAC reading combined with a prior OVI conviction brought the client a second-offense high-tier charge, carrying a mandatory minimum of 20 days in jail, license suspension of up to seven years, and 90 days of vehicle immobilization. Andrew Stevenson negotiated the case down to a first-offense OVI, eliminating the second-offense mandatory minimums and the harsher license and vehicle consequences.
A clients first-offense misdemeanor OVI carries a mandatory three days in jail, fines up to $1,075, and a license suspension for one to three years. Attorney Andrew Stevenson got his client’s case dismissed.
Client was charged with first-offense misdemeanor OVI, an offense carrying a mandatory three days in jail, fines up to $1,075, and a license suspension of one to three years. Stevenson got the charge reduced to Underage OVI (OVUAC), a fourth-degree misdemeanor with no mandatory jail time, fines up to $250, and a license suspension of 90 days to two years.