Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs (OVI) is a criminal offense that affects your reputation, freedoms, and driving privileges. Legal representation from an experienced Pickerington first offense OVI lawyer can be an important resource in defending your rights during the criminal proceedings.
My goal is to help clients understand the reality of their case with open and honest communication. I want to answer all your questions and give you the counsel needed to resolve the case with your interests in mind. Learn more below about how I can help you as an OVI defense attorney. Contact my office today to schedule a free case consultation.
The Ohio Revised Code § 4511.19 prohibits operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. A person over the age of 21 violates this law by registering an alcohol concentration that meets or exceeds the following thresholds:
A first offense OVI charge can also result from operating a vehicle while under the influence of certain drugs, including amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, L.S.D., and marijuana. Any concentration of these controlled substances that meets or exceeds the limits outlined in § 4511.19 is sufficient to receive an OVI charge.
Law enforcement may request or use a variety of methods to measure a person’s intoxication level upon a traffic stop for suspicion of driving impaired. Less precise measures of a person’s intoxication will include observations from field sobriety tests, such as walking, one-legged standing, horizontal gaze, and others. An officer may also check alcohol and drug concentration levels with a breathalyzer, blood, and urine tests to obtain a more precise measure.
You have the right to legal representation after an arrest for a first offense OVI in Pickerington. It is important to demand the presence of your lawyer after an arrest and to withhold any further communication with law enforcement until you can meet with your attorney. Your options for resolving a first-time OVI charge will depend on the circumstances of your arrest and the prosecution’s evidence against you.
The process for OVI offenses is similar to other criminal cases. You must decide how you would like to respond to the charges by entering a plea of guilty or not guilty to the court. This is an important decision that can impact how the case will resolve and the court’s use of discretion in future sentencing. There may be an opportunity to challenge an OVI charge based on how law enforcement managed the traffic stop and arrest or gather evidence against you. I can review the case file for possible infringements of your rights and file the appropriate motions to protect those rights in court.
Hiring a Pickerington first offense OVI lawyer can also be beneficial in advocating for your interests during sentencing. A person’s first conviction for OVI is punishable as a first-degree misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum of three days in jail that a court could extend up to six months. The court also has the discretion to use alternative sentencing methods, such as placement in a community control sanction under Code § 2020.25.
For example, the court could lessen the amount of jail time but require participation in a drivers’ intervention program and other education courses. The penalty for an OVI will also include a suspension or limitation of your driving privileges in addition to a monetary fine. I can look to keep you out of jail and instead focus on intervention programs.
Even if this is your first time getting busted for drunk driving, the consequences do not have to ruin your life. As a Pickerington first offense OVI lawyer, I can help you understand the issues in your case so you can make informed decisions for defending yourself in court. Contact my office today to schedule a free case consultation with a criminal defense attorney.
Client was accused of being under the influence of narcotics. Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) was successfully challenged.
