Springfield Drunk Driving Lawyer

 Every year, millions of Americans are arrested for driving under the influence while millions more drive under the influence undetected. Driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol can lead to serious accident, injury, and death. Because of this, all 50 states have cracked down on drunk drivers, Ohio included. If you were arrested and charged with a DUI or OVI (operating a vehicle while impaired) in Ohio, you face serious consequences such as fines, probation, community service, license suspension, and even jail time. A conviction does not just have short term repercussions, either. A conviction can affect your employability, educational opportunities, relationships and more.

If you were charged with a DUI or OVI in Springfield, Ohio, do not just assume a conviction will follow. Retain the help of an aggressive Springfield drunk driving lawyer who is knowledgeable of the law and who can identify and employ a viable defense. Contact The VanNoy Firm to learn more about how we can help you.

What Constitutes a DUI in Ohio?

Simply speaking, a DUI occurs when a person drives with a blood alcohol content level of .08% or above. However, the law is rarely that simple. Ohio provides officers with many ways to obtain a person’s BAC, including via breath, urine, blood plasma, and serum. A person is over the legal limit in the following instances:

• His or her BAC is .08 or greater;
• His or her urine alcohol concentration is .11 or greater; and
• His or her serum or blood plasma level is .096 or greater.

A person may also receive a DUI or OVI if he or she has detectable concentrations of amphetamines in his or her urine or blood. For cocaine, the limits are 150 and 50 nanograms respectively.

Not only does Ohio establish limits, but it also establishes two different tiers for limits. Low tier limits are those mentioned above. High tier limits come with harsher consequences and are as follows:

• A breath or blood test reading of .17 or higher;
• A urine test reading of .238 or higher; and
• A blood plasma or serum test reading of .204 or higher.

If the driver is under the age of 21, the limits are much lower. They are as follows:

• A breath or blood test result of .02;
• A blood plasma or serum result of .03; and
• A urine test result of .028.

What are the Consequences of a DUI?

The consequences of a DUI depend on a number of factors, with breath/blood/urine test results and age being just two of them. The state may charge a person with one or more of nine OVI-related charges. Those charges are as follows:

• First OVI;
• Second OVI;
• Third OVI;
• Felony OVI/DUI;
• Drugged Driving/DUID;
• DUI/OVI;
• Underage OVI;
• DUI with Prescription Medications; and
• Refusal to Submit to Breath Test.

The consequences for a first DUI are the least severe, but they still have the potential to impact your immediate and long-term future. If you are convicted as a first-time offender, you face anywhere between three days and six months in jail. You will have to pay a fine of anywhere between $375 and $1,075, and your license will be suspended for up to three years.

If you are a repeat offender, the repercussions are much harsher. As a second-time offender, you face a mandatory jail sentence of between 10 days and six months. Your maximum fine increases to $1,500 and license suspension increases to five years. For a third-time offender, the minimum jail time is 30 days, with a maximum of one year. The fine increases to $2,500.

If injuries or death result from a person’s driving under the influence, the charges increase to felony charges. Felony DUI charges in Ohio carry a mandatory prison sentence of between one and five years in addition to a fine of between $1,350 and $10,500.

Ohio considers a person a repeat offender if he or she receives two or more DUI/OVI convictions within a 10-year span.

Is There a Way to Defend Yourself Against a DUI?

Despite popular belief, there are several defenses to DUI charges, including faulty breathalyzer and being stopped without probable cause. An experienced Springfield drunk driving lawyer can investigate the incident and help you identify holes in the state’s case. The right lawyer will then work hard to either get the state to reduce the charges against you or to drop them entirely.