A Columbus DUI lawyer from Koffel Nesbitt can assist in your case when fighting a DUI charge. Whether you are facing a first, second, third, or subsequent DUI charge, you need a lawyer on your side you can trust. Work with our team to find the answer to how many times you can get a DUI before losing a license.
How Many Times Can You Get a DUI Before Losing a License?
Ohio has very specific requirements when it comes to minimum penalties for DUI. When you continue to be convicted of DUI charges, time and time again, you can expect this to lead to additional charges and consequences.
OVI Penalties in Ohio
According to Ohio Laws and Administrative Rules, the court may suspend a person’s driver’s license if they are convicted of OVI for any length of time, such as:
- 1 to 3 years of suspension if this is your 1st OVI conviction
- 1 to 7 years if this is your 2nd OVI conviction
- 2 to 12 years if this is your 3rd OVI conviction
- A 4th conviction or a felony drunk driving conviction could lead to a lifetime suspension of your license
Under these rules, it is clear that you could lose your license at any point, even for your first offense, for a period of time. As some of the most stringent laws, it is critical that you know what your rights are in these situations. Our criminal defense attorneys can help those facing DUIs to get the best possible outcome for their case.
Ohio Drunk Driving Laws (DUI)
Laws governing habitual drunk driving offenders vary from state to state. While states like Ohio, Arizona, and California have no laws specifically addressing repeat DUI offenders, states like Alabama, Colorado, and Florida do. According to the Governors Highway Safety Association, Ohio drunk driving laws include things like:
- .17 BAC is the threshold at which point an individual would incur a penalty for “high BAC”
- Administrative license suspension on 1st offense for 90 days if a blood/breath/urine sample is over the proscribed legal limit. There is a 1 year ALS suspension for refusing a test.
- Limited driving privileges during suspension after 15 days or 30 days for a refusal.
- Ignition interlock devices are discretionary
- OVIs can incur vehicle impoundment and/or restricted plates
- There are open container laws and alcohol exclusion laws limiting treatment
Not all states have repeat offender laws for drunken drivers, but statistically, repeat offenders are a problem. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, one out of every three people arrested for suspicion of drunk driving has offended before. This is concerning for many people, so read our frequently asked questions to learn more.
Our Criminal Defense Attorneys Can Help
If you are considering how many times you can get a DUI before losing your license or going to jail, we encourage you to reach out to our legal team for immediate help. Most of the clients Koffel Nesbitt represents have very limited or no previous contact with the criminal courts for a singular reason: we are interested in catching these individuals before their offending becomes habitual.
Because of the type of client we represent, we often favor treatment in lieu of conviction, diversion programs, probation, and other non-prison outcomes.
For a legal consultation, call (614) 884-1100
We Fight for Our Clients Through Aggressive Legal Representation
When you hire Koffel Nesbitt as your legal team, you get exceptional legal support and guidance from a firm that is committed to beating, minimizing, or getting the best possible outcome for your case. Our goals are always clearly discussed with you. That could include:
- Getting the charges dropped when possible
- Reducing the risk of facing mandatory jail time
- Minimizing the risk that you lose your license for the rest of your life
- Getting charges reduced
Every case is very different, which is why it is so important to have a comprehensive consultation with a DUI attorney who can guide you. We encourage you to contact us right away so we can discuss your case and previous case results with you and learn what your defense strategies are. Trust in our team.
Let Us Help You Develop a Strong Defense to Support Your Case
We have one of the best DUI/OVI defense practices in the state of Ohio. With drunken driving offenses, being quick, connected, and reputable are the keys to success. Our small team of lawyers is always on call –evenings, weekends, and even holidays.
We are in the Franklin Courthouse and various Mayor’s Courts of Central Ohio day in and day out. We know the court personnel, we know the prosecutors, and we know how to effectively present our client’s cases to achieve the most favorable result. If you or a loved one was arrested for their first or second drunk driving offense, we may be able to help.
If you have been charged with a DUI and are asking a question like “How many times can you get a DUI before losing a license?” chances are good you know the risks are high. Seek the help of our DUI attorney in Ohio to gain insight into your legal rights. We fight hard for our clients no matter what they are facing in these very difficult cases.
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Set Up a Consultation with Our DUI Criminal Defense Attorney Now
At Koffel Nesbitt, we care about your outcome no matter the case you are facing or the number of times you have faced these charges prior to this one.
Expect our legal team, including our highly experienced DUI criminal defense attorneys, to work tirelessly to protect your rights. Contact us now for a consultation to discuss what those rights may be when seeking the answer to how many times you can get a DUI before losing a license.
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