If you have recently been arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI), you may have serious concerns about how a guilty verdict will affect your future. Not only are you risking jail time and fines, but with insurance premium increases, the suspension of your driver’s license, and the risk that your professional license will be revoked, you may be on the verge of panicking.
However, you can breathe easier knowing a trial–proven Westerville DUI lawyer from Koffel | Brininger | Nesbitt is here to help you through this difficult time.
When the stakes are high, representation matters. Your Westerville criminal defense lawyer with our firm has the wisdom and experience to know exactly what to do every step of the way, the field of vision to see what is coming, and the instincts to know what is around the corner.
When you are ready to fight for your liberties but are confused about where to begin, do not hesitate to contact our legal team to request a confidential case evaluation.
The Ohio DUI Statute
The Ohio DUI statute can be found under Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.19. Here, motorists are prohibited from operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or a combination of these substances. The language of the official statute reads as follows:
Ҥ 4511.19 | Operating vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs РOVI.
(A)(1) No person shall operate any vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley within this state if, at the time of the operation, any of the following apply:
(a) The person is under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them.”
Typically, the standard for drunk driving is based on the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit of 0.08%. However, this limit may be lower depending on your age and license status. Underage drivers may be prohibited from having any traceable amounts of alcohol in their systems, while motorists who hold commercial driver licenses (CDL) may have a maximum BAC limit of 0.04% before they face criminal charges and professional consequences.
For a free legal consultation with a dui lawyer serving Westerville, call 614-884-1100
DUI Penalties Based on the Type of DUI Offense
Every drunk driving case is different. Some people are facing DUI charges for the first time. Others are habitual offenders.
For this reason, the court system has varying penalties to ensure habitual offenders receive harsher punishments.
For example, as a first-time offender, your driver’s license could be suspended for up to three years, and you could be ordered to pay over $1,000 in fines and spend up to six months in jail. However, as a third-time offender, your driver’s license could be suspended for up to 12 years, you could pay over $2,700 in fines, and spend up to one year in jail.
You also need to worry about other criminal penalties. For instance, you will likely be required to install an ignition interlock device (IID) at your own expense if you have multiple DUI convictions on your record.
Your Westerville DUI attorney with KBN could also advocate for you to be ordered to complete a DUI education program, attend substance abuse treatment, be subject to SCRAM in lieu of jail, and pay restitution to any victims in your case.
Collateral Consequences could also be Devastating
Collateral consequences can be just as difficult to cope with as criminal penalties. You want to be able to move forward with your life after you complete your sentence, not continue to suffer the consequences. Some of the most disastrous ways your life could be affected post-conviction include:
- Trouble finding a job or housing
- Having to pay increased auto insurance premiums
- Suspension or revocation of your professional license
- Being prohibited from leaving the state or country
- Jeopardizing your citizenship status
- Loss of child custody or visitation rights
Westerville DUI Lawyer Near Me 614-884-1100
Defend Yourself and Safeguard Your Future
Building a compelling defense strategy may be your best option if you hope to avoid a conviction. We will have a better idea of which defenses are most suitable once we go through discovery and see whether the state’s case against you is particularly strong.
Depending on your specific circumstances, some of the different defenses that could be used to challenge your DUI charges include:
- Failure to maintain breathalyzers
- Law enforcement or prosecutor misconduct
- Unlawful traffic stop
- Inaccurate or invalid chemical test results
- Invalid or inaccurate field sobriety test results
- Illegal search and seizure
- Failure to calibrate the breathalyzer properly
- Miranda rights violations
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Consult a DUI Lawyer in Westerville for Help Today
You may be anxious to resolve your DUI charges, but pleading guilty may not be the best approach. The consequences that come with having a DUI on your record may be far more impactful than you realize at this time.
By working with a highly skilled DUI attorney in Westerville from Koffel | Brininger | Nesbitt, we may be able to convince the prosecutor to reduce your charges to a lesser offense or dismiss the charges against you.
This could be your best chance to avoid the fallout of a conviction. When you are ready to take charge of your defense strategy, reach out to our legal team to request a confidential consultation. Take advantage of this opportunity as soon as today by completing our secured contact form or calling our office.
Call or text 614-884-1100 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
