Ohio OVI Frequently Asked Questions
November 19, 2019
OVI Penalties in Ohio
November 19, 2019
How Our Law Firm Can Help You with Your OVI Case
Being charged with OVI is serious and Ohio prosecutors are experienced and aggressive in their quest to convict you. Beach & Beane encourages you to drink responsibly, and to call a friend, Uber or Lyft before getting behind the wheel after having even one or two drinks. However, we also understand that as humans, we all make mistakes. It is not “illegal” to drink and drive in Ohio. But it is illegal to drive while impaired by alcohol or drugs. The reality of life today is that even if you only had a few drinks at an after work social gathering and get pulled over, the mere odor of alcohol will likely lead to an OVI arrest.
So, if you find yourself charged with OVI call us immediately so we can start the process of defending you just as seriously and aggressively as Ohio’s prosecutors. Because even a first time OVI conviction can result in jail time, hefty fines, license suspension and other negative consequences, we dig deep to protect your rights. And if you have had an OVI conviction within the last 10 years, the possible penalties are even more onerous, including potential felony charges. We work hard to provide the best defense under the circumstances to eliminate or limit the consequences.
Our experienced attorneys will work with you from start to finish to get all the facts about your case. We get into all the details – from making sure that your rights were not violated by the officer, down to determining if any tests you took were administered improperly. When you are facing OVI charges, we will work tirelessly to get the best possible result for you.
Many people mistakenly assume that law enforcement officers do everything “by the book,” so there’s just no sense in fighting an OVI charge. Wrong. Officers are human like the rest of us, and sometimes they make mistakes that can be serious enough to warrant a reduced charge or even dismissal of any given OVI case.
Among the many things that our experience attorneys will investigate include:
- Did the officer have enough reason to stop your vehicle?
a. How was your driving?
b. Did you violate any traffic laws?
c. Did you display any indications of erratic or impaired driving? - Did you provide any incriminating details?
a. Did you admit to spending time in a bar?
b. Did you admit that you had been drinking?
c. Did the officer smell alcohol on your person and, if so, how strong was the odor he or she detected? - What was your demeanor like?
a. Slurred speech?
b. Difficulty finding or handing over your license, registration and proof of insurance?
c. Stumbling or having trouble walking when exiting your car? - Did you submit to Field Sobriety Testing?
a. Did the officer ask about recent injuries that might prevent your taking the tests?
b. Did the officer conduct the tests on camera?
c. Did the officer follow the NHTSA guidelines for proper administration of the tests? - Were field sobriety tests properly performed?
a. “Pen test:” Was it done correctly? Have you had any recent head injuries that might have caused the officer to see clues?
b. “Walk and Turn:” Were the instructions proper? How did you do?
c. “One Leg Stand:” Again, were the instructions proper? How did you do? - Did you submit to urine, blood or breath testing?
a. If breath: Was the machine working properly? Was the officer certified to use it?
b. If blood or urine: Was the sample collected properly? Was it sealed and properly handled? Was it properly tested?
c. Were the results high or low? Any indications that the results were tainted?
Every case is different, and these are just a few things that we at Beach & Beane will look at in determining the best course of action to take in your defense. You need experienced and aggressive legal representation to counter the experienced and aggressive legal representation of the state. We are here to help.
