Ohio drunk driving cases go by many names – OVI, or operating a vehicle while intoxicated; DUI, or driving under the influence of alcohol; and OMVI, or operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, impaired, or intoxicated.

However, regardless of what it’s called, an Ohio drinking and driving offense is a serious matter that carries harsh consequences. It’s imperative to have an expert attorney at the driver’s side. The skilled attorneys of 1.800.NOT.DRUNK and www.NotDrunk.com have the knowledge and experience to defend an OVI, DUI, or OMVI arrest anywhere in Ohio.

Ohio drunk driving arrests generate two separate cases – the court case, where the possible penalties include jail time, fines, mandatory classes, and more; and the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles case, where the motorist’s driver’s license is at stake.

Under Ohio’s DUI / OVI law, it’s a crime for any person to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs that impairs physical or mental abilities to an appreciable degree. This offense does not require proof of any specific amount of alcohol in the driver’s system; therefore, no blood, breath, or urine test result is needed to be convicted of this offense.

It’s also illegal in Ohio to drive with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 percent or greater as determined by blood, breath, or urine testing. These are called per se offenses, and they have nothing to do with alcohol interfering with the driver's physical or mental abilities.

A driver’s guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in order to be convicted of an Ohio OVI, DUI, or OMVI offense. This means that the prosecutor has the burden of proving each element of the crime. If the prosecutor does not meet that burden, the driver is entitled to a verdict of not guilty.

The punishment given in an Ohio OVI, DUI, or OMVI case depends upon the driver’s alcohol level, prior convictions, and the facts of each case. Punishment for an Ohio drinking and driving conviction can include jail time, fines, suspension of driving privileges, possible impounding of license plates, immobilization of forfeiture of the vehicle, or even seizure of the vehicle.

A driver convicted of a first-time drunk driving offense faces a minimum of three days in jail or a three-day driver intervention program, a fine of $200 to $1,000, and a six-month to three-year license suspension.

A driver convicted of a second Ohio OVI, DUI, or OMVI offense faces 10 days to six months in jail, a $300 to $1,500 fine, a 90-day vehicle seizure, and a one- to five-year driver’s license suspension.

A third-offense driving under the influence conviction carries 30 days to one year in jail, a $500 to $2,500 fine, a mandatory alcohol treatment program, a six-month vehicle seizure, and a one-year to 10-year driver’s license suspension.

A fourth Ohio drunk driving conviction carries 60 days to one year in jail, a $750 to $10,000 fine, mandatory substance abuse treatment program, permanent vehicle forfeiture, and a three-year to lifetime driver’s license revocation.

Because the repercussions of an Ohio OVI, DUI, or OMVI conviction are so harsh, it’s critical to have a skilled local attorney protecting the driver’s rights. The experienced attorneys of 1.800.NOT.DRUNK and www.NotDrunk.com will provide a free consultation and outline a proven defense strategy that can minimize or even eliminate the consequences of an Ohio drunk driving arrest.

DISCLAIMER: No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers.