Cincinnati OVI Lawyer

• You should stop where you and the officer will be as far from traffic as possible for your safety. If it is nighttime, turn on the dome light in your vehicle as the officer approaches. You are safest when the officer can see your movements. Turn off anything playing and place your hands on the steering wheel.

• When the officer asks, you must provide your name, license, and proof of insurance. You are not legally entitled to withhold this information. Next, the officer may ask you questions. You are not required to answer questions. You should do what makes you feel comfortable and safe.

• You may politely and concisely answer the officer’s questions or state that you will not answer without an attorney present.

• If you feel you are being kept for an extended period without reason, you may ask if you are free to go. If the officer says “no,” do not try to drive away. But if the officer asks you to step out of your car, then you must get out. Do so slowly and calmly. However, never get out of the car without being asked.

• When an officer suspects drunk driving, their next step may be to ask you to perform one or more field sobriety tests or to submit to a preliminary breath test, known as a breathalyzer. You always have the right to refuse these tests. However, if you refuse to take a breath test, you can face civil consequences, such as losing your license.

• You may remain silent and refuse any tests. While this will not stop you from being arrested if an officer has probable cause that you are intoxicated, it may prevent the prosecutor from having much evidence that’s beyond the reasonable doubt standard.

• Always contact a local DUI lawyer at your first opportunity.

• 3 days in jail or a certified driver intervention program.
• Up to 6 months in jail
• Fines between $375 and $1,075
• 6-month to 3-year license suspension
• Limited driving privilegesafter 15 days (optional)
• Alcohol education and treatment programs (optional)
• Yellow OVI license plate (optional)
• Ignition interlock device(optional)

• 6 days in jail or a driver intervention program
• Up to 6 months in jail
• Fines between $375 and $1,075
• 6-month to 3-year driver’s license suspension
• Yellow OVI license plate
• Limited driving privileges after 15 days (optional)
• Alcohol education and treatment programs (optional)
• Ignition interlock device (optional)

More About First Time OVI Charges

• Between 10 days and 6 months in jail
• Fines between $525 and $1,625
• Probation
• House arrest and/or electronic monitoring
• Driver’s license suspension between 1 and 5 years
• Driving privileges after 45 days
• Ignition interlock device
• Yellow OVI license plates
• Alcohol assessment, education, and treatment

• Between 20 days and 6 months in jail
• Fines between $525 and $1,625
• Probation
• House arrest and/or electronic monitoring
• Driver’s license suspension between 1 and 5 years
• Limited driving privileges after 45 days
• Yellow OVI license plates
• Alcohol assessment, education, and treatment
• Ignition interlock device

More About a Second OVI

• Between 30 days and one year in jail
• Fines between $850 and $2,750
• Probation
• House arrest and/or electronic monitoring
• Vehicle forfeiture, if the title is in your name
• Limited driving privileges after 180 days after the initial charge
• Driver’s license suspension between 2 and 10 years
• Yellow OVI plates
• Alcohol assessment, education, and treatment
• Ignition interlock device

• Between 60 days and one year in jail
• Fines between $850 and $2,750
• Probation
• House arrest and/or electronic monitoring
• Vehicle forfeiture, if the title is in your name
• Limited driving privileges after 180 days after the initial charge
• Driver’s license suspension between 2 and 10 years
• Yellow OVI plates
• Alcohol assessment, education, and treatment
• Ignition interlock device

More About a Third OVI

• Between 60 days in jail or prison and up to 30 months in prison
• Fines between $1,350 and $10,500
• Vehicle forfeiture, if the title is in your name
• Driver’s license suspension from 3 years to life
• Limited driving privileges after 3 years
• Yellow OVI plates
• Ignition interlock device
• Alcohol and drug addiction program

• Between 60 days and 5 years in prison
• Fines between $1,350 and $10,500
• Vehicle forfeiture, if the title is in your name
• Driver’s license suspension from 3 years to life
• Limited driving privileges after 3 years
• Yellow OVI plates
• Ignition interlock device
• Alcohol and drug addiction program

More About Felony OVIs

Aside from the criminal penalties, if you’re convicted of a DUI in Ohio, you can expect to deal with:

• Fewer Job Prospects
• Higher Car Insurance
• Denied Rental Applications
• College Admission Problems
• Ineligibility for Many Licenses & Certifications
• Revoked Security Clearance
• Travel Restrictions
• Civil Liability

This is the amount set by the court to secure your release as a promise to return. It may cost you several hundreds of dollars to be released from jail after a DUI arrest.

Breath, blood, or urine tests are common after a DUI. Whether the Cincinnati police or a medical facility administers those tests, you will receive the bill.

A conviction will almost certainly include a fine. Ohio OVI law stipulates the minimum and maximum amount, but Judges have discretion in how much you are fined.

• First DUI: $375 to $1,075
• Second DUI: $525 to $1,625
• Third DUI: $850 to $2,750
• First Felony DUI: $1,350 to $10,500

There are fees associated with going through the court system. You can expect to pay several hundred in court costs, although this could be less if your DUI case ends with a guilty plea.

When you’re arrested for drunk driving, your vehicle may be towed and impounded. You are responsible for paying the fees to have your vehicle released. You also may have to pay an immobilization fee of $100 to reinstate your vehicle registration.

Ohio usually makes their Driver Intervention Program (DIP) part of a sentence. You will be required to pay for it, which can be expensive. However, if you are an indigent offender, you may pursue financial assistance through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

The court may require you to go through an alcohol or substance abuse assessment and complete a treatment program if necessary. If you must go through treatment, a program can cost several hundred to thousands of dollars.

You may be required or agree to house arrest with electronic monitoring following a DUI. You are responsible for administrative and equipment fees for this program.

When you are required to place OVI plates on a vehicle, you are responsible for paying $11.75 for the new plate, the Deputy Fee of $5.00, and other miscellaneous fees for obtaining these plates.

You are responsible for the installation, maintenance, and removal fees associated with an IID, which can cost hundreds of dollars.

Once the period of your driver’s license suspension is over, you must pay an OVI reinstatement fee of $475 to obtain a restricted license or an ordinary driver’s license.

In addition to any SR-22 insurance requirements, your auto insurance costs will go up and stay up for years to come. You can expect to pay hundreds more for auto insurance over the next several years.

It’s difficult to determine the exact dollar figure someone can expect for DUI representation without understanding their unique circumstances. While investing in one of the best DUI lawyers you can may seem costly at first, it could save you the tremendous hassle and future financial losses related to having an OVI on your record. The best thing to do is to discuss your OVI case with a drunk driving lawyer ASAP.

You are not legally required to submit to a preliminary breath test or field sobriety test. These tests are for evidence-gathering purposes. You may politely decline, and you cannot be charged with a crime for doing so. But, refusing a preliminary test will not stop you from being arrested if the officer believes they have evidence you are intoxicated.

Remember, if you are arrested for drunk driving, Ohio’s implied consent law does require you to submit. Refusal of a valid chemical test can result in independent criminal charges and administrative license suspension.

You have a reasonable right to some privacy in your vehicle, but it is not as strong as it is in your home. Therefore, in some situations, the police will justify searching your car in a situation involving possible drunk driving.

Typically, this happens with a warrant, if probable cause exists, or there’s evidence of a crime. For example, if officers see alcohol containers, drug paraphernalia or believe there may be a weapon in their possession, they can and will search.

Additionally, the police search your vehicle if you give consent. The police may ask if they can look through your vehicle or trunk. Do not say yes to this. If the police are asking, they do not have probable cause to do so without consent.

After being arrested for a DUI, you may wonder whether you need to hire an OVI defense attorney. The concise answer is “yes.”

Most individuals are simply not knowledgeable enough in the criminal court process, proper police procedure, or the subtle nuances of Ohio OVI law. If you want to resolve an OVI charge with the most favorable terms possible, given the situation, there is no substitute for aggressive and experienced legal representation from a DUI lawyer in Cincinnati.

That said, we know that finding the right OVI attorney can be difficult and understand how the cost might worry you. However, the cost of not hiring an OVI lawyer can be much worse.

The unique facts of your DUI case will matter a lot when pursuing a reduction or dismissal. For instance, if it’s a first offense or doubt exists surrounding your level of impatience, you may stand a good chance at getting an OVI reduced to something more appropriate, such as reckless driving. If there are severe problems with the case or evidence involved, your DUI defense attorney could move to have the whole case dismissed. 

Unfortunately, No. Current Ohio law does not allow for the expunging or sealing of OVI convictions. If convicted, it will remain on your permanent criminal and driving record.

In 2017, Ohio extended the look-back period for prior DUI offenses from 6 to 10 years. Therefore, any new DUI/OVI charges in that timeframe are considered a second offense. If your past conviction were more than 10 years ago, it would be treated as a first offense. 

This is an important question and basic information to know and learn about your attorney. Selecting someone with sufficient experience in the courtroom and who also practices criminal law is undoubtedly a wiser choice than someone who focuses in another area or who has never seen the inside of a courtroom. There is also a good chance they will be familiar with the court system, judge, and prosecuting attorney.

As indicated in the previous question, an attorney who has previously represented OVI / DUI clients will have more experience than someone who has not or has only done so a few times.

While an attorney who handles OVI / DUI offenses is important, it’s also critical that they have litigation experience as well. Familiarity with the courtroom as well as judge and prosecuting attorney will work in your favor.

An OVI attorney who is trained to administer field sobriety can better examine and assess whether the officer made any mistakes in tests conducted on you. If there were any errors or irregularities, those can be used to weaken the prosecution’s case and perhaps allow you to get a better sentence.

Hiring an ethical, honest DUI attorney who has no record of being disciplined by the state bar is ultimately who you should select. Someone who has no history of being disciplined by the state bar will treat your case with the utmost attention and respect it deserves, as opposed to someone who has been penalized or sanctioned for ethical or character reasons.

It is important to be aware of what outcome you can realistically expect. Ideally, you should select an attorney who is honest and frank and will review the best- and worst-case scenarios with you. Be wary of DUI attorneys who promise you a certain outcome – there are no guarantees that your case will have one result or another, although certain outcomes can be likely.

Before you hire someone, it’s important to be aware of their costs and fees and to find representation that fits within your budget.