Drinking and driving is illegal — and with good reason. Unfortunately, people make mistakes and find themselves charged with OVI all too often in and around Cincinnati.
Getting arrested for a DUI or an OVI is always serious, but it is much worse if you are charged with a high BAC DUI.
A high test BAC exposes you to a lot more than if your BAC was just barely over the .08 limit. But there is still a lot an experienced lawyer can do to help. If you took a DUI test and had BAC of .17 or higher, call Luftman, Heck, & Associates at (513) 338-1890 right away for a free consultation.
Why Your BAC is Important
If you take two people have a BAC of .085, they may have very different abilities to handle the alcohol.
While alcohol affects people differently, there comes a point where the law considers everyone to be universally, and dangerously impaired. This “high test” BAC level is taken to mean that not only were you under the influence but so severely impaired that the risk to the public is much worse.
Higher Penalties for a High BAC DUI
When you’re charged with an OVI for a BAC between .08 and .17, you may have the chance to avoid mandatory jail time for a first drunk driving offense. For instance, if you’re willing to complete a driver intervention program, your attorney can negotiate for less serious consequences.
However, for a high BAC or one exceeding .17, you may be required to serve time in jail under Ohio’s mandatory OVI sentencing laws. Alternatively, you may be able to split your sentence between time in custody and a driver intervention program, but the bottom line is that you will serve some jail time for a high test OVI.
In general, the penalties for your first high BAC DUI offense in Ohio are:
- A fine of up to $1,075
- Up to 6 months in jail
- A driver’s license suspension for 6 months to 3 years
- Costly ignition interlock installation and maintenance
- A requirement of yellow DUI license plates and SCRAM bracelet
If this is not your first offense, you face even longer jail times, larger fines, and may even face felony OVI charges.
In certain cases, fines can reach up to $10,500 and prison sentences can be up to 5 years long.
How a Cincinnati OVI Lawyer Can Help
No OVI can be shrugged off — especially if you test with a BAC above .17. You need to do everything you can to fight or reduce these charges. Do not talk to law enforcement without an attorney present to represent your best interests.
In order to give your case — and yourself — the best chance at the optimal outcome, contact Cincinnati OVI lawyer Brad Groene at Luftman, Heck, & Associates for a free consultation on your case. Attorney Groene has considerable OVI experience and a long history of getting positive outcomes in high BAC cases, even when clients were double or triple the legal limit.
Resolving these cases favorably requires a thorough review of the case to find errors that may end in dismissal and the ability to negotiate for an outcome that gives you the best odds at moving on with your license and freedom intact.
We are available 24/7 at (513) 338-1890 to help you protect your rights when facing arrest or criminal charges.
