Criminal Attorney Columbus Ohio

Even as you face a felony charge in Ohio, you still have rights – and all it takes to best assert them is having the proper criminal defense attorney at your side. Serving Columbus, Franklin County, and the entire Ohio State, The Rutan Law Firm provides you with the necessary legal assistance to defend the criminal charges leveled against you. Whether it involves a DUI or an OMVI offense, a drug-related charge or a graver felony, a criminal accusation will make a serious impact on your person and reputation.


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    DUI Attorney in Columbus Ohio

     

    Columbus Dui Attorney

     
    columbus-dui-attorney

    If you see these two in the same night, call an Ohio DUI Lawyer

    Retaining the right Columbus DUI Attorney can mean the difference between a reduction and conviction. Driving under the influence is a serious charge that can land you in jail, forfeit your vehicle, high fines and loss of a driver’s license for a long period of time. When you are facing the Ohio criminal courts and sanctions from the BMV, you need an experienced DUI attorney on your side.

    Call or Text anytime (614) 307-4343

    DUI ATTORNEY

    A drunk driving / OVI charge is something that can happen to anyone. A lot of times officer’s arrest first and ask questions second. My firm’s DUI Attorney focuses on getting cases dismissed when the officers do not have probable cause to pull you over or reasonable and articulable suspicion to pull you out of the car. Most of the time the officer just pulls driver’s out of the car without any reasonable suspicion they are impaired. Remember, drinking and driving are not illegal, it’s driving while impaired. I have handled numerous DUI/OVI cases in Ohio and know my way around the Ohio criminal courts. I want to hear about the circumstance surrounding your case. I will work immediately to get you driving privileges and your car released if it is impounded. This DUI Attorney will always be prepared to fight your case and take it to trial.

    You can be charged with and found guilty of OVI by either: 1) Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or 2) Being found over the legal limit of blood alcohol content. The OVI laws in Ohio are very complicated and are always being changed. It is vital that you consult with a qualified attorney to know exactly what types of penalties you may be facing, and how to work out the best deal.

    The legal limit for alcohol in Ohio is:

    Breath Test: .08+ adults | .02 Under 21 | .04 Commercial Drivers

    • Blood Test: .08%+
    • Urine Test: .096%+

    Testing over means at least a 90-day automatic license suspension.

    Refusing a test means at least a 1-year automatic suspension.

    A Minimum Sentence is 3 days in Jail or Driver Intervention Program.

    First Offense If this is a first DUI/OVI offense you will face:

    • 3-180 days in jail (This means you will serve at least 3 days in jail •$200-$1,000 in fines.
    • Driver’s license suspension of 6 months to 3 years. There are many additional penalties a judge can impose even for a first offense. These depend on the seriousness and circumstances of your DUI as well as the laws governing it. If you are convicted of a 2nd offense OVI in Ohio within 6 years, you face the following penalties: •10-180 days jail time
    • $300-$1,500 in fines
    • 1-5 year driver’s license suspension Ohio OVI Penalties – Third Offense If you are convicted of a 3rd offense OVI in Ohio, you face the following penalties:
    • 30 days-1 year of jail time •$500-$2,500 in fines
    • 2-10 year driver’s license suspension Ohio OVI Penalties – Fourth Offense If you are convicted of a 4th offense OVI in Ohio, you face the following penalties:
    • 60 days-1 1/2 years of jail time
    • $750-$10,000 in fines
    • from 3 years to lifetime driver’s license suspension Many other penalties are also likely, including probation, alcohol education and substance abuse classes, community service, and more. Ref: ORC 4511.19.

    OVI Per Se

    An Ohio DUI charge based on testing over the legal limit is commonly called an OVI Per Se. On your ticket, this may be marked ORC 4511.19(A)(1)(b)-(x) (or a municipal ordinance).

    It’s called “per se,” because the government can prove its case based only on an over-the-limit test result near the time you were driving.

    The prosecutor does not need to prove that you performed poorly on field sobriety tests or even that your driving was impaired.

    Under Ohio law, you can be convicted of OVI if you were operating a vehicle and you tested over the legal limit.

    Low Test

    If you take a breath test you will be charged with OVI Per Se if you tested with a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC Test) between .08 and .16. If your breath test is double the legal limit all your penalties double.

    High Test

    If your breath test is over .17 you will be charged with a “high-tier” violation. This means if you are convicted the minimum penalties doubled and yellow places/special plates are mandatory.

    Physical Control

    A person who is not operating a vehicle may still be charged with having physical control of the vehicle while under the influence. On your ticket, this may be marked ORC 4511.194(B)(1)-(3) (or a municipal ordinance). [4]

    This is a non-moving violation. In many cases, someone who is charged with OVI may have their case reduced to a Physical Control or a Reckless Operation as part of a plea bargain.

    Underage OVI

    A person under 21 with a breath test between .02 and .08, may be charged with operating a vehicle after underage consumption. In essence, all the State has to prove is that you were driving, had alcohol in your system at the time you were driving and that you are under the age of 21.

    Forfeiture of Vehicle

    **In addition to the above penalties you may face immediate and permanent forfeiture of your vehicle. Once released from jail you will likely be placed on house arrest, particularly if this is your 3rd or greater offense.** Judges can adjust your sentence depending on a variety of things. They will not only take your criminal history into consideration but also the circumstances surrounding your arrest and your level of intoxication.

    Felony OVI Charge An Ohio OVI is considered a felony offense if you are charged with a 4th offense within the previous 6 year period. Felony convictions typically carry penalties of more than 1 year in prison. So please call my office anytime for a consultation on your Ohio OVI case. I will let you know exactly what you are up against, and how my firm can help you get through it.

    To Test or Not to Test?

    If you have any doubt about whether you will pass the field sobriety test or a test that measures your blood alcohol content, an experienced Ohio DUI Attorney would usually suggest refusing such tests.

    There are a few reasons for this.

    First, if you take the field sobriety tests, they are so subjective that even if you do well, the officers typically mark you down as failing anyways.

    Second, if you fail a breath or alcohol test, you make the prosecutor’s job much easier. If the test comes in at trial, you will usually lose. Your lawyer can still try to get the test thrown out. But most people are better off just not taking it.

    Third, a high alcohol test result increases your minimum penalties to almost double.

    As a cautionary note, if you are on probation and one of your conditions is not to refuse any breath tests, my advice is first not to drink and drive again, but if you do, then a refusal can still subject you to greater penalties so my advice would not be to refuse either. Better off contacting my office immediately upon being pulled over at 614-307-4343.

    Ohio dui drunkdriving laws

    If I refuse, Will I Lose My License?

    If you refuse, the officer will usually immediately suspend your driving license. But that does not mean that will be the status of your license throughout the case. By hiring the right attorney, your lawyer can contest the suspension if filed timely on several bases.

    First, your attorney may file a Motion to Appeal your Administrative License Suspension Pursuant to ORC 4511.197 which provides three bases for an attorney to contest your suspension.

    The scope of this appeal is to determine whether the arresting officer

    (a) had reasonable and articulable grounds to believe the Defendant was operating her vehicle in violation of 4511.19,

    (b) whether the arresting officer requested the Defendant to submit to any test pursuant to section 4511.191 of the Revised Code,

    (c) whether the arresting officer advised the Defendant at the time of the arrest that if he/she refused to take a chemical test, the officer could employ whatever reasonable means were necessary to ensure the Defendant submitted to a chemical test,

    (d) whether the arresting officer informed the Defendant of the consequences of refusing to be tested or submitting to such tests and

    (e) whether the Defendant tested over the legal limit.

    You will lose your license, at least temporarily, for refusing to take a test. But you will also lose your license for good if you fail the test.

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