Reasons Why You Should Hire An Attorney After You Have Been Charged with an OVI in Mount Vernon, Ohio?
We are DUI-OVI attorneys with over 50 years experience and offices in Mansfield and Mount Vernon, Ohio. We offer free DUI consultations.
If you are instructed to pull off the road by a law enforcement official while you are driving in Ohio and charged with an OVI, this means you are being charged with driving your vehicle under the influence of either alcohol or drugs. The term OVI has been used by Ohio law rather than the more common DUI (Driving Under the Influence) or DWI (Driving While Impaired) terms used by other states to describe the same offense. The acronym OVI, which originally was enacted into Ohio law as OMVI for Operating a Motor Vehicle Impaired, now stands for Operating a Vehicle Impaired, whether that vehicle is motorized or not.
Some of our most frequently asked questions about OVI’s that we have additionally shared on our website include:
• What happens with multiple DUI/OVI charges in Mount Vernon, Ohio?
• How Can Being Convicted of an OVI/Drunk Driving in Ohio Affect Your Employment?
• Ohio Penalties For Driving Under the Influence-First Offense
According to Ohio law, if you are over the age of 21 and the concentration of alcohol either in your breath or your blood measures at least .08 or higher in a BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) test, you can be arrested for driving a vehicle impaired. The vehicle you are driving can even include a bicycle or a horse-drawn carriage since Ohio removed the stipulation that the vehicle must be motorized. If you are under the age of 21, the legal limit for alcohol is .02 for charging an individual with an OMVAUC offense.
Being charged with an OVI in Ohio is serious business that could result in the suspension of your driver’s license, fines and even jail time. An OVI in Ohio is considered to be a first degree misdemeanor and carries a minimum first time penalty of 72 hours either in jail or in a driver intervention program, and a maximum of six months in jail, having your driver’s license suspended for six months to three years, as well as a fine of up to $1,075.00, along with attorney and legal fees. Having a record of an OVI conviction can cause an individual to lose his job or to be passed over for many employment opportunities.
It is extremely important to have an attorney experienced in handling OVI cases assist you in your defense to avoid having your life, reputation and future career prospects adversely affected. Facing OVI charges in Ohio without the representation of an attorney experienced in all the technicalities of the OVI law is foolhardy. When you hire a well-qualified attorney to represent you when you are facing OVI charges, your legal rights are protected and you are much better prepared to fight the OVI charges and win your case.