Columbus Felony DUI Lawyer

Felony OVI Attorney in Columbus, OH

Law enforcement in Ohio are trained to be alert for any erratic driving behavior, such as weaving in and out of traffic lanes, speeding, failing to brake at a red light, or other telltale signs that a driver may be too impaired to safely operate a motor vehicle. An officer may pull the driver to the side of the road and then conduct sobriety testing, a breathalyzer test, or take a blood sample to determine the percentage of alcohol present in the driver's body.

If your BAC measures above the legal limit then the officer will immediately arrest you for a DUI. There are protocols to follow when administering the tests and if done incorrectly then the results can be inaccurate or unreliable. At The Meranda Law Firm LTD, we help many clients who question the tests they received and the validity of their DUI arrests.

What Is an OVI?

The state criminal laws extend a DUI to include other vehicles like boats, golf carts, and some additional vehicles. The offense is an OVI or "operating a vehicle under the influence." It can include alcohol or drugs that influence the driver's ability to operate a vehicle in a safe manner. When a driver has prior DUI or OVI convictions, the penalties increase each subsequent time.

Felony DUI Penalties in Ohio

If you drive while intoxicated or while affected by illegal or prescription drugs and cause an accident that seriously injures or kills someone, you can face a felony DUI charge, or vehicular manslaughter (if the victim loses his or her life). A driver with multiple DUI convictions on record will be facing increased penalties with each subsequent offense.

Repeat offenders facing a felony DUI conviction are looking at one, two, three, four, or five years of mandatory incarceration as a repeat offender. On top of that, he or she could also face the penalties for their felony OVI, which is a non-mandatory, consecutive sentence of 9 - 36 months by discretion.

• The fourth occurrence within 6 years moves the criminal charges to a 4^th degree felony with accompanying harsh penalties if convicted. The offender may pay fines of $850-$10,000. A driver convicted of a felony DUI likely will receive a sentence of up to 36 months incarceration, license suspension of 3 years to life, vehicle forfeiture, mandatory yellow DUI license plates, and mandatory installation of an ignition interlock device.
• A fifth DUI within 20 years can mean up to 5 years in jail and fines of $1350-$10,500. The court can order the offender to participate in alcohol/drug treatment programs. If the DUI occurred when driving with a suspended license, then the offender may face further ramifications.