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 4th 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.
You can have serious felony charges against you if you already have three prior DUI convictions and were arrested again for drunk driving. Learn how our attorneys can help protect your rights.
Contact us to schedule a free, initial consultation today!
Hear From Our Happy Clients
Reviews & Testimonials
At The Meranda Law Firm LTD, your satisfaction is our priority! See for yourself what our clients have to say about working with us.
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"As stress free as it can be"A criminal case can be very stressful. The Meranda Law Firm can help you with this process. Zack is there to make sure that you get the best personal one on one help you can get. So you don't get pushed around in the system. Takes all the worry out of your case. Very down to earth guy. Easy to talk too. Without Zack I don't know where I would be right now. Thanks Zack; can't tell you how much I appreciate the help you gave me. If you are looking for a lawyer that can take the stress out of your case Zack is your guy- Jeff w
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"Great Representation"There are three reasons I recommend Zachuary Meranda if you are arrested for DUI. First off, he is a straight shooter. Never did he sugar coat my situation. Second, he handled everything while keeping me informed and walked me through everything as it progressed. Third, he got me the result- NO DUI!!! Thanks Zak!- Shane Dolen
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"Excellent job!"We are very appreciative of the efforts put forth by Zach Meranda. The outcome was positive and he made us feel secure in an out of control situation. Felt glad to have him defending us and having his common sense approach to our case. We would recommend his services to anyone in need.- Anonymous
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"I Highly Recommend The Meranda Law Firm"I couldn't have asked for a better attorney. I've had other attorneys and Zach is the only one that actually knew my case and put a lot of time and effort into making sure the outcome was good, which it definitely was. I really think he is one of the best attorneys & I highly recommend him to anyone that needs legal help.- Payton R
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"Great work!!"Zach Meranda was a real attorney with a no bull shit strategy!!! But he won my criminal case even when the odds were against me and I thank him and his associates!!- Pfeifer
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"Great Job"Zach did a great job representing me. He worked hard to take care of me in my case. If I ever need a lawyer again, I'll definitely give him a call first.- Rod
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"Great Attorney"Zach is a great attorney. He has represented me twice and both times I got positive results. If you need an attorney call The Meranda Law Firm, he's the best.- Frances Benson
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"An Attorney That Will Give You His All!"Zach is incredibly professional and will work as hard as he can for you, no matter how big or small your case is. He shows genuine concern and interest in his client and the situation. He is straight forward and honest. Zach was the third attorney on my case and the only one that actually took the time to become familiar with my case. He was not intimidated as my previous attorneys were and his competency resulted in my case ending in a very satisfying outcome.- Rylan Burrie
Have Questions?
We Have Answers!
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What should I do if my child was arrested?No parent wants their child to have to go through an ordeal like being arrested. When these situations do occur, it can be difficult to determine what the best course of action would be. The juvenile justice system is different from the adult justice system and so it is important that you have a legal representative who understands the juvenile system and can help you get through this time. Whether your child has been accused of DUI, a drug crime, a misdemeanor, or a felony, you will be able to have peace of mind knowing that we are there helping you every step of the way.
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Can I afford a criminal defense attorney?Another question you will have to consider when deciding which defense lawyer to handle your case is whether or not you can afford it. At The Meranda Law Firm LTD, we want to be able to provide reasonable rates to our clients so that you can get the help you need. In order to give you an idea of how much it will be, we will meet with you in a free consultation and discuss what kind of fees you could expect.
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How do I appeal my conviction?What should you do if you have already been convicted of a crime and have received your sentence? If you believe that justice was not served, your first step should be to contact our firm to see if we could help you appeal your case. Not every attorney takes on appeal cases they can be more complex and time-consuming than other cases. At The Meranda Law Firm LTD, however, we are committed to fighting for the rights of our clients, no matter how difficult the case. If you want us to look over your case, please contact our team as soon as possible.
