Possible Penalties For A Dui Conviction

Being charged with DUI in Ohio is not as straightforward as many people believe. Most people have the opinion that you have no option but to navigate the court system on your own because there are not any other options available to you. Sometimes people think a regular attorney will be able to help them. Although a legal advisor is a step up from trying to handle this process alone, you should really consider a DUI lawyer to help with your case. You need to think of this in terms of a legal case and DUI attorneys are your best chance of getting the most positive outcome you can get.

Being convicted of driving under the influence does not just get you a slap on the wrist. Depending upon the circumstances of the case, you could face substantial fines, a suspension of your driving privileges or even jail time. Not only will you face these immediate penalties, but the conviction will stand on your record in the future to be seen by potential employers, etc. Contacting a legal professional who is a specialist in DUI cases is your best chance to mitigate the damage you have done to your future.

If you are reading this, it may be too late, but you should know that if you make the choice to not take a blood alcohol test in the state of Ohio, you will likely have your driver's license suspended for a period of 90 days. Refusing the test is a bad idea. You will face criminal charges if your test results is .08% or higher. If you are convicted, you will face criminal penalties. At the time of this writing, the penalties for a first offense can include several days in jail, a suspension of your driver's license for a period of time up to six years and fines that could be as high as $1,000.

If you have a second conviction of driving under the influence, the penalties get a little bit higher. A second conviction will either put you in jail for a period of 10 days or for 5 days followed by at least 18 days when you will be under house arrest. Your fines at this point could be as much as $1,500 and your license could be suspended for up to six years. It is also likely that you license plates will be confiscated and your vehicle will be immobilized. A third conviction puts you at risk for a 30 day sentence in jail, fines up to $2,500 and a potential suspension of your license for up to ten years.

If you continue down the same path and face additional convictions of driving under the influence of alcohol, you will be considered a convicted felon. You could spend up to an entire year in jail. You fines at this point can be as much as $10,000 and you will be required to attend, and pay for, an alcohol treatment program. You are also at risk of losing your driver's license for your entire lifetime.