DUI Attorneys in Cincinnati Offering Defense Strategies to Beat Your DUI Conviction

A report conducted by the Columbus, OH, dispatch shows that a third of Ohio residents were arrested for drunk driving, though it wasn’t the first time they drove impaired. They just didn’t get caught the first time.

Ohio law prohibits operating a vehicle under the influence (OVI) and driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol and controlled substances with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08 percent or higher. Impaired driving puts you and other drivers on the road in grave danger.

There are growing concerns in Ohio, like many other states, about the role drunk driving plays in traffic accidents despite the different safety measures in place to prevent impaired driving. Car accidents are one of the primary causes of injuries, disabilities, and death. When alcohol is involved, inhibition is even lowered, and accidents can be catastrophic.

Holistically people don’t consider the consequences for their families when they get behind the wheel. A DUI offender’s family might suffer emotional and financial stress and instability, as the longstanding ramifications of a DUI conviction have a lasting impact on everyone involved.

All this to say, you and your family’s life will change after a DUI. If you are caught drinking and driving, the best way to beat a DUI conviction, reduce your sentence, or possibly get your charges dropped is to hire an experienced DUI attorney to build a DUI defense on your behalf.

Can I Get a Deal if it’s My First DUI Offense?

About 30 percent of all car wrecks that cause fatalities are due to drunk driving. In 2020, there were 11,654 people killed in preventable car accidents. Despite these statistics, about 2.2 percent of adults in Ohio admit to driving after drinking too much.

As the state of Ohio invests in keeping its residents safe on the road and otherwise, police officers, judges, and the prosecution take drunk driving charges seriously, and the penalties are designed to support this.

However, as a first-time offender with no other prior convictions, you have a better chance with the help of an experienced Cincinnati criminal defense attorney to negotiate an amended sentence or benefit from alternative sentencing.

A first-offense DUI conviction typically results in jail time of three days to a maximum of six months, fines of $375 to $1,075, and a license suspension of up to three years. Depending on how high your blood alcohol content (BAC) level was at the time of the arrest, you could also face additional sanctions, such as an ignition interlock device.

In some cases, alternative sentencing might include enrollment into a driver’s intervention program or probation instead of jail. How a plea deal typically works to get to this type of arrangement is negotiated between our criminal defense attorney and the prosecuting attorney.

Without a DUI attorney representing you, you might not have the option to discuss an amended sentence or negotiate better terms.

What is the Sentence for a Second DUI Charge?

A second DUI charge is considered a second offense if a driver is found guilty of driving a vehicle while impaired following a first offense in the last ten years. There are different sentencing options for a second-time offender, including:

• Jail time, from ten days up to six months
• An option to impose mandatory jail time, such as five days in jail and 18 days on an electronic home monitoring system
• Fines and fees, from $525 to $1,625
• Possible probation following a jail sentence
• Mandatory drug and alcohol assessment and subsequent treatment, especially if severe drug and alcohol abuse is evident
• Driver’s license suspension of one year to a maximum of seven years
• Mandatory DUI license plates
• Possible ignition interlock device
• Immobilization of your vehicle

The best-case scenario following a second DUI conviction starts by hiring an experienced DUI lawyer with Ernst & Associates. Our law firm handles simple and complex DUI cases and repeat offenses.

An ambitious team of criminal defense attorneys, we focus on identifying every possible opportunity to overturn your charges and get your case dismissed or reduced to a lesser offense.

If you are facing a second DUI charge and possible criminal charges, contact our law firm, and our criminal defense lawyers will get to work on building a DUI defense when you schedule our free consultation.

What are Common Mistakes in a DUI Offense?

When you get in trouble with Ohio law, it’s not uncommon for people to think there’s no alternative or option. The thinking usually is that the consequences are what the consequences are.

This is true to some degree, and not all circumstances are the same, especially for individuals that might be innocent. Some of the common mistakes people make in a DUI offense are:

• Assuming you don’t have a defense and that you have to face the maximum penalties
• Representing yourself in a criminal charge without legal representation to fight for you
• Not calling a criminal defense attorney after an arrest and communicating with the police directly
• Oversharing information with law enforcement during an arrest without an attorney present
• Hiring a general practice attorney without experience in DUI charges
• Posting about your drunk driving conviction on social media

Now that you know the common mistakes taking careful steps to protect yourself is a priority following an arrest. This starts with how you interact with law enforcement. Police officers, if they have reasonable suspicion, will try to get you to share as much information as possible about your offense.

Law enforcement might say they are on your side, and you can trust them. Any information can be used against you during your conviction. Legally you must abide by their rules or face additional charges, though you can let them know you are not comfortable having a conversation without your lawyer present.

Contact our law firm after your arrest to discuss a DUI defense with an experienced DUI lawyer.

How Can a DUI Lawyer Resolve My Case?

A lawyer will increase your odds of success when facing a first DUI offense or a third DUI conviction. This might mean winning your case, negotiating an amended sentence, or getting your charges dropped altogether.

Never assume every DUI case is the same, or you don’t have a fighting chance. This is especially true if you were wrongfully convicted or law enforcement did not follow proper protocol in arresting you after a DUI conviction.

Criminal defense attorneys are invaluable when managing and representing challenging criminal cases. Having this experience on your side is also critical to the final results of your issue if your impaired driving caused a collision and harmed another person or people in the process.

In your DUI case, our DUI lawyers will review a variety of factors when handling your case, including the best plea bargain for your specific circumstances. Other attorneys might encourage you to accept the sentence you’re given without challenging the judge and prosecution with different terms.

We assist clients in various DUI cases, from first offense to third offense and beyond. When you hire us to represent you, we promise to devote our time and attention to your case until it’s resolved.

Contact the law offices of Ernst & Associates at 513-548-5544 to book a free consultation with our DUI attorneys and get the answers you need.