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Driving under the influence (DUI) is a serious offense under Ohio state law. If you have been arrested on a DUI charge, building a strong case can be critical for avoiding a conviction and the associated penalties. An experienced DUI lawyer in Perrysburg can help you build your case and beat the charges against you.

At Groth & Associates, we have 65+ years of experience helping people facing DUI charges build their cases. We will do everything in our power to help you avoid a conviction or at least secure minimal penalties through plea bargaining. Reach out to us today to set up a free case review with one of our Perrysburg criminal defense lawyers.

Penalties for a DUI Conviction in Ohio

Drunk driving charges in Ohio are outlined under Section 4511.19 of the Ohio Code. The legal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) limit for most drivers is 0.08%. Driving with a BAC above this limit can result in a DUI charge, and if convicted, the potential penalties include:

Fines and court costs
Time in jail or prison
Probation
Revocation of your driver’s license
The mandatory installation of ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle
Mandatory attendance of alcohol education courses

The size of your fines and the length of your jail sentence, probation, and license suspension will depend on a variety of factors. The court will consider if you have any prior offenses, if anyone was injured in a crash caused by your intoxication, how high your BAC was, and various other factors.

A First-Time Conviction

For a standard first-time DUI conviction involving a case in which you were not excessively intoxicated, the typical penalties include:

From three days to six months in jail
A fine of up to $1,000
Suspension of your driving privileges

For each additional DUI conviction, the penalties will increase significantly.

Additional Consequences of a DUI Conviction

In addition to penalties, a DUI conviction can also affect your life in a variety of other ways. A suspension of your license can result in the loss of your job if you have any driving requirements. Furthermore, finding new work can prove challenging with a DUI conviction on your record.

A DUI conviction can also result in higher insurance rates. Meanwhile, any time spent behind bars can cause serious disruption to your life. An experienced lawyer at Groth & Associates can help you understand all the potential penalties of a conviction and can work to help you avoid them.

For a free legal consultation with a dui lawyer serving Perrysburg, call (419) 930-3030

Submitting to a Blood or Breath Alcohol Test

When you receive your driver’s license in Ohio, you are giving your implied consent to submit to blood or breath testing at the request of an Ohio police officer. Still, you can refuse to let them test you. However, there will be consequences if you do.

Refusal to submit to chemical testing will result in a one-year suspension of your driver’s license by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) for a first offense.

The consequences for a refusal are not as severe as the consequences for a DUI conviction. If you are intoxicated, refusing to submit to chemical testing can make it more difficult for the prosecution to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Criminal Defense Lawyer Near Me (419) 930-3030

How Plea Bargaining Can Help You Avoid the Worst Consequences of a DUI Conviction

When the evidence against you is overwhelming, getting a DUI charge dropped or avoiding a conviction may be unrealistic goals. In these cases, your best option may be to attempt to secure a reduced charge through plea bargaining. Instead of a DUI conviction, we may be able to negotiate lesser charges.

While you will still be faced with criminal penalties, they won’t be as severe as those that come with a DUI conviction. The difference between the penalties you will face is especially profound if you already have a prior DUI conviction on your record.

Even if the prosecution’s case against you is strong, there is always a chance they will be willing to offer you a plea deal. Prosecutors carry large caseloads, and any opportunity to resolve a case is one they will consider. An experienced DUI attorney in Perrysburg can help you understand the full implications of pleading guilty to a lesser charge.

Common Defenses a Perrysburg DUI Attorney May Use Against a DUI Charge

There are a variety of legal defenses your lawyer may choose to employ when defending you against a DUI charge. The best defense for you will depend on the particular details of your case.

Some of the most common defenses used in these cases include:

You were not intoxicated
You were not driving
Your rights were violated

You Were Not Intoxicated

If you were not chemically tested, arguing that you were not intoxicated can be an effective approach to take. Remember that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution. They must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt in order to secure a conviction.

Even if you submitted to chemical testing and the results showed that you were intoxicated, this may be an effective defense. Human error and equipment malfunctions are common in chemical testing. Your lawyer can demonstrate the flaws in the system to the court and may even be able to present evidence proving an error in your tests.

You Were Not Driving

If you were involved in an accident and police arrived at the scene after the fact, and everyone had already exited the vehicle, proving that you were the one driving can be challenging in some cases.

If there are no witnesses who can testify that you were driving and no video footage to support the claims of the police, an experienced DUI lawyer serving Perrysburg will help cast doubt about whether or not you were behind the wheel.

Your Rights Were Violated

From conducting an illegal search to failing to read you your Miranda Rights to breaking the chain of custody, there are a variety of ways in which your rights can be violated in relation to your DUI arrest.

If your lawyer can prove a violation, they may be able to get evidence against you thrown out or convince the court to dismiss the charges outright.

At our firm, we can build the best possible defense for you. Our client testimonials speak for themselves.

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Get Help from an Experienced DUI Lawyer Serving Perrysburg Today

The best way to beat a DUI conviction is by securing the services of an experienced lawyer. At Groth & Associates, our Perrysburg DUI lawyers have a long history of helping our clients fight DUI charges and avoid a conviction or at least secure a more favorable outcome.

Call or text (419) 930-3030 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form