Make no mistake; an OVI charge will cost money, as well as a suspension of your driver’s license. Insurance rates will go up and your entire educational and/or professional future could hinge on the outcome at trial. An experienced criminal defense attorney needs to handle an OVI case, to file motions, gather evidence and then examine it, [...]
Misdemeanors are less serious charges than felonies. Many criminal offenses and almost all traffic offenses are classified as misdemeanors under Ohio law. Misdemeanors are categorized by degree, with a first-degree misdemeanor being most serious and minor misdemeanors being the least. In spite of the fact that these charges are considered less serious, they still can [...]
The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects all Americans from being forced to say anything which could help the government convict. You have a right not to answer law enforcement when asked questions such as these: Have you been drinking tonight? Where are you coming from? Where are you going? Do you know how fast [...]
Law enforcement must have probable cause to stop, detain, or arrest you for an OVI. Probable cause simply means that enough reliable information exists to support a reasonable belief that a person was operating a motor vehicle while under the influence. Did police officers observe you driving as if impaired— swerving across the road, driving erratically, [...]
In Ohio, expungement is the same as sealing a record. It is a legal process provided under Section 2953 of the Ohio Revised Code that allows one to have any and all references to a prior criminal conviction cleared and their court file sealed. The result of this process is as if you were never convicted [...]
There must be a probable, valid cause for law enforcement to pull over a driver. Does the vehicle have expired tags? Did the driver run through a red light or not stop completely at a stop sign? Was the driver speeding or swerving? Does the car have an equipment violation like a burned-out tail light? [...]
Law enforcement must follow the law when stopping or arresting drivers. There are two different legal standards that apply to OVI stops and arrests: Reasonable Suspicion and Probable Cause. Reasonable suspicion is acceptable suspicion that a crime has been, is being, or will be committed. It is a reasonable belief based on facts or circumstances and [...]
Don't drink and drive. If you go out and are drinking alcohol, get a designated driver in place or prepare to use Uber, Lyft or a taxi service. If you have never been convicted of an OVI, you can't imagine and understand the consequences of having an OVI conviction on your record. It can impact [...]
The plea bargain is an agreement between a criminal defense attorney and the prosecution to resolve a criminal case and ends with a defendant pleading guilty or no contest in exchange for a reduced sentence or to a lesser charge. A majority of criminal cases end in plea bargains but they aren't always the best [...]
Law enforcement and the prosecution have already begun building a case against you if you have been arrested. It is essential that you contact an aggressive criminal defense attorney to take prompt action to begin protecting your rights. The best criminal defense attorney will begin building your defense. Witnesses will be consulted, police records reviewed, video [...]