If you have been charged with Operating a Vehicle under the Influence (OVI), you need an experienced OVI lawyer to defend your rights. Attorney Skip Potter handles cases throughout Northwest Ohio ranging from a first-time misdemeanor to an OVI causing injury.
An OVI conviction can have serious consequences, including fines, license suspensions, and jail time. However, an OVI charge does not always result in an OVI conviction.
When you work with attorney Skip Potter, you will learn all of your rights as well as receive guidance on what are the best options for you. As an OVI lawyer in Bowling Green, he will represent your best interests and ensure that your rights are protected.
Your Rights after an OVI Charge
One right you have is to appeal your Administrative License Suspension (ALS) within 30 days of your first appearance. Skip Potter, OVI lawyer, specializes in the handling these types of cases, where we must prove at least one of the following:
- The officer lacked reasonable grounds of suspecting OVI.
- The officer didn’t request you take the blood alcohol test.
- The officer didn’t inform you of the consequences of refusing or failing the test.
- You did not refuse or fail the test.
Although we may be able to prove any of these, the court still has the option to suspend your license if they determine you are a threat to the public.
Minimum Punishment for First Time OVI Offense in Ohio
- $375 fine
- Three days in jail: The judge will offer you the option to complete the sentence in a certified driver intervention program. You can also suspend jail time if you have an ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle.
- One year license suspension: Although one year is the minimum required by Ohio law, the judge typically issues limited driving privileges for driving to work and school during this time. You may have the option to receive unlimited driving privileges with an ignition interlock, and the suspension may be cut in half.
Maximum Punishment for First Time OVI Offense in Ohio
- $1075 fine
- Maximum six months in jail: The judge can order a first time OVI offender to serve up to six months in jail. If the judge grants unlimited driving privileges with an ignition interlock device, jail time is suspended.
- Three year license suspension: The judge is able to suspend the license for up to three years, and may grant limited driving privileges for work and school. If you opt for unlimited driving privileges with an ignition interlock, the suspension may be cut in half.
- If you have a “high test” OVI (above a .17 BAC), the punishment described above is more severe.
Potter Law Office has earned a reputation for being one of the top OVI lawyers in Ohio. If you’ve been arrested for an OVI, our OVI lawyers want to start by hearing directly from you the events that happened before, during, and after the arrest. Contact our office today to speak to us about your rights and options.
