One of the most common reasons for law enforcement to suspend your license is because you’ve been convicted of drunk driving. License suspensions can also occur if you refuse to take a breathalyzer test or if you accumulate too many points on your driving record. There is no question about it – a suspended license can make life difficult and many aspects become nearly impossible. How are you supposed to get to work? Who will take your kids to school? Even grocery shopping can suddenly seem daunting. However, before you panic, gain some awareness about what you’re up against and how to handle the next few months or years. Inform Yourself of the Details of Your Suspension If this is your first DUI offense, your license can be suspended from six months to three years. A second offense can extend to up to five years, with a third offense lasting as many as 10 years. Your license can also be suspended for at least one year if you refuse a chemical test. When you become aware of the suspension, check in with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles regarding a restricted license or a driving permit. You may be given limited abilities to drive if you have work, school, or court-ordered responsibilities. Ohio law does allow certain individuals to obtain a restricted license for these specific purposes. Most importantly, do not drive without a permit allowing you to do so. If an officer catches you driving with a suspended license, it can only make an already challenging situation worse. Stay off the roads unless you have permission to drive. Getting Through Life Without a Car While it may seem impossible to survive without being able to drive, keep in mind that you do have other alternatives. Consider utilizing public transportation or carpooling with family members or friends. If your job or school is close enough, you may even be able to walk. In an emergency, it be worthwhile to use a ride-sharing app, such as Lyft or Uber. These can get expensive, so you should always pursue other options if at all possible. Without legal representation, it can be difficult to navigate the details of your license suspension. For personal assistance, schedule a free consultation with one of our Dayton DUI attorneys. We look forward to helping you in any way that we can.
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An Ohio OVI charge can severely impact anyone. At the law firm of Gounaris Abboud, LPA, we represent people from all walks of life that face the very serious charge of operating a motor vehicle while impaired (OVI). When arrested for an OVI crime you may be facing harsh penalties including: Jail time License suspension License reinstatement fees Large Fines Driver Intervention Program Community Service Recently, our firm represented a college student with no prior record in the Kettering Municipal Court on an OVI charge. Our client tested a blood alcohol content (BAC) of over .16 and was facing very serious sanctions including the loss of driver’s license and up to six (6) months of incarceration. We knew that we would need to build a strong case to help our client fight against these charges. After a lengthy litigation process that included a motion to suppress hearing, the client pled guilty to a reduced charge thereby keeping an OVI conviction off their driving record. An OVI conviction greatly damages your driving record and it is imperative to do all that you can when facing these charges to fight to keep the conviction off of your record. This entails working with an experienced Dayton DUI attorney to create a strong testimony and defense against the prosecutor’s evidence. The lawyers at Gounaris Abboud, LPA have experience cross-examining witnesses and finding flaws in the evidence against our clients. If you are facing an OVI charge in Ohio contact our firm and see how we may be able to help you fight for a reduced charge. We proudly offer a free case evaluation so you can call today and speak with a skilled DUI lawyer regarding your case at no cost!
Read MoreIn some DUI cases, a conviction can mean job loss. For example, a client recently came to our firm after she was arrested for driving under the influence. She was pulled over at about 2:00 am one night when she was weaving along the center line near Indian Lake. When she was pulled over, the police discovered that she was weaving back and forth on the street because she was intoxicated. The woman was charged with a DUI and arrested. This particular client is a children’s services caseworker. Individuals who have a career in social work need to have a spotless criminal record in order to maintain their position. Being arrested and charged with a DUI put our client’s career in jeopardy. If she had been proven guilty of her offense, she would have been fired and forced to go out searching for another occupation. She would have also lost her ability to work as a licensed social worker anywhere in the United States. This could have forced her to make major career changes or go back to school to get a degree in another field. Thankfully, when this attorney came to Gounaris Abboud, LPA, we were able to advocate on her behalf and have the charge reduced to a reckless operation. This is a minor misdemeanor, and did not jeopardize her career. We were able to determine this sentence reduction through protracted negotiations, and our client was able to continue working in child services. If your career is in jeopardy because of a DUI arrest then you want a lawyer there to help you. Talk to an attorney at our firm today to get the representation you need to possible prove your innocence or see your sentence reduced.
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When a driver is charged with a DUI, the punishments can be serious. Recently, a client came to our firm after he was charged with a DUI and Refusal. This means that the prosecution had reason to believe that he was guilty of a DUI, and could charge him for refusing to take blood and breath tests that are required by the law. The suspect had not been arrested for a DUI within 6 years, but in his lifetime he had been charged with two previous offenses. This may have affected his sentence and caused the judge to add a harsher penalty. When this client came to our firm, we set about right away to obtain a Motion to Suppress. To our delight, the court chose to dismiss our client’s OVI charge which means that this would not end up on the client’s driving record. This would keep his insurance rates low and help him to avoid getting his license revoked or being cited for criminal conduct in the event of a background check. In addition to this, our client’s refusal to take a blood or breath test charged was minimized and reduced to a reckless operation charge. Reckless operation is considered a fourth degree misdemeanor and only comes with a fine and court costs. Our client was able to avoid jail time and license revocation among other crimes. As a result, he was able to walk free after trial with only a monetary expense as punishment. If you have been arrested for an OVI charge and are worried about your future, you need to hire a firm that has proven success based on their case results. You need to hire Gounaris Abboud, LPA today! Contact them at 937-222-1515 for more information!
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When you are arrested for an OVI charge, you may have to spend time in jail and pay heavy fines for your crime. In Ohio, a 1st DUI conviction comes with at least three days in jail or probation with a driver intervention program. People can serve as many as 6 months for an OVI charge in this state. As well, a person can have his or her license suspended for up 3 years, and may be required to place DUI plates on his or her car. These plates will announce that the driver has been charged with a DUI and warn others to steer clear. As well, the driver may be forced to install an ignition interlock device on his or her vehicle, and fined up to $1,075. When a client came to us with an OVI charge, we knew that we needed to step up and help quickly. The client was stopped by a police officer on his way home from the Bengals and Steelers fame in Cincinnati. Police officers often patrol the streets after a sports game in hopes that they can catch drivers who may have had a few too many beers while watching football that afternoon. The police officer stopped our client and forced him to take a breath test. Our client merited a 0.15, which is almost twice the legal limit. We asked for a motion to suppress hearing due to the nature of the case, and the state agreed to dismiss the OVI. Instead, our client was charged with a physical control violation. This is a non-moving offense and will not affect our client’s driving record. He will not lose his driving license as a result. If you want a Dayton DUI lawyer with proven results to work on your case, don’t hesitate to contact an attorney at Gounaris Abboud, LPA today!
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