OVI

In Ohio, OVI/DUI expungement refers to having a drunk driving conviction removed from your record. Unfortunately, our state laws do not allow you to have a DUI or OVI expunged or sealed. In fact, your conviction will remain a matter of public record permanently. An Ohio criminal defense lawyer can assist you in getting other misdemeanor or felony offenses expunged. However, once you are convicted of operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you must live with the consequences. That being said, a DUI defense lawyer can perhaps lower or eliminate a DUI charge. Contact one of our Ohio criminal defense attorneys today for a free legal consultation. Is It Possible to Get an OVI Expunged? Ohio law specifically prohibits the expungement of a DUI or OVI. The law also prohibits you from having any type of traffic offense expunged. The only way you can clear these matters from your criminal record is to have them overturned in court. Otherwise, you will battle the stigma and economic hardship of an OVI indefinitely. If you get arrested and go to trial for DUI, this also becomes a matter of public record. However, if the court dismisses your case or if you win at trial, you can have this information sealed quickly and affordably. ✓ Our firm has achieved dismissals and penalty reductions for hundreds of people. ✓ We have more than five decades of combined experience to use in your defense. ✓ We have hundreds of 5-star reviews. ✓ We offer free, non-committal consultations. What Is the Ohio OVI Expungement Process? Because you cannot get an OVI expunged in Ohio, there is no process per se. In other words, the only real way to keep an OVI off your record is to fight the charges. Having an experienced Ohio DUI defense attorney to assist you provides several key advantages. If you are convicted of DUI, however, you remain eligible to have other criminal convictions expunged, thanks to a recent change in Ohio law. Previously, Ohio law precluded those convicted of OVI from having any criminal convictions expunged – even those unrelated to the OVI charge. But under the new law, as long as you have only one OVI conviction on your record, you can apply to the court for the expungement of one eligible felony or misdemeanor offense. Contact Gounaris Abboud How Can a DUI Expungement Lawyer Help? The key to avoiding a DUI or OVI offense on your record is to avoid conviction. If you are arrested and charged with drunk or impaired driving, contact an attorney immediately. An experienced criminal defense attorney has multiple options for defending you against DUI charges. Your lawyer will also schedule your Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle hearing to appeal the suspension of your driver’s license. Your legal team will handle every aspect of your case and fight for your future. Even if you believe the prosecutor has a strong case, an experienced attorney understands how to build a persuasive defense on your behalf. Fighting these charges may give you the best chance of keeping your record clean. Talk to an Ohio DUI Attorney Today Do not put your future at risk by accepting a plea offer or providing a statement to the police or prosecutor. Take advantage of the complimentary consultation offered by Gounaris Abboud, LPA. Over the years, we have helped hundreds of clients avoid DUI convictions by getting their charges reduced or dismissed. With more than 50 years of combined experience, we understand the importance of building a strong case. We help you explore your options and, together, craft a compelling strategy for your case. To schedule your no-cost, no-obligation consultation and case review, contact us today, or call us at 937-222-1515.

Ohio OVI Penalties: What You Should Know Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a serious offense in Ohio that can have steep penalties. Not only will you pay a fine and do jail time, but you can also lose your driver’s license and end up with a criminal record. If you are facing charges for drunk or drugged driving in Ohio, you need to learn more about Ohio OVI penalties. Mandatory Minimum Ohio OVI Penalties for First-Time Offenders First-time OVI offenders in Ohio still face significant penalties. Ohio DUI penalties are based on whether a person has a “low” or a “high” blood alcohol concentration (BAC). A “low” BAC is anything above the legal limit of 0.08 = but less than 0.17. The mandatory penalties for a first-time “low” OVI are: 3 days to 6 months in jail; At least a 6-month suspension of your driver’s license, and a driver’s license suspension of up to 3 years; and A fine of at least $375 and up to $1,075. A “high” OVI conviction, with a BAC of 0.17 or higher, comes with higher mandatory penalties. Just because these are the mandatory minimums does not mean that you should assume this will be the only penalty. Judges can impose sanctions that are higher than these sentences. For example, Ohio only requires that a first-time OVI conviction results in three days in jail, but a judge may order you to spend up to six months in jail. Besides these penalties, you will pay a fee of $475 to have your driver’s license reinstated. Penalties for Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test If you refuse to take a chemical test—a breath test, a blood test, or another test designed to test your blood alcohol concentration—you will face more penalties. By refusing to take a chemical test, you are violating the implied consent law in Ohio. For a first offense, you will face an automatic driver’s license suspension of one year. If your BAC is over the legal limit and you refused to take a test, you will face more penalties. Subsequent OVI Penalties and Ohio DUI Laws Subsequent offenses come with steeper penalties. For example: Second offense: anywhere from 10 days to 1 year in jail, a fine of up to $1,500, and a driver’s license suspension of up to 5 years; Third offense: anywhere from 30 days to 1 year in jail, a fine of up to $1,500, a driver’s license suspension of up to 10 years, and the required use of an ignition interlock device; and Fourth offense: anywhere from 60 days to 1 year in jail, a fine of up to $10,000, possibility of a permanent suspension of your driver’s license, and the required use of an ignition interlock device. Contact an Ohio OVI Defense Attorney If you need help building a defense in your OVI case, our Ohio OVI defense attorney can begin working on your case today. Contact Gounaris Abboud for more information.

An OVI charge can be serious. When an individual is arrested for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, it can lead to jail time, hefty fines, license suspension, and marks on the suspect’s criminal and driving records. Recently, a client came to Gounaris Abboud after being arrested and charged with an OVI. This particular client is the owner and operator of a successful IT consulting firm. An OVI conviction could have given him trouble at his place of employment, and may have even cost him his position at the company if he had been convicted. Unfortunately, this was this man’s third OVI charge. If convicted, he may have been forced to spend up to one year in jail and would have been obligated to at least serve a minimum sentence of 30 days. The client’s vehicle would have been forfeited to the state if he was convicted and his license may have been suspended for up to 10 years as a result of his crime. In addition to all of this, he would have had to face a mandatory fine that could have amounted to $2,750. These are serious punishments that could have had serious implications for our client. Thankfully, the professionals at Gounaris Abboud managed to reduce the charge to a physical control violation. This is a lesser charge that came with a light sentence. Our client did not have to spend any time in jail, and was charged a mere $150 fine. He was also ordered to do a weekend drivers’ intervention program as punishment. Our client was able to get his license back the same day as his final court hearing, and was able to keep his position at the IT consulting firm. He was thrilled with the results of his case. You may also be able to receive satisfactory results in your criminal case if you hire a Dayton criminal defense attorney at Gounaris Abboud to tackle your OVI case.

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!

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!