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Do Not Underestimate The Seriousness Of A Drunk Driving Charge

Ohio takes drunk driving seriously. The penalties are stiff and may include jail or prison time, significant fines, required attendance at alcohol assessment sessions, loss of the driver’s license and other consequences. If the accused’s occupation requires him or her to drive — with or without a commercial driver’s license (CDL) — these consequences can lead to job loss and serious financial hardship. The stakes are high; this is why it’s important to have a skilled defense attorney.

Defending Clients Against DUI/OVI

The Springboro law firm of Smith, Meier & Webb, LPA, defends clients vigorously against any type of DUI/OVI charge. Our principal attorney, John D. Smith, has been defending clients against criminal charges since 1980. Mark D. Webb serves as a local prosecutor, which assists in his defense of clients outside of his prosecutorial jurisdiction. He and our other skilled lawyers develop strong cases that ensure that the facts of the matter fit the charges. We negotiate with prosecutors to have charges dismissed or reduced.

Whatever the level of charge, we take it seriously. A client’s ability to drive and his or her reputation and livelihood are at stake. We work hard to recover driver’s licenses after the automatic suspension and seek hardship licenses whenever appropriate. We appear at Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) appointments and hearings.

Issues In Drunk Driving Cases

  • Multiple convictions increase the penalties. There is mandatory jail time after a second offense and mandatory alcohol assessment and treatment after the third offense. The vehicle will be confiscated after the fourth offense. We work hard to develop alternative penalties for second or third convictions.
  • Police make mistakes. Our law firm investigates the facts to make sure that you were properly arrested and that any sobriety and blood alcohol concentration tests were administered correctly. We make sure that the reason for a traffic stop was permissible under Ohio law. We determine whether there are any mitigating circumstances that we can use to defend against the charges.
  • If the OVI/DUI charge includes serious injury or death, or if the charge could lead to a fourth drunk driving conviction, the conviction could be a felony. We advise people in these circumstances to refuse testing until they have spoken with an attorney. There is little to lose and much to gain by doing this.

Discuss Your DUI/OVI Case Today

Contact our Springboro office if you have been charged with DUI/OVI. Call us at 937-557-0128 or 513-445-5017 to schedule an appointment to begin your defense.