If you’ve been charged with an OVI in Ohio, you probably have a million questions going through your mind:
- I got charged with a DUI, what should I do next?
- How will a DUI affect my job? If I get a DUI, will I lose my job?
- Is it worth it to hire an attorney for my OVI charge in Ohio?
- What are the potential consequences that I might face if I’m convicted of an OVI in Ohio?
- Is there any chance that I can get my OVI charges dropped or at least plead down to a lesser charge?
These kinds of questions are totally normal, as is the anxiety and stress that comes along with the entire experience, especially if you’ve never been in trouble with the law before. That’s exactly where I was when I got pulled over.
I was going through my regular post-work weeknight routine when I got a text from my friend “Peter” who was having relationship problems. He was at a nearby bar and was clearly in need of someone to lend an ear. With the intentions of providing him support and a sober ride home, I headed to meet him. I ended up getting roped into a few drinks while he vented. It was the first night of March Madness after all, what was the big deal?
I convinced Peter to let me drive him home, but he insisted on another round, and I can be quite a pushover sometimes. Normally, I wouldn’t have driven after more than a few, but I was in better condition than Peter was – he had been drinking all day – and I had already committed to getting him home…
I made it less than a mile when I saw the flashing red and blue lights in my rearview mirror. I was in a total state of shock. I asked Peter to help look for my license and registration in my glove compartment, so I could be ready when the officer came to the window, but Peter was passed out in the passenger seat. ‘This doesn’t look good,’ I thought to myself.
I had been stopped for speeding – 54 in a 45. The officer who stopped me wasn’t rude or impolite, but he asked if I had been drinking, and I admitted to having a few. Having never been in trouble before, you can imagine my shock when he asked me to step out of the vehicle.
I performed the field sobriety, and I thought that maybe I did OK. ‘I’m pretty athletic,’ I thought, ‘I can do this.’ I found out that I was wrong about that when I was handcuffed, read my rights, and placed in the back of a police cruiser.
I’ve imagined myself being a lot of places, and handcuffed in the back seat of cop car is not one of them. I felt humiliated. I was terrified. I seemed helpless.
The next morning, in a state of mind I can only describe as a foggy haze of dread, I called a high school friend of mine who is a criminal defense lawyer in Delaware (in another area). I was ashamed to admit the trouble I got myself into, but I asked him for advice. I wanted to know if he had gotten a OVI in Delaware County, what criminal defense attorney would he hire. He directed me to The Law Office of Brian Jones.
I was able to schedule a consultation with Brian Jones the next morning. I brought my list of questions and concerns, and my mom for support.
Brian was both comforting and candid with me during the consultation. He was able to answer my questions in a way that not only inspired my confidence in his abilities as a defense attorney, but also his willingness to fight for me. I decided to hire him later that afternoon.
I remember being so relieved that I didn’t actually have to go to the Municipal Court for arraignment, because they could enter my ‘not guilty’ plea for me. I didn’t want to have to miss more work than was necessary, and I dreaded going to the courtroom to face the judge.
My case wasn’t going to be an easy one to win – I didn’t exactly help my own cause – and I knew that after meeting with Brian for my consult. I made several mistakes:
- I admitted to consuming alcohol.
- I agreed to perform the field sobriety tests.
- I provided a urine sample to test for alcohol (and other substances).
As it turns out, I did all the things that you aren’t supposed to do. I learned later from Brian that when you get pulled over, “Don’t walk. Don’t talk. Don’t blow.” I wish I knew that before.
Brian and his staff kept me up-to-date with my upcoming court dates – pre-trials, motion hearings, etc. Some of them I didn’t have to attend; some of them were continued. I appreciated that they have an online client portal that I was able to log into and see all of my upcoming dates, court documents, and even send Brian and his staff direct messages. It made communication really helpful and convenient.
My case didn’t have a lot of great news as it went along. When my urine results came back, they were above the legal limit. Later, the video of my field sobriety tests didn’t look so good for me either. Brian recommended that I go ahead and pre-emptively get an alcohol assessment done and enroll in a Driver’s Intervention Program, or DIP, which is a 3-day alcohol education program that is often offered in lieu of jail time. These assessments and pro-active behaviors are part of the holistic approach that The Law Office of Brian Jones takes. It definitely helped me – both with the outcome of my case and in personally dealing with the situation itself.
The State didn’t slip up and make any mistakes that we could take advantage of in order to get a dismissal, and going to jury trial wasn’t a good option for me either (although we could have tried). I ended up pleading down, and facing a sentence that was less harsh than I expected.
While I ended up with a record (something I never imagined that I would have), I felt really positive about the result that we achieved:
- I avoided jail time completely.
- I did not have to get an interlock device on my car.
- I did not have to get yellow “party plates” on my car.
- I gained a new personal perspective on my choices, how I let others influence me, and how to make better choices in the future.
- I closed this unfortunate chapter of my life with the support of a legal team that cares about their results, but also the underlying issues and overall health of their clients.
After the case was over, Brian and his team helped me transition in dealing with probation, getting driving privileges for work and school, getting my driver’s license re-instated and even getting my probation period shortened. There wasn’t a single point in the process where I felt like I was alone or underrepresented – Brian and his team were with me the whole way.
The only regrets that I have related to this unfortunate incident in my life occurred before hiring The Law Office of Brian Jones – and I say that without hesitation. I wish I could relive that night and make better choices, but I couldn’t, and instead I did the next best thing, hired Brian.
If you have questions about a recent OVI charge, I would highly recommend reaching out to The Law Office of Brian Jones to schedule an appointment and find out what they can do to help you.