Driving Under Suspension in Ohio

You probably feel like driving your vehicle is a necessity, but Ohio sees it as a privilege which can be revoked. If your driver license was suspended by a court or by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, it is inevitable there will be times when you are tempted to drive in order to fulfil your daily obligations. However, driving with a suspended license can result in severe consequences such as fines, further suspension of your license, and even jail time. If you have been accused of this offense, you may want to hire a Columbus driving under suspension lawyer to help you protect your rights and increase the chance of obtaining favorable results.

There are several different types of driver license suspensions. Some of the common reasons for driver license suspensions include the following:

• Failure to appear in court
• Failure to pay fines and court costs
• A court suspension as part of the sentence for:
• OVI, Physical Control, or Reckless Operation
• Vehicular homicide or Vehicular Assault
• Vehicular manslaughter
• Other moving violations
• An Administrative License Suspension related to O.V.I.
• A 12-point suspension from the Ohio B.M.V.
• A conviction for a drug-related offense
• Non-compliance with auto insurance laws

There are many types of driver license suspensions, and the type of suspension affects the possible penalties for the charge of Driving Under Suspension. Accordingly, the penalties described herein are general penalties for D.U.S. To find out the precise penalties you are facing, you may want to schedule a telephone consultation with a lawyer.

Most first-offense D.U.S. charges are unclassified misdemeanors. Unclassified misdemeanor are punishable with a fine of up to $1,000 and up to 500 hours of community service. For D.U.S. offenses which are not categorized as unclassified misdemeanors, they are categorized as first degree misdemeanors. First degree misdemeanors can result in a fine of up to $1,000, a jail term of up to 180 days, and probation (also called ‘community control’) for up to five years. Some first degree misdemeanor types of D.U.S. also have minimum mandatory sentences.

If you have pleaded guilty to two violations of D.U.S. within the past three years, your current offense which would otherwise be an unclassified misdemeanor may be regarded as a first degree misdemeanor. In addition to the other penalties, a court may order vehicle immobilization for 30 days. Subsequent offenses may result in immobilization of your vehicle for up to 60 days and even criminal forfeiture of your vehicle.

Initially, it is important to determine what type of suspension is alleged and what is your prior traffic record. That information will shed light on the precise charge and penalties you are facing. It is helpful to obtain a copy of your driving record for this purpose. The next task is to obtain the evidence the prosecutor intends to introduce, evaluate whether that evidence proves your guilt, and analyze whether you have any defenses to the charge. While this is occurring, you may also want to obtain a valid license as soon as you are able.

The Dominy Law Firm is focused on representing clients charged with traffic offenses, DUI / OVI, and criminal offenses. The firm is located in Columbus and represents clients in courts throughout central Ohio. For more information about the Dominy Law Firm, please see the firm overview. If you are charged with Driving Under Suspension in central Ohio and would like to discuss your case with the Dominy Law Firm, please schedule a free phone consultation by calling 614-717-1177 or by EMAILING THE FIRM.