OVI / DUI Lawyer for Bellefontaine, Ohio

DUI / OVI In Bellefontaine, Ohio

The Dominy Law Firm represents clients for OVI / DUI in Logan County, Ohio. In Logan County, most OVI cases are heard in the Bellefontaine Municipal Court. Those OVI cases come from all the municipalities in Logan County: Bellefontaine, Huntsville, Indian Lake, Russells Point, West Liberty, and West Mansfield. Most of the cases are filed by the Ohio State Highway Patrol and the Bellefontaine Police Department, and some cases are filed by the law enforcement agencies from the other municipalities.

Being charged with DUI/OVI in Logan County, Ohio raises many questions. What evidence will the prosecution use? What is the possible sentence if I’m found guilty? What is the court process? What are my next steps? This page will answer those questions, and additional information is available on other pages of this site, including the general DUI/OVI page and dozens of individual pages on specific OVI topics.

Evidence The Prosecution Will Use

The prosecution will use evidence which can be loosely placed in three categories: witness testimony, audio-video recordings, and alcohol/drug tests. Witness testimony comes primarily from law enforcement officers who conduct the OVI investigation and also includes civilian witnesses. Law enforcement officers undergo training to detect OVI, and that training teaches them ‘clues’ that a person is under the influence. The training also teaches them how to administer field sobriety tests. Audio-video recordings include cruiser videos, body camera videos, 911 calls, and officer-dispatcher communications. All of those recordings can be obtained through ‘discovery’ in the court process. Alcohol/drug tests include blood tests, urine tests, and breath tests. For breath testing, some law enforcement agencies are using the Intoxilyzer 8000, even though the reliability of that machine is questionable. The Dominy Law Firm has significant experience in litigation related to the Intoxilyzer 8000.

Sentencing For DUI/OVI

Ohio has minimum and maximum sentences for DUI/OVI convictions. For a first offense (within ten years), the sentence includes a jail term of three days to 180 days, a driver license suspension of one year to three years, and a fine of $375 to $1,075. Those parts of the OVI sentence are mandatory. In addition to the mandatory parts of the sentence, the court has the option of ordering probation, an ignition interlock system, and yellow license plates. If a person is convicted of additional OVI offenses within a ten-year period, the mandatory penalties increase. For a summary of the possible sentences in OVI cases, please see the table on the ‘DUI/OVI Penalties’ page.

The Next Steps In Your DUI/OVI Case

If you have a DUI/OVI case in Bellefontaine/Logan County, you likely want to know what are your next steps. The first step is to learn about DUI/OVI cases. One good way to do that is to read the pages on this website. Another good way to learn about DUI/OVI topics is to read the Ohio DUI/OVI Guide. The guide can be purchased from online bookstores, and you can download the free PDF version from this website. After learning more about DUI/OVI, the next steps are to decide whether you will plead guilty or not guilty, determine whether you will hire an attorney, and select the lawyer you will hire.

Lawyers For Bellefontaine, Ohio DUI/OVI Cases

If you choose to plead not guilty to a DUI/OVI in Logan County, our firm can help improve the outcome of your case. DUI/OVI defense is the focus of the Dominy Law Firm, and our lawyers have expertise in this area. Our attorneys completed the same training as law enforcement officers for OVI detection and field sobriety testing. Our attorneys also have undergone training in alcohol/drug testing. To learn more about our law firm, please see the About Us page. You may also want to review our case results and client reviews. If you would like to speak with us about your OVI/DUI case in Logan County, please complete a CONTACT FORM or call 614-717-1177.