You need an attorney to represent you if you are charged with drunk driving in Ohio. Why? Two reasons. First, drunk driving is a first degree misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000.00 fine. Six months is a long time. It is a long time to take off from your job. Will your job still be there after six months? Will your business still be there? Will your customers patiently wait upon you to emerge from jail?
Second, though most judges will give you less than six months in jail, even if you get probation and a requirement to take an alcohol intervention course, you will have a three to six months license suspension. How are you going to get back and forth to work? If you have to drive for your job, how will you do your job?
Law Enforcement do make mistakes in prosecuting drunk driving cases. Many times, an experienced lawyer can point out problems in the case to the prosecutor that may result in getting the charges reduced or dismissed. You can read up on drunk driving defense all you want. After doing that, you may think that you have sufficient knowledge to represent yourself in court. But doing that is like putting a baseball rule book in the hands of a guy who has never played baseball, sending him to the plate to face a a big league pitcher. If you try to represent yourself, you will make the prosecutor very happy. There is no substitute for an experienced DUI lawyer at your side.
If you need representation against drunk driving charges, you can call me at 614.580.4316. I don’t charge for initial consultations to see if I can help you. If you decide you want to hire me after we speak, then we can go from there on what it will cost.
