• 13
  • August
    2012

A new free mobile application called DUI STOP provides Ohio drivers with various resources if they happen to be stopped for suspected Driving Under the Influence (DUI). DUI is legally known in Ohio as Operating a Vehicle Impaired (OVI). The application, considered to be the first of its type nationwide, gives drivers immediate access to applicable DUI laws as well as a free consultation with one of six attorneys. Though choosing an attorney is an important decision that should not generally be left to an app, instant access to applicable DUI law and information about one's rights as an accused person could be invaluable in the event of a DUI stop.

DUI STOP also includes information about:

•Court-sanctioned alcohol and drug treatment programs

•Accident repair services

•Insurance for high-risk drivers and

•Ignition interlock devices that prevent a car from starting if the driver cannot provide an almost completely alcohol-free sample

The application became available to iPhone and iPad users on May 31, 2012, and will soon be offered for Android phones.

An OVI conviction in Ohio can result in severe penalties. A conviction can not generally be erased from a driver's record, and it may also prevent a person from having a different type of conviction expunged or sealed.

Mark Krumbein, developer of the application, hopes that if DUI STOP users understand the consequences of a DUI/OVI conviction before being stopped, it will dissuade them from driving while intoxicated. Additionally, instant access to state law on the subject will help those who have been wrongfully stopped and those who have been driving while intoxicated but want to ensure that their rights are protected throughout the process.