Answering FAQs About Ohio DUI Laws

Answering FAQs About Ohio DUI Laws by Scott and Nolder

Answering FAQs About Ohio DUI Laws by Scott and Nolder Different aspects of DUI laws may apply to you, depending on the particular circumstances of your case. A DUI lawyer in Columbus can help you understand the laws and potential penalties that are applicable to your case. When you consult a drunk driving attorney , bring along a list of any questions you may have.

What are High Tier Results?

As your DUI lawyer can explain to you, Ohio criminal law recognizes different legal limits. If a urine chemical test is administered, you can be charged with DUI for having an alcohol concentration of .11 or higher. The legal limit is 0.096 for plasma samples and blood serum. However, there are also high tier results, which are results that are excessively higher than the legal limits. These results are 0.238 or higher for urine, 0.204 or higher for plasma or blood serum, and 0.17 percent for breath. If convicted, high tier results will lead to harsher penalties. For example, an offender faces double the amount of minimum jail time for having a high tier result.

Are Chemical Tests Infallible?

It may sometimes be possible for your criminal defense attorney to obtain an acquittal even with chemical test results that indicate drunk driving. This is because chemical test results aren’t always accurate. Your criminal defense attorney may argue for the evidence to be inadmissible if there were procedural errors in taking the sample, errors at the lab, or equipment malfunctions.

What Happens if I Refuse a Chemical Test?

Many people mistakenly think that their best chance of beating a DUI conviction is by refusing to take a chemical test. But in fact, a defendant could still be convicted based on the police officer’s observations of alleged intoxication. Additionally, refusal to take a chemical test involves automatic administrative penalties, regardless of conviction. If you’ve already been arrested for DUI, you could face an additional criminal charge of refusal to submit to testing .