Blog Post

Penalties You May Face When Charged With a DUI

  • By Admin
  • 10 Dec, 2018
DUI — Police Chasing Car in Canton, OH
Each year, roughly 1.5 million individuals are arrested for driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs. To put this into perspective, these statistics boil down to about one in every 121 drivers who have a driver's license being arrested for driving drunk.

As a first-time offender, the consequences of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs may not be severe and may be limited to only fines and/or time in jail. However, the conviction can also result in more severe consequences like probation, a limited or suspended driver's license, mandatory alcohol treatment, installation of an ignition interlock device, or more.

Generally, the penalties of a DUI conviction will depend on the severity of the DUI crime as well as the criminal history of the defendant. If the individual is a first-time DUI offender with no criminal history, then he or she can likely expect to get off with a fine. However, if the arrest is the third or fourth DUI offense, the penalty is going to be steep.

Below is a look at some of the various DUI penalties that individuals can face when convicted with a DUI in Ohio.

Fines and Jail Time

Depending on the severity of the crime and number of previous DUI offenses, individuals can expect to face fines between $375 and $10,500.Individuals can also expect to face jail time of a minimum of 72 hours for a first offense and 60 days for a fourth offense, with jail time ranging in
between those times for second and third offenses.

Limited/Suspended Driver's License

In Ohio, individuals may have their driver's license suspended for anywhere from six months to three years for a first offense. Subsequent offenses can lead to suspended driver's license privileges for anywhere from one to 10 years, possibly even having their driving privileges permanently revoked.

Alcohol Treatment Program

In an effort to reduce harsh penalties in DUI cases and to educate the perpetrator on the dependency and negative effects of alcohol in addition to the consequences of driving under the influence, a judge may offer alcohol treatment/education programs. In some cases, these programs will be mandatory, though in other instances, they are offered as a way to reduce a defendant's sentence.

For instance,an individual that successfully completes the program may be able to have their driver's license unsuspended. However, if they fail to complete the program, they will be unable to have their license reinstated and will need to return to court for additional sentencing.

A judge will look at several factors to determine an individual's eligibility for an alcohol treatment program, including prior DUI offenses/charges, BAC when arrested,and whether anyone was injured (non-fatally and fatally) in the accident,and participation in a similar program before.

Installation of an Ignition Interlock Device

Depending on the severity of your case, the judge may require that you have an ignition interlock device installed on your vehicle. This device will prevent your vehicle from starting if your blood alcohol content is above a certain level. Essentially, the device is a breathalyzer machine. Vehicle users must blow into the machine to "start"the vehicle.

There are some instances when the driver's breath must be retested periodically during the drive. It all depends on the conditions of the individual's court order.

Have you recently been arrested and charged with a DUI in Ohio? Don't try to handle the situation on your own. Work with a professional criminal law attorney for the best results of your case. Call The Law Offices of Christopher Dionisio Attorney at Law today to schedule a consultation!
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Do you believe a divorce is looming in your future? Are you thinking about filing for divorce? Initiating divorce can be a difficult process, especially when you don't plan ahead. If you want to ensure you are prepared to dissolve your marriage, you need to take action now before you file.

With these steps in mind, you will be better prepared for the divorce and custody proceedings. Read on to learn more.

Understand Ohio's Divorce Laws

A divorce lawyer is a crucial source of information during your divorce, developing a wider understanding of Ohio’s divorce laws is certainly helpful. Your divorce lawyer can provide you with step by step instruction on how you should proceed.

Care for Children

Custody is not the only matter relevant to your children. Children undergo a difficult transition during divorce, and providing a sense of normalcy is critical. You might consider discussing therapy options for your children to allow them to cope with the changes ahead.

Avoid Social Media

Social media can hurt you during divorce, especially if you express your feelings a lot on the web. You are better off avoiding websites like Facebook and Instagram until after the divorce proceedings. Otherwise, you might reveal something unfavorable or make yourself look unstable, indiscrete, or irresponsible.

Take Hold of Your Finances

Are you unsure of your financial situation? Now is the time to initiate an understanding of your assets and debts, especially determining which are shared and which are individually owned.

Now is also a good time to inventory all household possessions, including anything of value. Keep track of the value of each item.

Keep Track of Important Events

Logging interactions you have with your future ex-spouse is important too. For example, you should log any instance of domestic violence or situations that might warrant your gaining sole or primary custody of your children. Document all such incidents and submit them to your attorney.

Retain a Divorce Attorney

A good divorce attorney is worth your while. An attorney not only provides you with options for discussing your legal situation but also presents a support system. You may need to rely on your attorney throughout the court proceedings, so it pays to choose an attorney you want to work with closely.

The Law Offices of Christopher Dionisio  is a respected and dedicated member of the community. We understand Ohio law, especially when it pertains to divorce. Call us today to set up a consultation.

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An accident can occur anywhere and anytime, but do you have any idea what to do if you received an injury at work? Many people don't know how to proceed. Some may not want to tell their employers out of concern that they could be terminated, and others may not want to tell because they cannot afford to take time off.

No matter the reason why your accident occurred or why you don't want to tell, you do have rights and deserve protection if you have been injured in an accident in the workplace.

Learn what steps to take if you've had an accident at work that resulted in an injury.

Get Medical Help

If you've been injured, you need to seek medical attention right away. Waiting for medical attention may result in your workplace claiming the injury occurred elsewhere. If you have first aid at your work, get to the first aid clinic for treatment. If your workplace has a clinic off-site that they normally use for injuries, go to that clinic.

If your workplace doesn't have a first-aid clinic or a designated outside clinic, visit a hospital or urgent care facility quickly to have them assess and treat your injuries and document your injury.

Inform Your Supervisor or Boss

Be sure you let your immediate supervisor or boss know that you received an injury. Your employer will have paperwork that they need to fill out in the event of an accident and steps they need to take on their end to document your injury.

Give them all of the information they need about the accident.

Follow Physician's Orders and Employer Restrictions

If your physician has you on restricted duty at work, or your employer placed you on light duty until you heal, follow these instructions. Don't attempt to do too much and injure yourself further. Stay on light or restricted duty until your physician releases you.

If your employer pushes you to do more, don't - not until you are fully released.

Keep Track of Paperwork

Keep track of all paperwork related to your work injury including medical bills, post-accident pay stubs, and information your physician or other medical facilities you visited provided to you. Also, keep track of all paperwork and documentation from your workplace and the insurance carrier involved.

If your employer or the worker's compensation insurance company refuses to pay for your accident, you will need all of this paperwork if you choose to take legal action.

Find a Personal Injury Attorney

If you decide you need to take action against your employer and the insurance company, you'll need to find the right attorney to help you fight for your rights and to give you compensation for your injuries, back pay from time lost, and other money that your company or the insurance company owes you.

Look for an attorney that specializes in workplace injuries and has won these types of cases in the past.

Take advice from your personal injury attorney such as using physician restrictions at home in addition to when at work. This can help prevent your employer from claiming that your injuries aren't as severe as was reported.

If you've been injured in a workplace accident, you should receive compensation for not only the medical bills from the accident but for back pay and other losses you suffered from the accident such as time lost with family or financial impacts the accident may have caused you and your family.

Call The Law Offices of Christopher Dionisio, Attorney At Law , for a consultation today to discuss your case and get you the compensation you deserve.


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