Drunk driving is a common cause of accidents with injuries and death in Ohio. To prevent that and to dissuade drivers from getting behind the wheel while under the influence, law enforcement is out in force to catch drivers who might be driving drunk. In some cases, the circumstances are unusual. Even if there is no auto accident, a drunk driving charge is serious and can result in severe penalties. Regardless of the situation, however, it is imperative for those who are arrested for drunk driving to understand the level of charges they face, the possible consequences and to do whatever they can to achieve a favorable result and avoid a conviction. Legal help is a must.
For example, a woman was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving with a child in her vehicle. Law enforcement spotted a Ford Escape speeding. The vehicle was reportedly going approximately 20-mph over the posted speed limit of 25-mph. When the officer spoke to the woman, she was said to have bloodshot eyes and slurred her words. The officer also allegedly smelled alcohol. On the floor of the vehicle was an open can of beer. There was a 2-year-old in the vehicle with her. She was given sobriety tests, which the officer said she had a problem completing.
A breathalyzer showed that her blood-alcohol concentration was 0.213 percent. That is almost triple the legal limit. Upon deeper investigation, it was discovered that the woman was scheduled to go to court that very day for a previous charge of operating a vehicle under the influence (OVI). She was arrested and faces charges of violating a driver’s license restriction, endangering a child, driving with an open container and speeding. The child was released to the father.
Any charge of OVI or drunk driving can be problematic in multiple ways, but when the driver had a child in the vehicle and was already heading for a court date on a prior OVI, it is even worse as the person’s situation is magnified. Although this appears to be a difficult case to defend, there are avenues to explore. Perhaps, a treatment program is warranted or there is a way to get an acquittal. In any case, it is crucial to have legal assistance from a law firm that helps those confronted with drunk driving charges. Calling for a consultation is the first step toward crafting a defense.
