If you are an Ohio motorist with more than one conviction for driving under the influence (DUI), or for operating a vehicle while impaired (OVI), the penalties for repeated DUI convictions are increasingly harsh. This is why it is particularly important to hire an experienced Cincinnati DUI attorney to represent you in connection with your arrest for a DUI offense. If you have been arrested for repeat DUIs in Cincinnati, contact attorney Brad Groene of Luftman, Heck & Associates, right away.
Ohio Law Relating to Repeat DUI Convictions
Ohio state law sets the level of punishment for a DUI/OVI conviction based on the number of previous DUI convictions a motorist has received. If a motorist is convicted of a DUI for the first time, the driver faces the potential of 3 days to 6 months in jail and a fine of $250 to $1,000, while the punishment for a second DUI conviction is 10 days to one year imprisonment and a fine of up to $1,500. For a third offense, the penalties are 30 days to one year in prison and a fine of up to $1,500, while for a fourth conviction the penalty for the DUI conviction is 60 days to one year of imprisonment and a fine of up to $10,000.
Enhanced Sentencing Laws for Repeat DUIs
If the offender has a history of five or more DUI convictions in the preceding 20 years, then Ohio’s Felony DUI rule kicks in. This mandates that additional prison time (on top of the one-year term of imprisonment that can be imposed for the underlying DUI offense) can be added to prison sentences for those who are convicted of repeat DUI’s. For example, for someone who is convicted of their fifth DUI conviction in 20 years, they can be sentenced to two years in prison, one year for the underlying fifth DUI offense and another year for violating Ohio’s Felony DUI rule. This rule was actually upheld as constitutional in March 2016 by the Ohio Supreme Court in a unanimous 7-0 ruling. The Ohio Supreme Court determined that the harsher penalties required under Ohio law for repeat DUI convictions did not violate constitutional equal protection principles.
If You Are Facing Repeat DUI Charges, Contact Attorney Brad Groene
If you have been arrested for a DUI in Cincinnati, contact attorney Brad Groene of Luftman, Heck & Associates, right away. Brad is a criminal defense attorney with extensive experience representing Ohio residents who have been arrested for DUIs. It is particularly important to have aggressive, competent representation with the harsher penalties that Ohio law imposes for repeat DUI convictions.
Call us today at (513) 338-1890 for a free and confidential consultation.
