Being charged with a DUI (aka “OVI”) isn’t on anyone’s bucket list. But it’s important to be smart about how you approach the situation once you’ve been charged. A DUI license suspension can cause all sorts of issues in a person’s life, so if it’s possible to help you keep your license, we obviously want to do everything in our power to do so. 

The first thing that anyone charged with a DUI should do is secure legal representation. That’s crucial. Secondarily, it does help to have an understanding of the upcoming proceedings and potential consequences in front of you. Your lawyer will be able to help you understand this, but it never hurts to do some of your own research and ask questions from an informed place. Here are five facts to be aware of as you navigate your DUI charge and potential license suspension.

The Minimum DUI License Suspension is 1 Year

If convicted of your first DUI, the penalties will include a minimum of one year on a suspended driver’s license. If you’re in college, this can affect your ability to make it to class (not to mention your eligibility for continued enrollment).    

It’s Possible to Reduce Your Charges

One of my initial goals as an OVI lawyer is to identify any ways in which your arresting officer may have acted outside the scope of their duty. Should the judge agree that the officer acted incorrectly, then your DUI charge can be bumped down to a reckless operation or physical control charge. The consequences of one of these charges are significantly preferable to those of a DUI and may result in a more lenient license revocation.  

We Can Reduce the Suspension Length

A trained DUI lawyer can negotiate the suspension duration but you need to move quickly. Due to the time constraints mentioned in the previous link, it’s imperative that you reach out to a lawyer ASAP.    

We Can File For Driving Privileges to Keep You Working

A DUI license suspension can affect just about every area of your life, including your ability to make a living. If you have a daily commute to your job, our office will file papers to ensure that you can retain those driving privileges.   

You May Have to Purchase “Party Plates”

Ohio is one of a few states with special plates for those convicted of drunk driving. Not everyone who is convicted of a DUI will be required to purchase and display them, but if your lawyer gets you driving privileges, you might. A good lawyer will do everything they can to avoid “party plates” if your case goes to sentencing.

More Questions About a DUI Charge?

Refer to our FAQ page for further information or schedule a free consultation today. There are many strategies and recourses we can explore to reduce your DUI license suspension penalties, so please do not approach your future with poor representation. 

Grant Carpenter Law, LLC is here to protect your rights. Get judgement-free, effective counsel that will fight tooth and nail for your rights. Call us today.

With Pride Month in full swing, we come together to celebrate love and unity in its various forms. As a lawyer, I have a special place in my heart for the LGBTQ+ community. We still have a long way to go societally to do right by this community, but it’s worth celebrating the encouraging progress made so far in the struggle to secure LGBTQ+ rights and anti-discrimination law.       

Our legal system is set up to protect our rights as human beings and yes, as Americans. It’s built on ideals like full equality and excellent representation, but as we know, this isn’t always the case in practice. Sadly, my beloved Ohio is one of 27 states without LGBTQ nondiscrimination protections. 

There are events that make it clear we’re taking steps in the right direction though — even if we take a few backwards at times. Here are some positive outcomes we’ve seen in recent history.     

Hamilton County’s First LGBTQ Sheriff 

The story of Charmaine McGuffey’s primary win reads like a comeback sports movie. While working in the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office in 2017, McGuffey was allegedly the subject of a discriminatory report and subsequently fired. Three years later, she gained 70% of the vote to defeat the very man who fired her. A few months later, she became Hamilton County’s first LGBT sheriff as well as the county’s first woman to ever hold the position. 

McGuffey settled a suit against the county in late 2020 when the judge ordered Hamilton county to pay out $474,999 in costs, fees, and McGuffey’s lost wages and benefits.

Legal Victories For LGBTQ Youth

Lambda Legal has a long list of LGBTQ discrimination suits and victories for LGBT youth and their allies. One of these wins came in Couch v. Wayne Local School District in Ohio. In this case, a student was threatened with expulsion for wearing a shirt that read, “Jesus Is Not a Homophobe.” The child, with the help of his LGBTQ-friendly counsel, was able to win the lawsuit, earning him “the right to wear the shirt whenever he wants, and awarding him $20,000 for damages, costs, and attorney’s fees.”      

Questions About LGBTQ Law or Anti-Discrimination Law?

As we work toward a more egalitarian tomorrow, we must each recognize that the failure to uphold rights for one person or group means the failure of the whole.

As an LGBTQ-friendly lawyer, I treat everyone with the respect and compassion they deserve. If you believe you’ve been discriminated against, do not hesitate to schedule a free consultation with me. Because anti-discrimination law exists for a reason, and you deserve better.

Happy Pride.

If you or someone you know has been accused of a crime, you may have heard the term “preliminary court hearing” thrown around. So what is the purpose of a preliminary hearing? If you’re wondering what the prelim hearing entails and what to expect, or if you’re simply curious about whether it makes sense to waive the right to a hearing, keep reading.     

What is a Preliminary Hearing? 

Once a person is charged with a criminal offense, the court will set an arraignment date. On this date, the court will inform the defendant of the criminal charges they face, and they will enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.

In a felony case, the defendant is entitled to a preliminary hearing within ten days of their arrest. This preliminary hearing is conducted in open court and requires the prosecutor to prove the offenses to a level of probable cause.

What Happens at a Preliminary Hearing?

At a prelim, witnesses are called, cross-examination takes place, and either side may present evidence to the judge or magistrate in order to convince the court that probable cause does or does not exist, depending. If the prosecution cannot establish probable cause, the judge will then dismiss the criminal charges and the defendant will be released from jail. If the judge finds that probable cause does exist, then the case will be set for a pre-trial conference. At the pre-trial conference, the defense attorney and prosecutor will discuss the case to see if both parties have reached an agreement. If not, the judge/magistrate will set the case for trial. 

What is a Waiver of Preliminary Hearing?

A waiver of preliminary hearing is essentially what it sounds like. According to the US Courts, this is a document that certifies three things: 

1.) The defendant is aware they have been charged with a crime.

2.) The defendant has been informed about their right to a preliminary court hearing.

3.) The defendant is electing to forego that right.     

When Might I Use a Waiver of Preliminary Hearing?

NOLO sheds some light on a few of the instances in which it might make sense to submit a waiver of preliminary hearing:  

• You expect to enter a guilty plea at trial
• You fear more evidence will come out against you in the prelim
• You need to keep the prosecution’s witnesses loose
• You want to try and avoid certain testimonies
• You want to delay discussion and file continuances 

A qualified lawyer can help you determine the best course of action. If you do not retain counsel in a criminal case, you run the extremely high risk of being severely underprepared for a dogged prosecution.  

What Can Our Criminal Defense Office Do For You?

At Grant Carpenter Law, LLC, we work with the prosecutor’s office in an aggressive manner to protect our client’s rights. We will keep you informed of the conversations that we have with the prosecutor’s office to keep you up to date with the status of the case. When a prosecutor makes a plea offer, we will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the case, balance this with the plea offer, and take the case to trial if we do not reach an agreement with the prosecutor.

Questions About an Upcoming Preliminary Court Hearing?

The legal process is full of subtleties and complexities that make it daunting. If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to reach out for a free consultation. Remember, whether you hire our law office or another, you should always retain some form of experienced legal counsel in a criminal case.