DUI Felony

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What Constitutes a Felony DUI in Ohio?

June 9th, 2011

Ohio has enacted two “look-back” statutes which enhance the penalties for a DUI; a six year look-back and a twenty year look-back.  This post will focus on when a DUI becomes a felony.  For a complete list of penalties for DUI offenses check out my previous article OHIO OVI PENALTIES.

Six Year Look-Back

If you receive a second DUI six years from the conviction date of your first DUI, the penalties are enhanced.  Both a first and second DUI within a six year period are first degree misdemeanors which carry a maximum fine of $1,075.00 and a maximum incarceration of six (6) months.  A second DUI within six years is enhanced, meaning that the minimum number of incarceration days and the fine are heavier. R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(a) and (b).  A third offense within six years has even heavier fines and incarceration and carries a possibility of one year of incarceration, owing to the fact that a third offense is an unclassified misdemeanor. R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(c).  A DUI becomes a fourth degree felony if it is a fourth offense within six (6) years. R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(d).

Twenty Year Look-Back

A sixth or greater offense within a twenty year look-back period is a fourth degree felony. R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(d).  Another harsh provision under Ohio law is the “once a felony, always a felony” rule contained in R.C. 4511.19(G)(1)(e), meaning that any future DUI regardless of how many years have passed is charged as a third-degree felony.  This means that if you have many years of sobriety in between DUI convictions, you still face a felony rather than having your case treated as a first-in-six misdemeanor offense.

DUI defense attorneys have challenged the constitutionality of these look-back provisions on the grounds that they violated due process and that they are a retroactive application of laws.  In State v. Miccap, 2006-Ohio-2854 (Ohio Ct. App. 9th Dist, Summit County), the 9th District Court of Appeals rejected these arguments and upheld the enhanced punishments.  It stated that the penalties imposed were not enhancements punishing prior conduct, but punishing any violations that occur after enactment of the enhancement provision.  In State v. Brooke, 113 Ohio St.3d 199, 863 N.E.2d 1024 (2007), the court upheld the right of a defendant to challenge whether or not a prior conviction was conducted in accordance with the rule of law.  For a complete discussion of Attack on prior convictions, see Ohio Driving Under the Influence Law, Weiler & Weiler J., 2009-2010 ed., pp 333-335.

Charles M. Rowland II dedicates his practice to defending the accused drunk driver in the Miami Valley and throughout Ohio.  Contact Charles Rowland at (937)318-1384 [318-1DUI], 1-888-769-5263 [888-ROWLAND] or visit his web site at www.DaytonDUI.com or www.facebook.com/DaytonDUI or on Twitter @DaytonDUI.

“All I do is DUI.”

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Microbial Contamination of the Blood Draw

May 26th, 2011
Venipuncture using a vacutainer. Photo taken b...

With recent changes in Ohio OVI law, attorneys should expect more blood test cases.

Blood cases present the opportunity for multiple scientific defenses, but only if we recognize them and present them in a coherent manner before our judges.  Many of these scientific defenses can arise from problems in the blood draw.  If the blood draw is flawed microorganisms may contaminate the blood sample.  If this happens sugars (natrually present in the blood) can be converted into ethanol, resulting in a fasley high test.  Candida albicans is a yeast that lives on just about everything and is resistant to most preservatives.  In Lakatuka, D.J., “The Effect of Microbial Contamination of the Blood Sample on the Determination of Ethanol Levels in Serum,” 60 Am. J. Clin. Path. 700, 701-02, researchers found that candida albicans produced a much greater amount of ethanol than did other micro-organisms and this production was “not at all inhibited by flouride (a common preservative). Cited in Barone, Defending Drinking Drivers, Second Ed., at 243.2.1.2.

As a practical matter, DUI defense attorneys can recognize this issue when a client presents a fact pattern inconsistent with the test.  Often, you will have a client that has an incredibly high test, with little other evidence of gigantic consumption (clients keep your bar bills).  If your jurisdiction utilizes the Vertical Gaze Nystagmus as an indicator of “high doses” of alcohol intake, was it present?  If your case has a tape, is the performance on the standardized field sobriety tests consistent with the high test.  If so, an experienced DUI attorney can create a SCIENTIFIC DISCONNECT DEFENSE to fight your case – and win!

Ohio OVI attorney Charles M.  Rowland II has successfully suppressed blood tests from being presented as evidence by using his superior understanding of the blood draw issues.  He has attended the National College for DUI Defense 16th Annual Forensic DUI Sciences seminar and is the only attorney in the State of Ohio to hold a Forensic Sobriety Assessment certification.  If your DUI (now called OVI in Ohio) defense could benefit from a scientific defense, contact attorney Charles M. Rowland today at 937-318-1DUI (318-1384) or visit www.DaytonDUI.com.

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Aggravated Vehicular Assault and Vehicular Assault; R.C. 2903.08

April 22nd, 2011
Plaque commemorating the Northwest Ordinance o...

 

When someone is seriously injured in an accident that involves alcohol, it is a tragedy.  Charles M. Rowland II represents people charged with felony OVI offenses like Aggravated Vehicular Assault and Aggravated Vehicular Homicide throughout the State of Ohio.  You need someone who knows the science and is talented enough to assemble a team to win your case. “WIN THE SCIENCE/WIN THE LAW/WIN YOUR CASE!”  Below is the Ohio Revised Code Chapter defining the offense of Aggravated Vehicular Assault.  If you need an experienced DUI attorney to represent you, CONTACT CHARLES M. ROWLAND II today at 937-318-1DUI (318-1384), 1-888-ROWLAND (888-769-5263)

2903.08 – Aggravated vehicular assault; vehicular assault

(A) No person, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle, motorcycle, snowmobile, locomotive, watercraft, or aircraft, shall cause serious physical harm to another person or another’s unborn in any of the following ways:

(1)(a) As the proximate result of committing a violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance;

(b) As the proximate result of committing a violation of division (A) of section 1547.11 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance;

(c) As the proximate result of committing a violation of division (A)(3) of section 4561.15 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.

(2) In one of the following ways:

(a) As the proximate result of committing, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle or motorcycle in a construction zone, a reckless operation offense, provided that this division applies only if the person to whom the serious physical harm is caused or to whose unborn the serious physical harm is caused is in the construction zone at the time of the offender’s commission of the reckless operation offense in the construction zone and does not apply as described in division (E) of this section;

(b) Recklessly.

(3) As the proximate result of committing, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle or motorcycle in a construction zone, a speeding offense, provided that this division applies only if the person to whom the serious physical harm is caused or to whose unborn the serious physical harm is caused is in the construction zone at the time of the offender’s commission of the speeding offense in the construction zone and does not apply as described in division (E) of this section.

(B)(1) Whoever violates division (A)(1) of this section is guilty of aggravated vehicular assault. Except as otherwise provided in this division, aggravated vehicular assault is a felony of the third degree. Aggravated vehicular assault is a felony of the second degree if any of the following apply:

(a) At the time of the offense, the offender was driving under a suspension imposed under Chapter 4510. or any other provision of the Revised Code.

(b) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section.

(c) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense.

(d) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more prior violations of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance within the previous six years.

(e) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more prior violations of division (A) of section 1547.11 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance within the previous six years.

(f) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more prior violations of division (A)(3) of section 4561.15 of the Revised Code or of a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance within the previous six years.

(g) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more prior violations of any combination of the offenses listed in division (B)(1)(d), (e), or (f) of this section.

(h) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a second or subsequent felony violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code.

(2) In addition to any other sanctions imposed pursuant to division (B)(1) of this section, except as otherwise provided in this division, the court shall impose upon the offender a class three suspension of the offender’s driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(3) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code . If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section , any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense, or any traffic-related murder, felonious assault, or attempted murder offense, the court shall impose either a class two suspension of the offender’s driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(2) of that section or a class one suspension as specified in division (A)(1) of that section.

(C)(1) Whoever violates division (A)(2) or (3) of this section is guilty of vehicular assault and shall be punished as provided in divisions (C)(2) and (3) of this section.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this division, vehicular assault committed in violation of division (A)(2) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree. Vehicular assault committed in violation of division (A)(2) of this section is a felony of the third degree if, at the time of the offense, the offender was driving under a suspension imposed under Chapter 4510. or any other provision of the Revised Code, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense, or if, in the same course of conduct that resulted in the violation of division (A)(2) of this section, the offender also violated section 4549.02, 4549.021, or 4549.03 of the Revised Code.

In addition to any other sanctions imposed, the court shall impose upon the offender a class four suspension of the offender’s driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(4) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section , any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense, or any traffic-related murder, felonious assault, or attempted murder offense, a class three suspension of the offender’s driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(3) of that section.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this division, vehicular assault committed in violation of division (A)(3) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Vehicular assault committed in violation of division (A)(3) of this section is a felony of the fourth degree if, at the time of the offense, the offender was driving under a suspension imposed under Chapter 4510. or any other provision of the Revised Code or if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense.

In addition to any other sanctions imposed, the court shall impose upon the offender a class four suspension of the offender’s driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(4) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section , any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense, or any traffic-related murder, felonious assault, or attempted murder offense, a class three suspension of the offender’s driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(3) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code.

(D)(1) The court shall impose a mandatory prison term on an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (A)(1) of this section.

(2) The court shall impose a mandatory prison term on an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of division (A)(2) of this section or a felony violation of division (A)(3) of this section if either of the following applies:

(a) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or section 2903.06 of the Revised Code.

(b) At the time of the offense, the offender was driving under suspension under Chapter 4510. or any other provision of the Revised Code.

(3) The court shall impose a mandatory jail term of at least seven days on an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a misdemeanor violation of division (A)(3) of this section and may impose upon the offender a longer jail term as authorized pursuant to section 2929.24 of the Revised Code.

(E) Divisions (A)(2)(a) and (3) of this section do not apply in a particular construction zone unless signs of the type described in section 2903.081 of the Revised Code are erected in that construction zone in accordance with the guidelines and design specifications established by the director of transportation under section 5501.27 of the Revised Code. The failure to erect signs of the type described in section 2903.081 of the Revised Code in a particular construction zone in accordance with those guidelines and design specifications does not limit or affect the application of division (A)(1) or (2)(b) of this section in that construction zone or the prosecution of any person who violates either of those divisions in that construction zone.

(F) As used in this section:

(1) “Mandatory prison term” and “mandatory jail term” have the same meanings as in section 2929.01 of the Revised Code.

(2) “Traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense” and “traffic-related murder, felonious assault, or attempted murder offense” have the same meanings as in section 2903.06 of the Revised Code.

(3) “Construction zone” has the same meaning as in section 5501.27 of the Revised Code.

(4) “Reckless operation offense” and “speeding offense” have the same meanings as in section 2903.06 of the Revised Code.

(G) For the purposes of this section, when a penalty or suspension is enhanced because of a prior or current violation of a specified law or a prior or current specified offense, the reference to the violation of the specified law or the specified offense includes any violation of any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, former law of this state, or current or former law of another state or the United States.

Effective Date: 01-01-2004; 06-01-2004; 09-23-2004; 04-04-2007

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Boating Under the Influence in Ohio (BUI)

March 25th, 2011
A NYPD boat

Boating Under the Influence is illegal in Ohio. 2001 Sub. S.B. 123, eff. 1-1-04 sought to unify the drunk driving provisions with Ohio’s boating laws.   O.R.C. 1547.11(A)(1)  to O.R.C. 1547.11(A)(6) prohibit a person from operating or being in physical control of a vessel underway or manipulating water skis, aquaplanes, or similar devices while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

O.R.C. 1547.11(A)(1) is the impairment provision of the law, preventing operation or physical control while under the influence.  The law also has a provision preventing operation with a prohibited level of alcohol which it sets at the same prohibited level (.08) as the DUI/OVI law.  Unlike the DUI/OVI law, there are no high-tier provisions which apply to boating. A third section of the law prohibits operation or physical control with a concentration of certain controlled substances (marijuana, cocaine, amphetamine, et al.) or metabolites of the same.  This section of the law is identical to the DUI-drug provisions found in O.R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(j).

Subsequent amendments to the law, 2007 Am. Sub. S.B. 17, eff. 9-30-08, allows for forced blood draws for persons with two or BUI offenses.  A BUI offense can be used to enhance a subsequent DUI/OVI  offense. O.R.C. 4511.181(A)(6)-(7).  Some important differences in Ohio’s BUI law, stem from the fact that Ohio does not require an operator’s license to operate a watercraft.  Therefore, no administrative license suspension provisions are in the law.  Instead, the chief of the Division of Watercraft gives written notice that you are prevented from operating or being in physical control of a watercraft (or from registering a watercraft) for one year from the date of the alleged violation.  Another key difference is that a fourth or subsequent BUI offense is not subject to felony enhancement.

Penalties for Boating Under the Influence offenses are set forth at O.R.C. 1547.99 and are similar to those provided for DUI/OVI offenses.  Boating Under the Influence is a first degree misdemeanor and is subject to a minimum 3-day jail sentence and a maximum 6 months in jail.  The 3-day jail sentence can be served in a qualified driver intervention program.  The minimum mandatory fine for a first BUI offense is $150.  A second offense within 6 years carries a mandatory 10 day jail sentence, but the minimum mandatory fine is still $150.  A third offense requires a minimum of 30 days in jail.  NOTE: The Ohio legislature is constantly “tweaking” the Ohio DUI and BUI laws, so please check with an attorney as these laws may have changed. This posting was written on 9-24-10.

Contact Charles Rowland by phone at 937-318-1DUI (937-318-1384), 937-879-9542, or toll-free at 1-888-ROWLAND (1-888-769-5263). For after-hours help contact our 24/7 DUI HOTLINE at 937-776-2671.For information about Dayton DUI sent directly to your mobile device, text DaytonDUI (one word) to 50500.  Follow DaytonDUI on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/DaytonDUI or Get Twitter updates via SMS by texting follow DaytonDUI to 40404. DaytonDUI is also available on Facebook and you can access updates by becoming a fan of Dayton DUI/OVI Defense.  You can also email Charles Rowland at: CharlesRowland@CharlesRowland.com or write to us at 2190 Gateway Dr., Fairborn, Ohio 45324.

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Ohio OVI Law: Impairment by Drugs of Abuse

March 15th, 2011
Various prescription and street drugs may caus...
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Ohio Revised Code 4511.19(A)(1)(j) prohibits the operation of a vehicle under the influence of any of the following controlled substances: amphetamine, cocaine, cocaine metabolite, heroin, heroin metabolite (6-monoacetyl morphine), L.S.D., marijuana, marijuana metabolite, methamphetamine, phencyclidine, salvia divinorum, or salvinorin A.  The statute sets forth statutorily prohibited concentrations of each of the drugs set forth above.  For impairment purposes, “drugs of abuse” is defined  as set forth in Ohio Revised Code 3719.01 which includes not only illegal drugs and/or controlled substances  but also includes harmful intoxicants under Ohio Revised Code 2925.01(I) and dangerous drugs under Ohio Revised Code 4729.01(F).

If you are stopped on suspicion of OVI (operating a vehicle while impaired) due to suspected drug use, contact Ohio OVI attorney Charles M. Rowland II today at 937-318-1DUI (318-1384) or 1-888-ROWLAND (888-769-5263) or text DaytonDUI (one word) to 50500.  You can also stay on top of developments in Ohio drug and alcohol law by “liking” Dayton DUI/OVI Defense on Facebook or by following @DaytonDUI on Twitter.

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