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Ohio DUI Law: Crossing Jurisdictional Lines

February 16th, 2012

 

Jukebox in Glopheim café, Norway.

THE FACTS: Suppose a person sits at a bar in Richmond, Indiana listening to John Mellencamp on the juke box and drinks to a point where he exceed the .08% BAC limit in Indiana.  The person then gets in his car and drives from Richmond, Indiana into Ohio.  While in Ohio and still in excess of the .08% BAC limit he drives through Eaton, Preble County, Ohio.  Leaving Enon, the driver is noticed by a citizen who alerts the Enon Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol about erratic driving and “Jack & Diane” being played very loudly in violation of the municipal noise ordinance.  Near the Preble County boarder the defendant is intercepted by a trooper who follows him all the way to the Oregon District in Dayton, Ohio.  While listening to “I Fight Authority,” the driver is arrested for Operating a Vehicle Impaired and is summoned to appear in the Dayton Municipal Court.  He also receives summons to appear in Enon Municipal Court (Preble County) and a summons to appear in the court in Indiana.  According to Ohio law where can the defendant be tried?

The Defendant may argue that he was first drunk in Indiana.  Since he was charged in Indiana he argues he cannot be tried for OVI in Ohio.  Ohio disagrees.  In State v. Smith (1991), 61 Ohio Misc. 2d 165, Ohio asserted the right to try a defendant irrespective of whether or not a similar charge exists in another state.  This makes sense from a public policy standpoint as it is the job of Ohio judges to protect Ohio citizens from the harm of criminal conduct.

The only good news for our defendant is that he cannot be tried in both Enon Municipal Court and the Dayton Municipal Court.  Why?  In State v. Anderson (1989), 57 Ohio App. 3d 108 the court held,  ”[t]he Double Jeopardy Clauses of the United States and Ohio Constitutions forbid the prosecution of a defendant for drunk driving by a political subdivision when that defendant has already been placed in jeopardy by another political subdivision of the same state for the same offense, stemming from the same underlying course of conduct.”

DUI attorney Charles M. Rowland II dedicates his practice to defending the accused drunk driver in Fairborn, Dayton, Springfield, Kettering, Vandalia, Xenia, Miamisburg, Springboro, Huber Heights, Oakwood, Beavercreek, Centerville and throughout Ohio.  He has the credentials and the experience to win your case and has made himself the Miami Valley’s choice for DUI defense.  Contact Charles Rowland by phone at 937-318-1DUI (937-318-1384), 937-879-9542, or toll-free at 1-888-ROWLAND (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 @DaytonDUI or Get Twitter updates via SMS by texting DaytonDUI to 40404. DaytonDUI is also available on Facebook and on the DaytonDUI channel on YouTube.  You can also email Charles Rowland at: CharlesRowland@DaytonDUI.com or write to us at 2190 Gateway Dr., Fairborn, Ohio 45324. “All I do is DUI”

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Posted in DUI Case Law, DUI Out-of-State

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Huber Heights DUI Cases Are Heard In The Montgomery County Municipal Court (Eastern Division)

February 2nd, 2012
Huber Heights welcome sign with the phrase,

Does Huber Heights, Ohio Have It’s Own Municipal Court?

If you are arrested for misdemeanor DUI / OVI in Huber Heights your case will be heard in the Montgomery County Municipal Court, Eastern Division (formerly the Montgomery County Area II Court).   Many refer to Area II as the Huber Heights Municipal Court, but the court’s jurisdiction is larger, covering regions in north-east Montgomery County including the city of Riverside, Ohio.  The Montgomery County Area Two Court is located at 6111 Taylorsville Rd., Huber Heights, OH 45424-2951.  You can contact the court’s Traffic/Criminal Division at  (937) 496-7231, the Civil Division at (937) 225-5824 and you can fax information to (937) 496-7236.

Charles M. Rowland II appears regularly in the Montgomery County Area Two Court (Huber Heights Municipal Court) and has established a Huber Heights DUI information page at www.HuberHeightsDUI.com.  If you need an aggressive and experienced Huber Heights DUI lawyer, contact Charles M. Rowland II at 937-318-1DUI (318-1384) today.

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Posted in Huber Heights DUI

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Arrested for OVI in Vandalia?

January 30th, 2012

Vandalia Municipal Court’s jurisdiction serves approximately 83.5 square miles, which includes the Cities of Vandalia, Englewood, Clayton, Union and the Townships of Harrison and Butler, located in the Montgomery County, Ohio.  The Court is located on the 2nd floor of the Justice Center at 245 James E. Bohanan Memorial Drive, Vandalia, Ohio. The Court operates Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  The honorable Cynthia M. Heck is the elected judge of the Vandalia Municipal Court and will preside over your case.  You may also appear before the Vandalia Municipal Court Magistrates: Bonnie Beaman Rice and Fred M. Izenson.  Listed below is some very helpful links to the Vandalia Municipal Court.

  • To visit the Vandalia Municipal Court’s useful and informative website, please click HERE.
  • For Court Contact Information visit HERE.
  • Court Rules are located HERE.
  • You can make a payment to the court HERE.
  • Look up Public Records (Case Look-up) HERE.
  • Learn more about the Court’s Probation Department HERE.
  • Access Court Forms HERE.

Charles M. Rowland II has represented clients in the Vandalia Municipal Court for over fifteen (15) years.  He limits his practice to DUI defense and stays on the cutting edge of DUI forensic science and the tactics necessary to defend your case.  If you wish to contact a DUI attorney who can represent you in the Vandalia Municipal Court, CONTACT Vandalia DUI attorney Charles M. Rowland immediately at (937) 318-1DUI [318-1384] or 1-888-ROWLAND [888-769-5263].  You can also connect at www.facebook.com/daytondui or on Twitter @DaytonDUI.  Sign up for text alerts on Dayton DUI topics at this blog or text DaytonDUI (one word) to 50500 for instantaneous contact information.  ”All I do is DUI defense.”

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Posted in Clayton DUI, Vandalia DUI Attorney

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Forensic Blood Tests: Whole Blood vs. Serum/Plasma

January 10th, 2012

English: Bags of blood collected during donati...Ohio Administrative Code 3701-53-03(A) sets forth the techniques and methods for determining the concentration of alcohol in blood, urine and other bodily substances.  Pursuant to that rule, Ohio allows for testing including gas chromatography and enzyme assays.  To challenge a blood test, it is important to know if the State has tested the blood as whole blood or as serum/plasma.  Operation with a concentration of alcohol is prohibited if the concentration in whole blood is equal to or exceeds .08%, R.C. 4511.19(A)(1)(b).  However, the prohibited concentration for whole blood is a concentration equal to or exceeding .096%, R.C.4511.19(A)(1)(c).  The high teir (super-OVI) standard for whole blood is greater than .17% and the prohibited level for blood serum or plasma is greater than .204%.  If your attorney does not understand the difference between a whole blood and a serum/plasma test, he or she may give incorrect advise based on an incorrect assumption.  Secondly, studies suggest that plasma and serum tests can be 16 to 21 percent higher than whole blood tests (Taylor, 2000; Fitzgerald, 1999).  If the report that you receive from the Crime Lab does not specify whether whole blood or serum was tested, consider making a request for independent testing of the sample.

The Ohio rules for collection of blood specimens are set forth at Ohio Administrative Code 3701-53-05.  In State v. Meyers, 146 Ohio App.3d 563, 2001-Ohio-2282 (3d Dist. Allen County 2001), the court allowed the state to use a blood tests that were taken for diagnostic and treatment purposes so long as the tests are in compliance with the OAC regulations.  In State v. Gordon, 2002-Ohio-2140 (Ohio Ct. App. 8th Dist Cuyahoga County 2002) the Eight District Court of Appeals upheld the suppression of a blood draw when the State’s toxicologist did not testify regarding the conversion of the serum alcohol content to a whole blood concentration, nor did the toxicologist testify as to any laboratory procedures for testing blood serum content and converting the results to that of whole blood. See Weiler & Weiler, Ohio Driving Under the Influence, pp. 195-201.

DUI attorney Charles M. Rowland II dedicates his practice to defending the accused drunk driver in Dayton and throughout the Miami Valley.  He has the credentials and the experience to win your case and has made himself the Miami Valley’s choice for DUI defense.  Contact Charles Rowland by phone at 937-318-1DUI (937-318-1384), 937-879-9542, or toll-free at 1-888-ROWLAND (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@DaytonDUI or Get Twitter updates via SMS by texting DaytonDUI to 40404. DaytonDUI is also available on Facebook, www.facebook.com/daytondui and on the DaytonDUI channel on YouTube.  You can also email Charles Rowland at: CharlesRowland@DaytonDUI.com or write to us at 2190 Gateway Dr., Fairborn, Ohio 45324.

 

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Posted in Blood & Urine Tests

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Should I Blow?

December 23rd, 2011

Under What Circumstances Should I Take A Breath Test?

To blow or not to blow, that is the question.  Unfortunately, the answer is “maybe” and involves a very complicated investigation of the facts of your case and your personal history.  You should NEVER refuse the test without understanding how a refusal would affect YOU.  No attorney can know all of the circumstances of your arrest and your personal history, always ask to speak to an attorney when making this decision.

Can you answer “TRUE” to ALL of the following questions? If so, you can politely DECLINE any police test(s) of your blood, breath, or urine with minimum impact.  Be prepared and know your rights.

a. I am an Ohio license holder, 21 years or older; AND

b. I was not involved in an accident involving possible death or to serious injury to ANYBODY, even members of my family, pedestrians or passengers; AND

c. I do not have a commercial driver’s license (CDL); AND

d. No matter where I currently have a license to drive, I have had no prior drunk driving convictions or deferred pleas for DUI in ANY state within 6 years (from the date of conviction until now).

Refusing a chemical test can result in harsh penalties which includes a one-year license suspension, but your attorney can fight to get this reduced.  In some courts your refusal may be held strictly against you and in others you may be able to get a reduced suspension despite your refusal.  In State v. Hill, 2009-Ohio-2468, the Appellate Court upheld the right of a trial court to enhance a penalty based on a refusal to take the chemical test. In most circumstances, a refusal to take a chemical test will result in a longer hard-time suspension (30 days rather than 15 days without any driving privileges). [see the Automatic License Suspension section of this blog].  You should also engage in an honest assessment of your alcohol consumption. If you risk testing over Ohio’s “super-OVI” threshold (over a .17% BAC) you may do harm by taking the test.  Take these factors into account when making your decision to blow or not to blow.

Any criminal defense attorney would rather have less evidence against you rather than more, but giving blanket advice to refuse the chemical test is a mistake.  Be prepared to make the best decision for you.  You can also plan ahead by storing my contact information in your smart phone: (937)776-2671.

 

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.Immediate help is available by filling out the CONTACT form on any of these pages.  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@DaytonDUI.com or write to us at 2190 Gateway Dr., Fairborn, Ohio 45324.

 

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Posted in Breath Testing

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