Felony OVI
Felony OVI in Ohio
A felony OVI is not just a more serious version of a traffic case.
It is a criminal case with long-term consequences.
At this point, the state is no longer focused on correcting behavior. It is focused on punishment. Prison exposure, extended license suspensions, and permanent records are all on the table. This is where assumptions become dangerous.
This is also where early decisions matter most.
How an OVI Becomes a Felony
Most felony OVI charges are driven by history. Prior convictions. Prior refusals. Prior suspensions. The state counts back over specific time windows, and the math is not forgiving.
In some cases, the charge is elevated because of what happened during the stop or after the arrest. Injuries. Prior sanctions. Prior compliance issues.
The point is this. Felony OVI charges are not random. They are built step by step, often long before the current stop ever happened.
Understanding why the state charged a felony matters as much as understanding what they charged.
The Stakes Are Different
Felony cases operate under a different set of pressures.
Prosecutors are less flexible. Judges are more constrained. Sentencing ranges widen quickly. What might have been negotiable in a misdemeanor case is often treated as non-negotiable here.
License consequences are longer. Treatment requirements are heavier. Jail or prison exposure is real, not theoretical.
This is not the moment for damage control after the fact. Strategy has to start early.
How These Cases Are Defended
Felony OVI defense is not about denying reality. It is about forcing the state to prove every link in its chain.
That means scrutinizing the traffic stop. It means challenging how field sobriety tests were administered. It means examining chemical testing procedures, prior convictions, and the timing of prior offenses.
Small procedural failures matter more at this level, not less. When the penalties increase, the margin for error shrinks.
That is where leverage comes from.
How This Fits Into the Bigger Picture
Felony OVI cases do not exist in isolation. They are built on the same components as every other OVI case, just with more weight attached.
The stop still matters.
The testing still matters.
License suspension still matters.
Every part of the case feeds the outcome.
That is why these pages connect to Traffic Stops, Field Sobriety Tests, Chemical Tests, and License Suspension. The foundation does not change. The consequences do.
Getting Clear About What You Are Facing
If you are facing a felony OVI charge, guessing is not a strategy.
A focused review can clarify why the case was charged as a felony, what penalties are actually in play, and where pressure points exist. That clarity usually changes how the rest of the case unfolds.
If you are dealing with a felony OVI in Ohio, it is worth addressing directly.
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