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OVI Defense
Overview

OVI Defense in Ohio

An OVI charge is serious. The penalties can hit fast and hard. We step in early to protect your rights and future.

Effective OVI defense is not about shortcuts. We focus on strategy. That means questioning the initial stop, field sobriety tests, and the methods and procedures of chemical testing, and exposing flaws where the state's story falls short.

Every case has weaknesses. We identify and use those weaknesses to improve your position at every stage.

How OVI Cases Are Built

Most OVI cases follow a similar path.

An officer initiates a stop or encounter, makes observations, asks questions, and may conduct field sobriety tests. Based on those observations, the officer may request a breath, blood, or urine test, or record a refusal. Charges and license consequences then follow.

That process can feel fast and confusing, especially in the moment. What matters later is whether each step was done lawfully and correctly.

OVI defense is not about arguing everything for the sake of arguing. It is about carefully looking at how the evidence was created and whether it actually supports what the state claims it does.

Where OVI Cases Commonly Break Down

OVI cases are built in pieces. When one piece is weak, the entire case can shift.

Traffic Stops

An officer must have a valid reason to initiate a traffic stop. Sometimes that reason does not hold up when examined closely. If the stop itself was improper, everything that follows may be open to challenge.

Field Sobriety Tests

Field sobriety tests are often treated as scientific, but they are not. They rely heavily on an officer’s interpretation and are affected by anxiety, injuries, fatigue, balance issues, and medical conditions. Many people perform poorly even when they are not impaired.

Chemical Testing

Breath, blood, and urine tests are governed by detailed rules. Machines must be properly maintained. Procedures must be followed. Timing matters. Small mistakes can have large consequences, and those details often decide how strong a case really is.

Refusals and License Suspensions

Refusing a test carries immediate penalties, but it also limits the evidence available to the state. These situations are rarely as simple as they appear and should be evaluated based on the full context, not just the label of “refusal.”

Each of these areas deserves careful attention, not assumptions.

When Legal Guidance Matters Most

Most OVI cases turn on a small number of early moments.

How the stop started. What testing was done. What was said. What paperwork was issued. Those details tend to shape everything that comes after, even if they do not feel important at the time.

That is usually when it makes sense to talk things through. Not to rush decisions or map out an entire case, but to understand what actually happened and how it fits into the process. Once that picture is clear, the rest tends to fall into place.

Talking Through Your Situation

Every OVI case is different. The facts matter. The timing matters. The details matter.

A consultation is a chance to talk through what happened, ask questions, and understand how the process applies to your situation. No scripts. No pressure. Just a clear conversation about where things stand and what comes next.

Talk to an OVI attorney

OVI Index

Locations We Serve

What Judges Look for When Evaluating OVI Evidence

Direct Answer Judges evaluating OVI evidence in Ohio are not deciding whether an officer believed impairment existed. They are deciding whether the evidence was gathered lawfully, documented accurately, and supported by objective facts rather than assumptions. The focus is on process, not conclusions. That distinction matters because OVI cases often turn on how evidence was obtained, not on how confidently it is described. What Ohio Law Actually Says Ohio law requires that OV

OVI Defense

When OVI Evidence Can Be Excluded at Trial

Direct Answer OVI evidence can be excluded at trial in Ohio when it was obtained in violation of constitutional rules, statutory requirements, or required testing standards. If key evidence is suppressed, the State may be unable to prove the charge. Exclusion depends on how the evidence was gathered, documented, and preserved. What Ohio Law Actually Says Ohio courts do not admit evidence simply because it exists. Evidence must be lawfully obtained and properly handled. This i

OVI Defense

Does Weather or Road Conditions Affect Field Sobriety Tests in Ohio?

Direct Answer Yes. Weather and road conditions can directly affect the reliability of field sobriety tests in Ohio. Poor lighting, uneven pavement, rain, wind, snow, or ice can interfere with a person’s ability to perform standardized tests as instructed, even when the person is not impaired. That matters because these tests are often treated as indicators of impairment, even though they assume ideal testing conditions that frequently do not exist. What Ohio Law Actually Says

OVI Defense

Is a Traffic Violation Enough to Justify an OVI Arrest?

Direct Answer No, a traffic violation alone does not justify an OVI arrest in Ohio . The violation explains why a vehicle was stopped, not why a driver was arrested. An arrest requires separate, articulable facts showing impairment. This matters because many OVI cases begin with a routine stop. The legality of what follows depends on what the officer develops after that stop, not on the violation itself. What Ohio Law Actually Says Ohio law draws a clear line between a traffi

OVI Defense

HARMONY LAW

OVI Defense
Overview

OVI Defense in Ohio

How OVI Cases Are Built