North Royalton DUI

Located close to Cleveland, North Royalton offers proximity to a large metropolitan area but a suburban environment with a population of around 30,000 people. Overall, data suggest that there are relatively few incidents of fatal drunk driving crashes in North Royalton, compared to other cities in the area or throughout the country. However, DUI arrests and charges still can affect its residents. When a drunk driving arrest does occur, it is important for you to understand your legal rights. North Royalton DUI lawyer A. Dale Naticchia takes pride in assisting clients with every facet of the criminal process, including speaking with the authorities on your behalf and ensuring that you are treated fairly. He is ready to put his knowledge and experience to use for you.

If you are charged with a DUI, it is important to identify the penalties and fines that you may face. According to Ohio law, the criminal act of operating a vehicle intoxicated (OVI) is treated as a serious crime. For the first conviction, the court can sentence you to up to 180 days in jail and fine you $1,000. The charge also results in a first-degree misdemeanor conviction on your record. If the judge deems it necessary, he or she can include a requirement that you complete a rehabilitation program, community service, or the installation of an ignition interlock device in your vehicle. These devices are costly to install and can make it difficult to keep your DUI conviction discreet. If you are convicted of drunk driving for a second time within the same 10-year period, the fines and penalties increase. You face a mandatory jail sentence that can be increased to six months, as well as doubled fines and penalties, if your blood alcohol content was 0.17 or more. This makes it especially critical to consult a DUI attorney in the North Royalton area without delay.

If you were charged with an OVI, there are potentially many different ways that you can attack the charge to either have it dismissed or have it reduced. The judge may also be more lenient in determining your sentencing. One of the most important things to review when you are first facing a DUI charge is whether the police followed the requisite procedures and requirements when they initiated the traffic stop.

The police must have a reasonable suspicion that you are engaging in illegal activity before they can pull you over. If they do not have a reasonable suspicion, a North Royalton DUI attorney can make sure that any evidence obtained as a result of the stop is suppressed and will not be used against you. Also, it is important to review the procedures that the police used when administering a field sobriety test. If they did not follow the appropriate protocols, the charge could be dismissed because it is based on improper evidence. Reviewing the calibration and maintenance records for the breathalyzer device that was used to calculate your blood alcohol content is another way to potentially defeat a DUI charge. Obtaining all of this information and understanding which procedures the police are required to use can be daunting, especially when you are coping with the disruption that a DUI charge can cause in your life, such as a driver's license suspension. Let our experienced team assist you.

Just because you were charged with an OVI does not mean that you need to accept the consequences. There could be many ways that you can fight the charge and protect your legal rights. A. Dale Naticchia can work tenaciously to ensure that you are given the proper treatment that you deserve at each phase of the process. To schedule a free consultation, call us now at 216-520-5297 or contact us online