OVI Third Offense Penalties in Columbus
6 points if convicted
In Ohio, an OVI conviction will stay on your record for the rest of your life unless it is properly defended. However, a defense attorney at Funkhouser Law can often plead the charges down to a lesser offense, lessen the penalties, or get the charges dismissed altogether if the arresting officer did not follow proper protocol. Call Funkhouser Law for peer-rated representation.
Any multiple prior OVI convictions within the last 10 years will result in the new offense being considered an unclassified misdemeanor, resulting in greater penalties imposed by the court. The penalties are outlined below:
When you are facing a third OVI in 10 years, the court and the prosecutor will usually assume that prior penalties did not work and that a harsher approach is needed. Judges in Franklin County and other Central Ohio courts often look closely at your record, your performance on probation, and whether you completed treatment before deciding what sentence to impose. We help clients understand the specific judge, court, and prosecutor involved so they can make informed choices about whether to negotiate a plea or take the case to trial.
Multiple OVI convictions can also affect areas of your life that are not obvious at first. You may face higher insurance premiums, difficulty renting a car, or problems with professional licensing and certain types of employment. For clients who drive for a living, including those with a commercial driver's license, a third conviction may be career-ending. We walk you through these collateral consequences at the beginning of the case so that the decisions you make about plea offers, treatment, and job planning fit your long-term goals, not just the immediate criminal case.
Call (614) 756-2154 today to set up a consultation, or contact us online to learn more.
How We Defend Third And Multiple OVI Cases
Defending a third OVI is very different from handling a first offense, and a methodical strategy is essential. We start by obtaining every piece of evidence available in your case, including dash-cam footage, body-cam recordings, police reports, and breath or blood test records from the arresting agency in the Columbus area. By comparing what the officer wrote with what is shown on video, we can often identify inconsistencies that may be important to challenging the stop, the field sobriety tests, or the decision to arrest in the first place.
We also look closely at the way prior convictions are being used to enhance the new charge. In some cases, an older conviction may be outside the look-back period or may not qualify because of how it was resolved. In others, the paperwork from a prior case in Franklin County Municipal Court, Delaware Municipal Court, or another local court may be incomplete or inaccurate. Carefully reviewing that record can sometimes reduce the level of the current offense or change the minimum penalties you face, which is critical when you are trying to decide whether to accept a plea or go to trial.
Administrative Requirements
Ignition interlock devices
- If the court determines that you need your license in order to get to work due to the hardship such a restriction would otherwise impose, the court may require an ignition interlock device, which requires you to breathe into a machine in order to start the car.
Treatment or assessments
- Alcohol and drug treatment programs at your own expense are mandatory.
Reinstatement fee = $450
In a third OVI case, the administrative side of the case often moves faster than the criminal case itself. You may be dealing with an immediate Administrative License Suspension from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles while your court dates in Columbus or the surrounding counties are still weeks away. We help clients understand how the ignition interlock requirement, restricted plates, and limited driving privileges fit together so they can keep working and caring for family while still complying with every court and BMV order.
These administrative requirements are separate from any jail or fines the judge may impose, but they are just as important to your day-to-day life. Many people are surprised to learn that missing a treatment session, driving a car without an interlock, or failing to pay the reinstatement fee on time can lead to additional suspensions or even new criminal charges. We work with clients to create a plan for transportation, treatment scheduling, and payment of fees so they can avoid new violations while we focus on defending the underlying OVI.
What To Expect If You Have Multiple OVI Convictions
People with two or more prior OVI convictions often worry most about what will happen at the first court appearance. In Central Ohio, you will usually appear in a municipal or county court such as Franklin County Municipal Court or Madison County Municipal Court within a few days of your arrest. At that hearing, the judge will review the charges, consider bond, and address your license status. We meet with you beforehand to explain the process so that you know what questions you may be asked and what decisions might need to be made on short notice.
As your case moves forward, the court will typically schedule pretrial conferences where your lawyer and the prosecutor discuss evidence, potential legal issues, and any plea offers. For clients with multiple prior OVIs, those discussions may include enhanced penalties such as longer jail terms, vehicle forfeiture, and extended license suspensions. We make sure you understand the full range of possible outcomes under Ohio law so that if a plea is offered you can weigh it against the risks and benefits of taking the case to trial in front of a jury.
Real Experiences from Our Clients
Dedicated to Your Defense
-
“I contacted Doug and he returned my call in a fast timely fashion, answering all my questions and making me feel confident about my case.”- J.E.
-
“So we were confused and disoriented but Mr. Funkhouser was really patient and highly professional every time we called or met with him.”- E.J.
-
“He saved me over $6,000 in fines and court costs.”- J.J.
-
“- Christy O.
Thank you Doug for your continued assistance with all of our business needs. Your personal contact and attentiveness to our requests are much appreciated. Your dedication and professionalism have truly been effective within all of our business and personal cases.
” -
“His character, experience, and work ethic make him an ideal Lawyer.”- Dan R.
-
“Now whenever someone needs legal services or advice, I immediately refer them to Doug Funkhouser because I know he will do a superb job of defending them.”- C.G.
-
“Doug met us at the courthouse and my anxiety went down another notch and it continued to go down and then was gone, knowing Doug was representing my son.”- E.F.
-
“For my family, we can count on him whether it is personal or corporate because he is no longer an attorney to our family business but a friend to our family.”- Luke S.
-
“We will always recommend Doug and wish him endless success and prosperity in every challenge he faces.”- LF & TF