Articles Tagged with OVI

Expert-witness-report-300x200In DUI cases (called ‘OVI’ in Ohio), a defendant’s blood or urine sample may be tested by a crime lab to determine the concentration of alcohol and/or drugs in the sample.  In court, a lab analyst testifies regarding the blood or urine testing and the results of the test.  But what if the analyst testifying is not the analyst who conducted the test?  The recent case of Smith v. Arizona addressed whether this violates the defendant’s right to confront witnesses.

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Refuse-Blood-Test-300x202

When an officer arrests a driver for DUI (called ‘OVI’ in Ohio), the officer typically requests that the driver consent to a blood, breath, or urine test.  However, a statute in the Ohio Revised Code (section 4511.191) says a driver arrested for OVI implicitly consents to those tests.  Can a driver arrested for OVI revoke that consent?  This question has not been directly addressed in Ohio but was recently answered by the Supreme Court of Colorado.

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Portable-Breath-Test-300x200The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) recently implemented a policy of administering a breath alcohol test to every driver stopped for a traffic offense.  Even if the stop is for a minor violation, and even if the officer has no suspicion the driver is under the influence, the driver must submit to a breath test.  Refusing the test is a criminal offense.  Could this happen in Ohio?

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Toothbrush-300x185You probably have heard of the Breathalyzer, but probably not the Brushalyser.  Now you have.  The Brushalyser is at the intersection of oral hygiene and traffic safety:  it’s a toothbrush which doubles as a portable breath alcohol test.  But should you rely on your toothbrush to determine whether it’s safe for you to drive?

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Glycemic-Index-300x200There are situations in which a law enforcement officer observes signs which appear to be symptoms of alcohol intoxication but are actually symptoms of a medical condition.  One of those situations is when a driver is experiencing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).  The symptoms of hypoglycemia are nearly identical to the symptoms of alcohol intoxication.  A driver experiencing a hypoglycemic event at the time of an OVI investigation has a legitimate defense to the charge of DUI (called ‘OVI’ in Ohio).

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Beer-Truck-300x200A truck driver hauling 43,000 pounds of beer was charged with DUI (called ‘OVI’ in Ohio).  According to KRCR TV, the driver’s blood alcohol content was ‘over the limit’ for both commercial drivers and non-commercial drivers.  While the irony of a beer deliverer being charged with DUI may sound comical, a commercial driver would find nothing funny about being charged with OVI.  For holders of a commercial driver’s license (CDL), the rules related to OVI are strict, and the consequences are severe.

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Driver-on-Phone-300x200A recent study by Lending Tree addressed the generational differences in bad driving.  The study analyzed the rates of driving incidents in four categories among five generations:  Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X, Baby Boomers, and the Silent Generation.  The study report explains Generation Z has the worst rates among all generations for all categories.

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OVI-Related-Suspensions-300x207I came across an article about a pending bill in South Dakota which proposes expanding the scope of driving privileges for people convicted of DUI (called ‘OVI in Ohio).  It reminded me that, in Ohio, driving privileges related to OVI are often misunderstood.  This article clarifies Ohio law regarding limited driving privileges and describes how driving privileges work in practice.

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Gun-in-Car-300x210Muhammad Wilkerson, former defensive end for the New York Jets, was arrested for Operating a Vehicle under the Influence and Unlawful Possession of a Loaded handgun.  Wilkerson’s arrest occurred in New Jersey.  If Wilkerson were arrested for these offenses in Ohio, he would be charged with OVI and Improperly Handling Firearms in a Motor Vehicle.  This article describes the elements, court process, and potential penalties for these offenses in Ohio.

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Drive-Sober-300x156Christmas and New Year’s Eve are the most-celebrated holidays in the United States.  During the winter holiday season, people attend more work parties, family functions, and other social events than any other time of the year.  After attending those events, people need a way to get home.  Most of them drive, and some of them drive under the influence.  The government knows this, so DUI (called ‘OVI’ in Ohio) enforcement is intensified during this time of the year.

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