Is Driving Under the Influence a Criminal Offense?
Ohio considers driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs a traffic offense, however, the penalties involved make it seem more like a criminal offense.A DUI/OVI is typically a high-level misdemeanor, but a felony case may result from a repeat offense or an offense that is related to a crash in which other people were injured or killed.
The language of each state’s DUI statute differs, as do the penalties for first, second, and subsequent offenses. Make no mistake; Being arrested for, charged with, and convicted of DUI will create many of the same problems as committing a crime like theft or assault.
Know Your Terms
The alleged criminal offense of DUI goes by many names. In Columbus, Ohio, where I practice as a criminal and traffic attorney, the legal term for driving under the infl...