When you have been accused of drugged driving in Summit County, it is crucial to take steps to clear your name or resolve the matter in the best possible way. Contact an experienced Akron drugged driving attorney at Erb Legal ASAP. Schedule your free, confidential consultation at (330) 359-1986.
We’ll discuss the drugged driving charges and your available options.
Wesley is regarded as one of the fiercest defense attorneys in Northeast Ohio.
View Firm AwardsThe crime, “operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs” (OVID), can be filed if you have any quantity of drugs in your urine or blood that exceeds the legal limits under Ohio Revised Code 4511.19.
Just like an OVI involving alcohol, the police may place you under arrest when they observe behaviors that may be signs of impairment, such as failing to use a turn signal, speeding, weaving in and out of traffic, and failing to pass field sobriety tests. Even if the quantity of drugs in your system does not exceed the legal limits, you can still be charged with OVID.
The penalties you face for OVID will vary depending on whether it was a misdemeanor or a felony. Misdemeanor OVID charges often occur with first-time offenders and those who did not cause serious bodily injury.
However, if you have a history of drugged driving convictions or someone was seriously injured, you could reasonably face felony drugged driving charges.
As a first degree misdemeanor, an OVID requires:
Still a first-degree misdemeanor, there is:
For this higher-level misdemeanor, there are:
Now with a fourth- or fifth-degree felony, there is:
Raised to a third-degree felony, there is:
The collateral consequences of a drugged driving conviction in Ohio include:
It can also include a lot more consequences, which is why you must get help from an Akron drugged driving attorney. An attorney can help you prepare a powerful defense or explore your defense options.
If you have been charged with drugged driving in Akron, you may be able to work out a plea agreement with the state’s prosecuting attorney. Many pretrial diversion programs are available to first-time, non-violent offenders. If this is your first time being charged with a crime of any kind, and no one was seriously injured, the state may be more willing to allow you to enter into a pretrial diversion program.
Here, once you complete the terms of the program, the charges against you can be reduced or dismissed entirely, leaving you with no criminal record. However, if you are a habitual drugged driving offender or have a long history of criminal offenses, you may not be eligible for pretrial diversion programs. Instead, working out a powerful defense strategy may be a better option for your case.
Sometimes, presenting a solid defense can help you avoid a conviction. For drugged driving cases, several defenses are used more frequently than others. Some of the more common defenses against drugged and drunk driving in Akron include:
When you’ve been accused of drugged driving in Akron, you may be feeling worried about your future. Here are some of the top resources available for individuals facing drugged driving charges across Summit County.
To start, here are some of the police departments and courthouses your loved one may have been taken to:
Akron Police Department
217 S High St.
Akron, OH 44308
330-375-2552
Ohio State Highway Patrol
108 Fir Hill
Akron, OH 44325
330-535-2783
Akron Municipal Court
217 S High St.
Akron, OH 44308
Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center
330-375-2120
Individuals charged with drugged driving may benefit from alcohol or drug treatment facilities. Here are some of the top programs in Akron:
BrightView
999 N Main St.
Akron, OH 44310
330-522-1298
Rigel Recovery Services
37 N Broadway St.
Akron, OH 44308
234-678-5720
CHC Addiction Services
725 E Market St.
Akron, OH 44305
330-434-4141
When you have been charged with drugged driving, it is vital to arrange bail. Here are some bail bonds options across Summit County:
Sly Bail Bonds
294 E South St.
Akron, OH 44311
330-906-2663
Ability Bail Bonds
201 W Chestnut St.
Akron, OH 44303
330-887-2245
All Ohio Bail Bonds
389 Cole Ave.
Akron, OH 44301
330-794-6555
The drugged driving charges against you may be overwhelming. We have answered some of the top questions surrounding drugged driving in Ohio. Any additional questions you may have can be answered during your confidential case evaluation.
While you have the right to refuse a chemical test, doing so can result in an automatic administrative license suspension under Ohio’s implied consent law. The refusal can also be used against you in court as evidence of impairment.
Whether the drugs in question are medicinal has no bearing on the drugged driving charges against you. The state will likely argue that you should not have been driving if you used medicinal drugs. However, your attorney may be able to show that your medical need for the drugs in question does not warrant other similar charges such as drug possession.
No. If you are found to be in control of the vehicle, even if it was not running or driving at the time of the stop, you can still be charged with drugged driving in Akron.
Drugged driving charges are far more severe than many people believe. With penalties this high, it is critical to take steps to protect your future. Schedule a confidential consultation with a dedicated Akron drugged driving lawyer at Erb Legal and start working on your defense strategy as soon as today.
You can reach us online or by phone at 330-249-1778 to determine how to best approach your Summit County drugged driving charges.