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New Albany DUI Lawyer

If you’re charged with a DUI, you’re facing heavy legal consequences. There’s still hope with a New Albany DUI defense lawyer from Luftman, Heck & Associates. Our team of attorneys is well versed with DUI defense in the Columbus area. They will approach your case from every angle to get the best outcome possible.

Northeast of Columbus sits the prosperous city of New Albany. The town is divided in its center by the intersection of U.S. 62 and Ohio State Route 162. Officers keep a watchful eye out for drivers showing signs of impairment, and you can expect to be pulled over if any of them suspect that you might have alcohol in your system. The Ohio State Highway Patrol made 2,000 OVI enforcements in Franklin County during 2014.

In Ohio, a DUI is known as an OVI. The charge can steamroll over the path you’re living on and have a domino effect that spreads into the corners of your life. The sentences get more severe with each repeat of the offense. You could wind up thousands of dollars in debt, facing time in prison, denied housing and even separated from your children.

What to Expect from a New Albany DUI Lawyer

You’re probably feeling shaken up if you were just charged with a DUI / OVI, and the drunk driving attorneys at Luftman, Heck & Associates will handle your case with the compassion and dedication that you deserve. Our attorneys have spent almost 10 years vigorously fighting OVI charges near Columbus every day. Hundreds of clients have had charges minimized, sentences reduced or even cases dismissed thanks to them.

If you’re up against an OVI in New Albany, you’re probably stuck wondering, “where can I find a DUI defense lawyer near me?” Your answer sits with Luftman, Heck & Associates. Our team of experienced DUI defense lawyers operates all throughout the greater Columbus area, and they know the courts and prosecution like the back of their hands.

What to Ask Your Attorney

When you’re facing charges for DUI in New Albany, it’s important to ask your lawyer the following questions:

Do I have to appear at my arraignment?
New Albany DUI cases are filed and scheduled for arraignment within five business days from the date of your arrest so that you may appeal the administrative license suspension. If you hire Luftman, Heck & Associates’ Columbus DUI defense team, we may be able to appear on your behalf so you do not have to attend the initial court date. At that time, we will enter a not guilty plea on your behalf, address the issue of your driving privileges, and request police reports and a copy of the DVD.

Can I get my license or driving privileges?
There are ways to get your driving privileges back after a DUI arrest. If you hire us to handle your case, the first thing we would do is to look and assess BMV Form 2255 to see if there are any errors. If there are, that could lead to a termination of your driver’s license suspension outright. If there aren’t any errors, we may be able to request a stay of your driver’s license suspension. This would give you your full license back while the case is pending.

Typically, New Albany Mayor’s Court permits stays of the administrative license suspension unless you were involved in an accident in conjunction with the OVI arrest or there is a negative fact pattern against you. If you are our client, we are able to appear on your behalf at the arraignment and request the stay on your behalf. After that, you are forwarded two copies – one to bring to the BMV and one to keep on you at all times while driving during the pendency of your case.

If you are ineligible for these options or you are denied, we would look into getting you limited driving privileges so that you can drive for work, school, and medical reasons. Typically, this is a not a difficult process when you are represented by an experienced DUI lawyer. You would be forwarded a blank copy of the New Albany limited driving privilege entry to fill out and return to us. We would then file it on your behalf; if granted, you would be forwarded two certified copies – one of which you will keep in your car at all times while driving and the other as a spare in case you lose the first.

Do I get to see the police reports?
We believe that you have a right to know the evidence against you, and we will always make copies of reports we receive so that you can review them. We prefer that you take the reports home, review them thoroughly, and then send us an email with your thoughts about the reports. Take note of any inconsistencies and be sure to share with us your summary of exactly what happened.

Is there a DVD of my traffic stop?
Most likely. Most, but not all, of the New Albany police cruisers are equipped with a cruiser video system. This can be very useful to us; if police reports are exaggerated or if the field sobriety tests are not performed on you properly, this will show on the DVD. All of our Columbus OVI attorneys are certified in the administration of these field sobriety tests and know exactly what kinds of mistakes to look for. If there is a DVD of your traffic stop, we will provide you with a copy of it for your review.

What outcome can I expect with my New Albany Mayor’s Court OVI case?
If there are issues with the physical evidence in your DUI arrest, the prosecutor may offer a reduction of your OVI charge to a lesser offense like reckless operation. Sometimes, however, it may be better to apply pressure and transfer your case to Franklin County Municipal Court. At the municipal court level, we typically conduct a suppression hearing or jury trial if necessary.

Prior to conducting a suppression hearing or jury trial on your behalf in Franklin County Municipal Court, we will continue to negotiate an offer to a reduced charge to give you an option before litigating the case.

Your First New Albany DUI/OVI Offense

Getting an OVI conviction is no small thing. If the prosecution comes at you full force, the punishments will be heavy. Even first-time offenders can face a fine of over $1,000, six months in jail and a three-year license suspension, according to Chapter 4511.19 of the Ohio Revised Code.

Your case will likely go to New Albany Mayor’s Court for the pre-trial and arraignment. Usually, the primary goal for DUI / OVI clients is to avoid jail time, and here is where we would try to change the sentencing. If we don’t like the results of the pre-trial, we’ll have your case moved to either Franklin County Municipal Court or Licking County Municipal Court for a trial. Between these three courts, the law team has represented thousands of clients.

How a New Albany Drunk Driving Lawyer Can Help

When you’re dealing with a DUI / OVI in New Albany, you have a litany of legal forces working upon you, and each prosecutor will have different methods to enforce them on you. This is where the attorneys from Luftman, Heck & Associates come in. Our legal team has represented thousands of DUI cases. Our lawyers are very familiar with the courts around Columbus, and they’ll be able to give you the best chance at a victory against the charges.

Now is the best time to fight against the system with a New Albany DUI lawyer. They’ll give your case the fighting chance it deserves.

Need a DUI Lawyer in New Albany, OH? Contact Us Today

Now is the time to reach out to a New Albany DUI lawyer to build a case and stand up for your rights. The criminal defense team at Luftman, Heck & Associates has been passionately fighting for the rights of people charged with a DUI / OVI for nearly a decade, and they’d be proud to represent you too. To contact us, either call at (614) 500-3836, or reach out online.

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