Providing False Information in Columbus, Ohio

When you are pulled over for a traffic offense, it’s natural to feel nervous or even panic whether you are innocent or not. People do all sorts of things to try and get out of tickets, most of which are perfectly legal—whether they are a good idea or not. Lying about your identity to the police officer who pulled you over, however, is not legal.

When you’re facing a traffic citation, especially a serious one, you feel pressure due to the situation, which means that some people may feel it’s better to say something that isn’t true to the officer giving you a ticket in hopes of getting out of the situation. Unfortunately, this can actually make the situation worse.

Furnishing False Information to Officer Issuing Traffic Ticket A Criminal Traffic Offense

Under the Ohio revised code, lying to law enforcement is a criminal traffic offense called “furnishing false information to officer issuing traffic ticket.” It is illegal to “knowingly present, display, or orally communicate a false name, social security number, or date of birth” or other vital identifying information to police. This means that giving a false name to police won’t get you out of the ticket, and it may land you in much worse trouble.

Unlike most traffic offenses, this is not a simple citation; it is a crime, charged as such. In fact, you can be charged with a first-degree misdemeanor. If convicted, you face a sentence of up to six months in jail and up to a $1,000 fine. Not only that, but you can face serious collateral consequences, including points on your license, probation, and even potentially losing your license. In addition, a permanent criminal record can lead to difficulties finding and maintaining employment and housing.

Trust the Columbus Traffic Attorneys at Luftman, Heck, and Associates to Help Your Case Get the Best Possible Outcome

It may not have been your intention to knowingly mislead law enforcement. Maybe you simply were nervous and misspoke. Maybe it was a straightforward misunderstanding. Once you’ve been formally charged with providing false information to officer issuing traffic ticket, however, you need to take the situation seriously—innocent or not.

All criminal traffic offenses are taken seriously in Ohio, which means you need the knowledge and experience of a dedicated Columbus traffic attorney to help you fight the charges. Don’t let the situation get even more out of hand by trying to deal with it alone. Call the traffic attorneys at Luftman, Heck, and Associates right away for a free consultation on your case at (614) 500-3836 to find out how we may be able to help.

Our Columbus traffic attorneys have years of experience successfully fighting all kinds of traffic charges, ranging from speeding citations to incredibly serious OVI felony charges, so we have the skills to develop a defense strategy to give your case the best possible outcome. We believe that our clients deserve the best defense possible, which is why we never give up on a case. Our compassionate team is here for us 24/7, so no matter when you are cited, we can be on the case to help. You have the right to an attorney for a reason; make sure to take advantage of that right. Call our Columbus traffic attorneys for a free consult today at (614) 500-3836.