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If you have been charged with a DUI offense in Dayton, you may be frightened, nervous, and feel as if the life you are accustomed to is being turned on its head. At the Dayton DUI defense firm of Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers, DUI defense is what we do. We have successfully helped countless clients who were in the same or a similar situation to yours, and we stand ready to help you, too. Our skilled Dayton criminal attorneys are knowledgeable and experienced in Ohio DUI law. We know what it takes to win your DUI case.
What sets Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers apart from other lawyers and firms is our commitment to delivering successful results while being there to help you through the process. We know that for most people the criminal court system is intimidating and frightening. We’ll fight aggressively on your behalf to obtain a favorable result in your DUI case while keeping you informed of what to expect along the way. We do not just want to get you a “not guilty” verdict if possible; we want to help you get your life back together.
Proven Experience
Video FAQ
The DUI and criminal lawyers at Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers have over 100 years of collective experience. Our criminal defense attorney team includes both a former police officer and former prosecutor attorney.
We provide aggressive legal representation in Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Call our law offices today to get started with your case. We are available 24/7 to take your call.
What should I expect at my first arraigment?
How does Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers approach plea bargaining?
What is the difference between federal and state charges?
What are Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers payment options
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Each DUI case is different. The facts and circumstances that led to you being stopped by police and charged with DUI are unique to your case. On the other hand, though, DUIs share some things in common. For instance, most often a DUI case will depend on the credibility of the officer and the strength of the evidence. The prosecution has to “prove” you were intoxicated when you drove beyond all reasonable doubt.
free consultationYour Arrest
First Court Appearance
The Arraignment
Motion to Suppress
Trial by Judge or Jury
When you have been charged with a DUI, you may feel lost and not know what to do. It is important that you take action quickly. The sooner you contact your Dayton DUI defense attorney, the quicker he can take the steps necessary to keep you out of jail, preserve your driving privileges, and fight back against the charges.
Once you have been arrested or given a citation for DUI, your license will be suspended if you test over the limit or refuse. It is important, therefore, that you hire counsel right away to file the appropriate notices and motions so that your privilege to drive is restored pending the outcome of the case. First offenders that test over can get privileges to drive restored as soon as 15 days, while people that refuse have to wait 30 days before the court can allow them a letter to drive for work, school, medical, or vocational reasons. Privileges can be restricted with a breathalyzer or DUI plates on the car.
Your first appearance in court may be the first time you hear about the charges and the possible penalties you are facing. You may also have your bail or bond set at this hearing if you have not yet bonded out of jail. The court will also inform you of the rights you have as a criminal defendant, including the right to have an attorney represent you.
The next formal step in a DUI case typically is the arraignment hearing. At an arraignment, you enter a formal plea of guilty or not guilty to the charges. If you plead not guilty, the case moves along and is set for trial. If you plead guilty, you can be sentenced immediately to any sentence allowed by law.
Arraignment is also a chance to address the court for release of your car if impounded. If your car is not impounded, our DUI attorneys can enter a plea of not guilty for you and waive your presence at the arraignment. This does not negatively impact your case if your lawyer waives your presence and schedules a new date to meet with the prosecutor and judge to talk about your case.
About a month after arraignment, you must file a motion to suppress in your case. A motion to suppress challenges the prosecution’s evidence in your case and the manner in which it was collected. Having an experienced DUI defense attorney help prepare and file such a motion can greatly improve your odds of success. A successful motion to suppress can result in the prosecution not being able to use certain key pieces of evidence (like a breath test or field sobriety test evidence, for example) against you at trial. A successful motion to suppress can even, in some cases, result in the dismissal of your case and a finding of “not guilty.”
If we are unable to reach a settlement agreement you have the right to a trial by judge or jury. You will have the opportunity to see and hear the evidence against you and ask questions of the officer that stopped and arrested you. Knowing what questions to ask the officer is critical to success. That is why it is generally not advisable to attempt to represent yourself at a DUI trial or to hire an attorney who is not intimately familiar with DUI law.
If you are found not guilty, the case is over and no conviction is reported on your record. If you are found guilty at trial, the judge will sentence you to a sentence he or she feels is appropriate. There may be grounds for an appeal after you have been sentenced, if the judge or prosecution made mistakes during your trial.
Our experienced attorneys can help you protect your future
First-time DUI offenders: Some prosecutors and police will attempt to persuade first-time DUI offenders to just “plead guilty and get over it.” They may suggest that the fines and jail sentences for first-time offenders are low, and it will keep you from the expense of hiring an attorney and going to trial. Before you plead, talk to us. The consequences of a first-time DUI offense are light compared to the penalties for a multiple-DUI offense, but that does not mean these penalties are not serious. Fines, mandatory jail time, license suspension, and other consequences can be imposed on you even if this is your first DUI offense.
Felony DUI offenders: For those who have had DUI convictions in the past, the situation may appear grim. You are looking at least a month or more in jail and perhaps a prison sentence along with thousands of dollars in fines. An experienced DUI defense attorney can help you by not only challenging the evidence of your present DUI but also examining your prior record.
Breath-test DUI: Some drivers give up fighting their DUI case because there is a “breath test” showing an alcohol concentration over the legal limit. But these breath tests are prone to error, sometimes showing an alcohol concentration much higher than is accurate. You need an experienced DUI defense attorney who knows about the limitations of breath tests and how to challenge them in court.
Chemical-test DUI: If a breath test is not available, or if you are suspected of having drugs in your system, you may have been asked to submit to a blood test or urine test. These tests may seem like irrefutable evidence of intoxication, but like breath tests these tests do not always produce accurate results. If a chemical test was administered improperly (such as a blood draw taken by a person not authorized to draw blood for DUI testing purposes), you may be able to have the test thrown out.
We’ll Determine if Your Rights Have Been Violated
We’ll Have Leading Experts Work On Your Defense
We’ll Challenge the Prosecution At Every Turn
You have certain rights, and those don’t disappear just because you’ve been stopped by the police, placed under arrest, or charged with a DUI. In fact, when these things happen, it’s critical that these rights are respected now, more than ever. If your rights are violated – if you’re wrongfully stopped, searched, arrested, or questioned – the state of Ohio cannot be allowed to benefit.
Our DUI defense lawyers in Dayton will fully review your interactions with the police to identify any potential issues. If we discover that your Constitutional rights have been infringed, we’ll bring it to the court’s attention and work to get evidence dismissed or, better yet, the charges against you dropped entirely.
The state will have DUI experts working to support the criminal case prosecutors are building against you. In order to level the playing field, you need to have experts on your side, too.
Our law firm has worked hard to network and foster professional relationships with some of the leading DUI and criminal law professionals in the state of Ohio – including breathalyzer specialists, forensic toxicology experts, field sobriety test experts, and more.
We won’t hesitate to call on them and have them analyze details of your case if we think it might benefit your defense.
You won’t get the best results with a passive approach to your defense. Our lawyers will defend you with tenacity every step of the way. We’ll coordinate an in-depth investigation into your alleged drunk driving charge. We’ll review the state’s case against you and formulate the best strategies to weaken it.
We’ll carefully analyze the state’s evidence and challenge anything that might not be trustworthy, credible, or lawful. Our lawyers will harness every resource available to our firm in pursuit of the best possible outcome for you.
We have over 100 years of combined experience
When looking for a Dayton DUI defense attorney, the choices may seem endless and confusing. You know you need help – and quick! – but may not know where to turn. Ask yourself: Does the attorney or firm you are considering limiting its practice to DUI defense? Do they have a proven track record of obtaining satisfactory results for clients who found themselves in situations like yours? Does the lawyer have great reviews published online by former clients? Do you feel comfortable with your attorney and believe he or she is working in your best interests? When you look at Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers you will see that these questions and others are answered positively:
When you are charged with DUI or a DUI-related offense in Dayton, contact the Dayton DUI defense firm of Suhre & Associates DUI and Criminal Defense Lawyers right away. The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can get to work for you.
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