Jeremy Dodgion

In the State of Ohio, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. Lower limits apply to commercial drivers and drivers under the age of 21.

In Ohio, DUI offenses are referred to as OVI, or “Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence,” which includes impairment caused by alcohol, drugs, or a combination of both. Ohio law also prohibits operating a vehicle while impaired by controlled substances such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine.

If law enforcement believes that an individual is intoxicated in public to the extent that they are unable to care for their own safety or the safety of others, an arrest may be made for public intoxication. Because these cases often involve subjective observations by officers, the circumstances can be disputed and require careful review.

An experienced criminal defense attorney can evaluate the facts of the case, challenge the evidence where appropriate, and work to protect the individual’s rights and minimize potential penalties.

Simply being intoxicated in public is not, by itself, necessarily a criminal offense. However, public intoxication-related charges may arise when an individual’s behavior while under the influence results in a disturbance, endangers themselves or others, or violates other applicable laws.