On March 28, it was reported that a 24-year-old woman was accused of drunk driving with a minor child in the vehicle when she was stopped by a sheriff’s deputy on Interstate 275 in Ohio. According to the affidavit, the Kentucky woman had a blood-alcohol content of .229 percent.
A witness who spotted the vehicle reported to authorities that it had been driving the wrong way down a ramp. He said that he was blowing his horn but the driver continued onto the freeway where it continued to drive the wrong way. The woman was ultimately charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol, driving the wrong way on the highway and endangering children.
In Ohio, a person facing a drunk driving charge could potentially face serious consequences that could include a prison sentence, hefty fines and a loss of driving privileges for a certain amount of time depending on whether or not they have a previous history of DUI. Further, the punishments can potentially be even more severe if there are aggravated circumstances, such as drunk driving with a minor in the vehicle.
Depending on the circumstances, a criminal law attorney may create a defense against the charges. For example, if a breathalyzer was used to determine blood alcohol content, the attorney may argue that the device was not properly calibrated or was not administered correctly. In some cases, the attorney may even attempt to get the case dismissed altogether if there is a lack of probable cause for the authorities to stop the vehicle. Finally, there could potentially be biological factors, such as a medical emergency, that caused the driver to operate the vehicle in an unsafe manner.
Source: WCPO, “Drunken mom drove wrong way on I-275 with young son in car, Hamilton County sheriff’s deputy says“, Joe Rosemeyer, Briana Harper, March 28, 2017
