Annie’s Law, which was passed into law in January, went into effect in April. It’s goal is to keep drunk drivers off the streets of Ohio. This law will impact how people convicted of drinking and driving are punished.
What Does Annie’s Law Do?
A piece from WXVU addresses what this new law will do. It’s primary target is first offenders. The objective is not necessarily to increase penalties, but to prevent repeat occurrences. As discussed in the piece, the law’s namesake was the victim of a repeat-offending drunk driver who was somehow still on the road.
The method for preventing repeat offenses that the law invokes is the use of an ignition interlock device. This is a device that the accused must blow into and prove that he or she has not been drinking in order to operate their motor vehicle. If the person is intoxicated, the vehicle will not start, thus preventing them from driving drunk.
As part of the law, there is also an increase in the mandatory minimum driver’s license suspension for first offenders, and an increase in maximum suspension for repeat offenders. It also changes the lookback period for repeat offenses.
People accused of operating vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs (OVI) need to be aware of how Annie’s Law will impact their rights, options and potential penalties. There are many factors to take into consideration, including the fact that the accused will be responsible for paying for the installation and upkeep of the ignition interlock device. It can be beneficial to discuss the matter with an experienced lawyer.
