ATHENS DUI / OVI, CRIMINAL & TRAFFIC DEFENSE ATTORNEY IN THE ATHENS MUNICIPAL COURT
If you have been charged with a misdemeanor or traffic offense in or around Athens, Ohio the case will likely be heard in the Athens Municipal Court. Not all cases require an appearance in the municipal court, but certain types of cases include a mandatory appearance.
The Athens Municipal Court is usually in session every morning and is located at the Athens City Building, 2nd floor, 8 E. Washington St., Athens, OH 45701.
Our attorneys will provide free phone consultations regarding any charges you are facing in the Athens Municipal Court. Just give us a call or submit our information into our online contact form.
TYPES OF CHARGES IN THE ATHENS MUNICIPAL COURT
Some charges in Athens can be resolved by just the payment of the fine. Others can only be resolved after a defendant has appeared in court. In Athens, common charges requiring a personal appearance in court are:
Athens Ordinance 7.01.17: FLEEING AND ELUDING; OBEDIENCE TO TRAFFIC OFFICERS.
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This charge is similar to “Fleeing and Eluding,” and it is the failure to stop or remain stopped after an officer orders you to do so.
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This charge is a first-degree misdemeanor and carries a maximum penalty of 6 months in jail, $1,000 fine. The penalty also includes a potential 3 year license suspension.
Athens Ordinance 9.06.09: UNDERAGE CONSUMPTION OF ALCOHOL
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Underage drinking is a serious offense in Athens. Someone can be found guily of underage consumption if they are caught possessing, consuming, or are intoxicated in public.
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Police in Athens take a hard stance against underage drinking, especially near the campus of Ohio University.
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This charge is a first-degree misdemeanor and carries a maximum penalty of 6 months in jail, $1,000 fine. The penalty can also carry a license suspension if you are caught consuming alcohol while in a motor vehicle.
Athens Ordinance 7.03.15: PROVIDING FALSE INFORMATION TO POLICE OFFICER.
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No person shall knowingly present, display or orally communicate a false name, social security number or date of birth to a law enforcement officer.
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This charge is a first-degree misdemeanor and carries a maximum penalty of 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Athens Ordinance 7.03.07: DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR DRUGS
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This is the Athens section relating to “drunk driving.” No person shall operate a vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
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This charge is a first-degree misdemeanor and carries the maximum penalty of 6 months in jail, a $1,075 fine, and a license suspension of 3 years.
Athens Ordinance 7.03.10: RECKLESS OPERATION.
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This charge defines “reckless driving” in Athens. It is usually a more serious offense than other traffic charges such as speeding. People charged with “reckless driving” are alleged to display a disregard for the rules of the road.
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This charge is a first-degree misdemeanor, unless this is the second reckless driving within one year, then it becomes a third-degree misdemeanor. The maximum penalty for reckless driving is a $1,000 fine and 6 months in jail.
Athens Ordinance 7.03.24: DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION OR LICENSE RESTRICTION.
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If a driver’slicense has been suspended and he or she is charged with this offense, the driver faces up to six months in jail plus a fine.
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This charge is a first-degree misdemeanor and carries the maximum penalty of 6 months in jail, a $1,000 fine, and a license suspension of 1 year.
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If this is the second charge within three years, the court may order the car to be immobilized for 30 days.
Athens Ordinance 13.04.01: DISORDERLY CONDUCT; INTOXICATION.
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Typically, disorderly conduct makes it a crime to bedrunk in public, or if an officer believes a defendant has “disturbed the peace.”
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This charge is typically a minor-misdemeanor.
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The charge can become a fourth-degree misdemeanor if the offender “persists in disorderly conduct after reasonable warning or request to desist, the offense is committed in the vicinity of a school or in a school safety zone, or the offense is committed in the presence of any law enforcement officer, firefighter, rescuer, medical person, emergency medical services person engaged in their official duties.”
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The maximum penalty for disorderly conduct is 30 days in jail and a fine of $250.
Athens Ordinance 9.06.15: DRUG ABUSE; CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE POSSESSION OR USE.
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In Athens, this is the crime of having one or more illegal drugsin one’s possession, either for personal use, distribution, sale or otherwise.
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Possession of less than 100 grams of marijuana is a minor misdemeanor and carries a maximum penalty of $150.
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Possession of marijuana exceeding 100 grams but less than 200 grams is a fourth-degree misdemeanor and carries the maximum penalty of 30 days in jail and a fine of $250.
Athens Ordinance 13.01.10: OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE.
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In Athens, it is a crime to hamper or impede a police officer or other public officialin the performance of his or her official This charge encompasses a wide range of acts, including, for example: Lying to a police officer; Fleeing from an officer after being ordered to stop.
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This charge is a second-degree misdemeanor and carries a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a $750 fine.
Athens Ordinance 13.03.12: CRIMINAL DAMAGING OR ENDANGERING.
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It is a crime in Athens to knowingly or recklessly cause, or create a substantial risk of physical harm to someone else’s property without that person’s consent.
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“A violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree. If violation of this section creates a risk of physical harm to any person, criminal damaging or endangering is a misdemeanor of the first degree.”
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The maximum penalty one faces is 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Athens Ordinance 13.03.01: PETTY THEFT.
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Athens defines theft as purposely depriving the owner of property or services, or purposely exerting control over either the property or services of another without consent.
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This charge is a first-degree misdemeanor and carries a maximum penalty of 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The judge may also order restitution be paid.
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If the theft involved taking gasoline from a gas station, the judge may also suspend the defendant’s license for 6 months.
POTENTIAL PENALTIES FOR CHARGES IN THE ATHENS MUNICIPAL COURT
Under the Athens Code, someone who pleads guilty or no contest to a criminal offense can face the following penalties:
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Minor Misdemeanor: A fine of up to $150;
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Fourth-Degree Misdemeanor: A fine of up to $250, and up to 30 days in jail.
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Third-Degree Misdemeanor: A fine of up to $500, and up to 60 days in jail.
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Second-Degree Misdemeanor: A fine of up to $750, and up to 90 days in jail.
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First-Degree Misdemeanor A fine of up to $1,000, and up to 180 days in jail.
