What to Do After a DUI (OVI) Arrest in Dayton, Ohio

What to do after a DUI/OVI arrest in Dayton:

1. Write a timeline of events while your memory is fresh note witnesses, receipts, medications, and your physical condition.
2. Enter a plea of NOT GUILTY until you have had the chance to speak to an attorney.
3. Do not drive once the ALS notice is served, you cannot drive.
4. Call Charles M. Rowland II at (937) 318-1384.

Accused of OVI in Dayton?

Critical pieces of defense can be found in details that may be forgotten if not recorded immediately. Fill out this Questionnaire as soon as possible so you have a record of the event. This can greatly help your case.

It all happens quickly – you see the lights behind you, then a police officer is at your door asking a string of accusatory questions. You are removed from your car and asked to do a series of unfamiliar coordination tests. You try to tell the officer that you are not impaired, but you can tell they have formed their own opinion. Next thing you know, you are in handcuffs in the back of a police cruiser. The officer asks you to take a chemical test, but you don’t know what to do. Next you are told that your license is seized, and you are told you cannot drive for the foreseeable future. You need to know… What do I do now?

“Sometimes when you’re arrested the scariest part is not knowing what comes next.”

Call Charles M. Rowland II, DaytonDUI.com, at (937) 318-1384 if you aren’t sure what to do after a DUI in Dayton Ohio. Charlie has been helping people accused of impaired driving in the Dayton Municipal Court since 1995. The material below will help you get some answers.

What to Do Right Now After an OVI Arrest in Dayton

Memories are fragile. Take time to write a timeline of events to help your attorney understand where you were prior to your police interaction. Think of any purchases you made prior to the arrest. Do you have a bar bill or restaurant receipt that would prove how much you had to drink? Are there any witnesses with whom you may have interacted that can attest to your sobriety? Write down exactly what you remember happening prior to being pulled over. Did you make or receive a call? Was something inside the car distracting you. Was there something in the roadway that you were trying to avoid? Another important piece of information to remember is what your physical condition was at the time of the arrest. Did you have a cold or anything that would raise your body temperature? Did you run a 5k or was it leg day? Tell your attorney about any physical limitations that made taking field sobriety tests particularly hard. Another thing to remember is what medications you took, when you took them, and whether or not you had any adverse reactions. Head trauma, back or leg problems, gastric bypass, diabetic neuropathy and other conditions can mimic impairment making a police officer believe you were impaired when you were not. Discuss all of these things with your attorney.

Schedule an appointment with Charles Rowland right away by calling (937) 318-1384.

What Happens Next After a DUI in Dayton? (Your Arraignment)

You should enter a plea of NOT GUILTY until you have had the chance to speak to an attorney. Your first court appearance is called an arraignment. The arraignment is required to take place shortly after the OVI is filed with the court. The arraignment was designed to allow you to know the charges being brought against you. The court will tell you the charge and the potential penalties you are facing. The court will also ask you how you wish to plead to the charges. You can contact Charles Rowland at (937) 318-1384 during business hours, or call (937) 776-2671 for his after-hours DUI HOTLINE.

If you hire an attorney before your arraignment, you may not have to appear in court. The Dayton Municipal Court allows your attorney to file a NOTICE OF APPEARANCE telling them that you have an attorney. The majority of the time you will not be prejudiced by not appearing at this initial hearing. If you have not hired an attorney prior to this hearing, you must appear and enter your plea. Again, it is important that you protect your rights by entering a NOT GUILTY plea until you have spoken to an attorney.

Be prepared for your arraignment by calling Charles Rowland at (937) 318-1384 or after hours at (937) 776-2671.

Will I lose my license? Can I still drive?

An Administrative License Suspension (ALS) is a driver’s license suspension imposed by operation of Ohio law, separate from any court-ordered suspension that may occur later in an OVI case. The suspension begins immediately upon service of that notice. Once served, you cannot drive.

Ohio law allows a person subject to an ALS to apply for limited driving privileges, but eligibility is not immediate in all cases.

“Don’t do it! More local police departments have license plate reading technology that will flag your car even if you don’t commit a crime. Talk to us at DaytonDUI about how and when you can get driving privileges.” — Charles M. Rowland II

Where Do I Go? Dayton Municipal Court for OVI Cases

The Dayton Municipal Court is located at 301 W. Third Street in downtown Dayton at the corner of Perry St. and Third Street. Street parking via parking meters surrounds the courthouse and two parking lots are adjacent to the court. You can reach the Dayton Municipal Court Clerk by telephone at (937) 333-4300. Other important phone numbers can be found on their website at www.daytonmunicipalcourt.org.

How Do I Find a DUI Attorney in Dayton?

An impaired driving case is one of the most complicated and technical cases that come before a court. Drunk driving, or DUI cases (now called OVI cases in Ohio) are fact-dependent, meaning that your attorney will have to have access to all of the discovery materials in your case. It takes years of experience and training to understand how to defend an OVI. The case may also involve complex scientific issues related to a blood, breath, or urine test. Again, it is vital that your attorney have a complete understanding of all the issues in your case and how to defend you.

“All I do is DUI defense.” Since 1995, I have been helping people accused of DUI. I have devoted my practice 100% to only handling DUI cases. I have amassed some of the best DUI training and credentials in the nation. I want you to know that I am capable, competent and ready to win your case. See my full bio, including all of my training, teaching, learning and certifications.

One of the questions I often get is, “Are you the best DUI attorney?” Please check this article out to see if I am the best DUI attorney for you.

Why Trust Dayton OVI Attorney Charles M. Rowland II

Charles M. Rowland II has established himself as a top OVI attorney in Ohio and the Dayton area and beyond. He lives by the motto, “Work hard, play by the rules, and never quit!” Preparation, dedication and perseverance are his touchstones. He will vigorously fight for you and will genuinely care about the outcome of your case. He wants to make an impact on the system and on every client he represents. He wants to get the most favorable outcome including acquittals, dismissed charges, or advantageous reduced charges.

He has been recognized by his clients and his peers as a top OVI attorney. He has been a “Super Lawyer” since 2013, a Fellow to the Ohio State Bar Foundation, the Nations Top 1%, the National Trial Lawyers Top 100 for Criminal Defense, a Dayton Bar Association Foundation Fellow, and has appeared in Time and Car & Driver Magazine for OVI defense. He is a lecturer on OVI defense to police agencies, attorneys, judges, and students. He frequently appears as an expert in local media. He taught OVI trial practice at the Greene County Peace Officer Training Academy for over fifteen years and has been an adjunct professor at Wright State University in the Honors Department. In 2026, he will teach criminal law in Eastern Europe for the Center for International Legal Studies at the prestigious University of National and World Economy.

Charlie is a member of the Dayton Bar Association, the Dayton Bar Foundation (2022 Foundation Fellow), the Greene County Bar Association (past President), the Clark County Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Foundation (2005 Foundation Fellow), the American Bar Association, the American Bar Foundation, and a member of Dayton Lodge No. 147 and Beavercreek Lodge No. 788, under the Grand Lodge of Ohio.

“All I ever wanted to do was to be a good attorney. I have been blessed that my hard work has allowed me to achieve everything I have, and I will continue to work hard for my clients and for my profession” – Charles M. Rowland II

Learn More About Ohio OVI Charges & Penalties

First Offense · Second Offense OVI · Third Offense OVI · Felony OVI · Military (Federal) OVI · CDL Driver’s and OVI · When Can I Drive? · The OVI Court Process · Drugged Driving OVI · Underage OVI · Immobilization & Forfeiture · Defenses to an OVI · OVI Penalties · Nurses and OVI · Pilots and OVI · OVI and Guns · Death and Injury Cases · Treatment Options · Three-Day Program · Physical Control · Reckless Operation · Liv’s Law (4/9/25)

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