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Facing OVI & DUI charges in Avon Lake?

AVON LAKE MUNICIPAL COURT

Ohio’s municipal and mayor’s courts are trial courts located in townships and counties throughout the state. In fact, there are more than 120 of these courts throughout Ohio. As a result, if you face traffic tickets, non-traffic misdemeanors, small civil claims, or evictions in Avon Lake, you may be required to attend a hearing in the Avon Lake Municipal Court.

Although this may be a stressful and anxious situation because of the reason why you are being summoned to this court, you need to remember that you do not have to tackle this difficult situation alone. For instance, if you have received a traffic ticket and are now required to appear in Avon Lake Municipal Court, you should reach out to a skilled traffic ticket lawyer as soon as possible. These DUI/OVI attorneys can not only take on this legal battle for you, but they can fight hard to defend your rights.

AVON LAKE MUNICIPAL COURT IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The Avon Lake Municipal Court is a court that has jurisdiction in equity and law according to Ohio’s regulations. The Court has jurisdiction over the City of Avon Lake and often determines misdemeanor violations of both state laws and the City of Avon Lake‘s Ordinances.

If a case gets to the Avon Lake Municipal Court, the court will often conduct a preliminary hearing and set bonds in the felony cases that were committed in Avon Lake.

Avon Lake Municipal Court Contact Information

Address: 32855 Walker Rd, Avon Lake, OH 44012

Phone Number: (440) 930-4103

Website: https://www.avonlakecourt.com/

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WHEN WOULD I NEED TO GO TO AVON LAKE MUNICIPAL COURT?

Generally, municipal and mayor’s courts are divided into different categories. However, most people are either summoned by this court for minor criminal offenses, motor vehicle infractions, or municipal ordinance violations. This means that when an individual receives a summons to appear in municipal or mayor’s court, they may have to pay a fine, appear there for their case, or are given an opportunity to plead guilty.

Consider the following violations that the Avon Lake Municipal Court deals with:

Motor Vehicle Infractions

These types of infractions are often heard by the municipal or mayor’s court. However, whether you need to appear in person at the Avon Lake Municipal Court will depend on the infraction and whether you want to fight back against the alleged violation. Some of the more common cases related to motor vehicle infractions include driving without insurance, speeding tickets, littering, causing a car accident, or driving without a seat belt.

Minor Crimes

Those individuals who commit a minor criminal offense (i.e. misdemeanors) are also often summoned to court. These minor criminal offenses can include disorderly conduct, assault, public nuisance, animals at large, or unlawful possession of suspected stolen property. Even though these offenses may be minor, jail time and fines may be possible if you are convicted in the Avon Lake Municipal Court.

Ordinance Violations

Most municipalities have ordinances that residents and visitors need to follow. Some of the more common ordinances have to do with littering, disturbing the peace, and public intoxication. However, they can also detail the standards for maintaining a property and building codes in the area. Consequently, if individuals violate these ordinances, they may get summoned by Avon Lake’s Municipal Court, which will review the evidence presented and determine if the accused violated the law.

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HOW CAN AN ATTORNEY HELP ME IN AVON LAKE

MUNICIPAL COURT?

If the Avon Lake Municipal Court has summoned you or you have received a ticket, it may be in your best interest to retain an attorney to represent you. Depending on the circumstances of your case, your attorney can provide you with various legal answers.

For instance, your lawyer may request a continuation to move the case to a later date, so they can gather the evidence required to defend you. Or, if you are being summoned for a traffic ticket, hiring a lawyer who spends a lot of time in traffic court can provide you with solid legal representation for trying to avoid points and keeping your insurance rates low. This is because these experienced traffic ticket lawyers are not only knowledgeable in the relevant laws of the state, county, and local ordinances, but they are also familiar with the tendencies of the different judges in the courtrooms and the police officers who write the tickets. As a result, this extensive and detailed local knowledge can prove incredibly valuable, especially when it comes to helping you defend your traffic ticket in the Avon Lake Municipal Court.

For these reasons, if you are required to go to Avon Lake Municipal Court, do not wait any longer to seek legal help.

Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case.

 

Process step-by-step

  • 01.
    Initial Arrest
    01

    01. Initial Arrest

    The process to charge someone that’s been accused of a crime begins with an arrest. If the police have reason to believe that someone has committed a crime, the accused can be taken into custody. Police will usually start by asking basic questions like name and address to identify a person, and then they’ll often pivot to more specific questions related to the incident. At some point during this, you should have been read your “Miranda warnings.”

  • 02.
    Reading Your Rights
    02

    02. Reading Your Rights

    You have the right to remain silent to avoid disclosing evidence that could potentially be self-incriminating, as well as the right to an attorney to defend you in court. Those are your unwavering rights that must be recited upon taking someone into custody. Take note of when these rights are read to you, as it could be helpful information for your attorney.

  • 03.
    Booking
    03

    03. Booking

    When you’ve been taken down to the station, police will fingerprint you and get your photograph to update their records. Once this is done, you should be granted the opportunity to contact your criminal defense lawyer. If you don’t have a lawyer, get a loved one to book a consultation with a lawyer on your behalf. It’s important that you do NOT disclose any details about your case over the phone with your loved ones, as those calls are monitored.

  • 04.
    Investigation
    04

    04. Investigation

    After you’ve made it through the booking process, the police may begin conducting their investigation with you. Depending on the situation, this might include a personal search, collecting samples, interviewing/interrogating, police lineups, etc.

  • 05.
    Court Appearance
    05

    05. Court Appearance

    You’ll be held at the station until you can be brought before a judge. The initial court appearance will happen within 48 hours or less of the arrest. Here, the judge will review the case and decide if there’s any reason to keep you in holding or if bail can be granted. If bail is granted, you’re allowed to be released upon certain conditions.

  • 06.
    Hearing
    06

    06. Hearing

    Depending on the seriousness of your allegations, you may have a preliminary hearing at which a judge can determine whether enough evidence exists to charge you with that level of crime. You’ll be able to plead “guilty” or “not guilty.” If you plead not guilty, your case will be sent to trial. You may get the opportunity to enter a plea deal. That’s something your attorney will advise you on.

  • 07.
    Discovery
    07

    07. Discovery

    In the discovery stage, the case against you is made much more transparent. The prosecutor will share the evidence they have against you with your defense attorney. During this time, your attorney can make additional requests for evidence if need be. All of the evidence on the table will be considered, and your lawyer will work with you to form the best plan for your defense.

  • 08.
    Trial
    08

    08. Trial

    If a plea deal is unable to be reached, the case will enter trial. During the trial, the prosecutor begins by presenting the case to the jury. They share any evidence they have against you and have witnesses make their statements for the prosecution. This can be tough to sit through. Afterward, it’s your lawyer’s turn to take the stands and share your side of the story. Your lawyer can question the prosecutor’s witnesses and all of the evidence that was used against you. There are many different strategies that your lawyer will use to defend you during the trial.

  • 09.
    Sentencing
    09

    09. Sentencing

    In a best-case scenario, you will have been found not guilty by the end of the trial, and the charges against you have been dropped. If you are found guilty, the judge must determine what your sentence/penalties will be. The sentencing will happen at another hearing, usually a few weeks after your trial ends.

Ohio Felony Sentencing

Degree
Prison TIme
Maximum Fine
First Degree
3-11 years
$20,000
Second Degree
2-8 years
$15,000
Third Degree
9-36 or 12-60 months
$10,000
Fourth Degree
6-8 months
$5,000
Fifth Degree
6-12 months
$2,500

Ohio Misdemeanor Sentencing

Degree
Jail Time
Maximum Fine
First Degree
Up to 180 days
$1,000
Second Degree
Up to 90 days
$750
Third Degree
Up to 60 days
$500
Fourth Degree
Up to 30 days
$250
Minor Misdemeanor
None
$150

Ohio Courts System

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