Under Ohio law, what constitutes a valid defense to a DUI charge?

A valid defense to a DUI charge in Ohio can be established by demonstrating a lack of probable cause for the traffic stop. Under Ohio law, law enforcement officers must have a reasonable suspicion that a driver is committing, or has committed, a traffic violation or a crime to initiate a stop. If it can be shown that the officer lacked the necessary probable cause when stopping the driver, any evidence obtained as a result of that stop, including field sobriety tests and breathalyzer results, may be deemed inadmissible in court. This lack of evidence could lead to the dismissal of the DUI charge.

Other factors also play a role in DUI defenses, but they do not serve as the primary defense of lack of probable cause. For example, a failure to inform a driver of their rights may pertain to issues surrounding the admissibility of certain evidence, but it does not negate the initial cause for the stop. Similarly, improper use of breathalyzer equipment could affect the reliability of the test results used against the driver but does not address the lawfulness of the stop itself. Defective road conditions may contribute to driving behavior but are not typically a direct defense against DUI charges based solely on the driver's level of intoxication. Thus, lack of probable cause remains a fundamental