One night, a police officer was stalking out a particularly rowdy bar waiting to catch any drunk drivers. At closing time, he saw a fellow stumble out of the bar, trip on the curb, and try his keys on five different cars before he found his. Then, sat in the front seat fumbling around with his keys for several minutes.

Everyone left the bar and drove off. Finally, he started his engine and began to pull away. The police officer was waiting for him. He stopped the driver, read him his rights and administered the Breathalyser test.

The results showed a reading of 0.0. The puzzled officer demanded to know how that could be.

The driver replied, "Tonight, I'm the Designated Decoy."

www.springfielddui.com

WASHINGTONCOURTHOUSE.com was developed to provide practical information regarding Washington Court House and Fayette County's tough drunk driving law. Here you will find information on DUI (now called OVI) law in the Washington Court House Municipal Court and the Fayette County Common Pleas Court. If you find yourself accused of a crime contact Charles M. Rowland II at the number provided above or on the after hours DUI HOTLINE 937-776-2671. If you've been charged with DUI, it's important that you consult an attorney immediately before you lose your rights!

Charles M. Rowland II has successfully represented the accused drunk driver for over ten years. As a former city prosecutor and a certified operator of the breath test machine, he has the credentials and the experience to help you get your life back! If you find yourself accused of a crime contact Charles M. Rowland II.

The Washington Court House County Municipal Court is located at 119 N. Main St., Washington Court House, Ohio 43160, and it can be reached at (740) 636-2350. The Court has the jurisdiction to hear misdemeanor criminal and traffic cases which involve offenses committed within Fayette County. The presiding Judge of the Washington Court House Municipal Court is the Honorable Victor D. Pontious, Jr. The Court is open from 8:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M., Monday through Friday. Arraignments are held on Monday at 9:30 A.M. The Common Pleas Court is located on the 3rd Floor of the Fayette County Courthouse, 110 E. Court Street, Washington Court House, Ohio 43160, (740) 335-4750. The Common Pleas Judge is the Honorable Steven P. Beathard and the court is open Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. The Fayette County Prosecutor is David B. Bender and his office is on the 1st Floor of the Courthouse, 110 E. Court St., Washington Court House, 43160, (740) 335-0888, email david.bender@fayette-co-oh.com. Information regarding inmates in the Fayette County Jail can be obtained at (740) 333-3783. For more specific information, please follow the links below:

Fayette County
Fayette County Common Pleas Court
Fayette County Clerk of Courts
Fayette County Prosecutor
Fayette County Sheriff
Washington Court House Municipal Court
Washington Court House Municipal Court Records
Washington Court House Municipal Court Rules
City of Washington Court House
WCHO 105.5
WCH Record Herald

Charles M. Rowland II represents clients from all of the following areas of Fayette County: Bloomingburg, Jeffersonville, Milledgeville, New Holland, Octa, Washington Courthouse, Concord Township, Green Township, Jasper Township, Jefferson Township, Madison Township, Marion Township, Paint Township, Perry Township, Union Township and Wayne Township.

Ohio's "TO CATCH A PREDATOR" law is found at R.C. 2907.07.  It was recently amended to allow for law enforcement ...   more »

This month marks the one year anniversary of Ohio's adoption of the Rules of Professional Conduct (which superseded the Code of Professional Responsibility).  For a run-down of the rules attorneys now live by please visit this link from the Ohio Supreme Court: http://www.sconet.state.oh.us/Atty-Svcs/ProfConduct/rules/default.asp

2/4/2008 8:48:00 AM

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Local judges, attorney write law book ELIZABETH STUDEBAKER Feature Writer A huge undertaking of legal research and writing, a book authored by a Fairborn attorney and two local judges, is a tool to use the law in a most effective way. One of the authors, prominent Fairborn attorney Charles M. Rowland II said, “It’s good to know the law, but it’s better to write the law book.” Greene County Court of Common Pleas Judges Steven A. Wolaver of Fairborn and J. Timothy Campbell, Xenia, and Rowland of the firm Brown, Rowland & Kelly have completed authoring a revision to “Anderson’s Ohio Civil Practice. The book is relied upon by attorneys statewide for up-to-date information on divergent and ever-changing legal precedent. The update will soon be sent to law firms, law libraries and courts throughout the State. Attorneys are proud their Greene County colleagues were chosen to undertake the project. “The process was grueling, but seeing the final product and knowing that it will be used to help attorneys is a great reward,” Rowland said. Attorneys who have used it for reference are complimentary of the book that covers topics from insurance to parenting to zoning. The three were selected by the publishers based on their experience and depth of knowledge of all aspects of civil litigation. The authors met every two weeks for more than six months to share their opinions and write on more than 50 areas of law ranging from arcane writs to complex cutting edge legal trends. Attorneys who have used it for reference are complimentary of the book that covers topics from insurance to parenting to zoning. Judge Campbell received his bachelor of science degree from Xavier University and juris doctorate degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. He practiced law for 37 years and as a practicing attorney is admitted to all Ohio State courts and the Federal District courts for the Southern District of Ohio, Western Division, the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. Judge Wolaver was raised in Greene County and admitted to practice law in Ohio in 1975. He practiced law in Fairborn and was an assistant prosecuting attorney for 26 years. He is admitted to all Ohio courts, U. S. Tax Court and U. S. Supreme Court. Judge Wolaver received his bachelors degree from Miami University, Oxford, and juris doctor degree from the Valaparaiso University School of Law in Indiana. He is admitted to all Ohio courts, U. S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, U. S. Sixth Court of Appeals, U. S. Tax Court and U. S. Supreme Court. He has been a president of the Greene County Bar Association and a member of the Ohio State Bar Association, American Judges Association, Ohio Judicial Confrence, Ohio Common Pleas Association and serves on several statewide judicial committees. He has been inducted into the Fairborn High School Hall of Fame, received the OPAA “Assistant Prosecutor of the Year Award for the State of Ohio” and was honored nationally for his trial work. Attorney Rowland is an accomplished trial lawyer. He was the recipient of the Community Service Award for Attorneys under the age of 40, was made a fellow to the Ohio State Bar Foundation, has served as the Xenia City prosecutor, and as special prosecutor for Greene County. He has provided assistance to the Rural Legal Aid Society of Southeast Ohio in complex civil litigation. He currently is serving his second term on the Beavercreek City School Board. He wishes to acknowledge the help and support given to him during this project by Tracy Rowland, Patricia Campbell, Mark J. Babb, Kristen Kelly, Lori Gaipo and also the consideration shown by the staff of the Greene County Common Pleas Court, Ron Mellotte, Gayle Manker, Aileen Crawford and Lois Fritz. For information about the project, contact Rowland at www.charlesrowland.com or by calling (937) 1-888-rowland.

Red-light cameras ruled OK

Unanimous decision by Ohio Supreme Court says cities do not overstep their authority.

By Laura A. Bischoff and Joanne Huist Smith

COLUMBUS — Cities, such as Dayton, are allowed to use red light cameras to enforce traffic laws, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled Thursday in a 7-0 decision. The court said an Ohio municipality does not overstep its authority under "home rule" provisions in the state constitution when it creates an automated traffic enforcement system, as long as the city doesn't alter any statewide traffic provisions. "This is a check mark in the good column for home rule," Dayton Mayor Rhine McLin said. "It's good news that the decision was unanimous and that the Ohio Supreme Court recognizes the cameras reduce accidents and save lives." Dayton installed its first traffic camera in 2003 and has 20 operating at 10 intersections. Seven of the 10 monitored intersections are west of the Great Miami River.  From January 2006 through June 2007, an average of 79 violations per month, per camera were captured, according to city records. During that same period, the number of accidents that resulted from red light violations dropped 72 percent at intersections enforced with red light cameras.  Akron-area motorist Kelly Mendenhall, who had been nabbed by an unmanned camera for speeding, challenged the constitutionality of Akron's traffic ordinance that permitted camera enforcement.  The U.S. District Court for the Northern District, which is handling Mendenhall's case, asked the Ohio Supreme Court to determine whether the challenged local ordinances violate the "home rule" provision of the Ohio Constitution.  Akron uses cameras to catch drivers running red lights and speeding and then issues "civil citations" to the car owner. Mendenhall contended that the city ordinance conflicted with state laws that define speeding and traffic light violations as criminal offenses.  Justice Judith Lanzinger, who wrote the decision, said Akron's ordinance did not conflict with the state's traffic laws.  The justices acknowledged that there are other legal questions about the use of red light cameras. "Although there have been due process questions regarding the operation of the Akron Ordinance and those similar to it, they are not appropriately before us at this time, and will not be discussed here," Lanzinger wrot