Ohio
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Driving Under the Influence Laws in Ohio
Use duilawyersnow.org to find the best DUI lawyer in Ohio to take care of your case. Many people fall prey to insurance scams and fraud when they try to handle their DUI cases alone. Luckily, through our website you will find access to a top DUI lawyer near you that will work tirelessly to ensure your safety and that your charges are dropped. Call today to set up a consultation with the DUI lawyer that suits your needs best.
In the state of Ohio, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol is illegal. If a motorist is found to be operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, they will be charged with OVI, or Operating a Vehicle Intoxicated.
OVI laws specify that a motorist will be arrested if they are found to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of .08 percent while operating a vehicle. The limit for both commercial vehicle drivers and minors is lower. Commercial vehicle drivers need only have a BAC of .04 percent to be arrested and minors need only have a BAC of .02 percent. However, when it comes to drugs such as marijuana, cocaine or any other controlled substance, any amount of consumption is enough to lead to an OVI charge.
In Ohio, a motorist can get charged with OVI without even driving. “Operating” a vehicle doesn’t necessarily mean driving it on the roadway. It just means that a person is in control of a vehicle, even if it is parked and the keys are not in the ignition. The word “vehicle” is also used loosely to describe any device that is powered by a force other than human power, such as a motorcycle, ATV, snowmobile, boat or plane.
Penalties for OVI offenders in Ohio
Motorists who are charged with OVI in Ohio may suffer any of the following punishments or a combination of penalties. Punishments will be higher (sometimes double) if a motorist is driving with a BAC level above .17 percent, which is known as excessive OVI.
1st OVI Conviction
• Imprisonment from 3 days to 6 months or Driver Intervention Program for 3 days
• Imprisonment for 6 days minimum if BAC above .17 percent
• Driver’s license suspended from 6 months to 3 years
• License reinstatement fee of $450
• Fine from $250 to $1,000
2nd OVI Conviction
• Imprisonment for minimum 10 days and electronic home monitoring from 18 days to 6 months
• Imprisonment for 20 days if BAC above .17 percent
• Driver’s license suspended from 1 to 5 years
• License reinstatement fee of $450
• Fine from $350 to $1,500
• Vehicle immobilized for 90 days
• Must undergo Driver Intervention Program
3rd OVI Conviction
• Imprisonment from 30 days to 1 year or 15 days with electronic home monitoring from 55 days to 1 year
• Imprisonment for 60 days if BAC above .17 percent
• Driver’s license suspended from 1 to 10 years
• License reinstatement fee of $450
• Fine from $350 to $1,500
• Vehicle immobilized for 180 days
• Mandatory drug/alcohol treatment program
4th OVI Conviction
• Considered a felony offense
• Imprisonment from 60 days to 1 year
• Driver’s license suspended for minimum 3 years to indefinitely
• License reinstatement fee of $450
• Fine from $800 to $10,000
• Mandatory vehicle forfeiture
• Mandatory drug/alcohol treatment program
Ohio Implied Consent Law
The implied consent law in Ohio states that all motorists driving on an Ohio roadway will agree to submit to a chemical test of their blood, urine or breath to determine intoxication if an officer believes the motorist to be operating a vehicle while intoxicated. If a motorist refuses to be tested, they will have their driver’s license automatically suspended until a court hearing date is established. Usually, motorists have their license revoked for 1 year for the first refusal. Subsequent refusals garnish higher penalties.
Getting Help from an Ohio OVI Lawyer
If you have been charged with OVI in Ohio, hire a skilled OVI lawyer to help you contest your charges. In Ohio, you do not have to even take a chemical test in order to be convicted of OVI. If an officer deems you to be sufficiently impaired by drug or alcohol consumption, this can be enough to have you convicted of OVI. But don’t worry, because when you have an elite Ohio OVI attorney working on your case, your charges will either be significantly reduced or wiped out altogether.
Your OVI lawyer in Ohio will not rest until your case ends with the best possible outcome. They understand that many times, motorists are charged with OVI unfairly and will not allow you to suffer penalties for a crime you did not commit or for which there is insufficient proof that you are guilty of. In Ohio, a motorist can only be convicted if their guilty is proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Turn to an acclaimed team of Ohio OVI attorneys today to get started on your case and fight for your rights.
