Ohio DUI Laws

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The maximum prescribed legal BAC limit in Ohio is 0.08% per se
(effective from Jul 1st 2003)

(If you’ve been charged with Ohio DUI, the law allows only 5 days for your Ohio DUI lawyer to make a request with the Ohio BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles) for a hearing to save your driving license)

Ohio DUI Laws and BAC limits

Ohio drunk driving cases are referred to as Ohio OVI (operating a vehicle while intoxicated), Ohio DUI (driving under the influence of alcohol), or Ohio OMVI (operating a motor vehicle while under the influence, impaired, or intoxicated). All of these acronyms relate to the same offense, found in the Ohio Revised Code.

ALL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.08%
In the State of Ohio it is crime for ANY driver to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.08% and above.

COMMERCIAL DRIVERS - BAC LIMIT = 0.04%
It is a crime for commercial vehicle operators to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.04% or above.

MINOR (under the age of 21) - BAC LIMIT = 0.02%
It is a crime for persons under 21 years of age to drive with a BAC (blood alcohol content - concentration) of 0.02% or above.

It is a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test in Ohio and implied consent laws are enforced.

In addition Ohio DUI / OVI law makes it a crime for any person to operate a motor vehicle while having any amount of alcohol or drugs or combination of the drugs and alcohol that impairs their physical or mental abilities to an appreciable degree. This offense does not require proof of any specific amount of alcohol in your system; therefore, you don't have to take the blood, breath, or urine test to be convicted of this offense. See below.

Ohio BAC Calculator

BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT CALCULATOR Calculate your BAC using our calculator, know your legal drunk driving limits and stay safe!!

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Penalties for DUI - Drunk Driving in Ohio

Ohio is a state with a six-year ‘washout period,’ also known as a 'look back period', this means that a prior conviction is not admissible after six years. If it is six years and one day since a driver was convicted of DUI, that driver will be considered a first-time offender. If a driver commits a DUI within six years of the first DUI, they are considered guilty of a second offense and are subjected to harsher punishments.

Ohio is quite unique in the fact that the courts also order drivers license suspensions in addition to the ALS (administrative license suspension) ordered by the Ohio DMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles).

ALS = Administrative drivers license suspension.

CIS = Court imposed drivers license suspension.

First DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR

The penalty for a first DUI - drunk driving conviction in Ohio:

• $200 to $1,000 fine
• 3 days in jail (or 3 day driver intervention program)
• ALS - 90 days drivers license suspension
• CIS - 6 months to 3 years drivers license suspension
• possible ignition interlock restriction
• SR22 insurance requirement

Second DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR

The penalty for a second DUI - drunk driving conviction in Ohio:

• $300 to $1,500 fine
• 10 days jail plus 18 days to 6 months electronically monitored house arrest
• ALS - 1 year drivers license suspension
• CIS - 1 to 5 years drivers license suspension
• possible drivers intervention program
• vehicle immobilization and plates impounded for 90 days
• possible ignition interlock restriction
• SR22 insurance requirement

Third DUI - Drunk Driving Conviction - MISDEMEANOR

The penalty for a third DUI - drunk driving conviction in Ohio:

• $500 to $2,500 fine
• 30 days to one year in jail (Alternative sentence - 15 days or Jail + minimum 55 consecutive days of electronically monitored house arrest combined, maximum of one year)
• ALS - 3 years drivers license suspension
• CIS - 1 to 10 years drivers license suspension
• attendance at alcohol treatment program
• vehicle immobilization and plates impounded for 180 days
• permanent loss of vehicle if third offense within 6 years
• possible ignition interlock restriction
• SR22 insurance requirement

Fourth DUI (and subsequent) - Drunk Driving Conviction - Felony

The penalty for a fourth DUI - drunk driving conviction in Ohio:

• $750 to $10,000 fine
• 60 days to 1 year in jail
• ALS - 3 years drivers license suspension
• CIS - 3 years to permanent drivers license suspension
• attendance at alcohol treatment program
• vehicle forfeiture
• possible ignition interlock restriction
• SR22 insurance requirement

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Implied consent LAWS

It is a crime to refuse to submit to a chemical test in Ohio and implied consent laws are enforced.

Penalties for refusing to submit to a chemical test in Ohio

In Ohio, if the accused refuses to take a chemical test of their blood, breath or urine, their drivers license will be suspended/revoked.

FIRST CHEMICAL TEST REFUSAL

• 1 year drivers license suspension
• SR22 insurance requirement

SECOND Chemical test REFUSAL

• 2 years drivers license suspension
• SR22 insurance requirement

Third Chemical test REFUSAL

• 3 years drivers license suspension
• SR22 insurance requirement

Fourth Chemical test REFUSAL

• 5 years drivers license suspension
• SR22 insurance requirement

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Ohio Auto insurance (High Risk DUI SR22 Insurance)

Ohio auto insurance quotes ENTER ZIP CODE:

Ohio SR-22 auto insurance is usually required for a period of 3 years after a DUI - drunk driving - alcohol related driving conviction and can be very expensive if you go with the wrong provider.  Some insurance companies will not even do an SR22 insurance filing. Get a FREE SR22 DUI auto insurance quote and compare rates to find the best deal, simply enter your ZIP code above and you can be comparing prices for Ohio auto insurance in a matter of minutes.

Minimum liability insurance requirements for private passenger vehicles in the state of Ohio

The minimum mandatory liability insurance coverage required in the state of Ohio for private passenger vehicles is (12.5/25/7.5). This equates to the following liability coverage:

• $12,500 bodily injury liability (BIL) per person
• $25,000 for two or more people in one accident
• $7,500 property damage liability (PDL) coverage

What is (BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance?

(BIL) Bodily Injury Liability insurance coverage will pay for serious and permanent injury or death to other people when a crash is caused by the insured. An auto insurance company will pay for injuries up to the limits specified in an insurance policy and will provide legal representation for the insured in the event someone tries to sue them.

What is (PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance?

(PDL) Property Damage Liability insurance coverage pays for damages an insured driver or members of an insured drivers family cause (and are liable for) to other people's property in a crash involving a motor vehicle.

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FREE DUI / DWI Case evaluation & by local Ohio Lawyer

OR

Protect your rights! Talk to a local DUI lawyer Ohio DUI cases tend to move quickly through the system, and there may be important deadlines that affect your right to assert certain defenses or call witnesses. It’s important that you understand the process your Ohio drunk driving case will follow and the important requirements and deadlines before you take any action—but you can’t afford to delay. Talk to a local Ohio Drunk Driving Attorney as soon as possible to gather important information such as: • What penalties do you face if convicted of DUI in Ohio? • What are the indirect penalties, such as increased insurance rates and diminished job opportunities in Ohio? • Does Ohio have a mandatory ignition interlock device law? • Was your breathalyzer or blood alcohol content (BAC) test properly administered in accordance with Ohio laws and procedures ? • When and how can you get your driver’s license reinstated in Ohio? It’s easy to make mistakes under pressure, so make sure that you have the information you need to make good, educated decisions during this process. Contact a local Ohio criminal defense attorney specialising in Ohio drunk driving laws today.

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Useful Ohio DUI Links:

DUI - Drunk Driving Laws in Ohio

Ohio Drivers Handbook

Ohio SR22 Insurance Requirement

Ohio BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles)

Ohio Department of Transportation

Ohio Department of Insurance

Ohio Unified Courts

Ohio DUI Lawyers

Ohio DUI discussion forum

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