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In Ohio, law enforcement primarily use the term OVI (operating a vehicle under the influence) which is the same as a DUI (driving under the influence) in other states.
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Under 21 |
.02% |
|
21 or older |
.08% |
|
Commercial |
.04% |
** BAC = blood alcohol content
How many drinks does it take? Check the BAC chart.
Ohio has an implied consent law. That means that if you refuse to submit to a chemical test you will be subject to a fine and automatic license suspension. Learn more about Ohio’s implied consent law.
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|
1st Offense |
2d offense |
3rd Offense |
|
Refusal to take test |
1 year suspension of license |
2 year suspension of license |
3 year suspension of license |
|
|
1st Offense |
2d offense |
3rd Offense |
|
Minimum Jail |
3 days |
10 days jail |
30 days jail |
Lookback Period: 6 years (Period of time that prior OVIs are relevant for sentencing
In some circumstances, a plea bargain of "wet reckless" might be accepted by the prosecution in Ohio. A "wet reckless," or a conviction of reckless driving involving alcohol, is usually made as a result of a plea bargain in which a charge of drunk driving is reduced to a case of reckless driving. A plea bargain of wet reckless might occur when the amount of alcohol is borderline illegal, there was no accident, and the defendant has no prior record. But if there is a subsequent drunk driving conviction, the "wet reckless" is usually considered a prior drunk driving conviction; the resulting sentence can be what's required for a second OVI/DWI conviction. If you are interested in trying to make a plea for a wet reckless, you'll need the help of a lawyer.
Learn more about 1st Offense OVI in Ohio
Learn more about 2nd Offense OVI in Ohio
While we strive to keep this information up to date and accurate, it's important to understand that it's based on your states legislature. Your local courts, judges, district attorneys office and even local law enforcement will have a huge impact on how the law is actually applied in any given case. No amount of legal information can replace the advice of a local attorney familiar with DUI cases in your area.
Learn more about 3rd Offense OVI in Ohio
Ohio Drunk Driving and Wet Reckless Laws - Nolo.com
It is illegal in the State of Ohio to drive with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or above. The limit is lower for commercial drivers and drivers under the age of 21. In Ohio a DUI is called a OVI, meaning "Operating a Vehicle Intoxicated". The Ohio OVI law includes alcohol or drugs or both. While the OWI specify's a .08 BAC in the case of alcohol, it is illegal to drive with any amount of a controlled substance such as marijuana, cocaine, heroin, or meth present in the driver's blood.
How many drinks does it take to reach the legal limit in Ohio?
It is difficult to calculate how many drinks it takes to reach the .08
BAC OVI limit. There are many factors that contribute to an individuals
BAC level including weight, sex, body-fat percentage and the time
interval between drinks. Studies have show that a persons BAC could go
up as much as .05 percent for each drink taken. There are charts and
calculators that can help you calculate your BAC, however these tools
do not take all variables into account when calculating your BAC. The
fact is it takes very little alcohol to become legally drunk and each
drink taken is a another step closer to becoming an "impaired" driver.
The best answer is not to drink and drive . The State of Ohio has strict laws for drunk driving, and when you drink and drive in Ohio, you risk your freedom, finances and your future.
The first time you are arrested and convicted of drunk driving in Ohio, you will receive an Administrative License Suspension (ALS) 90 days. This ALS suspension is independent of your court ordered suspension that will be from 6 months to 3 years in duration. If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was between .08%-.17% you will serve a mandatory 72 hours in jail. You will also be ordered to pay a fine between $250 and $1,000.
The second OVI you receive in Ohio will cost you a 1 year ALS if it was within 6 years of your previous DUI. This ALS suspension is independent of your court ordered suspension that will be from 1 to 5 years. If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was between .08%-.17% you will serve a mandatory 10 days in jail. You will also be ordered to pay a fine between $350 and $1,500. The court may also place you in an alcohol treatment or driver intervention program at your own expense.
A 3rd drunk driving conviction in the State of Ohio and you will receive a 3 year administrative license suspension (ALS) if the conviction is within 6 years of the first. This ALS suspension is independent of your court ordered suspension that will be from 2 to 10 years. If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was between .08%-.17% you will serve a mandatory minimum 30 days in jail, or, if the court allows, electronically monitored house arrest. You will also be ordered to pay a fine between $500 and $2,500. The court will order you to an alcohol or drug treatment program at your own expense.
All 4th and 5th drunk driving convictions in the State of Ohio will receive a 3 year administrative license suspension (ALS) if the conviction is within 6 years of the first. This ALS suspension is independent of your court ordered suspension that will be from 3 years to life. If your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was between .08%-.17% you will serve a mandatory minimum 60 days in jail, or up to 1 year. In addition to this imprisonment, the court can charge 4th and future OVI's with having previous convictions which carries jail time up to 5 years. You will also be fined from $800-$10,000.
The State of Ohio, like many states across the country has an implied consent law that affects all drivers on the roadways of Ohio. All drivers in the state agree to submit to a chemical test of their blood, breath or urine if an officer of the law suspects the driver of being under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or both. If you refuse to submit to such a test your drivers license will be immediately suspended and you will face a hearing in court. Unless there are special circumstances in your case you will have your drivers license suspended for 1 year for failing to submit to a field sobriety test. This is for the first refusal only, future refusals will result in longer suspensions and harsher penalties.
State of Ohio Website - More DUI Information
by: Rich Stim, Attorney