Ohio DUI Laws

If you drink and drive, you are committing a serious crime which has swift and sure consequences that are hard to ignore. If you are stopped for drunk driving and you refuse to take the sobriety test, or if your test results exceed the legal limit of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC), the officer can take your driver's license on the spot, and the suspension begins immediately. Depending on previous offenses or refusals, you can have your license automatically suspended for a period of 90 days to five years. The administrative suspension is independent of any jail term, fine or other criminal penalty imposed in court for a DUI offense.

1st Offense

• Administrative License Suspension (ALS) for a prohibited BAC
• ALS for test refusal = one year license suspension
• Jail - Minimum of three consecutive days or 3-day driver intervention program
• Fine - Minimum $200 and not more than $1,000
• Court License Suspension -  6 months to 3 years

2nd Offense

• ALS for one year for a prohibited BAC
• ALS for test refusal = two year license suspension
• Jail -  Minimum of 10 consecutive days or five days jail + minimum 18 consecutive days of electronically monitored house arrest combined, not to exceed 6 months
• Fine - Minimum $300 and not more than $1,500
• Discretionary driver's intervention program
• Vehicle immobilization and plates impounded for 90 days
• Court License Suspension - 1 year to 5 years

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