Ohio Drunk Driving Laws and DUI Penalties

For a list of penalties for drunk driving or operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs (OVI) or driving under suspension Click HERE.  

Drunk Driving penalties in Ohio are set forth in the Ohio Revised Code and can be incredibly complex. The range of possible sentences is determined by the basic statute, with modifications for such things as:

• Having a prior conviction within six years

• Having prior convictions within twenty years

• Having a blood-alcohol reading over .o8%

• Having a blood-alcohol reading over .17%

• Refusing to submit to chemical testing

• Having a blood-alcohol reading of .002 and being under the age of 21

Within the range, the actual sentence in a drinking and driving case will be affected by:

• The facts of the case

• Any policies of the local court and prosecutors

• The weaknesses in the case uncovered by the defense attorney

• The reputation of that attorney

All of this is independent of the BMV drivers license suspension, (ALS) which is determined separately and which can itself be very complicated.