DUI PENALTIES - OHIO OVI PENALTIES
This page breaks down the range of OVI penalties you are facing for your drunk driving charge. It includes misdemeanor DUI penalties, felony DUI penalties, and underage DUI penalties.
If you have been charged with Driving Under the Influence, you are immediately place under an Administrative License Suspension (ALS). Click HERE for information about the ALS.
1st DUI/OVI in ten years
If convicted of this offense, you are facing a mandatory minimum 3 day jail sentence up to a maximum of 6 months. Fines can be anywhere from $375 to $1,075. There is a license suspension from 1 to 3 years and you are not eligible for driving privileges for the first 15 days. Court ordered treatment, restricted plates, and interlock are all optional at the judge’s discretion.
1st DUI/OVI in ten years AND either a high test or refusal
If convicted of this offense, you are facing a mandatory minimum 6 day jail sentence up to a maximum of 6 months. Fines range from $375 to $1,075. There is a license suspension from 1 to 3 years and you are not eligible for driving privileges for the first 15 days. Restricted plates are required. Court ordered treatment and interlock are optional at the judge’s discretion.
2nd DUI/OVI in ten years
If convicted of this offense, you are facing a mandatory minimum 10 day jail sentence up to a maximum of 6 months. Fines can be anywhere from $525 to $1,625. There is a mandatory license suspension from 1 to 7 years and you are not eligible for driving privileges for the first 45 days. Alcohol and/or drug assessment and Court ordered treatment are required. Restricted plates are optional. Interlock is required if the offense is alcohol related (optional if a drug related offense). Additionally, the vehicle is subject to 90 day immobilization if it is registered in your name.
2nd DUI/OVI in ten years AND either a high test or refusal
If convicted of this offense, you are facing a mandatory minimum 20 day jail sentence up to a maximum of 6 months. Fines range from $525 to $1,625. There is a mandatory license suspension from 1 to 7 years and you are not eligible for driving privileges for the first 45 days. Alcohol and/or drug assessment and Court ordered treatment are required. Restricted plates are required for a high test but optional for a refusal. Interlock is required if the offense is alcohol related (optional if a drug related offense). Additionally, the vehicle is subject to 90 day immobilization if it is registered in your name.
3rd DUI/OVI in ten years
If convicted of this offense, you are facing a mandatory minimum 30 day jail sentence up to a maximum of 1 year. Fines range from $850 to $2,750. There is a license suspension of 2 to 12 years and you are not eligible for driving privileges for 180 days. Alcohol and/or drug addiction treatment is mandatory. Restricted plates are required. Interlock is required if the offense is alcohol related (optional if a drug related offense). Additionally, if the vehicle is registered in your name it is subject to forfeiture.
3rd DUI/OVI in ten years AND either a high test or refusal
If convicted of this offense, you are facing a mandatory minimum 60 day jail sentence up to a maximum of 1 year. Fines range from $850 to $2,750. There is a license suspension of 2 to 12 years and you are not eligible for driving privileges for 180 days. Alcohol and/or drug addiction treatment is mandatory. Restricted plates are required. Interlock is required if the offense is alcohol related (optional if a drug related offense). Additionally, if the vehicle is registered in your name it is subject to forfeiture.
4th or 5th DUI/OVI in ten years OR 6th in 20 years
If convicted of this offense, you are facing a mandatory minimum 60 day jail sentence up to 1 year (or 60 days prison with the option of an additional 6 to 30 months). Fines range from $1,350 to $10,500. There is a mandatory license suspension from 3 years to life and you are not eligible for driving privileges for the first 3 years. Alcohol and/or drug addiction treatment is mandatory. Restricted plates are required. Interlock is required if the offense is alcohol related (optional if a drug related offense). Additionally, if the vehicle is registered in your name it is subject to forfeiture.
4th or 5th DUI/OVI in ten years OR 6th in 20 years AND a high test OR refusal
If convicted of this offense, you are facing a mandatory minimum 120 day jail sentence up to 1 year (or 120 days prison with the option of an additional 6 to 30 months). Fines range from $1,350 to $10,500. There is a mandatory license suspension from 3 years to life and you are not eligible for driving privileges for the first 3 years. Alcohol and/or drug addiction treatment is mandatory. Restricted plates are required. Interlock is required if the offense is alcohol related (optional if a drug related offense). Additionally, if the vehicle is registered in your name it is subject to forfeiture.
2nd Felony DUI/OVI lifetime
If convicted of this offense, you are facing a mandatory minimum 60 days in prison and up to 3 years. Fines range from $1,350 to $10,500. There is a mandatory license suspension from 3 years to life and you are not eligible for driving privileges for the first 3 years. Alcohol and/or drug addiction treatment is mandatory. Restricted plates are required. Interlock is required if the offense is alcohol related (optional if a drug related offense). Additionally, if the vehicle is registered in your name it is subject to forfeiture.
2nd Felony DUI/OVI lifetime AND a high test OR refusal
If convicted of this offense, you are facing a mandatory minimum 120 days in prison up to 3 years. Fines range from $1,350 to $10,500. There is a mandatory license suspension from 3 years to life and you are not eligible for driving privileges for the first 3 years. Alcohol and/or drug addiction treatment is mandatory. Restricted plates are required. Interlock is required if the offense is alcohol related (optional if a drug related offense). Additionally, if the vehicle is registered in your name it is subject to forfeiture.
Underage DUI/OVI
If you are under the age of 21, your legal limit is a BAC of .02 (as opposed to a .08 if you were of legal age to drink alcohol). Like all charges of drunk driving, this charge has serious and long term ramifications on your ability to drive as well as your insurance premiums.
1st OVI/DUI in 1 year
If convicted of this offense, you are facing a jail term of 0 to 30 days. Fines range from zero to $250. There is a mandatory license suspension of 90 days to 2 years and you are not eligible for driving privileges for 60 days. Court ordered treatment, restricted plates, and interlock are all optional at the judge’s discretion.
2nd OVI/DUI in 1 year
If convicted of this offense, you are facing a jail term of 0 to 60 days. Fines range from zero to $500. There is a mandatory license suspension of 1 to 5 years and you are not eligible for driving privileges for 60 days. Court ordered treatment, restricted plates and interlock are all optional at the judge’s discretion.
DUI & OVI
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Stiefvater Law, LLC
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Independence, Ohio 44131
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This website is maintained for informational purposes only. Please see the disclaimer.
Stiefvater Law, LLC has had the privilege to defend countless individuals. Founding Attorney Robert Stiefvater practices throughout Ohio- Federal; including but not limited to the following jurisdictions- County: Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Erie, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage, Stark, and Summit- the following Municipal: Bedford, Berea, Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, Euclid, Garfield Heights, Lakewood, Lyndhurst, Parma, Rocky River, Shaker Heights, Sandusky, Vermillion, Chardon, Mentor, Painesville, Willoughby, Avon Lake, Elyria, Lorain, Oberlin, Medina, Wadsworth, Canton, Massillon, Akron, and Stow- and the following Mayor’s Beachwood, Boston Heights, Broadview Heights, Brook Park, Brooklyn, Chagrin Falls, Independence, Middleburg Heights, Newburgh Heights, North Royalton, Seven Hills, Strongsville, Avon, North Ridgeville, Brunswick, Boston Heights, Cuyahoga Falls, Fairlawn, Macedonia, and Northfield.
If you have been charged with a crime or a DUI - OVI, and need an OVI lawyer or local criminal defense attorney:
Trust Attorney Stiefvater to defend you against any of the following criminal charges:
Aiding & Abetting, Accessory, Arson, Assault, Attempt, Battery, Bribery, Burglary, Child Abandonment, Child Abuse, Child Endangering, Child Pornography, Computer Crime, Conspiracy, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, Credit Card Fraud, Contempt of Court, Cyber Bullying, Debit Card Fraud, Disorderly Conduct, Disturbing the Peace, Domestic Violence, Drug Cultivation, Drug Manufacturing, Drug Trafficking, Drug Distribution, Drug Possession, Embezzlement, Extortion, Forgery, Fraud, Harassment, Hate Crime, Homicide, Indecent Exposure, Identity Theft, Insurance Fraud, Kidnapping, Larceny, Manslaughter, Medical Marijuana, Money Laundering, Murder, Open Container, Perjury, Probation Violation, Prostitution, Public Intoxication, RICO (racketeering), Rape, Robbery, Securities Fraud, Sexual Assault, Shoplifting, Solicitation, Stalking, Statutory Rape, Tax Evasion, Tax Fraud, Telemarketing Fraud, Theft, Underage Possession, Vandalism, White Collar Crime, and Wire Fraud;
or any of the following traffic
Assured Clear Distance, Child Restraint Violation, Driving in Marked Lanes, Driving without a License, Driving with a Suspended License, Driving without Registration, Driving with Expired Registration, Driving Under Suspension (DUS), Drunk Driving-DUI-OVI-DWI, Failure to Control, Failure to Yield, Illegal U-Turn, Leaving the Scene of an Accident (Hit-Skip or Hit and Run), Mechanical Violations (Equipment Violations), Reckless Driving (Reckless Operation), Running a Red Light, Running a Stop Sign, Seat Belt Violation, Speeding, Unlawful Vehicle Modifications, and Wrongful Entrustment.