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The Ohio DUI Laws

Ohio DUI laws refer to drunk driving as Operating a Vehicle while intoxicated (OVI), Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI) or Operating a Motor Vehicle while Under the Influence, Impaired, or Intoxicated (OMVI).

OVI arrests trigger 2 separate cases. The first is with the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. In this case, you have a limited amount of time to challenge the suspension of your license. This is a bureaucratic, not a judicial, hearing.

The other action under Ohio DUI laws is the criminal case. In this case, the prosecutor will have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you operated a motor vehicle while having any amount of alcohol or drugs which impair your physical or mental abilities to an appreciable degree. If you have a blood alcohol level in your system of .08% determined by blood, breath, or urine testing, you’re presumed to have been driving under the influence.

The penalties for being convicted of DUI/OVI depend on your prior criminal and traffic records, the level of alcohol in your blood, and the specific facts of the case at hand. Higher BAC levels can double the penalties under Ohio DUI laws.

At a minimum (first time DUI), you’ll be facing a drivers license suspension, three days in jail or three day driver intervention program, and a fine of up to 1000.

Multiple DUIs increase the severity of the penalty. For instance, a fourth and subsequent OVI results in a minimum of sixty consecutive days in jail (with a maximum of one year), a fine of up to 10,000, mandatory drug or alcohol treatment, vehicle forfeiture, and at least three year’s driver’s license suspension. If the Judge feels the case is serious enough, he or she can revoke your license forever.

You should know that Ohio DUI laws state that if you’re convicted of a DUI/OVI, you can’t have any conviction expunged from your record. This includes both DUI cases and any other minor criminal convictions in your past or future.

Ohio DUI laws extract severe penalties for operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol If you have been picked up on a DUI charge, you should do 2 things right away. First, you should get a qualified DUI lawyer right away.

It is also important to point out that the term "drunk driving" tends to be a bit misleading. A person doesn't have to be "drunk" or “intoxicated” to commit this offense. All that is required is that is that the accused consumed alcohol to the point that it impaired the individual’s ability to operate a motor vehicle.