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DUI Penalties in Ohio

If you are stopped for suspicion of DUI in Ohio, police officers will conduct breathalyzer and other field sobriety tests.  If you are intoxicated, you are subject to an Administrative License Suspension, and an officer can immediately suspend your license, and remove it from you.  If you refuse field sobriety testing in Ohio, your driver's license is automatically suspended.

With each subsequent Ohio DUI conviction, the penalties* become stiffer: You could spend up to a year in jail, lose your car; have your license permanently revoked; and be fined up to $10,000.

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

3rd Offense

• ALS for two years for a prohibited BAC
• ALS for test refusal = three year license suspension
• Jail - Minimum 30 days to one year
• Alternative sentence - 15 days or Jail + minimum 55 consecutive days of electronically monitored house arrest combined, maximum of one year
• Fine - Minimum $500 and not more than $2,500
• Mandatory attendance in an alcohol treatment program paid for by offender
• Vehicle immobilization and plates impounded for 180 days
• Court License Suspension - 1 year to 10 years

Four or More Offenses

• ALS for three years for a prohibited BAC
• ALS for test refusal = five years license suspension
• Minimum of 60 consecutive days and up to one year in jail
• Fine - Minimum $750 and not more than $10,000
• Mandatory drug/alcohol treatment program paid for by offender
• Vehicle Forfeiture - Mandatory criminal forfeiture of vehicle operated by offender, imposed by court
• Court License Suspension - 3 years to Permanent Revocation

Vehicle Forfeiture

You will permanently forfeit your vehicle, by order of the court for:

• 3rd DUI offense within six years
• 3rd offense or more of Driving under FRA suspension within five years
• 2nd offense of a vehicle owner knowingly permitting a person whose license is suspended to drive their vehicle
• 1st offense of driving a vehicle that is immobilized with license plates impounded

* These are general provisions.  Each city within Ohio has its own code and penalty provisions.  The Ohio State Legislature has made many changes to Ohio criminal law of late, and continues to make changes regularly.