All states, including Ohio, come down hard on drunk and/or drug-impaired driving. In Ohio, this offense is called OVI, operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Being convicted of OVI in Ohio has serious consequences, even for a first offender. These consequences have been established by the legislature to punish offenders and to discourage drunk driving in others. The consequences include not only criminal penalties but administrative penalties and collateral damage to your life. In this blog, we will show you all the consequences you could be facing as a first offender.
Criminal Penalties of OVI
The penalties you will face in any OVI will depend on the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) found when you underwent a chemical test such as a breathalyzer test.
Ohio has established two levels of BAC in the matter. They are known as “low-level OVI” and “high-level OVI.”
- Low-level OVI penalties are incurred when your BAC measures .08 percent up to .16 percent
- High-level OVI penalties follow when your BAC has measured .17 percent or higher
Penalties for a Low-Level OVI
This offense is also often called a “low-tier” OVI offense. It carries the following penalties:
- Three days up to six months in jail; you may be allowed to spend three days of this time in a driver’s intervention program (bought at your own expense)
- A fine ranging from $375 up to $1075
- Up to five years of probation
- A license suspension of one year up to three years; you may be granted restricted driving privileges by the judge for travel to and from work or school
In some cases, you may be required to put on and display restricted driving/offender license plates or you may be required to install and maintain an ignition interlock device (IID) in your vehicle at your own expense.
Penalties for a High-Level OVI
This offense is also often called a “high-tier” OVI and carries the following penalties:
- Six days up to six months in jail; you may also be allowed to spend three days of jail time taking a driver’s intervention program
- A fine ranging from $375 up to $1075
- Up to five years of probation
- A license suspension of up to three years; you may be granted restricted driving privileges under some circumstances, often with an IID placed in your vehicle, but this cannot occur without a mandatory 15 days of no driving
If you are allowed to drive at all, it is usually only with an IID and you may also be required to have restricted driving/offender license plates.
Collateral Consequences of an OVI
The consequences of an OVI do not end with the above criminal and administrative penalties. They can also include a negative impact on your personal and professional life. An OVI conviction will end with a permanent criminal record, which can be located by anyone running a background check. That means future employers, landlords, educational institutions, and professional licensing agencies can discover your criminal background. Thus, your record can make it difficult to land jobs, housing, educational aid, and more.
Further financial consequences will also likely follow in the form of potential car insurance cancellation and/or increased car insurance rates. When combined with the above fines and other monetary expenses associated with IIDs, driver intervention programs, and special license plates, this can turn into a costly proposition.
Fight Back with Hard-Hitting Legal Help
A first OVI can be scary and stressful. Your best defense is to enlist the services of a DUI attorney who is experienced in this very technical legal matter and who knows the local courts. At L. Patrick Mulligan & Associates, LLC, we can provide seasoned and dedicated representation led by a Board Certified Criminal Law Specialist.
Contact us online to request a consultation or call us at (937) 685-7006 today.