Ohio Ignition Interlock & State DUI Laws

Administrative License Revocation (ALR) Procedures

Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)

Ohio is one of 42 states that has implemented ALR, meaning that your license will be confiscated immediately if your BAC is above .08 OR if you refuse a BAC test. Your license will either be suspended or revoked at that point, even though you have not been officially convicted in a criminal trial. You can be charged with an administrative license suspension even if you are not later charged with driving under the influence offense. This action was designed to be in addition to and separate from the traditional OVI judicial conviction penalties such as license suspension, jail time, community service hours, ignition interlock device (IID), and alcohol and drug rehabilitation.

NOTE: Ohio is unique in the fact that the courts also order driver’s license suspensions in addition to the ALS (Administrative License Suspension) ordered by the Ohio BMV (Bureau of Motor Vehicles).

Judicial Procedures

In Ohio, the drunk driving law prohibits a person from driving when they have a BAC of .08% or higher. Courts are required to order the installation and monitoring of an interlock device for any driver whose BAC levels are .08% or higher for a second offense.

License Revocation, Fines, and Jail

• First Offense – Misdemeanor: 3 days to 6 months in jail, $375 to $1,075 in fines, Administrative License Suspension for 3 months, Court Imposed License Suspension for 6 months to 3 years, and driver’s intervention program. Possible alcohol/drug assessment and treatment programs. May be eligible for an ignition interlock restricted limited driving privileges after the first 6 months of suspension.
• Second Offense – Misdemeanor: 10 days to 6 months in jail, $525 to $1,625 in fines, Administrative License Suspension for 1 year, Court Imposed License Suspension for 1 to 5 years, mandatory alcohol/drug assessment and treatment programs as required, possible house arrest with electronic monitoring and/or continuous alcohol monitoring, possible vehicle immobilization, and plates impounded for 90 days. May be eligible for an ignition interlock restricted limited driving privileges after the first year of suspension.
• Third Offense – Misdemeanor: 30 days to 1 year in jail, $850 to $2,750 in fines, Administrative License Suspension for 2 years, Court Imposed License Suspension for 2 to 10 years, mandatory alcohol/drug assessment and treatment programs as required. May be eligible for an ignition interlock restricted limited driving privileges after first 3 years of suspension. Possible house arrest with electronic monitoring and/or continuous alcohol monitoring. Possible criminal vehicle forfeiture.
• Fourth and Subsequent Offense – Felony: 60 days to 5 years in jail, $1,350 to $10,500 fine, Administrative License Suspension for 3 years, Court Imposed License Suspension for 3 years to lifetime, mandatory alcohol/drug assessment and treatment programs as required. Possible house arrest with electronic monitoring and/or continuous alcohol monitoring. Possible criminal vehicle forfeiture.