OVI Driving Privileges in Ohio - Funkhouser Law

Ohio OVI Driving Privileges:

You can get driving privileges if charged with OVI.

If your licenses is suspended from an OVI call our office about getting driving privileges.

Pre-Trial Driving Privileges and Hard Time Suspensions for Testing Over and Refusal ORC § 4511.191

Driving Privileges While Your Case is Pending

If a person refuses a chemical test or tests over the legal limit for an OVI they are subject to an automatic Administrative License Suspension (ALS). If a person is subjected to an ALS that suspension can be terminated altogether if the arresting officer did not follow proper BMV protocols. Even if BMV protocols were not followed you still may be able to get your license back or at least get driving privileges while your case is pending.

Post Conviction Driving Privileges

Once there is a conviction for an OVI/DUI, the court must impose a mandatory suspension to a person’s driver’s license, subject to privileges after a specified period. These privileges can be granted in order to allow for transportation to work, or school, or to pick the children from school or daycare. How broad your driving privileges are is up to the discretion of the court, so you will need an experienced lawyer to advocate for you.

You can read more about more about OVI cases in Columbus and the rest of Central Ohio here.

Pre-trial driving privileges are typically requested at the arraignment or at the first pre-trial. Call Funkhouser Law at 614-443-5404 for a free consultation.

SUSPENSION FOR REFUSAL TO TAKE THE TEST

No. of Refusals/Offense in 10 years	Applicable ORC Section	Class	Limited Driving Privileges	Restricted Plates/Restricted License/Interlock
1st	§4511.191(B)	Class C 1 Year	Yes After 30 days	Optional
2nd		Class B 2 Years	Yes After 90 days
3rd		Class A 3 Years	Yes After 1 year
4th or more		5 Years	Yes After 3 years

SUSPENSION FOR A FAILED CHEMICAL TEST

Number of Offenses in 10 Years	Applicable ORC Section	Class	Restricted License/Interlock	Restricted Plates
1st	§4511.191(C)	Class E 90 days	Optional	Appeal to Court under ORC §4511.197
2nd		Class C 1 year	Optional
3rd		Class B 2 years	Required if alcohol related; optional if drug.
4th or more		Class A 3 years	Required if alcohol related; optional if drug.

REINSTATEMENT REQUIREMENTS

Show proof of financial responsibility to OBMV
Serve the period of suspension
Pay the $475.00 Reinstatement fee. If the driver is convicted of the OVI offense, the driver pays only one reinstatement fee for both the Administrative License Suspension and the OVI suspension. ORC § 4511.191(F)(3)