Ohio OVI
Ohio DUI laws: 30 days to save your license
The license case moves first, and you have 30 days from your first court date to ask for a hearing.
Answered day and night. A professional reviews your Ohio case for free and connects you with an Ohio OVI lawyer.
Arrested for OVI in Ohio? 30 days to ask for the hearing.
Counted from your first court date. If that was today, the last day is Sunday, November 8. Miss it and the suspension starts on its own (BMV rule).
The two clocks: court and BMV
Your Ohio OVI arrest opened a criminal case and a separate license case with the BMV. If that time runs out, your license can be suspended before you ever see a judge.
Ohio calls the charge OVI (operating a vehicle impaired). The appeal of the roadside suspension goes to the same court as the charge. (BMV rule)
At the stop: the officer can take your license on the spot and the suspension begins immediately (BMV).
A first offense in Ohio
| What | The rule |
|---|---|
| Fine | $565 to $1,075 |
| Jail | a mandatory 3 consecutive days (72 hours), or a driver intervention program |
| License (court) | a court suspension of 1 to 3 years for the basic first-offense provision |
The judge picks a number inside each range. So ask where cases like yours land in Ohio (Ohio penalty rules).
Second and later offenses
A prior raises the penalty in every state, and Ohio is no exception. Tell the lawyer about any earlier case on the first call. Second offense DUI rules lists the states with published ranges.
Add-on fines and the newest change
Interlock orders and add-on fines in Ohio depend on the charge and the BAC. Ask the lawyer which ones apply to yours.
Newest change in Ohio. Ohio's OVI law took its current form on April 9, 2025, under Senate Bill 100 and House Bill 37. (Ohio Revised Code 4511.19)
See how the interlock works and the DUI penalties table.
What a lawyer costs in Ohio
Lawyers in Ohio set their own fees. Ask what a quote covers: the court case, the BMV hearing, a trial. DUI lawyer cost lists the questions to ask.
Check a lawyer's license
The lawyer who takes your case handles OVI cases in Ohio and holds an active Ohio license. Ask for the bar number on the call and it is yours to keep.
What to do now
Losing your license can mean losing your job, your rides and your routine. In Ohio, you have 30 days from your first court date to fight for it. Call at any hour, and a lawyer for Ohio goes over your case tonight and asks for the police records.
Call about Ohio OVI (877) 317-9931
Answered day and night. A professional reviews your Ohio case for free and connects you with an Ohio OVI lawyer.
Send your case details
Send the date of your Ohio arrest and the date printed on your BMV notice. Those two dates set your deadline, so the lawyer who calls you starts there.