Suspensions & Reinstatements
First Offense Operating a Vehicle under the Influence (OVI) of Alcohol and/or Drugs Suspension
This type of suspension is placed on a driver with no previous OVI suspensions in the last 10 years when convicted by a court of operating a vehicle while impaired.
Reinstatement Requirements
- Serve suspension as determined by the court
- Pay a reinstatement fee
- Provide proof of insurance that covers through the length of the suspension
Ohio Revised Code: 4511.19
Administrative License Suspension (ALS)
Positive Test
When a person is stopped for suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol, agrees to take sobriety tests, and the test results are over the legal limit, the officer can take the person’s driver’s license on the spot and a suspension begins immediately.
Reinstatement Requirements
- Serve suspension from 90 days up to five years
- Pay a reinstatement fee
- Provide current proof of insurance that covers through the end of the suspension
Refusal to Test
When a person is stopped for suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol and refuses sobriety tests, the officer can take the person’s driver’s license on the spot and a suspension begins immediately.
Reinstatement Requirements
- Serve suspension from one to five years
- Pay a reinstatement fee
- Provide current proof of insurance that covers through the end of the suspension
Ohio Revised Code: 4511.19
Physical Control Suspension
This type of suspension occurs when a vehicle was not being driven when approached by a law enforcement officer and charged with being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.
Reinstatement Requirements
- Serve a mandatory suspension as determined by the court
- Pay a reinstatement fee
- Provide insurance coverage through the duration of the suspension
Ohio Revised Code: 4511.194
Operating a Vehicle after Under Age Consumption (OVUAC) Suspension
This type of suspension happens when a driver under the age of 21, at the time of the traffic offense, was convicted by a court of driving with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .02 percent or more, but less than .08 percent.
Reinstatement Requirements
- Serve six-month suspension
- Completion of a juvenile remedial driving instruction course at an approved school
- Pay a reinstatement fee
- Retake a complete driver license examination
Ohio Revised Code: 4511.19
Habitual Use of Alcohol/Drugs Suspension
A person has three or more convictions of driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance within a three-year period.
Reinstatement Requirements
The suspension will stand until the person:
- Completes a treatment/rehabilitation program
- Maintains six months of sobriety from date of treatment program completion
- Submits a completed Alcohol/Drug Reinstatement form (BMV 2326) to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV)
Ohio Revised Code: 4507.08D
Ohio Administrative Code: 4501:1-1-16 4501:1-1-18(C)
Liquor Law Violation Suspension
A person under age 21 who uses someone else’s driver’s license or alters their own license to purchase alcohol.
Reinstatement Requirements
- Serve a one-year suspension
- Pay a reinstatement fee
- Retake complete driver license examination
Ohio Revised Code: 4510.33
In-State Drug Suspension
When a person is convicted of certain drug-related offenses, a court may order a suspension from 6 months to indefinitely.
Reinstatement Requirements
Serve court suspension and, if the suspension is longer than 89 days, pay a reinstatement fee.
Ohio Revised Code: 2925.02-37, 4510.17
Out-of-State Alcohol or Drug Offense Suspension
When an Ohio resident pleads guilty to or was convicted in any other state or federal court of a drug or alcohol related offense, or was convicted of a violation of law or municipal ordinance related to operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Reinstatement Requirements
- Serve six-month suspension
- Pay a reinstatement fee if the suspension is longer than 89 days