OVI / DUI License Suspensions

DUI / OVI License Suspensions In Columbus And Central Ohio

There are two different license suspensions typically associated with Ohio DUI / OVI cases. First, there is often an Administrative License Suspension (A.L.S.) imposed by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Second, there is a Court Suspension imposed by a judge as part of the sentence for a DUI / OVI conviction. For both types of suspensions, a court may issue limited driving privileges, and for both types of suspensions, there are specific requirements for driver’s license reinstatement. License suspensions are explained in additional pages of this site, and they are also discussed in the guide ‘Ohio DUI / OVI Guide’. If you are concerned about these license suspensions and your case is in central Ohio, a good Columbus DUI lawyer can help.

Administrative License Suspensions In Ohio DUI / OVI Cases

An Administrative License Suspension (A.L.S.) is imposed under two circumstances: (1) if a driver refuses a breath/blood/urine test; and (2) if a driver takes a breath/blood/urine test and the result is at or over the ‘legal limit’. The A.L.S. is imposed by the law enforcement officer on behalf of the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The length of the A.L.S. depends on how many times in the last ten years the driver has refused a test or has been convicted of DUI / OVI. A chart summarizing the A.L.S. variables can be found on the Administrative License Suspension page of this site.

Court Suspensions For Ohio DUI / OVI Convictions

A Court Suspension is imposed by a judge as a mandatory part of the sentence if a person is found guilty of Ohio DUI / OVI. The length of the potential court suspension depends on the number of times in the last ten years the driver has been convicted of DUI / OVI. For a first-offense DUI / OVI, the court suspension is one year to three years. For a second-offense DUI / OVI, the court suspension is one year to seven years. For a third-offense DUI / OVI, the court suspension is two years to 12 years. For a felony DUI / OVI, the court suspension is three years to life.

How A DUI / OVI Attorney Can Help

A good DUI / OVI attorney may be able help with both the A.L.S. and the court suspension. For the A.L.S., there are two methods of appealing the suspension. If the appeal is successful, the A.L.S. is terminated. If the appeal is not successful, a DUI / OVI lawyer may be able to get the A.L.S. ‘stayed’ so your license is returned with unrestricted driving while the case is pending. For a court suspension, an attorney may get the charge reduced to an offense which does not carry a mandatory license suspension. For both the A.L.S. and the court suspension, a lawyer can assist with obtaining limited driving privileges.

DUI / OVI Attorney For Columbus And Central Ohio

If you are concerned about the impact of a DUI / OVI license suspension, you may want to appeal the A.L.S. and contest your DUI / OVI case. If you choose to fight the charges, the Dominy Law Firm can help. Our firm is focused on representing clients who choose to fight the DUI / OVI, and we have developed expertise in the area of DUI / OVI defense. We uses this expertise to achieve favorable outcomes for clients with DUI / OVI cases in Columbus and central Ohio. For more information about the Dominy Law Firm, please see the firm’s recent cases, and reviews from previous clients. If you complete your research and decide you may want to hire us to represent you, please can call 614-717-1177 or email the Dominy Law Firm schedule a free consultation.