Ohio Administrative License Suspensions – ALS
ALS and Judicial Pretrial Suspensions. We know that it does not seem fair, but under Ohio ALS law you are penalized before you even go to court; you also face a possible Judicial Pretrial Suspension at your first court date. Contact us immediately to learn how we can help deal with those suspensions. Often, we can restore your ability to drive while we fight your case.
The Administrative License Suspension (ALS) is an immediate suspension. It is often called the “implied consent suspension.” It is a civil / administrative penalty and is separate from the penalties imposed for OVI.
Our Ohio Administrative License Suspension – ALS Chart will tell you the length of your ALS suspension. Note that during the “Hard Time” period you are without any driving privileges at all.
The Ohio ALS suspension is imposed immediately if you refuse a chemical test or if you take a breath test and test over the, “so called”, legal limit of .08. If you took a blood or urine test, your license will be suspended when the result comes back if you test over that level, or if you have a prohibited level of marijuana or marijuana metabolite or other DUID drug level.
The length of the ALS suspension will depend on:
- whether you have prior OVI convictions
- whether you refused a chemical test
- whether you previously refused a test
See our charts for a more detailed breakdown.
A Judicial Pretrial Suspension is a suspension the judge can impose even if an ALS suspension is not imposed or if you appeal the ALS and win! The key to avoiding this suspension is being prepared to show that you are not a risk to public safety. Contact us to begin that process.
ALS Refusal
| ALS refusal with no prior OVI conviction or refusal in 10 years | |
| Length of Suspension | 1 year |
| Hard Time without privileges | 30 days |
| Interlock | At judge’s discretion |
| Party Plates | At judge’s discretion |
| ALS refusal with 1 prior OVI conviction and/or refusal in 10 years | |
| Length of Suspension | 2 years |
| Hard Time without privileges | 90 days |
| Interlock | At judge’s discretion |
| Party Plates | At judge’s discretion |
| ALS refusal with 2 prior OVI convictions and/or refusals in 10 years | |
| Length of Suspension | 3 years |
| Hard Time without privileges | 1 year |
| Interlock | At judge’s discretion |
| Party Plates | At judge’s discretion |
| ALS refusal with 3 prior OVI convictions and/or refusals in 10 years | |
| Length of Suspension | 5 years |
| Hard Time without privileges | 3 years BUT no driving privileges can be granted if 3 refusals in last 10 years |
| Interlock | At judge’s discretion |
| Party Plates | At judge’s discretion |
ALS Test Over Limit
| ALS test over the limit with no prior OVI in last 10 years | |
| Length of Suspension | 90 days |
| Hard Time without privileges | 15 days |
| Interlock | At judge’s discretion |
| Party Plates | At judge’s discretion |
| ALS test over the limit with 1 prior OVI in last 10 years | |
| Length of Suspension | 1 year |
| Hard Time without privileges | 45 days |
| Interlock | At judge’s discretion |
| Party Plates | At judge’s discretion |
| ALS test over the limit with 2 prior OVI convictions in the last 10 years | |
| Length of Suspension | 2 years |
| Hard Time without privileges | 180 days |
| Interlock | Mandatory if alcohol; at judge’s discretion if drug related |
| Party Plates | At judge’s discretion |
| ALS test over the limit with 3 or more prior OVI convictions in the last 10 years | |
| Length of Suspension | 3 years |
| Hard Time without privileges | 3 years (prohibited from driving privileges) |
| Interlock | Mandatory if alcohol; at judge’s discretion if drug related |
| Party Plates | At judge’s discretion |
View/Print Penalty Chart for All Administrative License Suspension – ALS Penalties
Click here to access a pdf that outlines the penalties for all Administrative License Suspensions that can possible apply to someone charged with an OHIO OVI / DUI.