Ohio First OVI Criminal Refusal

The chart below outlines the penalties for a first offense OVI when:

  • You do not have a prior OVI conviction within 10 years of the date of your current charge.
  • You refused to submit to a chemical test.
  • You have a prior OVI conviction within the past 20 years.

(This is also referred to as an OVI criminal refusal charge)

This offense is known as an OVI criminal refusal.

You may also be charged with other offenses if:

  • You took chemical test
  • You refused a Chemical test and have a prior OVI conviction within 20 years of the date of this offense.

If any of the above apply to you, after you have reviewed the below chart go back to the previous page and click on the other offense or offenses that may apply to you.

Or download the PDF Chart of all possible First Offense OVI Offense Penalties which can be accessed below this chart.

1st OVI Criminal Refusal Penalty Chart
Jail 6 days* to 180 days jail
License Suspension 1 year ** to 3 years
Hard Time period – no driving privileges 15 days
Fine $375 to $1075
Party Plates Mandatory
Interlock on Car (Blow & Go) At judge’s discretion
Alcohol Assessment At judge’s discretion
*Judge can permit 72 hour Driver’s Intervention Programs (DIP) in lieu of 3 days in jail
** See Optional First Offense Interlock Restricted License below
View/Print this chart in PDF

**First Offense Interlock Restricted License. The judge has ability to reduce license suspension by one half and allow “unlimited driving privileges” but you will need to install an interlock device and there are big risks and potential mandatory jail time that could result. We may be able to reduce your suspension without interlock. Contact us to discuss this or see Ohio OVI Defense: the Law & Practice.

Administrative License Suspension (ALS) Charts & Information.

Administrative License Suspension (ALS). In most cases the officer already took your driver’s license and placed you under an ALS Suspension or, if you took a urine or blood test, you will face an ALS when the result comes back.

Click here for specifics about your ALS suspension and appealing it chose which of the below applies to you.

View/Print Penalty Chart for All OVI First Offense Charges

Click here to access a pdf that outlines the penalties for all OVI charges that can possible apply to someone with a First Offense in 10 years.