15 days if you took the test, 30 days if you did not (First Offense)
If you are stopped for an OVI, DUI or drunk driving and you refuse to take a chemical test (breath, blood or urine), or if your test results exceed the legal limit of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC), the police officer can and will take your driver’s license on the spot causing your drivers license to be suspended immediately. This pre-conviction suspension is called the ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSE SUSPENSION. The ALS is a suspension imposed by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and not a suspension imposed by the court. A court may not grant driving privileges for a certain period of time following the imposition of an ALS. O.R.C. 4510.13(A). The amount of time between the imposition of the ALS suspension and the time you are eligible for limited driving privileges is called “hard time.” How long the hard time lasts depends upon whether the person has any prior offenses and whether or not the person took the test or refused the test.
First Offense Midemeanor OVI Failed Chemical Test R.C. 4511.191(C): Occupational driving privileges cannot be granted during the following periods in test cases:
- First 15 days of suspension on a first offense
- First 30 days of suspension on a person who had a prior OVI or refusal within 6 years.
- First 180 days for a person who has had 2 prior OVI/refusals within 6 years.
- First 3 years of suspension on a person who had 3 or more previous OVI/refusals within 6 years
First Offense Misdemeanor OVI Refusal R.C. 4511.19(B): Occupational driving privileges cannot be granted during the following periods in refusal cases:
- First 30 days of suspension on a first offense.
- First 90 days of suspension on a person who had a previous refusal within 6 years.
- First year of suspension on a person who had 2 previous refusals within 6 years.
- First 3 years of suspension on a person who had 3 previous refusals within 6 years.
- A person, who within the preceding 7 years, has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to 3 or more OVI violations cannot be granted limited privileges.
One of the first conversations you should have with your OVI lawyer will involve wether or not grounds exist for an appeal of the ALS. You will discuss the limited circumstances under which an Administrative License Suspension can be challenged. The court must hold the administrative license suspension hearing within five days of arrest. You only have 30 days from your arraignment to file an appeal of the Administrative License Suspension. The scope of appeal is confined to four issues:
1. Was your arrest based on reasonable grounds?
2. Did the officer request that you to take a test?
3. Were you made aware of the consequences if you refused or failed the test?
4. Did you refuse or fail the test?
Charles M. Rowland II is familiar with the case law relevant to determining if an ALS appeal would be beneficial in your case. He will check to see if the 2255 form (the yellow piece of paper you were given) was notorized. The BMV must receive a notarized sworn copy of the 2255. If the form is not executed as required by law, then he can bring that to the court’s attention and request that the ALS be terminated or stayed. It is important to discuss whether or not you were able to produce the requested sample. If you have a verifiable medical condition the Administrative License Suspension may not be plausible in your case. No matter what the circumstances, Charles M. Rowland II will help secure you limited driving privileges for work or for school after the HARD TIME has passed.
Much confusion is caused by the fact that the Administrative License Suspension is a pre-trial suspension generated by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The warnings given by the arresting officer are misleading. Often a client will come to our office under the misimpression that the worst case scenario will be a 90 day suspension. If our client refused a chemical test, they believe they are condemned to a one year suspension. This is not usually the case. Upon a plea to a reduced charge (such as Reckless Operation) or to an OVI, the Administrative License Suspension will be terminated and the court will impose its own suspension. The minimum mandatory suspension for a first OVI offense is six months. This will horrify the person who believed that they were facing 90 days, but a welcome relief to people who thought they were going to have a one year suspension.
According to the Ohio BMV, the ALS Refusal Suspension will be terminated by the registrar upon notice that:
- The person entered a plea of guilty to OVI and the refusal suspension arose from the same incident.
- The person entered a plea of no contest to OVI, was found guilty and the refusal suspension arose from the same incident.
To make matters even more confusing, any suspension ordered by the Court is given a “class” numerical representation and any suspension given by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles is given a “letter” designation. Here are the lists of the different “CLASSES” of suspensions in Ohio. See R.C. 4510.02(A) and R.C. 4510.02(B).
COURT SUSPENSIONS
- Class 1: Lifetime
- Class 2: 3yrs to life
- Class 3: 2 – 10yrs
- Class 4: 1 – 5yrs
- Class 5: 6mos. – 3yrs.
- Class 6: 3mos – 2yrs.
- Class 7: “a definite period” – 1yr
BMV SUSPENSIONS (Note: all for a fixed length)
- Class A: 3 yrs
- Class B: 2 yrs
- Class C: 1 yr
- Class D: 6 mos
- Class E: 3 mos
- Class F: until conditions are met
It is advisable that you speak with Charles Rowland at the imposition of your suspension as many courts offer programs (at little or no cost) that help you get valid. DUI attorney Charles M. Rowland II dedicates his practice to defending the accused drunk driver in Fairborn, Dayton, Springfield, Kettering, Vandalia, Xenia, Miamisburg, Huber Heights, Beavercreek, Centerville, Springboro, Franklin and throughout Ohio. He has the credentials and the experience to win your case and has made himself the Miami Valley’s choice for DUI defense. Contact Charles Rowland by phone at 937-318-1DUI (937-318-1384), 937-879-9542, or toll-free at 1-888-ROWLAND (888-769-5263). For after-hours help contact our 24/7 DUI HOTLINE at 937-776-2671. For information about Dayton DUI sent directly to your mobile device, text DaytonDUI (one word) to 50500. Follow DaytonDUI on Twitter @DaytonDUI or Get Twitterupdates via SMS by texting DaytonDUI to 40404. DaytonDUI is also available on Facebook,www.facebook.com/daytondui and on the DaytonDUI channel on YouTube. You can also email Charles Rowland at: CharlesRowland@DaytonDUI.com or write to us at 2190 Gateway Dr., Fairborn, Ohio 45324.
Related articles
Often, our clients will tell us that they could not produce a sufficient sample for the requested chemical test. ”I kept trying, but I just could not blow long enough to satisfy the officer.” If they hope that this information will prevent the imposition of an Administrative License Suspension, they may be disappointed. 
