According to the Centers for Disease Control, 3,637 people were killed in car accidents involving a drunk driver on Ohio roads. Approximately one in three traffic fatalities in the United States involves a drunk driver. The rates of alcohol involved fatal crashes and drunk driving has decreased in recent years due to dedicated, combined efforts. Even with raised awareness and drunk driving laws, motorists still get behind the wheel under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Drunk Driving Laws in Ohio
In all 50 states and the District of Columbia, it is illegal for noncommercial drivers age 21 and over to be driving with a blood alcohol level of .08 or more. It is illegal for drivers of commercial vehicles to be driving with a blood alcohol level of .04 or greater. School bus drivers are considered commercial drivers in Ohio. It is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to consume alcohol and underage drivers with a blood alcohol level of .02 or more are breaking the law.
Sobriety checkpoints allow police to stop vehicles in visible locations to check for impaired drivers. If the police have a reason to suspect a driver is intoxicated they can administer a breathalyzer test. Some states consider sobriety checkpoints to be unconstitutional, although sobriety checkpoints are allowed in Ohio.
Penalties for Driving Drunk in Ohio
Penalties for a person committing a DWI first offense could face up to six months in jail, pay a fine ranging from $375-$1,075 and face a suspended driver’s license for six months to three years.
Penalties for a second offense DWI within six years of the first conviction include up to six months in jail and a fine ranging from $525-$1,625 and face a suspended drivers license for one to five years.
A person committing a third DWI offense within six years of the previous convictions will face up to one year in jail, fines ranging from $850-$2,700 and a suspension of driving privileges from two to ten years.
A fourth DWI offense within six years of previous convictions, one that an offender up to five years in prison, finds up to $10,500 and driving privileges suspended for three years to life.
Ignition interlocks may be installed on some cars to measure the alcohol level of a driver’s breath. This device will prevent the car from starting if a driver has a blood alcohol content above a specific level, typically .02. Ignition interlocks are considered highly effective at preventing people convicted of DWI from a repeat occurrence.
Even with these drunk driving laws and strategies in place, an average of one person each day is killed in a drunk driving accident in Ohio. If you have been injured in a drunk driving accident in Ohio, you should speak with an experienced personal injury or car accident attorney with expertise in investigating DUI crashes.
Schiff & Associates understands Ohio’s drunk driving laws and how to investigate DUI and DWI accidents. We collect all evidence including video footage, bar tabs and witness statements to help your case. Contact us if you have been injured by a drunk driver to speak with one of Ohio’s top personal injury and car accident lawyers.
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