Administrative License Suspension (by DaytonDUI)
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. For many the days following a drunk driving arrest are the hardest to deal with because of the inability to drive. The ALS is independent of any jail term, fine or other criminal penalty imposed in court for a OVI offense.
When you visit Charles M. Rowland II at DaytonDUI, you will discuss how to get you driving as soon as possible. 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 driving privileges for work or for school.
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,
Termination of Suspension ORC Section 4511.191
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.
As with every area of DUI law, hiring an experienced lawyer is key. For instance, even if you win your Administrative License Suspension Appeal the Court can still impose a pre-trial suspension if court finds that person is a threat to public safety. Some courts/some prosecutors will want to punish a defendant for refusing by requiring the ALS to remain in effect which results in a one year suspension. Perversely, the ALS will remain in effect even if you take your case to a jury trial and prevail. That’s right, the zombie punishment of an ALS survives a jury trial win. As you can see from the chart below, the complexity of your case increases if you have prior OVI offenses.
ALS CHART FOR REFUSAL OF CHEMICAL TEST
| Number of Refusals or Convictions in 6 years | Length Of Suspension | Waiting period for driving privileges |
| 1st | one year | 45 days |
| 2nd | two years | 90 days |
| 3rd | three years | one year |
| 4th or more | five years | three year |
ALS CHART FOR TESTING OVER PROHIBITED CONCENTRATION
| Number of convictions in 6 years | Length Of Suspension | Waiting period for driving privileges |
| 1st | 90 days | 15 days |
| 2nd | one year | 30 days |
| 3rd | two years | 180 days |
| 4th or more | three years | three years |
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.
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