OHIO'S WAR ON DRUNK DRIVERS

The U.S. has a low traffic fatality rate (drunk , as well as sober) and is a very safe nation in which to drive. And it's been getting safer for decades. There is now only about one death (including the deaths of bicyclists, motorcyclists, pedestrians, auto drivers, and auto passengers) per fifty million vehicle miles traveled. Alcohol-related traffic fatalities have dropped from 60% of all traffic deaths in 1982 down to 41% in 2002 (the most recent year for which such statistics are available). Alcohol-related traffic fatalities per vehicle miles driven has also dropped dramatically -- from 1.64 deaths per 100 million miles traveled in 1982 down to 0.61 in 2002 (the latest year for which such statistics are available). Alcohol-related crash fatalities have fallen 1/3 since 1982, but traffic deaths NOT associated with alcohol have jumped 43% during the same time. Despite these numbers, the Ohio legislature has continually increased the penalties for driving under the influence.

In 1982 the State of Ohio declared war on drunk drivers with the enactment of Senate Bill 432. Grants subsidized an increased law enforcement presence and task forces were formed to satiate the public desire for stricter laws regarding drunk driving. Again, in 1990, the Ohio legislature voted for increased penalties for D.U.I. convictions and lowered the prohibited alcohol levels for juveniles and commercial drivers. The penalties were again increased in 1993 adding impoundment of licenses, immobilization and forfeiture of vehicle provisions to the law. In 1994 it became law that occupational privileges (your right to drive back and forth to work) would be denied any offender with three or more convictions within a prior seven year period. In 1996 the State legislature made the fourth or higher D.U.I. conviction a felony and allowed courts to consider convictions as old as six years to count as prior convictions. Ohio bowed to federal pressure and reduced the prohibited alcohol level to .08% and has increased the penalties for any driver testing above a .17%. The clear message sent by the law is: "DON'T DRIVE UNDER THE INFLUENCE IN OHIO!" It is also clear that if you find yourself charge with a D.U.I you need good legal representation. This web site is designed to give you information on the charge of Driving Under the Influence and provide you some insight on how law enforcement approaches the problem of impaired drivers.