Driving Under Suspension
Driving while your license is suspended is a serious violation in Ohio. As a first degree misdemeanor, you face up to 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine, in addition to specific driving under suspension (DUS) penalties.
On a first or second conviction for DUS, your car will be immobilized for 30 or 60 days. On a 3rd or subsequent conviction, the court will order a criminal forfeiture of your car to the State. It should be noted that the immobilization and forfeiture provisions are generally only applicable if the car you were driving is registered in your name. However, driving someone else's car while under suspension could expose that person to criminal liability for permitting you to drive (wrongful entrustment), which exposes them to immobilization and/or forfeiture penalties under a separate statute.
Driving Under OVI Suspension
Driving under OVI suspension is a separate offense under the Ohio Revised Code. Driving under OVI suspension is also a first degree misdemeanor with mandatory minimum jail terms, mandatory minimum fines that start at $250, license suspensions for up to a year, and immobilization or criminal forfeiture of the vehicle involved.
