COLUMBUS, Ohio – Drivers in Ohio who are caught driving under the influence will face harsher penalties when Liv’s Law takes effect next week.
Liv’s Law, which passed unanimously in the Statehouse and received Gov. Mike DeWine’s signature, will take effect on Wednesday, April 9.
The bill, sponsored by Reps. Mark Johnson (R-Chillicothe) and Kevin Miller (R-Newark), is named after Olivia Wright, 22, who was killed by a drunk driver near Ashville in September 2020.
“A constituent, Bryan Wright, brought this issue to my desk after losing his daughter, Olivia, to a drunk driver,” Johnson stated in a press release.
“He pointed out to me how weak Ohio’s laws are compared to other states in the nation, and that is what inspired me to work on this legislation in an attempt to try and deter any drunk driver from becoming a repeat offender.”
The implementation of the law means that those charged with an OVI (Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence) will face higher fines, specifically an additional $190 over current law.
For example, the minimum fine for a first offense will increase from $375 to $565, while the minimum fine for a second offense will rise from $525 to $715.
Liv’s Law will also raise the maximum fine for aggravated vehicular homicide to $25,000, $10,000 more than the current law allows.
Furthermore, the offense is currently punishable by up to 15 years in prison if the defendant has three or more OVI-related convictions in the previous ten years; the upcoming legislation will raise the maximum sentence to 20 years and allow courts to consider offenses committed within the last 20 years.
“It is my hope that Liv’s Law will serve as a deterrent for those who have repeatedly decided to put the lives of others at risk all for the sake of their convenience,” Miller said in an interview.
The law will also allow police to collect oral fluid samples from suspected DUI drivers, as opposed to the current law, which only allows for blood, urine, and breath tests. Oral fluid testing enables law enforcement to test for substance use on the spot and receive results in minutes.
Refusing an oral fluid swab, like other forms of testing used in the state, can result in a misdemeanor charge and penalties such as fines or jail time under Ohio’s implied consent laws.
Liv’s Law will also require those who have been charged with an OVI twice or more to use ignition interlocks, or breathalyzers, to start their vehicles. Currently, the court may or may not require the device on a second offense based on the individual’s blood alcohol content.
Liv’s Law, introduced in February 2023, received no opposition testimony before passing the statehouse in December 2024.
