How Ohio bill would change drunk driving penalties

COLUMBUS (WJW) – Two bills making their way through the Statehouse in Columbus could dramatically change punishments for two laws related to driving.

One law would increase penalties for drunk driving and repeat offenders. The other could eliminate some offenses that lead to license suspensions.

For years, many victims and victim’s families impacted by drunk drivers have complained that punishments for the defendants are too lenient. Lawmakers in the House are now trying to stiffen those penalties.

In a separate bill, lawmakers in the Ohio Senate are trying to eliminate some reasons that a driver’s license gets suspended, especially when their offense has nothing to do with driving.

“Too many lives are forever changed every day by the senseless decisions of the impaired driver,” testified Pickaway County Sheriff Matthew Hafey at a hearing earlier this month.

“This is for all the innocent souls that lost their life, out of no fault of their own from a drunk driver,” said Republican state Rep. Mark Johnson, one of the sponsors of the bill.

Wednesday, the full Ohio House of Representatives passed House Bill 37 unanimously.

If it becomes law, the legislation would raise the penalty for aggravated vehicular homicide committed by drunk drivers with a previous OVI. The maximum now is eight years, with Ohio near the bottom when it comes to drunk driving punishments, according to Johnson.

“It raises the prison sentences to up to 20 years for aggravated vehicular homicide by a repeat offender and there are caveats that make drunk driving laws more stringent and put us there in the top 25 of other states,” Johnson told FOX 8.

The bill would also mandate the use of ignition interlocks for all second OVI offenders and anyone who has previous OVI convictions.

“It raise all the fees for all OVI offenses, including your first offense,” he added.

Another bill that passed the Ohio Senate Wednesday, Senate Bill 37, would eliminate some of the reasons why a driver’s license could be suspended.

The proposed legislation, which passed the full senate unanimously, would, among other things, remove the penalty of a license suspension for a drug abuse offense unless it involved an OVI.

“What happens when you get hit with possession? You’re not necessarily driving, but you have your license suspended. Now you may not be able to go to work, you might lose your job,” said Republican state senator Louis Blessings, of Colerain Township.

It also delays a suspension for failing to pay a court fine or fee.

If a person who is behind on child support can present evidence that a license suspension would prevent them from making payments, they can keep a valid license.

“The court says there has to be a way that if you’re taking these folks’ licenses with child support that they have to be able to drive,” said Democratic state senator Catherine Ingram, of Cincinnati.

The license suspension changes would also include not suspending a student’s license simply because they are habitually truant from school.

Currently, if you fail to show proof of insurance multiple times over five years, the penalty goes up hundreds of dollars.

Under the newly proposed law, the court would look back for only one year, and the driver’s registration and license plates won’t be suspended either.

Each bill must be passed by the other chamber and signed by the governor before either could become law.

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