Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 4511
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.196 (2026)

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Effective:
September 23, 2004
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 163 - 125th General Assembly
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(A) If a person is arrested for being in physical control of a vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley in violation of section 4511.194 of the Revised Code or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, or for operating a vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley in violation of division (A) or (B) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or a municipal OVI ordinance, regardless of whether the person's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege is or is not suspended under section 4511.191 of the Revised Code, the person's initial appearance on the charge resulting from the arrest shall be held within five days of the person's arrest or the issuance of the citation to the person.

(B)(1) If a person is arrested as described in division (A) of this section, if the person's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege has been suspended under section 4511.191 of the Revised Code in relation to that arrest, if the person appeals the suspension in accordance with section 4511.197 of the Revised Code, and if the judge, magistrate, or mayor terminates the suspension in accordance with that section, the judge, magistrate, or mayor, at any time prior to adjudication on the merits of the charge resulting from the arrest, may impose a new suspension of the person's license, permit, or nonresident operating privilege, notwithstanding the termination, if the judge, magistrate, or mayor determines that the person's continued driving will be a threat to public safety.

(2) If a person is arrested as described in division (A) of this section and if the person's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege has not been suspended under section 4511.191 of the Revised Code in relation to that arrest, the judge, magistrate, or mayor, at any time prior to the adjudication on the merits of the charge resulting from the arrest, may impose a suspension of the person's license, permit, or nonresident operating privilege if the judge, magistrate, or mayor determines that the person's continued driving will be a threat to public safety.

(C) A suspension under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section shall continue until the complaint on the charge resulting from the arrest is adjudicated on the merits. A court that imposes a suspension under division (B)(2) of this section shall send the person's driver's license or permit to the registrar of motor vehicles. If the court possesses the license or permit of a person in the category described in division (B)(2) of this section and the court does not impose a suspension under that division, the court shall return the license or permit to the person if the license or permit has not otherwise been suspended or cancelled.

Any time during which the person serves a suspension of the person's license, permit, or privilege that is imposed pursuant to division (B)(1) or (2) of this section shall be credited against any period of judicial suspension of the person's license, permit, or privilege that is imposed under division (G) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or under section 4510.07 of the Revised Code for a violation of a municipal ordinance substantially equivalent to division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code.

(D) If a person is arrested and charged with a violation of section 2903.08 of the Revised Code or a violation of section 2903.06 of the Revised Code that is a felony offense, the judge at the person's initial appearance, preliminary hearing, or arraignment may suspend the person's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege if the judge determines at any of those proceedings that the person's continued driving will be a threat to public safety.

A suspension imposed under this division shall continue until the indictment or information alleging the violation specified in this division is adjudicated on the merits. A court that imposes a suspension under this division shall send the person's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit to the registrar.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 11 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1999–2026 · leading case: Judy v. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehs., 797 N.E.2d 45 (Ohio 2003).
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Judy v. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehs., 797 N.E.2d 45 (Ohio 2003). · cites it 7× “191(L) — a suspension under R.C. 4511.196 — is an interim suspension that the trial judge may impose if the judge at the initial appearance terminates the ALS but nonetheless determines “that the person’s continued driving will be a threat to public safety.”
State v. Uskert, 709 N.E.2d 1200 (Ohio 1999). · cites it 4× “191(L), provided that “[a]t the end of a suspension period under this section, section 4511.196, or division (B) of section 4507.”
State v. Uskert, 85 Ohio St. 3d 593 (1999). · cites it 4× “191(L), provided that “[a]t the end of a suspension period under this section, section 4511.196, or division (B) of section 4507.”
City of Middleburg Heights v. D'Ettorre, 742 N.E.2d 196 (Ohio Ct. App. 8th Dist. 2000). · cites it 4× “1], section 4511.196 [4511.19.6], or Division (B) of section 4507.”
State v. Leitwein, 2020-Ohio-3698, 154 N.E.3d 1282. · cites it 7× “His sole ground for the ALS appeal was failure to hold his initial appearance on the underlying OVI charges within five days of the date of his summons, a result that is not supported by R.C. 4511.196 or R.C. 4511.197. {¶30} Leitwein was stopped for OVI on Sunday, October 27,…”
State v. Brown, 2017-Ohio-678. “R.C. 4511.196(A). The person charged with an OVI “may appeal the suspension at the person’s initial appearance on the charge resulting from the arrest or within the period ending thirty days after the…initial appearance.”
State v. Sheppeard, 2013-Ohio-812. “Sheppeard was charged by complaint with OVI, in violation of R.C. 4511.196(A)(1)(a), as well as failure to control and failure to stop after an accident in violation of Springfield City Ordinances 331.”
State v. Posey, 735 N.E.2d 903 (Ohio Ct. App. 9th Dist. 1999). “R.C. 4511.196(A). The court may “in its discretion” order the return of the vehicle.”
Cleveland v. Oliver, 2024-Ohio-1477, 240 N.E.3d 440. · cites it 4× “191 and repeated in R.C. 4511.196. Each section provides that, when a person is charged with a violation of R.”
State v. Wilhite, 2026-Ohio-859. · cites it 6× “This five-day initial appearance requirement is found in R.C. 4511.196(A), which applies to drivers arrested for an OVI- related offense.”
State v. Antol, 2013-Ohio-5640. “{¶16} For additional support, Antol cites R.C. 4511.196(C) (pertaining to court-ordered pretrial license suspensions) which provides: Any time during which the person serves a suspension of the person’s license, permit, or privilege that is imposed pursuant to division (B)(1) or…”
Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.196(A): 5 cases
State v. Brown, 2017-Ohio-678. “R.C. 4511.196(A). The person charged with an OVI “may appeal the suspension at the person’s initial appearance on the charge resulting from the arrest or within the period ending thirty days after the…initial appearance.”
State v. Leitwein, 2020-Ohio-3698, 154 N.E.3d 1282. “His sole ground for the ALS appeal was failure to hold his initial appearance on the underlying OVI charges within five days of the date of his summons, a result that is not supported by R.C. 4511.196 or R.C. 4511.197. {¶30} Leitwein was stopped for OVI on Sunday, October 27,…”
State v. Posey, 735 N.E.2d 903 (Ohio Ct. App. 9th Dist. 1999). “R.C. 4511.196(A). The court may “in its discretion” order the return of the vehicle.”
State v. Wilhite, 2026-Ohio-859. “This five-day initial appearance requirement is found in R.C. 4511.196(A), which applies to drivers arrested for an OVI- related offense.”
Cleveland v. Oliver, 2024-Ohio-1477, 240 N.E.3d 440. “191 and repeated in R.C. 4511.196. Each section provides that, when a person is charged with a violation of R.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.196(A)(1)(a): 1 case
State v. Sheppeard, 2013-Ohio-812. “Sheppeard was charged by complaint with OVI, in violation of R.C. 4511.196(A)(1)(a), as well as failure to control and failure to stop after an accident in violation of Springfield City Ordinances 331.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.196(B)(1): 2 cases
Judy v. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehs., 797 N.E.2d 45 (Ohio 2003). “191(L) — a suspension under R.C. 4511.196 — is an interim suspension that the trial judge may impose if the judge at the initial appearance terminates the ALS but nonetheless determines “that the person’s continued driving will be a threat to public safety.”
State v. Leitwein, 2020-Ohio-3698, 154 N.E.3d 1282. “His sole ground for the ALS appeal was failure to hold his initial appearance on the underlying OVI charges within five days of the date of his summons, a result that is not supported by R.C. 4511.196 or R.C. 4511.197. {¶30} Leitwein was stopped for OVI on Sunday, October 27,…”
Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.196(B)(2): 2 cases
Judy v. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehs., 797 N.E.2d 45 (Ohio 2003). “191(L) — a suspension under R.C. 4511.196 — is an interim suspension that the trial judge may impose if the judge at the initial appearance terminates the ALS but nonetheless determines “that the person’s continued driving will be a threat to public safety.”
Cleveland v. Oliver, 2024-Ohio-1477, 240 N.E.3d 440. “191 and repeated in R.C. 4511.196. Each section provides that, when a person is charged with a violation of R.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.196(C): 2 cases
Judy v. Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehs., 797 N.E.2d 45 (Ohio 2003). “191(L) — a suspension under R.C. 4511.196 — is an interim suspension that the trial judge may impose if the judge at the initial appearance terminates the ALS but nonetheless determines “that the person’s continued driving will be a threat to public safety.”
State v. Antol, 2013-Ohio-5640. “{¶16} For additional support, Antol cites R.C. 4511.196(C) (pertaining to court-ordered pretrial license suspensions) which provides: Any time during which the person serves a suspension of the person’s license, permit, or privilege that is imposed pursuant to division (B)(1) or…”
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