State data shows 1,800 Ohioans have 10 or more OVI arrests
A recent analysis has found that 1.3 million Ohioan have OVI arrests, a third with multiple arrests.
A recent analysis of state arrest records by the Columbus Dispatch shows that for a third of Ohioans arrested for drunk driving, the arrest is not their first time operating a motor vehicle while impaired (OVI) charge. The analysis found that approximately 1,800 people in the state have been arrested for drunk driving at least 10 times.
The troubling report comes at a time when concerns are growing about the role that drunk driving is playing in traffic accidents in the state. According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the number of people killed and injured in drunk driving-related crashes has been steadily increasing every year. From 2013 to 2016, for example, the number of people killed in drunk driving accidents in Ohio rose from 350 to 430 per year, while injuries increased from 8,140 to 8,672.
Scary statistics about drivers with multiple OVI arrests
One-third of those arrested in Ohio for drunk driving (known as driving under the influence (DUI) and driving while intoxicated (DWI) in some states) have multiple OVI charges on their records. The analysis by the Columbus Dispatch found that more than 256,000 people in the state have two drunk driving arrests, while over 109,000 have three arrests. Additionally, records show that 11 people have 17 arrests, five have 18 arrests, another five have 19 arrests, and two people in Ohio have an astonishing 20 drunk driving arrests.
While multiple OVI convictions – three or more in the previous 10 years or four in the previous 20 – means felony charges and possible lifetime suspensions, such punishments are extremely rare.
What this means for other motorists
When other people are sharing roads with drunk drivers, even the slightest mistake can lead to tragedy. Even if a sober driver does everything right, they may find themselves in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Involvement in a car or truck collision can be devastating. It is even more frustrating when it becomes clear that the other driver was arrested multiple times for impaired driving or is driving on a suspended license. A personal injury attorney can help those hurt in motor vehicle accidents. This includes assisting them with pursuing whatever financial compensation they may be entitled to due to the negligence of others.