Under Twenty One Behind the Wheel
ORC 4511.19(B) — a separate offense at a fraction of the limit
A driver under twenty one is subject to a separate prohibition at a much lower concentration than the general one, so the same reading that is under the adult limit can still be an offense. It is charged under its own division of the OVI statute and is a different offense from an adult OVI, with its own penalties.
Who handles this in Ohio: Ohio State Bar Association lawyer referral; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the Ohio directory.
| Measured in | Under twenty one | The general prohibition |
|---|---|---|
| Measured inBreath | Under twenty one0.02 grams per 210 litres | The general prohibition0.08 grams per 210 litres |
| Measured inBlood | Under twenty one0.02 grams per 100 millilitres | The general prohibition0.08 grams per 100 millilitres |
| Measured inUrine | Under twenty one0.028 grams per 100 millilitres | The general prohibition0.11 grams per 100 millilitres |
The reason the figure is set where it is rather than at zero is that the law is aimed at consumption rather than at trace readings, and a small margin above nothing absorbs the ordinary sources of a false positive. What it means in practice is that the amount that puts an adult well inside the limit is over it for somebody under twenty one.
Over the adult limit is charged as an adult OVI, whatever the driver's age. The lower prohibition is an additional one. A driver under twenty one who is over the general threshold is in the general offense, and the youth provision does not cap the exposure at the lesser charge.
A conviction under either division carries a license suspension, and a suspension at that age interacts with the graduated license rules. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles publishes what a particular suspension requires to reinstate.
Sources for this section (2)
- ORC 4511.19 — Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs (OVI)
- ORC 4510.036 — Points assessed against a license for traffic convictions
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Ohio attorney.