FullOH · STUDY GUIDE
OVI, Points & Penalties
Ohio's OVI law, the distracted-driving tiers, the 12-point suspension, and the insurance rules that reach your license. This guide has 38 questions, each citing the OH manual section it comes from — the first 18 are free to read below.
1 · DISTRACTED DRIVING
A driving distraction may take away a driver's hands, eyes, or:
- ✓ Mind
- · License plate
- · Tire pressure
- · Vehicle registration
Distractions can be manual, visual, or cognitive.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Distracted Driving, p. 72 · DISTRACTED DRIVING
Which activity should be avoided while driving because it is distracting?
- ✓ Eating
- · Scanning mirrors
- · Maintaining lane position
- · Using a safety belt
The manual specifically warns against phone use, emotional conversations, eating, and unsecured children or pets.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Distracted Driving, p. 73 · DISTRACTED DRIVING
For most Ohio drivers age 18 or older, using, holding, or physically supporting a phone while driving is:
- ✓ Illegal
- · Allowed below 35 mph
- · Allowed in the right lane
- · Required for navigation
Ohio's distracted-driving law generally prohibits holding or supporting an electronic wireless device while driving.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Distracted Driving, p. 84 · DISTRACTED DRIVING
An Ohio driver age 18 or older may generally activate a hands-free device with:
- ✓ A single touch or swipe
- · Unlimited typing
- · Both hands
- · A handwritten message
The law permits a single touch or swipe without holding the device or manually entering text or numbers.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Distracted Driving, p. 85 · DISTRACTED DRIVING
Under the adult exceptions described in the manual, a driver age 18 or older may hold a phone while:
- ✓ Stopped at a traffic light
- · Moving through a school zone
- · Driving in the right lane
- · Passing another vehicle
The manual lists being stopped at a traffic light among the adult exceptions; under-18 rules are stricter.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Distracted Driving, p. 86 · DISTRACTED DRIVING
Which phone use is an exception to Ohio's general handheld-device prohibition?
- ✓ Reporting an emergency
- · Posting on social media
- · Typing a destination while moving
- · Watching a video
Emergency contact with police, fire, hospitals, or similar services is an exception.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Distracted Driving, p. 87 · DISTRACTED DRIVING
A first adult distracted-driving offense within two years may add how many points?
- ✓ 2 points
- · No points
- · 3 points
- · 6 points
The manual lists two points and a fine up to $150 for a first offense within two years.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Distracted Driving, p. 88 · DISTRACTED DRIVING
A second distracted-driving offense within two years may add:
- ✓ 3 points
- · 1 point
- · 2 points
- · 6 points
The second offense is listed as three points and a fine up to $250.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Distracted Driving, p. 89 · DISTRACTED DRIVING
A third or later distracted-driving offense within two years may add:
- ✓ 4 points and a possible 90-day suspension
- · 1 point only
- · 2 points with no suspension
- · An automatic permanent revocation
The manual lists four points, a fine up to $500, and a possible 90-day license suspension.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Distracted Driving, p. 810 · DISTRACTED DRIVING
What happens to distracted-driving fines when the violation occurs in a work zone?
- ✓ They are doubled
- · They are waived
- · They are cut in half
- · They become parking fines
Ohio doubles the listed fines for violations in a work zone.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Distracted Driving, p. 811 · DISTRACTED DRIVING
May an Ohio driver under 18 use a hands-free phone while driving?
- ✓ No
- · Yes, at any time
- · Yes, below 25 mph
- · Yes, with a parent present
The under-18 rule prohibits electronic-device use even when hands-free.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Distracted Driving, p. 812 · DISTRACTED DRIVING
May an Ohio driver under 18 use an electronic device while sitting at a red traffic light?
- ✓ No
- · Yes, because the car is stopped
- · Yes, for social media
- · Yes, if traffic is light
The manual says the under-18 prohibition applies even at a traffic light or in a traffic jam.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Distracted Driving, p. 813 · DISTRACTED DRIVING
Which is an exception to Ohio's under-18 electronic-device restriction?
- ✓ Navigation use or an emergency-services call
- · Streaming music videos
- · Reading messages
- · Taking photographs
The manual lists navigation and emergency-service calls as under-18 exceptions.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Distracted Driving, p. 814 · DISTRACTED DRIVING
A first under-18 electronic-device violation brings what license suspension?
- ✓ 60 days
- · 7 days
- · 30 days
- · One year
The listed first violation carries a 60-day suspension and $150 fine.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Distracted Driving, p. 815 · DISTRACTED DRIVING
A second under-18 electronic-device violation brings what license suspension?
- ✓ One year
- · 60 days
- · 90 days
- · Two years
The listed second violation carries a one-year suspension and $300 fine.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Distracted Driving, p. 816 · IMPAIRED DRIVING
Can legally prescribed or over-the-counter medication impair driving?
- ✓ Yes
- · No, legal drugs never impair
- · Only after midnight
- · Only for drivers under 21
Legal medications can affect vision, reaction time, alertness, or judgment.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Alcohol Drugs and Driving, p. 817 · IMPAIRED DRIVING
Alcohol and other impairing drugs commonly affect reaction time by:
- ✓ Slowing the ability to process information and respond
- · Making responses faster
- · Eliminating fatigue
- · Improving distance judgment
Impairing substances slow information processing and response.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Alcohol Drugs and Driving, p. 818 · IMPAIRED DRIVING
Alcohol and drugs can reduce a driver's ability to:
- ✓ Perceive surroundings and make quick decisions
- · See through fog
- · Increase tire grip
- · Shorten braking distance
Impairment harms judgment as well as vision and reaction time.
📖 OH Manual · Sec. 3 · Alcohol Drugs and Driving, p. 8Tip: use your ← and → arrow keys
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