Like most states in the U.S., Ohio has very specific criminal laws when it comes to drinking and driving. In Ohio, operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is called OVI . Many people don't realize this type of criminal offense is broken down into two categories. The first category is OVI Per Se - it's what most people think of as drunk driving, where the operator of the vehicle has a blood alcohol content (BAC) higher than .08 based upon specific tests.