According to Ohio Revised Code section 4510.12 subsection (A)(1) No person, except those expressly exempted under sections 4507.03, 4507.04, and 4507.05 of the Revised Code, shall operate any motor vehicle upon a public road or highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking in this state unless the person has a valid driver’s license issued under Chapter 4507. of the Revised Code or a commercial driver’s license issued under Chapter 4506. of the Revised Code.

Subsection (B) goes on to say that whoever violates this section is guilty of operating a motor vehicle without a valid license and shall be punished as follows:

(1) If the trier of fact finds that the offender never has held a valid driver’s or commercial driver’s license issued by this state or any other jurisdiction, the offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(2)(a) Subject to division (B)(2)(b) of this section, if the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit was expired at the time of the offense for no more than six months, the offense is a minor misdemeanor and if the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit was expired at the time of the offense for more than six months, the offense is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(b)(i) If the offender previously was convicted of or pleaded guilty to one violation of this section or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance within the past three years, the offense is a misdemeanor of the third degree.

(ii) If the offender previously was convicted of or pleaded guilty to two violations of this section or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance within the past three years, the offense is a misdemeanor of the second degree.

(iii) If the offender previously was convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more violations of this section or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance within the past three years, the offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(C) The court shall not impose a license suspension for a first violation of this section or if more than three years have passed since the offender’s last violation of this section or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.

(D) If the offender was convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more violations of this section or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance within the past three years, and if the offender’s license was expired for more than six months at the time of the offense, the court shall impose a class seven suspension of the offender’s driver license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(7) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code.

Also keep in mind that the person that allowed the unlicensed driver to operate a vehicle could also face penalties. ORC (Ohio Revised Code) 4507.02 notes that:

No person shall permit the operation of a motor vehicle upon any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking knowing the operator does not have a valid driver’s license issued to the operator by the registrar of motor vehicles under this chapter or a valid commercial driver’s license issued under Chapter 4506. of the Revised Code. Whoever violates this division is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

A misdemeanor of the first degree in Ohio normally comes with a fine of up to $1,000 and/or not more than 180 days imprisonment. For information on other penalties for driving without a license, such as points on your license, etc check with the OH Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV).If you were cited for this offense then you can contact the court listed on the ticket to find out more about the possible penalties.