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Traffic Violations in Ohio

Each state has traffic laws that help maintain safety and order, such as Ohio’s traffic laws. Violations of the state’s traffic laws can result in injuries, accidents, or even death. Traffic violations could also hinder the free flow of traffic. Ohio penalizes traffic violations according to the severity or seriousness of the offense. In most cases, records of these offenses are included in the offenders Ohio traffic record.

Generally, traffic violations can be civil or criminal. Civil traffic violations are minor, and in Ohio, such violations are penalized by fines, tickets, and points on the offender’s driver’s license. These kinds of traffic violations may also result in non-criminal penalties like driver education courses and community service. Civil or minor traffic violations are less serious than criminal traffic violations.

Criminal traffic violations are serious offenses and typically involve injuries and accidents or the risk of injury and accident to another party. The penalties assessed for criminal traffic violations are more severe, and they include imprisonment, installation of ignition interlock devices, and expensive fines. Offenders may also lose driver’s licenses or driving privileges for extended periods, depending on the severity of the offense.

Law enforcement officers issue traffic tickets to notify offenders of offenses. In addition to the nature of the offense, traffic tickets contain other information such as the applicable fines, and available resolution methods. For example, while it may be possible to pay some fines online, some tickets can only be resolved in court. If a court appearance is required, the ticket would contain information about the court where the offender must appear. Law enforcement officers may issue traffic tickets in person at the scene of the offense or send them to the offender by mail.

Whether a person receives a traffic ticket in person or by mail, ticket recipients must respond appropriately within a specified period. Failure to respond to traffic tickets could result in harsher penalties.

Types of Traffic Violations in Ohio

The criminal and civil classifications apply broadly to every type of traffic offense in Ohio. However, there are other types of classifications for traffic offenses in the state. Traffic offenses can also be grouped into moving and non-moving violations. This means that an offense can be both a moving violation and a civil offense. To determine whether a traffic offense is a moving violation, one may consider the state of the vehicle at the time of the offense event. Offenses that occur while a vehicle is in motion are called moving violations. Examples of moving traffic violations in Ohio include:

  • Drunk driving
  • Running a red light or stop sign
  • Speeding
  • Failure to yield
  • Failure to stop for a school bus
  • Reckless driving
  • Hit and run

As the name implies, a non-moving violation should occur when a vehicle is at rest. However, several non-moving violations occur when a vehicle is in motion. A difference between moving and non-moving violations in Ohio is the agency that handles them. While the court handles non-moving violations, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles typically handles moving traffic violations such as speeding. Examples of non-moving traffic violations in Ohio include:

  • Leaving a vehicle running and unattended
  • Inattentive driving
  • Parking in a handicapped zone
  • Diving without a license
  • Failure to renew a license on time
  • Missing license plates

Penalties assessed against non-moving violations may not be as severe as those assessed against moving violations, since there is a greater risk of injury or accidents with moving violations. Additionally, moving violations are more likely to result in points on the offender’s license.

Ohio Traffic Violation Code

Ohio traffic laws guide the operation of motor vehicles and other road users in the state. It contains clear definitions of state laws and violations of the law. The law also covers local traffic laws, traffic violation classifications, implied consent, penalties for violating traffic laws, and exemptions to the stated traffic rules.

Ohio Felony Traffic Violations

Felony traffic violations are the most serious types of traffic offenses in Ohio. Typically, felony traffic violations involve bodily injury or harm to another party. In some cases, felony traffic violations result in the death of a third party. These offenses are punishable by very expensive fines and imprisonment for 15 years to life. Some examples of felony violations in Ohio are listed below:

  • Aggravated vehicular homicide
  • Failure to stop after an accident that results in serious injury
  • Second vehicular manslaughter offenses
  • Failure to comply after committing a felony
  • Fourth and subsequent OVI violations
  • Vehicular homicide

Ohio Traffic Misdemeanors

Traffic Misdemeanors are criminal offenses but less serious than felony traffic violations. Amongst other types of penalties, traffic misdemeanors are penalized by fines and imprisonment for up to 180 days. Examples of misdemeanor traffic violations in Ohio include the following:

  • Operating in willful disregard of the safety of persons or property
  • Driving under suspension or in violation of license restriction
  • Failure to stop after an accident
  • Street racing
  • Vehicular manslaughter
  • Vehicular homicide
  • Failure to comply with a police officer’s order or signal
  • Operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Driving while texting

Ohio Traffic Infractions

In Ohio, traffic infractions are also called minor misdemeanors. These are the least serious types of traffic violations and are typically not penalized by imprisonment. Traffic infractions or minor misdemeanors are only penalized by fines, community service, license suspension, and other non-criminal penalties. The following are examples of minor misdemeanors in Ohio:

  • Turn and stop signal law violations
  • Driving through a safety zone
  • Driving and turning in front of streetcars
  • Parking on the highway
  • Leaving a running car unattended
  • Obstructing an intersection
  • Driving on the sidewalk
  • Littering offenses

Ohio Traffic Violation Codes and Fines

There are different classes of traffic violations in Ohio. Particularly, criminal traffic violations are categorized based on severity. Misdemeanor traffic violations range from the first to the fourth degree. A first-degree misdemeanor is the most serious type of misdemeanor while a fourth-degree misdemeanor is the least serious criminal misdemeanor. Penalties for misdemeanor offenses are listed in O.R.C 2929.28.

  • A first-degree misdemeanor is punishable by fines up to $1,000
  • A second-degree misdemeanor is punishable by fines up to $750
  • A third-degree misdemeanor is punishable by fines up to $500
  • A fourth-degree misdemeanor is punishable by fines up to $250

A minor misdemeanor, otherwise known as a traffic infraction, is not a criminal traffic violation. Minor misdemeanors are punishable by fines of no more than $150. Misdemeanor fines may differ where state laws define different costs for a violation.

Much like misdemeanors, felony offenses are also categorized by severity in Ohio. Felonies range from first to fifth degree, with the first degree being the most serious and the fifth degree being the least serious. According to O.R.C 2929.18., the fine schedule for felony offenses in Ohio is as follows:

  • A first-degree felony is punishable by fines up to $20,000
  • A second-degree felony is punishable by fines up to $15,000
  • A third-degree felony is punishable by fines up to $10,000
  • A fourth-degree felony is punishable by fines up to $5,000
  • A fifth-degree felony is punishable by fines up to $2,500

State laws specify different fines for some offenses, and in those cases, the above-listed fine schedule does not apply.

How to Pay a Traffic Violation Ticket in Ohio

Payment methods for traffic violation tickets may differ from one county or municipality to the other in Ohio. Generally, ticket recipients can pay fines and other costs associated with traffic violation tickets in person, online, and by mail. Some counties may allow ticket recipients to pay by phone. Interested parties must check their tickets to determine the agencies designated to receive such payments and the available payment options.

To pay a traffic violation ticket in person, interested parties may visit the courthouse or local traffic violations bureau during office hours. Courts typically accept payment through credit and debit cards, money orders, and checks. In many cases, payments made through credit cards attract convenience fees.

Interested parties may also pay by mailing the specified amount in check or money order to the court along with the ticket or case number. When making payment by mail, cash is not accepted. Some courts require ticket recipients to submit proof of insurance to avoid having their driver’s licenses suspended.

Some courts, such as the Miami County Municipal Court, allow payment over the phone. Interested parties may call the court and make credit card payments over the phone.

All minor misdemeanor and waivable tickets may be paid without a court appearance. However, tickets issued for a third moving violation within 12 months require court appearances. Also, tickets issued for passing a school bus and school zone violations require court appearances. All other types of traffic violation tickets also require court appearances. The ticket specifies the date of a court appearance.

Most county and municipal courts (like the Chardon Municipal Court) have online payment portals where interested persons can pay eligible traffic violation tickets. Parties must note that it may take a few days after the issue for tickets to show up on the court’s system.

Traffic Violation Lookup in Ohio

Motorists and other road users who receive traffic violation tickets in Ohio may look up their tickets and traffic violation cases online. County and municipal courts in Ohio have online portals where interested parties may look up traffic violation case records. These portals allow requesting parties to search for information using the case number or ticket number, the record subject’s name, or social security number.

Alternatively, interested parties may contact the traffic or municipal court in the county where the ticket was issued to get information about their tickets and traffic violation cases.

How to Plead not Guilty to a Traffic Violation in Ohio

Pleading guilty or paying a traffic violation fine results in serious consequences like fines, license suspensions, and even jail time, depending on the severity of the offense. Parties who want to avoid such consequences and can prove their innocence in court may choose to fight the ticket by entering a ‘not guilty’ plea.

In order to plead ‘not guilty’ to a traffic violation in Ohio, a traffic ticket or citation recipient must visit the courthouse listed on the ticket before or on the date specified. The recipient must then enter a ‘not guilty’ plea and request a hearing. Typically, the hearing is held within 30 days from the arrest or summons. In the meantime, the defendant may begin preparations for the trial or hearing by gathering any information, records, and witnesses that may help make their case.

If the court rules in favor of the defendant, the court will release all penalties. However, the defendant must pay court costs. On the other hand, if the court finds the defendant guilty, the defendant must cover court costs and pay any other fines associated with the offense.

In Ohio, it is possible to enter a ‘not guilty’ plea without going to court in person. Some municipalities allow case parties to enter ‘not guilty’ pleas for eligible traffic violations online. Eligible traffic offenses include minor traffic offenses that may otherwise be waived. Parties who wish to enter their plea online must send written pleas by filling online forms or by mailing filled forms to the court.

What Happens if You Plead No Contest a Traffic Violation in Ohio

In Ohio, pleading ‘No Contest’ to a traffic violation has similar consequences as pleading not guilty. While a guilty plea is an admission of guilt, a no-contest plea is merely an admission of the case facts. The defendant accepts the charges levied against them as true and accepts the sentence that comes with it without expressly admitting guilt. This means that if the court finds the defendant guilty, the defendant is liable to pay all fines and face all other penalties associated with the traffic violation.

The difference between a ‘no contest’ and a ‘guilty’ plea is that since it is not an outright admission of guilt, a ‘no contest’ plea can’t be used against the defendant or case party in another civil or criminal proceeding.

How Long Do Traffic Violations Stay on Your Record?

Paying a traffic ticket or pleading guilty to a traffic violation charge can have negative consequences on the offender’s driving records. Such persons may accumulate points on their driver’s licenses, which may, in turn, result in a suspension of the license or increased auto insurance rates.

When a traffic violation is reported on an offender’s driving record in Ohio, the violation stays on the driver’s record forever unless they are waived or removed. Typically, points on a driving record only count towards suspension for two years. If an offender accumulates up to 12 driving points within two (2) years, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles may suspend the offender’s license for up to six (6) months.

To reduce accumulated points on a driving record, the offender may enroll in a remedial driving instruction course. Completing the course removes two (2) points from an offender’s record. However, only persons with fewer than 12 points are eligible for the course. Interested parties may take the remedial course up to five (5) times in their lifetime but no more than once in three (3) years.

Can Traffic Violations Be Expunged/Sealed in Ohio?

Yes, it is possible to expunge traffic violations in Ohio under certain circumstances. Generally, traffic violations are not eligible for sealing or expungement under state laws. However, according to O.R.C. 2953.61, if the following conditions are met, the subject of the record may petition the court for expungement:

  • The traffic violation happened at the same time as a criminal charge that is eligible for expungement
  • The court dismissed the criminal charge

It is important to note that the above-stated exemption does not apply to DUI/OVI convictions. Additionally, persons with no-bill charges may be eligible for expungement after two (2) years. A no-bill charge is one that a grand jury did not indict. Additionally, non-conviction records are eligible for expungement and sealing in Ohio.

Traffic violations become a part of the offender’s driving record in Ohio and it is therefore impossible to expunge them from the driving record.

What Happens if You Miss a Court Date for a Traffic Violation in Ohio?

The consequences for missing a court date for a traffic violation in Ohio vary, depending on the severity of the traffic violation. Persons who miss court dates for traffic violations may receive a default sentence or be tried in their absence. This means that the court may hold a trial in the person’s absence and find the person guilty. If this happens, the court clerk mails the court costs and other fines to the offender. Persons who miss court dates for traffic violations may have to pay increased fines or suffer increased penalties.

Another consequence that may arise from missing a court date for a traffic violation in Ohio could be a loss of the offender’s driver’s license. A judge may also issue a bench warrant for the offender’s arrest. Persons who have reason to believe they may miss a court date for a traffic violation must inform the court in advance and have the court date rescheduled. In cases where there are emergencies or unforeseen circumstances, the court may take the emergency or circumstance into account when determining the applicable penalty or whether to reschedule the court date. If the court accepts the excuse, the court may recall the bench warrant and reschedule the court date.