A new Ohio law will lift driver’s license suspensions for people who have unpaid court fines and fees, some of which date back years.
Along with the new law, which goes into effect on April 9, there are several steps that state and local courts, as well as some drivers, must take to ensure that everything works properly.
Courts will no longer be able to suspend drivers’ licenses immediately if they fail to pay a court fine or fee.
People who have their suspensions lifted under the new law will not have to pay state fees to reactivate their licenses. Vehicle registration restrictions resulting from these suspensions will also be lifted.
The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the courts have until May 9 to lift the driver’s license suspension.
State officials have not determined how many active suspensions will be lifted. Lawmakers estimated that the bill would benefit hundreds of thousands of Ohio drivers.
Advocates for the changes estimated that up to 600,000 Ohio drivers had debt-related suspensions for unpaid fines and fees.
The BMV is dealing with one snag in the process: local court orders sent to the state do not always provide a specific reason for the suspension.
According to spokesperson Lindsey Bohrer, the bureau must contact local courts to determine the reason for the suspensions. Local courts must notify the state which of those suspensions should be lifted.
Courts can still issue an arrest warrant or summons if a person fails to appear in court, sign a guilty plea waiver, and pay fines and fees for a minor traffic offense. But first, the court must issue a new citation and wait 30 days before suspending a driver’s license.
I have my driver’s license suspended. How can I tell if it will be removed?
How do I get my license back after my suspension is lifted?
I am already on a payment plan to reinstate my license. Should I continue sending money?
What is a registration block, and will they be removed?
I have a previous suspension for failing to respond to a “proof of insurance letter.” Does the new law cover that?
What other changes does the new law bring about?
Have a question that we did not answer? Submit it here.
I have my driver’s license suspended. How can I tell if it will be removed?
There are numerous reasons why a person’s driver’s license can be suspended. This new law eliminates suspensions for people who are unable to pay their fines and fees.
The BMV will mail letters to drivers informing them of any suspensions that have been removed.
Drivers can update their addresses online if their BMV records show an old address.
Drivers can:
- Look up their unofficial driving record online .
- Call 614-752-7600 or 844-644-6268 to have the information mailed.
Contact the local court where a license has been suspended.
Once my suspension is removed, how do I get my license back?
The state will mail letters outlining the steps drivers must take to restore their licenses. The normal license reinstatement fees should not be charged for suspensions lifted by the new law.
If a driver’s license has been suspended or expired for more than six months, they may be required to retake the driving test.
If a person has additional suspensions for reasons that are not covered by the new law, such as a DUI, the letter should specify which suspensions are being lifted and which remain.
I’m already on a payment plan to reinstate my license. Should I keep sending money?
Do not stop making payments until you receive a notification from the BMV. If you fail to pay, your license may be suspended again. After the law takes effect, debt-related suspension fees should be automatically removed within 30 days.
If you are paying reinstatement fees for multiple types of suspensions, your balance may be reduced to offset some fees.
What’s a registration block and will those be dropped?
Local courts can prevent a driver from updating his or her vehicle registration or obtaining license plate stickers. If a driver fails to pay fines or fees, courts will no longer be able to do so under the new law. Vehicle registration restrictions imposed for these reasons will also be lifted.
I have an old suspension for not responding to a “proof of insurance letter.” Does this new law cover that?
In 2019, Ohio phased out a state program that sent letters to random drivers requesting proof of insurance or financial responsibility. Drivers who failed to respond faced license suspensions.
According to state officials, none of those suspensions are currently active. If a driver is still paying fees to have their license reinstated due to one of these suspensions, those fees should be waived.
Licenses can still be suspended if a person is involved in an accident or is pulled over while driving without insurance.
What else does the new law change?
Starting April 9, when the law becomes effective:
Starting April 9, when the law takes effect:
- Courts will no longer suspend driver’s licenses for drug abuse, which is a minor offense, unless the person is also convicted of making or selling drugs, and they used a vehicle as part of that crime.
- Driver’s licenses will no longer be denied or suspended if a student is truant, meaning they miss a significant amount of school.
- People who have suspensions for not paying child support can ask local courts for driving privileges by filing a motion.
- The “lookback” period for penalties for driving with no vehicle insurance or proof of financial responsibility (sometimes called an SR-22) will change from five years to one year. What’s not clear is whether people currently in the longer lookback period will have that requirement dropped.
- The state will no longer block the ability to register a vehicle when a driver lacks insurance.
