Ohio Traffic Violations

Traffic violations are offenses committed while operating a motor vehicle. In Ohio, they range from minor infractions or minor misdemeanors to misdemeanors and, in severe cases, felonies.

Ohio has strict penalties for traffic violations, so every resident must be aware of its legal, financial, and civic implications. All residents should learn how to locate and interpret official records when needed.

What Is Considered a Traffic Violation in Ohio?

Title 45 of the Ohio Revised Code stipulates all the state’s traffic laws. When drivers break Ohio traffic rules, they receive tickets/citations from law enforcement officers. Every ticket adds up and may lead to penalties such as fines, suspension of driving license, or possible time in jail. Traffic violations may be classified broadly as misdemeanors and felonies based on the severity of the offense.

Types of Traffic Violations in Ohio

There are many ways for an individual or driver to violate traffic laws in Ohio. Common ways include:

• Speeding (R.C. 4511.21): Drivers exceed posted or prima facie limits.
• Running a red light/ignoring signals or signs: Individuals disobey a traffic control device or signal indications on the road.
• Driving without insurance (financial responsibility): It is a crime to operate a vehicle without continuous financial responsibility coverage on the road.
• Driving while suspended / without a valid license: No driver is permitted by law to drive a vehicle without a valid license or with a suspended license.
• Reckless driving (reckless operation): Drivers caught with willful or wanton disregard for the safety of road users will be prosecuted under the law.
• Hit and run: Failure for drivers to stop after an accident on public roads or private property leads to misdemeanors, which may be elevated to felonies upon the occurrence of serious injury or death.
• Failure to yield: In this scenario, drivers break the right-of-way rules at intersections and during left turns.
• Distracted driving/handheld device use: Ohio’s hands-free law has made adult handheld use a primary offense with fines and possible suspension.

Traffic Violation Penalties in Ohio

Ohio uses a point accumulation system for traffic violations to track a driver’s history. Any driver convicted of a traffic violation is assessed a specific number of penalty points based on the violation type or subsequent (repeated) violations. The court system assesses the number of penalty points given for traffic violations, for example:

• If a driver accumulates six points within two years, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will send a six-point warning letter to the driver.
• If a driver accumulates 12 or more points within two years, the BMV will impose a 12-point suspension of the driver's license. To reinstate driving privileges, drivers may be required to complete a remedial driving course, file a certificate of insurance with the BMV, and pay reinstatement fees.
• An overview of Point Violations is listed below:
  • 2 Points: Moving violations, some speed offenses, restriction violations
  • 4 Points: Willful or wanton disregard for the safety of a person or property
  • 6 Points; Failure to stop and disclose identity after a crash, among other dangerous and serious actions

Suspension of Probationary License (Individuals below 18 years): Penalties include:

• A conviction of two moving violations may result in an automatic three-month license suspension.
• A conviction of three moving violations may result in an automatic one-year license suspension.
• A conviction of Probationary Operating a Vehicle Under the Influence results in a six-month license suspension.

Repeat offenders may face enhanced penalties. For example, reckless operation may escalate from a minor misdemeanor to a fourth- or third-degree misdemeanor if there are prior predicate offenses within a year.

How to Search for Traffic Violation Records in Ohio

Traffic records are public by default. However, certain materials (such as expunged/sealed non-traffic cases or protected identifiers) are restricted by law or court order. In Ohio, traffic violation records are available at the local trial courts and the BMV. Individuals may check their:

• Driving record (BMV). The Ohio BMV allows individuals to request their driving records online if they are ordering an unofficial two-year driving record or a certified three-year abstract. Individuals may also obtain their complete driving record history by mailing a completed Ohio BMV Record Request Form along with a $5.00 fee.
• Ticket or case file (court). The state does not operate a single statewide trial-court docket for all traffic cases. So individuals should search the local municipal or county court clerk where the citation was issued. Some court clerks, such as those at Franklin County Municipal Court, offer a public online lookup that enables record seekers to view case files. Residents may contact the office of the clerk of court through the county-by-county directories of trial courts to locate court records.

In Ohio, court records may include the case number, charge(s), plea, dispositions, fine/costs owed or paid, and subsequent court date. A driving record history from the BMV includes all moving violation convictions, accident involvement reports, license suspensions, and revocations.

How Long Do Traffic Violations Stay on Record in Ohio?

BMV points may remain for two years from the date of the offense on a driver’s record.

Most Ohio traffic convictions cannot be sealed or expunged (including OVI and driving-under-suspension). Individuals may check local court instructions or counsel for narrow exceptions.