What Are Traffic Violations And Infractions In Ohio?

In the state of Ohio, traffic violations and infractions are driving-related offenses. Based on their severity, these traffic offenses can be divided into two broad categories: violations and infractions.

Traffic violations are more severe criminal offenses that can be classified as felonies and misdemeanors and carry penalties of jail time and fines. However, traffic infractions are typically less serious offenses that do not require jail term but only fines and other sanctions, as provided by the Ohio traffic laws.

A traffic violation may lead to low or high prison terms depending on the offender’s prior convictions, the severe nature of the crime, and the presence of other aggravating factors.

What Are Felony Traffic Violations In Ohio?

Felony traffic violations are the most severe driving offenses in Ohio compared to misdemeanors and infractions. By nature, these crimes are gravest and more injurious in terms of financial or physical damages. Felony traffic offenses are punishable by a minimum of six months jail term to a maximum of life imprisonment, depending on the classification of the offense according to the Ohio criminal code.

For instance, traffic violations that lead to serious injury of victims or involve minors are more likely to be classified as felonies. Similarly, habitual traffic crimes get more severe punishments and usually fall within the felony classification. While a first OVI offense is often categorized as a misdemeanor in Ohio, after four convictions in 10 years or six convictions in 20 years, the next traffic offense may likely be classified as a felony.

The penalties of felony traffic violations in Ohio generally depend on the category where the crime falls. The Ohio criminal law further divides felonies in the state into six types (five degrees and unclassified felonies) with a range of penalties.

• First-degree felonies: From three to eleven years of imprisonment, fines not exceeding $20,000, or both
• Second-degree felonies: From two to eight years of imprisonment, fines not exceeding $15,000, or both
• Third-degree felonies: From nine months to thirty-six months of imprisonment, fines not exceeding $10,000, or both
• Fourth-degree felonies: From six months to eighteen months imprisonment, fines not exceeding $5,000, or both
• Fifth-degree felonies: From six to twelve imprisonment, fines not exceeding $2,500, or both
• Unclassified felonies: Includes the most severe of crimes in the state. Penalties are provided in the statute on a crime-by-crime basis

Note: Majority of felony traffic violations are generally not more severe than third-degree felonies. Except when the three-strikes rule is applied, jail terms may not exceed five years imprisonment.

Examples Of Felony Traffic Violations In State?

Some examples of traffic violations that are categorized as felonies in Ohio include:

• Vehicular homicides committed while driving with no license or suspended license
• Vehicular homicides with prior convictions of any traffic-related assault, manslaughter or homicide
• Hit and run or leaving the scene of an accident with property damage and serious bodily harm
• Tampering with traffic control devices or road materials with serious physical harm to property that is owned or controlled by a government body
• OVI (fourth/fifth offense in 10 years or sixth offense in 20 years)
• Reckless driving or OVI with a prior traffic felony conviction

What Are Traffic Misdemeanors In Ohio?

Traffic misdemeanors in Ohio are driving offenses that are less serious than felony traffic violations in terms of the nature of the crimes and punishments provided by the state legislature under the criminal code. However, traffic misdemeanors are generally more serious than traffic infractions. Misdemeanors are crimes that are punishable by a maximum jail term of six months (one hundred and eighty days) and other penalties as specified under the Ohio criminal code.

Traffic misdemeanor convictions can lead to severe or less severe penalties depending on certain factors like prior records and the degree of misdemeanor under which the crime falls. For instance, minor traffic offenses like speeding may be “enhanced” into misdemeanors after too many unattended speeding tickets.

Misdemeanor crimes in Ohio are divided into four degrees with varying penalties under each degree. These comprise:

• First-degree Misdemeanors: Punishable by up to 180 days imprisonment, fines not exceeding $1,000, or both
• Second-degree Misdemeanors: Punishable by up to 90 days imprisonment, fines not exceeding $750, or both
• Third-degree Misdemeanors: Punishable by up to 60 days in jail, fines not exceeding $500, or both
• Fourth-degree Misdemeanors: Punishable by up to 30 days in jail, fines not exceeding $250, or both

Note: Minor traffic offenses are usually charged as fourth-degree misdemeanors if the offender has one violation within one year and as third-degree misdemeanors if the offender has 2 or 3 violations within two years.

Examples Of Traffic Misdemeanors In Ohio?

Some examples of traffic misdemeanor crimes in Ohio include:

• Vehicular manslaughter
• Possession of a portable signal pre-emption device
• Operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances (first offense)
• Street racing
• Illegal stopping at a railroad grade crossing
• Placing injurious material on the highway with intent to cause physical harm or damage
• Willful or wanton driving or vehicle operation with prior traffic violations within one or two years

What Constitutes A Traffic Infraction In Ohio?

Generally, traffic infractions are regulatory offenses and ordinance violations that are not punishable by a jail term. In Ohio, these offenses are categorized as minor misdemeanors, which are the least severe types of offenses in the state compared to felonies and misdemeanors. These traffic offenses are punishable by fines imposed through citations or tickets or even forfeitures as specified in Ohio traffic laws.

Although most people just pay the fines (an automatic guilty plea), it is possible to contest traffic tickets or charges. Individuals usually have 30 days from the day a ticket is issued to notify the court of any wish to dispute charges. The hearing will then be scheduled from 21 to 45 days after the notice.

If the offender is found guilty but cannot afford to pay fines, a sentencing hearing can be done to come up with a payment schedule or alternatives to fines like taking a driving course or voluntarily choosing to go to jail.

Examples Of Traffic Infractions In State?

Most first-time traffic offenses that do not cause any injury or damages can be classified as a minor misdemeanor. Some examples include:

• Driving at an unreasonably slow speed to impede the flow of traffic
• Driving while texting
• Failure to indicate a turn, reverse, or lane change
• Failure to maintain speed limits on bridges
• Failure to obey traffic control devices
• Failure to yield right-of-way at an intersection
• Illegal parking
• Knowingly driving over freshly applied pavement markings despite warning signs
• Littering roads
• Running a red light
• Violating seat belt laws

How Does Traffic Ticket Work In Ohio?

According to Ohio traffic laws, a ticket can be a speeding or traffic ticket, summons, or citation issued after an alleged traffic offense is detected by an officer or a photo-monitoring device. Individuals can get the ticket dismissed in Ohio in the following ways:

• Provide the municipal or county court with an affidavit stating that another person (not the owner) was operating the vehicle at the time of the incident
• Provide an affidavit that the vehicle or its license plate was stolen at the time of the incident, or being used without the owner’s permission
• Provide evidence to prove that the officer who issued the ticket was wrong and that the driver was operating within boundaries of the traffic law.
• Justify the reasons why certain traffic laws had been violated. For example, an emergency that prevented the individual from parking correctly or moving a vehicle at the required time.
• Faulty parking meters and mistakes made in the process of issuing the ticket can also be used to dismiss a ticket.

Affidavits submitted for stolen vehicles or license plates are to be supported with proof of a police report that was filed before the violation or within 48 hours after the violation.

Ohio traffic violations may be reported to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV), depending on whether the offense was a moving or non-moving violation. Generally, the BMV receives more moving violation reports, compared to reports of non-moving violations. BMV also imposes penalty points for each reported violation. Hence, while speeding tickets can add points to a driver’s license, parking tickets do not increase points in Ohio.

The Ohio point penalty system is adopted by the BMV to sanction violations of moving and non-moving traffic laws. The state adds points to a driver’s license after certain traffic violations, and cumulative points will result in increased fines and the suspension or permanent loss of a driver’s license. The point limit in Ohio is 12 points, after which drivers may have their licenses suspended.

Moving violations are traffic violations that are committed by the driver of a vehicle while the vehicle is moving. Non-moving violations are not synonymous with a car’s stationary position but can also occur while a vehicle is moving. Rather, these are violations that are focused on violations of traffic requirements that do not necessarily concern the vehicle’s motion, for instance, parking violations, equipment or paperwork violations, license violations, and so on.

Are Driving Records Public In Ohio?

Driver’s records in Ohio are public but may require a signed consent to inspect or copy. According to the Ohio public records law, members of the public can view and make requests to obtain copies of the driver’s record.

These records contain information concerning the traffic offenses, accidents, and convictions of an individual as well as license suspensions. Exempted information may include sensitive data like social security numbers, residence addresses, and credit card information.

Parties who can obtain a driver’s record in Ohio include:

• Individual mentioned in the records
• Those with a written consent signed by the individual mentioned in the record
• Certain employers or businesses
• Peace officers
• Certain government agencies like law enforcement agencies and court personnel
• Persons with a court order
• Private investigative agents/agencies

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites operate independently of any government agency. Such platforms may make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties may need to provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

How To Find Driving Records In Ohio?

Ohio driver’s records are maintained by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV). This is a public body in charge of gathering, maintaining, and issuing copies of drivers’ records in Ohio under the state laws. Individuals can obtain a three-year abstract of a driver’s record. Note, conviction records of traffic violations or infractions in Ohio will remain on an individual’s record for life.

Procedure for requesting driver’s records from BMV typically involves the following steps:

• Download the Ohio BMV application forms or other forms for other record types
• Complete the relevant form as appropriate, including the record owner’s name, social security number, vehicle registration number, etc.
• Attach required documents
• Mail the completed form with $5.00 fee to the nearest BMV location or to;

Ohio BMV
Attn: BMV Records
P.O. Box 16520
Columbus, Ohio 43216–6520

Can Traffic Violation And Infractions Be Expunged/Sealed in Ohio?

Traffic violations and infractions can only be sealed under limited conditions in Ohio. These conditions are:

• If the charges were dismissed or resulted in non-conviction (OH. Code. § 2953.32)
• If the traffic violation is charged with different dispositions (OH. Code. § 2953.61)
• If the multiple charges and traffic violations are non-violent or non-sexual

Most non-convictions are eligible for expungement under Ohio expungement laws. However, convictions of traffic violations can only be expunged under multiple charges. For instance, if an individual is pulled over for speeding but is found to be in possession of controlled substances, the two charges may be filed under one case, and both charges can be expunged together after the necessary waiting period.

Note: Except for some records, such as juvenile cases, sealed records in Ohio may still be viewed by law enforcement agencies and certain government agencies.