Ohio Traffic Law Blog

Point suspensions and driving school

On behalf of Robert R. Hart, Jr., Attorney at Law posted in traffic violations on Saturday, August 18, 2018.

People who hold Ohio driver's licenses should always be aware of the state's laws concerning points on a person's driving record. It can be easier than some people might think to amass points on a driver's license. Rolling stops at otherwise quiet intersections, speeding tickets and other violations all may put points on a driver's record. Over time, the number of points could cause problems for the driver.

As explained by the State of Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, the state will send out a warning notice to people if they get at least six points added to their record in less than two years. This notice is a hardcopy letter that is sent to whatever address the BMV has on file for the driver. If the number of points on the driver's record continues to increase and reaches 12 in the two years, another notice is mailed out and this one will detail a suspension of driving privileges.

Commercial driver violations and loss of privileges

On behalf of Robert R. Hart, Jr., Attorney at Law posted in traffic violations for commercial driver's license holders on Saturday, July 28, 2018.

If you have a commercial driver's license in Ohio, you know how important retaining your driving privileges are as they may well be directly linked to your ability to earn an income and support yourself and maybe even your family. For this reason, it is very important that you know what things may interfere with your ability to drive commercially and how to get help if your right to drive a commercial vehicle is ever put at risk.

As explained by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, there are different violations that might find a person with a commercial driver's license losing the right to drive commercially for as few as 24 hours or as long as life. The specific length of time may be influenced by several factors including the number of prior offenses and the nature of the offense.

DUI charges await incoming Buckeye football player

On behalf of Robert R. Hart, Jr., Attorney at Law posted in drunk driving on Friday, July 20, 2018.

Given the chance, many in Cincinnati may choose to revisit their pasts and rethink some of the more reckless decisions they may have made in their youth. During one's teenage and early adult years, a lack of experience and well-developed judgment might lead him or her to doing things that he or she may undoubtedly later regret. Unfortunately, no amount of regret may erase the consequences of these poor decisions. The hope, however, is that such consequences do not follow him or her into adulthood, or worse yet, impact any opportunities for progression that he or she might have in the here and now.

It is yet to be seen how extensive the damage may be from the outcome of a recent case involving an incoming freshman member of the Ohio State University football team. Neither the school or the athletic department has yet to comment on the standing of the young man after he was arrested in Pennsylvania for allegedly driving under the influence. The charges he is facing suggest that he had a high level of alcohol in system. That information (coupled with the fact that he is a minor) could leave him facing more severe penalties that he might otherwise have.

Did you unjustly get a traffic ticket after hitting an object?

On behalf of Robert R. Hart, Jr., Attorney at Law on Monday, July 16, 2018.

As a driver you may know that you have a duty to remain as safe behind the wheel as possible. You likely do your best to keep your focus on the road, get enough sleep before driving and never drink and drive. Of course, even your best driving behavior may not prevent you from being involved in a minor accident.

Just as you have duties while driving, you also have certain duties authorities expect you to address if an accident takes place. Of course, as you may have never experienced a car accident before or only one at a younger age, you may not fully understand your responsibilities in this type of situation. The possibility also exists that you may have fulfilled your duties only to have someone else claim that you did not.

How do I get a commercial driver's license?

On behalf of Robert R. Hart, Jr., Attorney at Law posted in traffic violations for commercial driver's license holders on Thursday, July 5, 2018.

If the “romance of the road is calling you to become a semi-truck driver in Ohio, you have some work ahead of you. Driving a commercial vehicle is not something to take lightly; it carries a bigger responsibility than other vehicles due to the sheer size of the truck, the cargo it carries and the greater potential for destruction and death should something go wrong. It requires a greater set of skills and knowledge, as well as physical abilities, and commercial drivers are held to a high standard while operating a truck on public roads.

The Buckeye State follows federal guidelines described by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. These guidelines categorize commercial driver’s licenses into three classes based on weight and type of vehicle you plan to operate. Additional endorsements are needed to operate trucks with two or three trailers, tanker trucks and those carrying hazardous materials.

Did you know there is more than one type of speed limit?

On behalf of Robert R. Hart, Jr., Attorney at Law on Monday, July 2, 2018.

Speed limits are an aspect of traveling that most people try to pay attention to. As a driver, knowing the speed limits in your area could help prevent you from driving too fast and ending up with a ticket. Of course, if you do receive a citation, you may not think it is a big deal. However, you may want to reconsider this line of thinking.

Many people do commonly receive traffic tickets, but despite their common nature, tickets could still have a considerable impact on your license and your driving record. Therefore, rather than thinking of speeding tickets as an inevitable occurrence, you may want to learn more about the types of speeding and how you could better stay in compliance with the law.

Traffic tickets are no big deal. Right?

On behalf of Robert R. Hart, Jr., Attorney at Law on Thursday, June 21, 2018.

If you only get one minor traffic ticket every few years, you may be right. It isn't a big deal. However, if you are one of the unlucky drivers who feels as though every patrol car has a spotlight on your vehicle, those citations could add up to big trouble for you.

Why? Because many traffic violations end up adding points to your license. If you accumulate 12 points within a two-year period, you could find yourself without a driver's license for a while. That would more than likely be a big deal.

Points can lead to a license suspension

On behalf of Robert R. Hart, Jr., Attorney at Law posted in traffic violations on Wednesday, June 20, 2018.

There are many consequences traffic tickets can have for drivers. For some violations, points are put onto a person’s license. What is the significance of getting such points? Well, for one, having too many points on your license can trigger a license suspension here in Ohio.

Specifically, 12 points is the threshold for a license suspension in the state. In counting how many points a driver has for the sake of determining if he or she has hit this threshold, only the points accrued in the past two years are counted.

Do OVI laws apply to bicycles in Ohio?

On behalf of Robert R. Hart, Jr., Attorney at Law posted in drunk driving on Wednesday, May 30, 2018.

What do you think of when someone mentions DUI, or OVI as it's called here in Ohio? If you are like most people, you probably envision a motor vehicle such as a passenger vehicle, motorcycle or truck pulled over and a driver participating in field sobriety tests with the flashing lights of the patrol car in his or her eyes. If you are a boating enthusiast, you may even know that boating under the influence is a thing.

However, did you know that there is one other type of vehicle on which you could face arrest for OVI? Believe it or not, you could face drunk driving charges if you ride your bicycle while impaired.

Amish man arrested for DUI after buggy runs stop sign

On behalf of Robert R. Hart, Jr., Attorney at Law posted in drunk driving on Wednesday, May 16, 2018.

Ohio residents don't have to be operating a car while impaired to be accused of drunk driving. For example, an Amish man was arrested and charged with DUI after a deputy pulled over his horse-drawn buggy for erratic driving.