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  4.  | Ohio’s New BMV Program May Help You Get Your Driver’s License Back

Ohio’s New BMV Program May Help You Get Your Driver’s License Back

by | Dec 12, 2018 | Suspended License

The Reinstatement Fee Amnesty Initiative 

On January 31, 2019, more than one third of the 1.1 million Ohioans with suspended driver’s licenses will have an opportunity to petition the BMV to reduce their reinstatement fees or waive them entirely. This opportunity falls under a new six month program called the Reinstatement Fee Amnesty Initiative.

Not all individuals with suspended driver’s licenses are eligible to apply for the program. For instance, the opportunity is not available for individuals convicted of an offense involving alcohol, drug abuse, or a deadly weapon, or where the basis of the charge involved any such factors. Instead, there are 25 specific offenses listed in the new law eligible for reinstatement relief. These include, but are not limited to: reckless operation, non-compliance/FRA suspensions, and failure to stop after an accident. 

Under the reduction arrangement, the individual must have been under suspension for at least 18 months and completed all court-ordered sanctions associated with the underlying offense (for example, paying all fines and court costs, completing community service, completing a drug and alcohol assessment, etc.). Assuming the individual is eligible and owes multiple reinstatement fees to the BMV, the individual can pay the lowest reinstatement fee for those offenses or ten per cent of the total amount owed in reinstatement fees, whichever amount is greater. Then, the individual’s driver’s license will be reinstated.

If the individual owes only one reinstatement fee, he or she is required to pay only one half of the reinstatement amount to reinstate their license.

This new program will obviously provide much relief for those who cannot afford to reinstate their driver’s licenses due to minor offenses.

If you or someone you know would like to speak with an attorney concerning how this new law may help you, do not hesitate to contact the attorneys at Rittgers Rittgers & Nakajima at 513-496-0134 for a free consultation.