Ticket Fines and Penalties in Ohio

Ohio Traffic Ticket Fines and Costs

Traffic ticket fines are not uniform throughout Ohio. This means a fine for disobeying a yield sign in Dayton will not be the same in Ashtabula. If you have questions regarding the ticket's fine amount, contact the courtlisted on your citation. If you've misplaced the citation, learn what steps to take in our Lost Traffic Ticket page.

Auto Insurance Rate

Depending on the policies of your car insurance provider, increased rates may follow the appearance of a traffic violation on your driving record. Compare auto insurance rates online if you're in the market for a more affordable policy.

Ohio Traffic Ticket Penalties

In addition to traffic ticket fines, you'll also incur penalties, which are uniform throughout Ohio. Points and possible loss of driving privileges are the two most common penalties. The nature of the traffic violation, driving record history and license type (CDL, instruction permit, etc) all factor into determining the extent of the penalties.

Ohio Point System

Every time you're convicted of a traffic violation, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) assigns points to your driving record. The more severe the infraction, the higher the point total. You can learn more about point assignments on our Ohio Points page.

The BMV closely monitors point totals:

• Sending out warning letters to drivers with six or more points.
• Suspending Ohio driver licenses with 12 or more points within a two-year span.

OH Driver's License Suspension and Revocation

Suspension and revocation are the two most common terms associated with loss of driving privileges.

Suspended License―The temporary loss of your Ohio driver's license for a specified period of time. Driving privileges are returned once all reinstatement requirements are satisfied.
Revoked License―The cancellation of your Ohio driver's license for an extended period of time. Once the revocation period has ended, you must reapply for a new driver's license.

Some of the ways your OH driver's license could be suspended or revoked include:

• Accumulating 12 or more points within a two-year period
• Driving under the influence (DUI) of alcohol or drugs
• Conviction of two racing violations within a two-year span
• Driving without car insurance
• Refusing a blood-alcohol test

Consult our Ohio Suspended License page for a full list of suspension reasons.

Penalties for Drivers Younger Than 18

In addition to the violations described above, you'll also lose your driving privileges if:

• Convicted of two moving violations
• Driving with a blood alcohol count (BAC) .02% (this applies to all drivers younger than 21)
• Violating any permit or license restrictions

Penalties for Ohio Commercial Drivers

Remember to notify your employer within 30 days of a traffic violation conviction. This applies to all vehicles, including your home car.

Major Offenses

You will lose your Ohio CDL for one year if convicted of any of the following offenses:

• Driving any vehicle with a blood alcohol count (BAC) of 0.08% or higher
• Driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) with a BAC of 0.04%
• Refusing to submit to a sobriety test
• Leaving the scene of an accident
• Using the vehicle to commit a felony
• Driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) with a suspended, revoked or canceled CDL
• Causing a fatality through negligent driving

Serious Offenses

These violations include:

• Speeding 15 mph over the posted speed limit
• Reckless driving
• Improper lane changes
• Following a vehicle too closely
• Driving a CMV without holding a CDL
• Driving a CMV without having your CDL in your possession
• Driving a CMV without the proper CDL endorsement
• Violating a state law of texting while driving

A second conviction of any combination of these violations will lead to the loss of your driving privileges for 60 days, or 120 days for a third or subsequent conviction of any combination of these offenses.

CDL Disqualifications

Your CDL will be disqualified from anywhere from 180 days to one year for the following convictions:

• Violating a driver or vehicle out-of-service order while transporting nonhazardous materials
• Violating a driver or vehicle out-of-service order while transporting hazardous materials required to be placarded, or while driving a vehicle designed to transport 16 or more passengers

For more on traffic violations and penalties, consult the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's website.