Columbus 12 Point Suspension Lawyers

In Ohio, you can accumulate no more than 12 points on your driving record within a two-year period. If you accumulate 12 points on your driving record, the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) will send you a notice of suspension.

12-Point Suspension Resulting in BMV Suspended License

Your suspension term begins 20 days after the BMV sends the letter to you, and it lasts six (6) months. Getting 12 points on your license is also a level 1 misdemeanor, punishable by 3-180 days in jail (or community service) and up to a $1000 fine.

* This could also include community service.

If you are looking to overcome your 12-point suspension, you might need one of our experienced Columbus criminal defense attorneys to represent you at hearings and court dates to achieve a best possible outcome. To contact Luftman, Heck & Associates, call us at (614) 500-3836

Appealing a License Suspension & Reinstatement

If you feel you were wrongly suspended, you may appeal the 12-point suspension.

If you can show cause for why your driving privileges should not be suspended, an appeal may be filed in the county or municipal court in the jurisdiction where you reside – provided that you pay the cost of the proceedings. The appeal should be filed prior to the beginning date of the suspension.

If you are under the age of 18, the appeal must be filed in the juvenile court in the jurisdiction in which you reside.

If you are thinking of filing an appeal, it’s best to have an experienced Columbus license suspension attorney representing you and your best interests. Contact Luftman, Heck & Associates for a free consultation to see how we can help you.

Ohio Reinstatement Requirements

To get your driver’s license reinstated, you must do the following:

• Successfully complete a remedial driving instruction court given by an accredited remedial school (or, if you are 18 years of age or younger, you may completed the juvenile driver improvement program). The course completion date must be after the conviction date of the triggering offense.
• You must file FRA insurance (SR-22 or bond).
• Retake your driver’s license exam. Form BMV 2000 will be mailed to you as your notification to retake the exam.
• Pay the reinstatement fee if your suspension notice was mailed on or after 10/01/97.

You may also file a petition for driving privileges during your 12 Point Suspension. You need to first check with the county in which you reside to see if they offer driving privileges. If not, Franklin County is the default county to file your application for driving privileges during a 12 Point Suspension.

Driving on a Suspended License in Ohio

With 12 or more points on your BMV record, you are considered a repeat traffic offender. Therefore, the penalties for driving under suspension in Ohio can be very harsh.

If you violate your 12-point suspension and are found to be driving during this period, you will be charged under Ohio Revised Code 4510.037(J). This code section states that any person whose driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, driving permit, or nonresident operating privileges are suspended as a repeat traffic offender and who, during the suspension, operates any motor vehicle upon any public roads and highways is guilty of driving under a twelve-point suspension. In Ohio, this is a misdemeanor of the first degree, and the court will sentence you to a minimum of three days in jail. The minimum three days is not waived.

Driving under 12-point suspension will also add six (6) additional points on your driving record.

The Negative Impact of a 12-Point Suspension

A BMV l12-month license suspension is not just a temporary loss of driving privileges; it can trigger a domino effect of legal, financial, and personal setbacks. Driving with a suspended license can lead to criminal charges, skyrocketing insurance premiums, job loss, and a prolonged cycle of fines and extended suspensions.

Given these consequences, it’s wise to secure a traffic lawyer and take the matter seriously from the start. Their experience and advocacy can help with the complexities, of dealing with a complex traffic matter, potentially soften some of the repercussions, and provide advice on navigating this challenging period, not to mention assist with getting your license back.

Will Taking a Driving Class Help?

If you are getting close to 12 points on your driving record, you may want to consider taking a remedial driving class. This will typically provide you with a two (2) point credit. This does not reduce the overall number of points you have, but it gives you some leeway in case you happen to accumulate additional points on your record. This only applies if the driving course is voluntary; if a remedial driving class is mandated by an Ohio court, then you will not receive a two (2) point credit.

Our Columbus 12 Point Suspension Lawyers Can Help You

If you have been charged with driving under suspension, you’re probably wondering what your options are. Contact the Columbus driving under suspension lawyers at LHA today.

The team at Luftman, Heck & Associates has years of experience these cases for clients. Call a Columbus criminal defense lawyer today for a free consultation. To contact us, call us at (614) 500-3836 or email us via advice@columbuscriminalattorney.com.