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Ohio’s License
Reinstatement Fee
Amnesty Initiative
BY MEGAN O’DELL AND ANN ROCHE
O en, a major barrier to em- ployment is the lack of a driver’s license. And for in- dividuals with a limited in-
come and money owed on reinstate- ment fees to the BMV, it can be nearly impossible to have a valid driver’s li- cense. Without a valid driver’s license, individuals are forced to choose be- tween losing employment, which cre- ates a host of di erent problems, or risk being pulled over and charged with a tra c o ense that can come with further license suspensions and higher reinstatement fees.
Last year, House Bill 336 was signed into law and created the Reinstate- ment Fee Amnesty Initiative, a six- month pilot program granting am- nesty and debt reduction on driver’s license reinstatement fees for eligible o enses.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
ere are two di erent paths to a reduction of reinstatement fees on suspensions related to eligible convic- tions.
ose Who Receive SNAP Bene ts (Food Stamps):
• You must complete all court-
ordered sanctions related to the eligible o ense. is includes the payment of nes but should not include the payment of court costs
related to the conviction.
• To prove that you receive SNAP
bene ts, you must provide a screen- shot from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Bene ts Self-Service Portal. e screenshot must include the current status, current month, next review date and authorized representatives in the house for SNAP bene ts.
ose Who Do Not Receive SNAP Bene ts:
• You must complete all court-
ordered sanctions related to the eligible o ense. is includes the payment of nes but should not include the payment of court costs related to the conviction.
• At least 18 months have expired since the end of the period of sus- pension ordered by the court.
ose Eligible for Partial Amnesty without Proof of SNAP Bene ts:
• If owed reinstatement fees for multiple eligible o enses, you are required to pay either the lowest reinstatement fee owed or 10% of the total, whichever is greater.
• If owed for one eligible o ense, you are required to pay half of the reinstatement fee owed for that o ense.
WHAT SUSPENSIONS ARE ELIGIBLE?
AttorneyAtLawMagazine.com
Driver’s license suspensions due to 25 speci c convictions are eligible for the fee amnesty program. For in- stance, members of the public whose driver’s license was suspended due to convictions for the , driving without insurance, violations of municipal or- dinances or texting and driving, are eligible for the fee amnesty.
Suspensions related to alcohol, drug abuse, or a deadly weapon are not eligible for amnesty or fee reduc- tion. is includes OVI suspensions.
Speaking with an attorney can be bene cial to determine if you qualify for amnesty or debt reduction.
ANN ROCHE IS A STAFF ATTORNEY AND OHIO LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOUNDATION JUSTICE FOR ALL FELLOW AT SOUTH- EASTERN OHIO LEGAL SERVICES. HER FEL- LOWSHIP FOCUSES ON REMOVING BAR- RIERS TO RESTORED CITIZENS THROUGH RECORD SEALING, CERTIFICATES OF QUALIFICATION FOR EMPLOYMENT, AND DRIVER’S LICENSE REINSTATEMENT. ANN RECEIVED HER JURIS DOCTOR FROM PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY LAW SCHOOL. MEGAN O’DELL JOINED THE OHIO POVERTY LAW CENTER IN JUNE 2018 AND FOCUSES ON ISSUES RELATED TO BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT, REEN- TRY AND HOUSING. PRIOR TO JOINING OPLC, MEGAN SPENT FOUR YEARS AT THE FRANKLIN COUNTY PUBLIC DEFENDER’S OFFICE. MEGAN GRADUATED FROM THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY IN 2014 WITH HER LAW DEGREE AND MASTER’S DEGREE.
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