Oct. 2, 2009
Supreme Court Adopts Changes to Traffic Rules, Traffic Ticket
The Supreme Court of Ohio today announced the adoption of several amendments to the Ohio Traffic Rules and a revised traffic ticket. Justices voted 7-0 in approving the amendments and ticket revisions.
The amendments become effective Jan. 1, 2010, while the ticket becomes mandatory July 1, 2010. Jurisdictions are permitted to use current tickets until supplies run out before ordering and using the revised ticket.
The changes – which were recommended by the Commission on the Rules of Practice and Procedure – streamline some procedures in traffic cases and promote judicial economy by allowing for fewer trips to the courthouse for offenders and fewer hearings for judges. For instance, the revisions:
- Allow for forfeiture of bail or security to be utilized in place of an appearance in court so long as all parties consent.
- Allow for the wider use of pleas in absentia, which many courts use for out-of-state offenders and those who may have difficulty appearing in court. The state would have to consent to a plea in absentia in OVI cases.
- Permit a defendant to dispose of a citation through the Traffic Violations Bureau at any time before arraignment rather than the current requirement of disposal within seven days after the ticket is issued.
Revisions to the Multi-Court Uniform Traffic Ticket remove all but four digits of a defendant’s Social Security number to address identity theft concerns, conform to new rules regarding public access to court records and recognize that Ohio’s new operator’s licenses do not contain Social Security numbers.
Additional changes include more space for the citing officer to include prior OVI convictions to aid courts and law enforcement in identifying a habitual offender. The new form also includes an additional signature line if the charging officer who cites the defendant and issuing officer who serves the ticket are different.
Access the complete text of the amendments.
Contact: Chris Davey or Bret Crow at 614.387.9250.
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