Serious Traffic Charges Are Criminal Cases
Driving under suspension, reckless operation, hit-skip, and repeat speeding offenses are not parking tickets — in Ohio many of them are misdemeanors that carry possible jail time, more points, higher insurance for years, and longer suspensions. Paying the ticket is pleading guilty; it is often the most expensive option available to you.
What I Can Do
- Protect your license — fight suspensions and pursue limited driving privileges so you can keep working.
- Reduce charges and points — many moving violations can be negotiated to non-moving or lower-point offenses that spare your insurance.
- Handle CDL and out-of-state drivers — a conviction in Ashland, Huron, or Richland County follows you home. I regularly represent drivers picked up on I-71 and US-30 and may be able to appear so you don't have to return.
- Defend the underlying stop — radar calibration/confidence checks, officer observations, and video get examined, not assumed.
Before you pay any serious ticket, call for a free consultation — five minutes on the phone can save you years of insurance surcharges.
Ohio's Points System Can Take Your License
Every moving violation carries points, and they add up faster than most people expect. Under R.C. 4510.037, twelve points within two years means the BMV imposes a six-month suspension — automatically. That is why the points you take on this ticket decide what happens on the next one.
Penalties for Common Traffic Offenses
These are the maximums Ohio law allows (R.C. 2929.24, 2929.28). Actual outcomes depend on your record and on how the case is handled:
| Offense | Level | Max Jail | Max Fine |
|---|
| Driving under suspension (R.C. 4510.11) | 1st-degree misdemeanor | 180 days | $1,000 |
| Reckless operation (R.C. 4511.20), first offense | Minor misdemeanor | None | $150 |
| Reckless operation with recent priors | 4th- or 3rd-degree misdemeanor | 30–60 days | $250–$500 |
Courts can also suspend your license on top of these penalties — a driving-under-suspension conviction can add a court suspension of up to one more year (R.C. 4510.02), and repeat DUS offenses can mean vehicle immobilization or forfeiture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I just pay the ticket?
Paying a ticket is a guilty plea. The points go on your license, your insurer sees the conviction, and any suspension follows automatically. Before you pay anything beyond a routine parking ticket, spend five minutes on the phone with me — the call is free, and sometimes the honest answer really is "just pay it." But know that before you pay, not after.
How many points does it take to lose your license in Ohio?
Twelve points within two years, and the BMV imposes a six-month suspension automatically (R.C. 4510.037). Points add up faster than people expect — two or three moving violations can put you within range. Fighting the points on this ticket is really about protecting you from the next one.
Is driving under suspension really a jailable offense?
Yes. Driving under suspension (R.C. 4510.11) is a first-degree misdemeanor — up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, and the court can add its own suspension of up to another year. Repeat offenses within three years can bring vehicle immobilization or even forfeiture. Courts here take DUS seriously, and so should you.
I live out of the area. Do I have to come back for court?
Often no. For many traffic matters in the Ashland, Huron, and Richland county courts I may be able to appear on your behalf so you do not have to make the trip. Call me and I will tell you whether your case qualifies.
What does a traffic lawyer cost?
A flat fee, quoted before you hire me — no hourly billing, no surprises. The consultation is free, and I will tell you honestly whether your ticket is worth fighting.
Charged outside Ashland County? See my pages for Mansfield & Richland County and Norwalk & Huron County.
Talk to Jeff Today
Free consultation — call, text, or send the contact form. The earlier I get involved, the more I can do.
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