Certain traffic violations and criminal offenses can be waiver - that is you can admit guilt and pay your fines and court costs by mail without having to come to court. Other violations REQUIRE a court appearance under the law. Below you will find a list of the mandatory appearances as well as the waiverable ones.
The date on the ticket is the LAST day you will have to plead not guilty, waiver the charge, or appear in court. If you plead NOT GUILTY, a future court date will be assigned.
Mandatory Court Appearances
If you have been cited for one of the following citation you are REQUIRED to appear in court on the date listed at the bottom of your citation:
- Operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs or a breath alcohol content of .08% or more.
- Leaving the scene of an accident/Hit-skip.
- No operator's license; not licensed to drive; license expired OVER six (6) months.
- Driving under ANY suspension or revocation.
- Passing a stopped school bus.
- Wrongful entrustment/allowing a person under suspension to operate your motor vehicle.
- A third (3rd) moving violation within a one-year period.
All fines and costs are due on the date you appear in court.
ALL THE ABOVE LISTED VIOLATIONS REQUIRE PROOF OF INSURANCE FOR THE DATE OF THE CITATION. IF YOUR TICKET IS MARKED "FR NOT SHOWN" YOU MUST BRING YOUR PROOF TO COURT. DO NOT BRING INVOICES OR APPLICATIONS. YOU NEED AN INSURANCE CARD WITH EFFECTIVE DATES FOR THE CAR LISTED IN THE CITATION, OR A LETTER FROM YOUR AGENT.
FAILURE TO PROVE INSURANCE WILL RESULT IN A SUSPENSION IMPOSED BY THE OHIO BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES--NOT THE COURT-- AND YOUR LICENSE WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR A MINIMUM OF 90 DAYS.
