Ohio lawmakers work to dump driver late fees

COLUMBUS (AP) — Ohio legislators are working on ways to end $20 fines for drivers who missed new deadlines to renew their driver licenses and vehicle registrations.

An Ohio House bill sponsored by 38 mostly Republican lawmakers seeks to repeal the fees that took effect Oct. 1.

House Democrats are working on another bill to end the fees, plus replace the projected $19 million a year they were expected to generate for Ohio State Highway Patrol operations.

Through Dec. 31, the unpopular late fines raised $6.4 million.

The penalties apply to drivers more than seven days late on a renewal. They were part of a series of new and higher fees added to state transportation budget last year.