Lawmakers work to dump late fees for driver’s licenses, registrations

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

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