Group studies ways to alter suspensions of driver’s licenses

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

Parents who have their Ohio driver’s licenses suspended for not paying child support could be allowed to drive to work or to job interviews under one of the recommendations from a working group studying ways to reduce suspensions unrelated to traffic safety, a newspaper reported Tuesday.

Another suggestion would give judges more leeway to restore driving privileges to motorists whose licenses were suspended for two years because they repeatedly failed to show proof of insurance, The Columbus Dispatch reported, based on its review of recommendations from the group set up by state officials at the urging of Dayton area Republican state Sen. Peggy Lehner.

“You don’t realize how much these suspensions affect people’s daily lives,” said Lori Tyack, clerk of Franklin County Municipal Court in Columbus and a member of the working group. The group also includes representatives of the Ohio State Highway Patrol and other agencies, as well as representatives from the insurance industry.

One out of every eight Ohio drivers — nearly 1 million residents — has a suspended license, the Dispatch reported. Ohio Department of Public Safety spokeswoman Lindsey Bohrer said suspensions would be reported to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles by courts, child support agencies, school superintendents, driver exam stations or others based on the type of violation.