Success and Recommendations of Ohio’s Reinstatement Fee Amnesty Program

In May of 2023, the Ohio Poverty Law Center released the report, Clearing the Road for Ohioans with Suspended Licenses: A Look at Ohio’s Reinstatement Fee Amnesty Program. The report found that the Reinstatement Fee Amnesty Program was successful and should be expanded.

Key Findings:

• 222,716 Ohioans received help with reinstatement fees through waiver, reductions, and payment plans.
• Lower-income Ohioans participating in the program saved an average of $612 in reinstatement fees.
• For Ohioans that had fees reduced, the state collected $23 million—an amount that might not otherwise have been collected without a payment plan.

OPLC’s policy recommendations in the report included standardizing reinstatement fees at $25, eliminating debt-related suspensions in the state, and expanding eligibility for the Amnesty Program and what they can submit as proof of eligibility.