The Cost of Debt-Related License Suspensions in Ohio

In September of 2022, the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland released the report, “Road to Nowhere: Debt-Related Driver’s License Suspensions in Ohio.” The report demonstrated that:

• Ohio drivers face more than 3 million debt-related suspensions annually.
• Debt-related suspensions substantially burden Ohio communities with an average outstanding total debt each year of over $920 million.
• Administrative fees collected by the BMV to reinstate a driver’s license after a suspension can exceed $600 for driving without insurance.
• Debt-related suspensions cost residents of Ohio’s highest-poverty zip codes an average of $7.9 million each year.
• Ohio zip codes with the highest percentages of people of color foot the largest portion of the bill, costing residents an average of $12 million each year.