29 October

Will I Have “Party Plates?” (by DaytonDUI)

If you thought that public shaming was a barbaric practice relegated to the distant past, you have not been driving through Ohio. Ohio was the first state in the country to adopt a form of public humiliation by adopting special license plates for drunk driving offenders. Use of the “scarlet letter” plates became mandatory in 2004. O.R.C. 4507.02(F)(2) and 4503.231. These bright yellow plates with prominent red lettering (often referred to as party plates) are an indelible record of your offense and will not be easily forgotten by friends, family, customers and clients. At DaytonDUI we are opposed to “branding,” “shaming,” and/or “humiliation” as a method of punishment and will fight to keep these abominations off your vehicle.

When are yellow DUI plates required? If you are convicted of OVI in Ohio, yellow “restricted plates” are required in certain circumstances.

If you are convicted of OVI as a first offense, the judge has discretion to order restricted plates as a condition of granting you limited driving privileges.
If you are placed under and administrative license suspension, a judge has discretion to order restricted plates as a condition of granting limited driving privileges.
If you are convicted of O.V.I. as a first offense that involves a “high test”, the judge must order restricted plates as a condition of limited driving privileges.
If you are convicted of OVI as a second offense or more within six years, the judge must order restricted plates as a condition of limited driving privileges.
If you are convicted of O.V.I. as a fourth offense or more within 20 years, the judge must order restricted plates as a condition of limited driving privileges.

In addition to the problems of living with the plates is the inconvenience of obtaining the plates. If you are required to use these plates, you must surrender your plates to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles who, in turn, will give you the restricted plates. The restricted plates must remain on your vehicle for the duration of any license suspension imposed by the court and/or during the duration of the administrative license suspension.

DUI attorney Charles M. Rowland II dedicates his practice to defending the accused drunk driver in Fairborn, Dayton, Springfield, Kettering, Vandalia, Xenia, Miamisburg, Huber Heights, Beavercreek, Centerville, Springboro, Franklin and throughout Ohio. He has the credentials and the experience to win your case and has made himself the Miami Valley’s choice for DUI defense. Contact Charles Rowland by phone at 937-318-1DUI (937-318-1384), 937-879-9542, or toll-free at 1-888-ROWLAND (888-769-5263). For after-hours help contact our 24/7 DUI HOTLINE at 937-776-2671. For information about Dayton DUI sent directly to your mobile device, text DaytonDUI (one word) to 50500. Follow DaytonDUI on Twitter @DaytonDUI or Get Twitterupdates via SMS by texting DaytonDUI to 40404. DaytonDUI is also available on Facebook,www.facebook.com/daytondui and on the DaytonDUI channel on YouTube. You can also email Charles Rowland at: CharlesRowland@DaytonDUI.com or write to us at 2190 Gateway Dr., Fairborn, Ohio 45324.