RULE 15:
Traffic Bureau; Traffic Court; Use of electronically produced tickets

(A)  Traffic Violations Bureau. There is hereby created a Traffic Violations Bureau in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas, Domestic Relations Division and Juvenile Branch pursuant to Ohio R. of Traffic 13.1.

(B)   Payment in advance of hearing. Juveniles cited for offenses not listed in section (C) may sign the Appearance, Admission, and Waiver of Trial form and submit it to the Juvenile Court’s Traffic Violations Bureau along with the ticket and a personal check, money order or other form of payment approved by the Juvenile Clerk of Court for the total amount of the fine and costs at time of payment, and must also sign the Appearance, Admission, and Waiver of Trial form.

(C)   Violations requiring a court hearing. All juvenile traffic offenses may be disposed of by the Juvenile Court’s Traffic Violations Bureau, except as follows:

1. Indictable offenses;
2. Operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or any drug of abuse;
3. Leaving the scene of an accident;
4. Driving while under suspension or revocation of a driver’s or commercial driver’s license;
5. Driving without being licensed to drive;
6. Failure to stop and remain standing upon meeting or overtaking a school bus stopped on the highway for the purpose of receiving or discharging a school child;
7. Willfully eluding or fleeing a police officer;
8. Drag racing;
9. A second or subsequent moving offense;
10. An offense that involves an accident.

(D)   Costs and Fines. A list of costs and fines for all offenses that may be paid in advance of hearing has been provided to local law enforcement and is available on the Court’s website and at the Juvenile Clerk of Court/Traffic Violations Bureau located at 399 South High Street.

(E)   Continuances. No continuances of a traffic appearance shall be granted by phone.

(F)   Denial in advance of hearing. Forms are available in the Traffic Violation Bureau which may be used by an attorney or parent to enter a denial on behalf of a youth who has been cited.  The matter will then be set for trial on the contested docket before a Magistrate.

(G)   Driving privileges and other relief. All requests for driving privileges or other form of post-adjudicatory relief are to be made in writing and will be set for hearing on the afternoon Traffic Docket.  The moving party shall give notice of the hearing to the Prosecutor's Office.

(H)   Electronic Tickets.  Traffic tickets produced by computer or other electronic means may be filed in lieu of the Ohio Uniform Traffic Ticket, provided that the computer-generated or electronic ticket conforms in all substantive respects, including layout and content to the Ohio Uniform Traffic Ticket.  The provisions of Ohio Traffic Rule 3(B) relative to the color, weight of paper, and method of binding shall not be applicable to a ticket that is produced by computer or other electronic means.

If a traffic ticket produced by computer or other electronic means is issued at the scene of the alleged offense, the issuing officer shall provide the defendant with a paper copy of the ticket as required by Ohio Traffic Rules 3(E).  A law enforcement officer who files a ticket electronically shall be considered to have certified the ticket and shall have the same rights, responsibilities, and liabilities as with all other traffic tickets issued pursuant to the Ohio Traffic Rules.

(Amended effective 7/1/93; 2/10/97; 1/1/00; 7/1/04; 9/15/2020)