Ohio ‘Party Plates’

Understanding Ohio’s Restricted License Plates

Your Warren OVI lawyer will remind you that Ohio mandates certain drivers with limited driving privileges following an OVI (Operating a Vehicle while Impaired) to replace their regular license plates with distinctive yellow OVI plates. Commonly known as “party plates,” these bright yellow plates with red lettering are officially termed “restricted license plates.” If you are required to have party plates, you must purchase and install them yourself. Depending on your charges, the plates might be optional. However, for some offenses, including any OVI beyond the first, they are mandatory.

Regardless of who owns the car you’ll be driving, you must install the party plates during your period of limited driving privileges, with the sole exception of a work vehicle. In such cases, your employer must know about your limited driving privileges.

You cannot replace the party plates until you have completed your entire period of limited driving. This duration may span months or even years, depending on the specifics of your case.

When are Party Plates Required?

In certain situations, restricted license plates are optional, but in others, they are mandatory.

• 1st Offense OVI – optional
• 1st Offense with a high BAC – mandatory
• 2nd Offense or more within ten years – mandatory
• 4th Offense or more within twenty years – mandatory

Party plates may be a condition of limited driving privileges. If this is the case, you must complete an “application for registration of a motor vehicle with restricted plates,” which needs approval from a judge, magistrate, or another court official. After approval, you take the application to your local BMV office, surrender your old plates, and buy the new restricted plates. If the plates are not on your car, your limited driving privileges are invalid.

How Can I Avoid Being Forced to Have Party Plates?

Some individuals are not troubled by the yellow and red plates, but for others, it’s the most challenging aspect of an OVI conviction.

If you dislike the idea of having party plates on your car, you can contest the OVI charge and plead not guilty. However, this is not a step you should take on your own. OVI laws are complex and frequently updated, requiring a Warren OVI  lawyer with extensive training in all aspects of OVI law—from roadblocks and field sobriety tests to the court process—to effectively maneuver through the justice system. Only an experienced Warren criminal lawyer can guide you productively through the trial and achieve the desired results.

Although Ohio judges have had the authority to issue party plates since 1967, their use only became mandatory in 2004.

Driving a car with bright yellow and red plates draws attention and can be embarrassing and anxiety-inducing. It signals to other drivers that you’ve had an OVI conviction. Your boss might learn about it from colleagues or notice it when you park at work, potentially jeopardizing your promotion or job security. Your neighbors will see the plates and be aware of your criminal charge. Additionally, it could make law enforcement scrutinize you and your vehicle more closely.

If you are facing a license suspension and want to drive yourself to work or school, or if you wish to contest the party plate requirement, contact a  Warren OVI lawyer like Sean Logue. Sean possesses the qualities needed in a  Warren criminal attorney—dedication, aggressiveness, and extensive knowledge of OVI law. He’s available around the clock to discuss your case, contact us at (330) 992-3036 and offer a flat fee and payment plans.

For more information about OVI law in Ohio and restricted license plates, refer to the Ohio Revised Code, Title 45, Chapter 4511.19.