An FRA suspension is a penalty in Ohio for lack of financial responsibility. Your driving privileges are taken away if you are on an FRA suspension.
Driving under an FRA suspension is illegal, and if you are caught, you could face further penalties.
The acronym FRA is often used but isn’t an official term in the Ohio statutes. The code “F” describes the suspension class for driving without insurance. “FR” is an acronym for “financial responsibility.” The Ohio BMV refers to it as a non-compliance suspension.
Section 4509.101 of the Ohio Revised Code prohibits an individual from operating a motor vehicle in Ohio without maintaining proof of financial responsibility (FR) continuously throughout the registration period with respect to that vehicle, or, in the case of a driver who is not the owner, with respect to that driver’s operation of that vehicle.
Ohio car insurance law requires financial responsibility in the minimum amount of $25,000 for bodily injury per person, $50,000 for bodily injury per accident, and $25,000 for property damage per accident.
Failure to provide proof of financial responsibility when required in Ohio will result in the following civil penalties imposed by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV):
For a first offense:
- Suspension of driving privileges until reinstatement requirements are met
- If caught driving under FRA suspension, a minimum 30-day suspension of plates and registration
- $100 reinstatement fee
- SR-22 filing for three years
For a second offense:
- One-year suspension of license
- If caught driving under FRA suspension, a minimum 60-day suspension of plates and registration
- $300 reinstatement fee
- SR-22 filing for five years
For third and subsequent offenses:
- Two-year suspension of license
- If caught driving under FRA suspension, vehicle is forfeited and sold and the driver will not be allowed to register another car for five years
- $600 reinstatement fee
- SR-22 filing for five years
Additionally, there is a $50 penalty for failing to surrender the license, plates or vehicle registration to the BMV. If you are involved in an accident when uninsured or while driving with an FRA suspension, the penalties can be even more severe.
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