Did a police officer recently charge you in the Columbus metropolitan area with a traffic ticket for driving too slow? If so, you should talk to a Columbus traffic attorney about resolving your traffic charge for allegedly driving too slow.

The fact that you received a ticket for driving too slow does not mean that you are guilty of this offense or that you will be convicted of this offense. Oftentimes, a traffic attorney can resolve your ticket for driving too slow without your having to go to court. Depending on the facts of your case, this resolution may result in a reduced violation, a no-points violation, diversion (resulting in dismissal upon completion of a defensive driving course and paying court costs), or even a dismissal.

You may have the option of prepaying your traffic ticket. But the cost of prepaying a ticket may be greater than you think. Prepaying a ticket is the functional equivalent to a guilty plea, and you will be convicted of the driving-too-slow offense charged in your traffic citation. Aside from the financial cost that must be paid to the court, a traffic conviction for a moving violation may result in points being added to your driving record, increased insurance premiums, and potential employment sanctions if you are required to drive a company vehicle for your employer. A conviction for driving too slow may appear on background checks run by current or future employers or professional licensing authorities.

Driving too slow ordinarily is a minor misdemeanor. But there are exceptions. Depending on the facts of your case and whether you have prior predicate traffic convictions, a minor misdemeanor offense can be elevated to a more serious offense that carries the possibility of community control sanctions and even jail time. Additionally, your license may be suspended if you accumulate 12 or more points on your driving record within a two-year period. These are just a few considerations when deciding whether to hire a Columbus traffic lawyer to represent you in your ticket for driving too slow.

For legal assistance with your Columbus traffic ticket for driving too slow, contact us at 614.695.5000 or online. Below is summary of the law concerning the traffic offense of driving too slow, including the potential penalty and the points assessed if convicted of this offense.

Driving too slow.

Driving at an unreasonably slow speed is prohibited by Ohio Revised Code Sections 4511.21 and 4511.22. Section 4511.21(A) generally provides that a driver is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle at a speed less than is reasonable or proper, having due regard to the traffic, surface, and width of the street or highway and any other conditions. Section 4511.22(A) also provides that no person shall stop or operate a vehicle at such an unreasonably slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, except when stopping or reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or to comply with law.

Section Code 4511.22(B) provides criteria for the director of transportation or local authorities to declare a minimum speed limit below which no person shall operate a motor vehicle, except when necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law. No minimum speed limit established under this code section may be less than thirty miles per hour or greater than fifty miles per hour. The minimum speed limit must be posted.

When a violation of this section is alleged, the trier of fact (usually the court) is required to consider the capabilities of the vehicle and its operator in determining whether the vehicle was being operated at an unreasonably slow speed.

Penalty for driving too slow.

Driving at an unreasonably slow speed ordinarily is a minor misdemeanor. The potential penalty for a minor misdemeanor traffic offense includes the imposition of a fine of up to $150, up to thirty hours of community service, and court costs.

But if, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, then driving at an unreasonably slow speed is elevated to a fourth degree misdemeanor. The potential penalty for a fourth degree misdemeanor traffic infraction includes the imposition of a jail term of not more than thirty days, an additional or alternative community control sanction plus reimbursement for the cost of this sanction, a fine of up to $250, and court costs.

And if, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, then driving at an unreasonably slow speed is elevated to a third degree misdemeanor. The penalty for a third degree misdemeanor traffic infraction includes the potential imposition of a jail term of not more than sixty days, an additional or alternative community control sanction plus reimbursement for the cost of this sanction, a fine of up to $500, and court costs.

Community control sanctions generally can include residential placement, house arrest, drug/alcohol testing and treatment, specified education and training, community service, curfew, probation, etc. Under certain circumstances, the court also may order an offender to pay restitution to any identifiable victim who incurred economic loss as a result of the violation.

Points assessed for driving too slow.

A conviction on a traffic ticket for driving at an unreasonably slow speed carries 2 points in Ohio on an offender’s driving record. For more information on how the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) processes points for moving violations and the substantial penalty for excessive points accumulation, press Ohio BMV Points System.

Consult a Columbus traffic lawyer on your driving-too-slow ticket.

Frequently a lawyer can appear in court and resolve a traffic case in the client’s absence, provided both the court and the prosecutor agree. This saves the client the aggravation of taking time off from work, fighting traffic to get to court on time, waiting for potentially hours for the case to be called, standing in long lines, and potentially having to do it all over again if the case is continued.

If you are seeking a traffic lawyer, contact us at 614.695.5000 or online. We offer legal representation to drivers charged with traffic tickets in the Columbus metropolitan area, including Franklin County Municipal Court, Bexley Mayor’s Court, Canal Winchester Mayor’s Court, Dublin Mayor’s Court, Gahanna Mayor’s Court, Grandview Heights Mayor’s Court, Granville Mayor’s Court, Grove City Mayor’s Court, Hilliard Mayor’s Court, New Albany Mayor’s Court, Obetz Mayor’s Court, Pataskala Mayor’s Court, Pickerington Mayor’s Court, Reynoldsburg Mayor’s Court, Upper Arlington Mayor’s Court, Westerville Mayor’s Court, Whitehall Mayor’s Court and Worthington Mayor’s Court.

We also offer legal representation to drivers charged with traffic tickets in other courts near the Columbus metropolitan area, including Circleville Municipal Court (Pickaway County), Delaware County Municipal Court, Fairfield County Municipal Court, Licking County Municipal Court, Marysville Municipal Court (Union County), and Madison County Municipal Court.