Ohio Code 4509.12 – Security deposit
(A) The registrar of motor vehicles upon the expiration of twenty days after the receipt of a motor vehicle accident report, required under section 4509.01 to 4509.78, inclusive, of the Revised Code, shall determine the amount of security which is sufficient to satisfy any judgments for damages resulting from the accident as may be recovered against each driver or owner involved in the accident; provided that in any accident resulting in personal injury such amount shall in no case be less than five hundred dollars. This determination shall not be made with respect to drivers or owners who are exempt under sections 4509.14 to 4509.78, inclusive, of the Revised Code from the requirements as to security and suspension.
Terms Used In Ohio Code 4509.12
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
- Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Property: means real and personal property. See Ohio Code 1.59
- suspension: means the permanent or temporary withdrawal, by action of a court or the bureau of motor vehicles, of a driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege for the period of the suspension or the permanent or temporary withdrawal of the privilege to obtain a license, permit, or privilege of that type for the period of the suspension. See Ohio Code 4510.01
(B) The registrar shall determine the amount of security deposit required of any person upon the basis of the reports and other evidence submitted. If a person involved in a motor vehicle accident fails to make a report indicating the extent of his injuries or the damage to his property within thirty days after being requested to furnish additional information and the registrar does not have sufficient evidence on which to base an evaluation of such injuries or damage, then the registrar after reasonable notice to such person, if it is possible to give such notice, otherwise without notice, shall not require any deposit of security for the benefit or protection of such person. However, if the registrar finds that during the time provided in this section it was impossible to determine the extent of such injuries or damage, then such report or information must be furnished by the individual within thirty days after such injuries or damages have been determined.