Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles- Reporting Information
What is the procedure for reporting someone who should not drive because of age or because of a medical, physical or vision problem?
The Ohio Motor Vehicle laws allow the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to require an Ohio licensed driver to submit a medical statement and/or take a driver license examination upon receiving information giving "good cause to believe" that the driver is incompetent or otherwise incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle. The Ohio Administrative Code states that "good cause" is considered to be a request for recertification received from a law enforcement agency, court, physician, hospital, or rehabilitation facility. To take action on a request received from a law enforcement agency or court we require that the agency or court has had personal observation of the subject's driving or personal contact with the driver. We cannot take action on the recertification request if it is based solely on the person's age or hearsay.
The Bureau will also take action on a written and signed request submitted by a relative, friend, neighbor, etc. However, we are required to first conduct an investigation to determine if there is sufficient cause to require a medical statement and/or driver license examination. Again, age cannot be the only basis for the request. The letter writer must provide us with enough information so that we can locate record of a valid Ohio driver license or temporary permit issued to the person. If we cannot find record of an Ohio license or temporary permit, no action can be taken.
Legally, we must inform the driver who is the subject of our investigation or recertification procedures of our source of information. Therefore, before an investigation or any other action is taken on request received from a family member, neighbor, friend, nurse or social service agency, we must receive permission to use the letter writer's name as our source of information. Information received from a physician is considered confidential. There is currently no law that requires a medical professional to report to the Bureau a patient who should not drive, nor is there any liability protection for the person that chooses to make a report. Any changes in our policies and procedures for reporting and recertifying unsafe drivers would necessitate the enactment of new laws by the Ohio Legislature.
If someone would like to submit a written request to the Bureau to have a driver recertified for driving privileges, you may send or fax the letter to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Attention: Driver License Special Case Section/Medical Unit. P.O. Box 16784, Columbus, Ohio 43216-6784, fax number (614) 752-7271, Attention Medical Unit. The letter should include a release allowing us to use the letter writer's name as our source of information. The Ohio laws that govern driver license re-examination and medical recertification of a driver do not involve vehicle registration privileges or license plates. Therefore, registration privileges will not be affected even if driving privileges are denied.
Ohio's motor vehicle laws currently do not provide for mandatory retesting of elderly drivers, as it is considered discriminatory. All drivers, regardless of age, are only required to pass a vision screening prior to being issued a renewal driver license.
---COPIED From http://bmv.ohio.gov/faq_driver_license.stm#tog
The Ohio Motor Vehicle laws allow the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to require an Ohio licensed driver to submit a medical statement and/or take a driver license examination upon receiving information giving "good cause to believe" that the driver is incompetent or otherwise incapable of safely operating a motor vehicle. The Ohio Administrative Code states that "good cause" is considered to be a request for recertification received from a law enforcement agency, court, physician, hospital, or rehabilitation facility. To take action on a request received from a law enforcement agency or court we require that the agency or court has had personal observation of the subject's driving or personal contact with the driver. We cannot take action on the recertification request if it is based solely on the person's age or hearsay.
The Bureau will also take action on a written and signed request submitted by a relative, friend, neighbor, etc. However, we are required to first conduct an investigation to determine if there is sufficient cause to require a medical statement and/or driver license examination. Again, age cannot be the only basis for the request. The letter writer must provide us with enough information so that we can locate record of a valid Ohio driver license or temporary permit issued to the person. If we cannot find record of an Ohio license or temporary permit, no action can be taken.
Legally, we must inform the driver who is the subject of our investigation or recertification procedures of our source of information. Therefore, before an investigation or any other action is taken on request received from a family member, neighbor, friend, nurse or social service agency, we must receive permission to use the letter writer's name as our source of information. Information received from a physician is considered confidential. There is currently no law that requires a medical professional to report to the Bureau a patient who should not drive, nor is there any liability protection for the person that chooses to make a report. Any changes in our policies and procedures for reporting and recertifying unsafe drivers would necessitate the enactment of new laws by the Ohio Legislature.
If someone would like to submit a written request to the Bureau to have a driver recertified for driving privileges, you may send or fax the letter to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Attention: Driver License Special Case Section/Medical Unit. P.O. Box 16784, Columbus, Ohio 43216-6784, fax number (614) 752-7271, Attention Medical Unit. The letter should include a release allowing us to use the letter writer's name as our source of information. The Ohio laws that govern driver license re-examination and medical recertification of a driver do not involve vehicle registration privileges or license plates. Therefore, registration privileges will not be affected even if driving privileges are denied.
Ohio's motor vehicle laws currently do not provide for mandatory retesting of elderly drivers, as it is considered discriminatory. All drivers, regardless of age, are only required to pass a vision screening prior to being issued a renewal driver license.
---COPIED From http://bmv.ohio.gov/faq_driver_license.stm#tog
