Can Traffic Tickets be Sealed and Expunged in Ohio?

Generally the answer is No.  However, a traffic offense can be sealed and expunged in certain circumstances.  Ohio law provides that a single traffic offense can be sealed and expunged under the following circumstance:

·      It occurred at the same time as a criminal charge;

·      The criminal charge was later dismissed by the court; and

·      The dismissed criminal charge is eligible for expungement. 

Thus, when a person has a criminal charge that was dismissed and they also had a traffic conviction that occurred out of the same case, they can seal and expunge both the dismissed criminal charge and the traffic conviction.  The court will count the entire case, the traffic conviction and the dismissed criminal charge, as one case and expunge and seal both at the same time.