i would think reciting your name, address, and date of birth, so that the cop can look you up on his computer and then see your DL photo would be sufficient proof. if his terminal didn’t have photo displaying capabilities, i’m sure he could radio in a description to someone at the precint to see if it generally matches the photo
a photocopy of your driver’s license could also serve as proof
ditto a police report that you had lost your license
and, lastly, many states take your DL as a form of bail and your court summons is your DL until you get it back. assuming that either that is done in OH, or that was done to an Ohioan in another state, that would, yet again, be a 4th form of proof that I would deem sufficient for the purpose of determining whether someone was licensed to drive a car.
regardless, what i feel or not is sufficient proof is immaterial. in ohio it is not illegal to drive a vehicle if you do not have in your possession your driver’s license card.
You might very well think that, but I have never, in nine years of handling many hundreds of such cases here in Ohio, seen or heard of that being done. I agree the statute would seem to permit most if not all of the hypothetical approaches you mention, but in real life the cop on the side of the interstate or city street is gonna wanna see an actual DL.
I’m surprised and disheartened by the way you make this statement. What is law and binding on the free people of Ohio? Is it the acts duly passed by the legislature or the whim of a rogue police officer?
I would expect that a judge would severely admonish a police officer who treated a motorist poorly when he acted in accordance with statute just because the officer wished to see something different than what was required by law.
The officer doesn’t appear at arraignment, which is where the vast majority of such cases are dismissed when the driver presents his driver’s license to the court. And to clarify: I have never known of a driver who has done what Rumor_Watkins suggests. Note that the statute puts the burden on the driver.
Heh. Craftily phrased law there. I’ve actually been arrested (twice, actually) for driving while suspended whilst carrying a valid DL from another state. It was just a matter of posting bond, but the second time they wanted several thousand dollars. Cash only. My (only slightly sarcastic) comment that I can’t fit that kind of cash into my wallet, and wouldn’t want to didn’t matter. So I spent a night in jail (in preppy work clothes… thank og I had my own cell. Had this happened on a Friday, I was told that I would have spent at least three days in jail and (by the NH law’s requirements) would have never been able to get out to get the proof. Or pay the bail.
I have a military dependent photo ID and could recite my valid DL#. They could run the number and match the name, look at the photo, and look at me and know that I’m licensed to drive. But they could still get me under the state statute requiring me to have my license. (which is odd because there’s a difference between a license and proof of licensure, and there’s not really a way to carry my license technically since it’s simply permission from the state, not a piece of plastic). But yes, I know. Only worth messing with if you are a trust fund baby with money to waste on appeals.
