Davison v. Bureau of Motor Vehicles

345 N.E.2d 619, 46 Ohio App. 2d 86, 75 Ohio Op. 2d 74, 1975 Ohio App. LEXIS 5827
CourtOhio Court of Appeals
DecidedOctober 16, 1975
Docket2378
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 345 N.E.2d 619 (Davison v. Bureau of Motor Vehicles) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Davison v. Bureau of Motor Vehicles, 345 N.E.2d 619, 46 Ohio App. 2d 86, 75 Ohio Op. 2d 74, 1975 Ohio App. LEXIS 5827 (Ohio Ct. App. 1975).

Opinion

*87 RuthekfoRd, P. J.

On January 17, 1975, notice as provided for under the provisions of R. C. 4507.20 was sent by the registrar of motor vehicles of the state of Ohio notifying Prances E. Davison of the necessity that, within 30 days, she undergo and pass a driver’s license examination in order to retain her driving privileges in the state. Prances E. Davison, without any requests for a further hearing and prior to any further administrative proceeding, forthwith filed a notice of appeal with the Court of Common Pleas from the order requiring that she submit to a driver’s license examination.

Prances Davison, on January 28, 1975, further moved in the Court of Common Pleas for an order suspending the order of the registrar, dated January 17, 1975, and all further proceedings thereunder. On January 28, 1975, by judgment entry, the motion was granted and the order of the registrar and all further proceedings thereunder were suspended until further order of the Court.

On April 2, 1975, the bureau of motor vehicles filed a motion in the Court of Common Pleas requesting that the court dismiss the appeal for the reason that Prances E. Davison failed to exhaust her administrative remedies which were available to her at the time she filed this appeal, and she was therefore appealing a nonfinal, nonappealable order, hence, it is claimed the Court has no jurisdiction under R. C. 119.12. On May 5, 1975, the court entered a judgment in favor of Prances E. Davison, from which this appeal has been taken. The judgment entry reads:

“This cause came on to be heard on appellant’s Motion Por Judgment and appellee’s Motion Por Reconsideration.

“Appellant’s Motion Por Judgment for the reason that appellee failed to certify its records within twenty days pursuant to Section 119.12, Revised Code, is hereby sustained.

“Appellee’s Motion For Reconsideration is denied.

“Appellant’s appeal is hereby sustained and appellee’s order is reversed.”

The bureau of motor vehicles has appealed from the *88 judgment reversing the bureau’s order, made under the provisions of R. C. 4507.20. Appellee, Frances E. Davison, has filed a motion in this cause for an order dismissing the appeal.

Appellant, the bureau of motor vehicles, has moved to dismiss the motion for a want of jurisdiction and sets forth four assignments of error as follows:

“1. The Court of Common Pleas erred when it failed to dismiss Appellee’s appeal for the reason that Appellee was not suspended at the time she filed her appeal and thus the Court had no jurisdiction under Section 119.12, Revised Code, to find against Appellant for its failure to certify its records.

“2. The Court of Common Pleas erred when it failed to dismiss Appellee’s appeal for the reason that Appellee had neither taken and failed the driver’s examination nor allowed thirty days from the date of the letter mailed by Appellant to lapse, prior to filing her appeal and therefore had not exhausted this administrative remedy prior to suspension.

“3. The Court of Common Pleas erred when it took jurisdiction of Appellee’s appeal per Section 119.12, Revised Code, prior to an order of suspension being issued by Appellant which would have offered Appellee a post-suspension hearing pursuant to Section 119.06 and 119.07, Revised Code. Appellee had not exhausted this administrative remedy.

“4. The Court of Common Pleas erred when it allowed Appellee to file a notice of appeal and obtain a stay order which quite effectively enjoined and prevented Appellant from continuing in and completing the required legal administrative procedures. The subsequent sustaining of Appellee’s appeal in effect amounted to the granting of equitable relief to Appellee when in fact Appellee had an adequate remedy at law.”

The notice of appeal to the Court of Common Pleas was specified as being from the order of the registrar, bureau of motion vehicles file No. 532506. A copy of the notice appealed from was attached by appellant to the no *89 tice of appeal to the Court of Common Pleas and was made a part thereof. The notice received by Frances E. Davison from the burean of motor vehicles, from which she appealed, reads:

“We have received a report from the Licking County Municipal Court which indicates there is good cause to doubt your ability to exercise reasonable and ordinary control over a motor vehicle while operating it upon the highways.

“Therefore, in the interest of safety and in accordance with Section 4507.20 of the Revised Code of Ohio, you are hereby advised it will be necessary for you to undergo and pass a driver license examination in order to retain your driving privileges in this State.

“It is suggested you become thoroughly acquainted with the contents of the enclosed pamphlet before taking this examination since, if a failure is reported, your driving privileges will be suspended and no re-examination shall be permitted for a period of thirty (30) days.

“This letter with your present license must be presented within the next thirty (30) days to the Examiner in Charge of the nearest Highway Patrol Examining Station and shall constitute his authority to conduct the prescribed tests. An appointment to take the examination is necessary and it is suggested that you make the necessary arrangements at the Examining Station in sufficient time to insure the examination can be given within the period provided.

“Should you fail to appear for the examination within the allotted time, your license will be subject to immediate recall and suspension; however, if you do not wish to comply with our request, you may voluntarily return your present license in the enclosed envelope.”

R. C. 4507.20, provides:

“Examination of Licensee’s Competency.

“The registrar of motor vehicles, upon determination that any person has more than seven points charged against him under section 4507.40 of the Revised Code, and is not subject to the provisions of section 4507.41 of the Revised Code, or, having good cause to believe that a licensed oper *90 ator or chauffeur is incompetent or otherwise not qualified to be licensed, shall upon written notice of at least five days sent by registered mail to the licensee’s last known address, require him to submit to a (an) operator’s or chauffeur’s license examination or a physical examination, or both. Upon the conclusion of such examination the registrar may suspend or revoke the license of such person, or may permit him to retain such license, or may issue him a restricted license. Refusal or neglect of the licensee to submit to such examination is ground for suspension or revocation of his license.”

The question presented is: Did the notice given to Frances E. Davison by the registrar of the bureau of motor vehicles constitute a final appealable order from which the licensed operator may appeal prior to the operator taking an examination and prior to any further action by the bureau?

R. C. 4507.26, provides:

“Order Of Registrar Subject To Reversal Or Modification.

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Related

Gurish v. Bur. of Motor Vehicles
2012 Ohio 4066 (Ohio Court of Appeals, 2012)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
345 N.E.2d 619, 46 Ohio App. 2d 86, 75 Ohio Op. 2d 74, 1975 Ohio App. LEXIS 5827, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/davison-v-bureau-of-motor-vehicles-ohioctapp-1975.