Ohio Man Reports Debris Causing Damage on a Local Road — Faces Fines and Threat of Loss of Home by State Officials

Paul Holden has learned that the greatest peril of having a blowout on a local highway is not the possible crash but reporting it to state officials. Holden’s truck experienced the blowout on Ohio Route 286 when a six-pound metal road reflector slashed into his tires. When he reported the debris, he started a saga that led to fines and threats from Ohio officials, including the office of Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray.

Ironically, when Holden called in the debris, he did not request any reimbursement. He just wanted to warn the state about the debris so other people were not endangered. The debris reportedly made his truck jump and forced him to the side of the road. He was told that he could file for reimbursement.

He decided to pay the $25 cost for filing a claim for the $89 tire.
The state rejected the claim because he could not prove how long the deflector had been laying on the road — a curious defense since no driver could prove such a fact. He decided not to appeal and write off both the tire and the $25 filing cost.

Then came the $22 fine for the state’s investigation plus $6 post (that right Ohio charges citizens for mailing them fines).

The fines continued to mount until the Ohio Attorney General sent a letter threatening to seize “wages and bank accounts” and that the sheriff may seize and sell his personal property, including the start of “a foreclosure action against any real estate owned by you may be initiated.”

For the full story, click here.