Attorney weighs in on man with 26 prior license suspensions accused of causing teen's death

64-year-old Donald White of Salineville is accused of a hit and run resulting in the death of 13-year-old Aidan Wollman of New Springfield, so 21 News took a look at White's driving record, which indicates violations ranging from not having insurance to driving with a suspended license, to another hit-skip.
These violations resulted in 26 license suspensions, but according to Attorney Dave Betras, this past record of White's did not rise to the level of a permanent license removal.
Betras said you can commit an unlimited number of certain traffic violations that will result in consequences, maybe even jail time, but you won't face permanent revocation unless you are charged with an OVI at least four times in 10 years, get six or more OVIs in a 20-year period, intentionally kill someone with your car, or kill someone unintentionally while driving under the influence.
"The more culpable you are, the more guilty you are," he said, "The more bad intent you have, the greater likelihood of a longer or lifetime suspension."
Betras said Ohio is not an outlier either but adds that even if the laws were changed, it likely wouldn't stop people from getting behind the wheel when they shouldn't.
"I must represent 10 to 20 people a year that gets caught driving without a license," he said, "If you revoke someone's license, there's nothing that prevents them from driving. They can get behind a car and drive. If they don't get caught... they don't get caught."
Betras said if White is convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide for the death of Wollman, he will face the permanent license removal.
