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§ 608.09 COMPLIANCE WITH LAWFUL ORDER OF POLICE OFFICER; FLEEING.
   (a)   No person shall fail to comply with any lawful order or direction of any police officer invested with authority to direct, control, or regulate traffic.
   (b)   No person shall operate a motor vehicle so as willfully to elude or flee a police officer after receiving a visible or audible signal from a police officer to bring the person’s motor vehicle to a stop.
   (c)   (1)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer.
      (2)   A violation of division (a) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
      (3)   Except as provided in divisions (c)(4) and (5) of this section, a violation of division (b) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
      (4)   Except as provided in division (c)(5) of this section, a violation of division (b) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law if the jury or judge as trier of fact finds by proof beyond a reasonable doubt that in committing the offense, the offender was fleeing immediately after the commission of a felony.
      (5)   A.   A violation of division (b) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law if the jury or judge as trier of fact finds any of the following by proof beyond a reasonable doubt:
            1.   The operation of the motor vehicle by the offender was a proximate cause of serious physical harm to persons or property.
            2.   The operation of the motor vehicle by the offender caused a substantial risk of serious physical harm to persons or property.
         B.   If a police officer pursues an offender who is violating division (b) of this section and division (c)(5)A. of this section applies, the sentencing court, in determining the seriousness of an offender’s conduct for purposes of sentencing the offender for a violation of division (b) of this section, shall consider, along with the factors set forth in Ohio R.C. 2929.12 and 2929.13 that are required to be considered, all of the following:
            1.   The duration of the pursuit;
            2.   The distance of the pursuit;
            3.   The rate of speed at which the offender operated the motor vehicle during the pursuit;
            4.   Whether the offender failed to stop for traffic lights or stop signs during the pursuit;
            5.   The number of traffic lights or stop signs for which the offender failed to stop during the pursuit;
            6.   Whether the offender operated the motor vehicle during the pursuit without lighted lights during a time when lighted lights are required;
            7.   Whether the offender committed a moving violation during the pursuit;
            8.   The number of moving violations the offender committed during the pursuit;
            9.   Any other relevant factors indicating that the offender’s conduct is more serious than conduct normally constituting the offense.
   (d)   In addition to any other sanction imposed for a violation of division (a) of this section or a misdemeanor violation of division (b) of this section, the court shall impose a class five suspension from the range specified in Ohio R.C. 4510.02(A)(5). If the offender previously has been found guilty of an offense under this section or under Ohio R.C. 2921.331 or any other substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, in addition to any other sanction imposed for the offense, the court shall impose a class one suspension as described in Ohio R.C. 4510.02(A)(1). The court may grant limited driving privileges to the offender on a suspension imposed for a misdemeanor violation of this section as set forth in Ohio R.C. 4510.021. No judge shall suspend any portion of the suspension under a class one suspension of an offender’s license, permit, or privilege required by this division.
   (e)   As used in this section:
      (1)   “Moving violation” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2743.70.
      (2)   “Police officer” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4511.01.
(ORC 2921.331(A) - (C), (E), (F))
§ 608.10 HAVING AN UNLAWFUL INTEREST IN A PUBLIC CONTRACT.
   (a)   No public official shall knowingly do any of the following:
      (1)   Authorize or employ the authority of the public official’s office to secure authorization of any public contract in which the public official, a member of the public official’s family, or any of the public official’s business associates has an interest.
      (2)   Authorize or employ the authority or influence of the public official’s office to secure the investment of public funds in any share, bond, mortgage, or other security with respect to which the public official, a member of the public official’s family, or any of the public official’s business associates either has an interest, is an underwriter, or receives any brokerage, origination, or servicing fees.
      (3)   During the public official’s term of office or within one year thereafter, occupy any position of profit in the prosecution of a public contract authorized by the public official or by a legislative body, commission, or board of which the public official was a member at the time of authorization, unless the contract was let by competitive bidding to the lowest and best bidder.
      (4)   Have an interest in the profits or benefits of a public contract entered into by or for the use of the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality with which the public official is connected.
      (5)   Have an interest in the profits or benefits of a public contract that is not let by competitive bidding when required by law, and that involves more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).
   (b)   In the absence of bribery or a purpose to defraud, a public official, member of a public official’s family, or any of a public official’s business associates shall not be considered as having an interest in a public contract or the investment of public funds, if all of the following apply:
      (1)   The interest of that person is limited to owning or controlling shares of the corporation, or being a creditor of the corporation or other organization, that is the contractor on the public contract involved, or that is the issuer of the security in which public funds are invested.
      (2)   The shares owned or controlled by that person do not exceed 5% of the outstanding shares of the corporation, and the amount due that person as creditor does not exceed 5% of the total indebtedness of the corporation or other organization.
      (3)   That person, prior to the time the public contract is entered into, files with the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality involved, an affidavit giving that person’s exact status in connection with the corporation or other organization.
   (c)   This section does not apply to a public contract in which a public official, member of a public official’s family, or one of a public official’s business associates has an interest, when all of the following apply:
      (1)   The subject of the public contract is necessary supplies or services for the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality involved.
      (2)   The supplies or services are unobtainable elsewhere for the same or lower cost, or are being furnished to the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality as part of a continuing course of dealing established prior to the public official’s becoming associated with the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality involved.
      (3)   The treatment accorded the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality is either preferential to or the same as that accorded other customers or clients in similar transactions.
      (4)   The entire transaction is conducted at arm’s length, with full knowledge by the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality involved, of the interest of the public official, member of the public official’s family, or business associate, and the public official takes no part in the deliberations or decision of the political subdivision or governmental agency or instrumentality with respect to the public contract.
   (d)   Division (a)(4) of this section does not prohibit participation by a public employee in any housing program funded by public monies if the public employee otherwise qualifies for the program and does not use the authority or influence of the public employee’s office or employment to secure benefits from the program and if the monies are to be used on the primary residence of the public employee. Such participation does not constitute an unlawful interest in a public contract in violation of this section.
   (e)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of having an unlawful interest in a public contract. Violation of division (a)(1) or (2) of this section is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law. Violation of division (a)(3), (4), or (5) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
   (f)   It is not a violation of this section for a prosecuting attorney to appoint assistants and employees in accordance with Ohio R.C. 309.06 and 2921.421, or for a chief legal officer of a municipality or an official designated as prosecutor in a municipality to appoint assistants and employees in accordance with Ohio R.C. 733.621 and 2921.421, or for a township law director appointed under Ohio R.C. 504.15 to appoint assistants and employees in accordance with Ohio R.C. 504.151 and 2921.421.
   (g)   Any public contract in which a public official, a member of the public official’s family, or any of the public official’s business associates has an interest in violation of this section is void and unenforceable. Any contract securing the investment of public funds in which a public official, a member of the public official’s family, or any of the public official’s business associates has an interest, is an underwriter, or receives any brokerage, origination or servicing fees and that was entered into in violation of this section is void and unenforceable.
   (h)   For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
      (1)   “Chief legal officer” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 733.621.
      (2)   “Public contract” means any of the following:
         A.   The purchase or acquisition, or a contract for the purchase or acquisition, of property or services by or for the use of the state or any of its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of either, including the employment of an individual by the state, any of its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of either.
         B.   A contract for the design, construction, alteration, repair, or maintenance of any public property.
(ORC 2921.42)
§ 608.11 SOLICITING OR RECEIVING IMPROPER COMPENSATION.
   (a)   No public servant shall knowingly solicit or accept and no person shall knowingly promise or give to a public servant either of the following:
      (1)   Any compensation, other than as allowed by Ohio R.C. 102.03(G), (H), (I), or other provisions of law, to perform the public servant’s official duties, to perform any other act or service in the public servant’s public capacity, for the general performance of the duties of the public servant’s public office or public employment, or as a supplement to the public servant’s public compensation.
      (2)   Additional or greater fees or costs than are allowed by law to perform the public servant’s official duties.
   (b)   No public servant for the public servant’s own personal or business use and no person for the person’s own personal or business use or for the personal or business use of a public servant or party official, shall solicit or accept anything of value in consideration of either of the following:
      (1)   Appointing or securing, maintaining, or renewing the appointment of any person to any public office, employment, or agency.
      (2)   Preferring, or maintaining the status of, any public employee with respect to compensation, duties, placement, location, promotion, or other material aspects of employment.
   (c)   No person for the benefit of a political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee or political contributing entity shall coerce any contribution in consideration of either of the following:
      (1)   Appointing or securing, maintaining, or renewing the appointment of any person to any public office, employment, or agency.
      (2)   Preferring, or maintaining the status of, any public employee with respect to compensation, duties, placement, location, promotion, or other material aspects of employment.
   (d)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of soliciting improper compensation, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
   (e)   A public servant who is convicted of a violation of this section is disqualified from holding any public office, employment, or position of trust in this state for a period of seven years from the date of conviction.
   (f)   Divisions (a), (b), and (c) of this section do not prohibit any person from making voluntary contributions to a political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee or political contributing entity or prohibit a political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee or political contributing entity from accepting voluntary contributions.
(ORC 2921.43)
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