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Elyria Overview
Elyria, OH Code of Ordinances
CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF ELYRIA, OHIO
DIRECTORY OF OFFICIALS (2024)
PRELIMINARY UNIT
CHARTER OF THE CITY OF ELYRIA, OHIO
PART ONE - ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
PART THREE - TRAFFIC CODE
TITLE ONE - Administration
TITLE THREE - Streets and Traffic Control Devices
TITLE FIVE - Vehicles
CHAPTER 331 Operation Generally
CHAPTER 333 Intoxication; Reckless Operation; Speed
CHAPTER 335 Licensing; Accidents
CHAPTER 337 Safety and Equipment
CHAPTER 339 Commercial and Heavy Vehicles
CHAPTER 341 Drivers of Commercial Vehicles
CHAPTER 343 Offenses Relating to Theft and Fraud
CHAPTER 345 Inspections for Locating Stolen Vehicles
TITLE SEVEN - Parking
TITLE NINE - Pedestrians, Bicycles and Motorcycles
PART FIVE - GENERAL OFFENSES CODE
PART SEVEN - BUSINESS REGULATION CODE
PART NINE - STREETS AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE
PART ELEVEN - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE
PART THIRTEEN - BUILDING CODE
PART FIFTEEN - FIRE PREVENTION CODE
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335.072 OPERATING MOTOR VEHICLE OR MOTORCYCLE WITHOUT VALID LICENSE.
   (a)   (1)   No person, except those expressly exempted under Ohio R.C. 4507.03, 4507.04, and 4507.05, shall operate any motor vehicle upon a public road or highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking in this Municipality unless the person has a valid driver's license issued under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4507 or a commercial driver's license issued under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4506.
      (2)   No person, except a person expressly exempted under Ohio R.C. 4507.03, 4507.04, and 4507.05, shall operate any motorcycle upon a public road or highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking in this Municipality unless the person has a valid license as a motorcycle operator that was issued upon application by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4507. The license shall be in the form of an endorsement, as determined by the Registrar, upon a driver's or commercial driver's license, if the person has a valid license to operate a motor vehicle or commercial motor vehicle, or in the form of a restricted license as provided in Ohio R.C. 4507.14, if the person does not have a valid license to operate a motor vehicle or commercial motor vehicle.
   (b)   Upon the request or motion of the prosecuting authority, a noncertified copy of the law enforcement automated data system report or a noncertified copy of a record of the registrar of motor vehicles that shows the name, date of birth, and social security number of a person charged with a violation of division (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section may be admitted into evidence as prima facie evidence that the person did not have either a valid driver’s or commercial driver’s license at the time of the alleged violation of division (a)(1) of this section or a valid license as a motorcycle operator either in the form of an endorsement upon a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or a restricted license at the time of the alleged violation of division (a)(2) of this section. The person charged with a violation of division (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section may offer evidence to rebut this prima facie evidence.
   (c)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of operating a motor vehicle or motorcycle without a valid license and shall be punished as follows:
      (1)   If the trier of fact finds that the offender never has held a valid driver’s or commercial driver’s license issued by this state or any other jurisdiction, or, in a case involving the operation of a motorcycle by the offender, if the offender has never held a valid license as a motorcycle operator, either in the form of an endorsement upon a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or in the form of a restricted license, except as otherwise provided in this division, the offense is an unclassified misdemeanor. When the offense is an unclassified misdemeanor, the offender shall be sentenced pursuant to § 501.99, R.C. §§ 2929.21 to 2929.28, except that the offender shall not be sentenced to a jail term; the offender shall not be sentenced to a community residential sanction pursuant to § 501.99(d) or R.C. § 2929.26; notwithstanding § 501.99(f)(1)B.1. and R.C. § 2929.28(A)(2)(a), the offender may be fined up to $1,000; and, notwithstanding § 501.99(e)(1)C. and R.C. § 2929.27(A)(3), the offender may be ordered pursuant to § 501.99(e)(3) or R.C. § 2929.27(C) to serve a term of community service of up to 500 hours. The failure of an offender to complete a term of community service imposed by the court may be punished as indirect criminal contempt under R.C. § 2705.02(A) that may be filed in the underlying case. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any violation of this section or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
      (2)   If the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit or, in a case involving the operation of a motorcycle by the offender, the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license bearing the motorcycle endorsement or the offender’s restricted license was expired at the time of the offense, except as otherwise provided in this division, the offense is a minor misdemeanor. If within three years of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two or more violations of this section or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
   (d)   The court shall not impose a license suspension for a first violation of this section or if more than three years have passed since the offender’s last violation of Ohio R.C. 4510.12, this section, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
   (e)   If the offender is sentenced under division (c)(2) of this section, if within three years of the offense the offender previously was convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more violations of Ohio R.C. 4510.12, this section, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance within the past three years, and if the offender’s license was expired for more than six months at the time of the offense, the court may impose a class seven suspension of the offender’s driver license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in Ohio R.C. 4510.02(A)(7).
(ORC 4510.12)
335.073 DRIVING UNDER OVI SUSPENSION.
   (a)   No person whose driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege has been suspended under Ohio R.C. 4511.19, 4511.191, or 4511.196 or under Ohio R.C. 4510.07 for a conviction of a violation of a municipal OVI ordinance shall operate any motor vehicle upon the public roads or highways within this Municipality during the period of the suspension.
   (b)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of driving under OVI suspension. The court shall sentence the offender under Ohio R.C. Chapter 2929, subject to the differences authorized or required by this section.
      (1)   Except as otherwise provided in division (b)(2) or (3) of this section, driving under OVI suspension is a misdemeanor of the first degree. The court shall sentence the offender to all of the following:
         A.   A mandatory jail term of three consecutive days. The three-day term shall be imposed, unless, subject to division (c) of this section, the court instead imposes a sentence of not less than 30 consecutive days of house arrest with electronic monitoring. A period of house arrest with electronic monitoring imposed under this division shall not exceed six months. If the court imposes a mandatory three-day jail term under this division, the court may impose a jail term in addition to that term, provided that in no case shall the cumulative jail term imposed for the offense exceed six months;
         B.   A fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00);
         C.   A license suspension under division (e) of this section;
         D.   If the vehicle the offender was operating at the time of the offense is registered in the offender's name, immobilization for 30 days of the offender's vehicle and impoundment for 30 days of the identification license plates of that vehicle. The order for immobilization and impoundment shall be issued and enforced in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4503.233.
      (2)   If, within six years of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one violation of this section or one equivalent offense, driving under OVI suspension is a misdemeanor of the first degree. The court shall sentence the offender to all of the following:
         A.   A mandatory jail term of 10 consecutive days. Notwithstanding the jail terms provided in Ohio R.C. 2929.21 to 2929.28, the court may sentence the offender to a longer jail term of not more than one year. The 10-day mandatory jail term shall be imposed unless, subject to division (c) of this section, the court instead imposes a sentence of not less than 90 consecutive days of house arrest with electronic monitoring. The period of house arrest with electronic monitoring shall not exceed one year;
         B.   Notwithstanding the fines provided for in Ohio R.C. Chapter 2929, a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) and not more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00);
         C.   A license suspension under division (e) of this section;
         D.   If the vehicle the offender was operating at the time of the offense is registered in the offender's name, immobilization of the offender's vehicle for 60 days and the impoundment for 60 days of the identification license plates of that vehicle. The order for immobilization and impoundment shall be issued and enforced in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4503.233.
      (3)   If, within six years of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two or more violations of this section or two or more equivalent offenses, driving under OVI suspension is a misdemeanor. The court shall sentence the offender to all of the following:
         A.   A mandatory jail term of 30 consecutive days. Notwithstanding the jail terms provided in Ohio R.C. 2929.21 to 2929.28, the court may sentence the offender to a longer jail term of not more than one year. The court shall not sentence the offender to a term of house arrest with electronic monitoring in lieu of the mandatory portion of the jail term;
         B.   Notwithstanding the fines set forth in Ohio R.C. Chapter 2929, a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) and not more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00);
         C.   A license suspension under division (e) of this section;
         D.   If the vehicle the offender was operating at the time of the offense is registered in the offender’s name, criminal forfeiture to the state of the offender’s vehicle. The order of criminal forfeiture shall be issued and enforced in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4503.234. If title to a motor vehicle that is subject to an order for criminal forfeiture under this division is assigned or transferred and Ohio R.C. 4503.234(B)(2) or (3) applies, the court may fine the offender the value of the vehicle as determined by publications of the National Automobile Dealers Association. The proceeds from any fine so imposed shall be distributed in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4503.234(C)(2).
   (c)   (1)   No court shall impose an alternative sentence of house arrest with electronic monitoring under division (b)(1) or (2) of this section unless, within 60 days of the date of sentencing, the court issues a written finding on the record that, due to the unavailability of space at the jail where the offender is required to serve the jail term imposed, the offender will not be able to begin serving that term within the 60-day period following the date of sentencing.
      (2)   An offender sentenced under this section to a period of house arrest with electronic monitoring shall be permitted work release during that period.
   (d)   Fifty percent of any fine imposed by a court under division (b)(1), (2), or (3) of this section shall be deposited into the Municipal Indigent Drivers' Alcohol Treatment Fund under the control of that court, as created by the Municipality pursuant to Ohio R.C. 4511.191(H).
   (e)   In addition to or independent of all other penalties provided by law or ordinance, the trial judge of any court of record or the mayor of a mayor's court shall impose on an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section a class seven suspension of the offender's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in Ohio R.C. 4510.02 (A)(7).
      (1)   When permitted as specified in Ohio R.C. 4510.021, if the court grants limited driving privileges during a suspension imposed under this section, the privileges shall be granted on the additional condition that the offender must display restricted license plates, issued under Ohio R.C. 4503.231, on the vehicle driven subject to the privileges, except as provided in Ohio R.C. 4503.231(B).
      (2)   A suspension of a commercial driver's license under this section shall be concurrent with any period of suspension or disqualification under Ohio R.C. 3123.58 or 4506.16. No person who is disqualified for life from holding a commercial driver's license under Ohio R.C. 4506.16 shall be issued a driver's license under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4507 during the period for which the commercial driver's license was suspended under this section, and no person whose commercial driver's license is suspended under this section shall be issued a driver's license under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4507 during the period of the suspension.
   (f)   The offender shall provide the court with proof of financial responsibility as defined in R.C. § 4509.01. If the offender fails to provide that proof of financial responsibility, then, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, the court may order restitution pursuant to § 501.99(f) or R.C. § 2929.28 in an amount not exceeding $5,000 for any economic loss arising from an accident or collision that was the direct and proximate result of the offender’s operation of the vehicle before, during, or after committing the offense that is a misdemeanor of the first degree under this section for which the offender is sentenced.
   (g)   As used in this section:
      (1)   "Electronic monitoring" has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2929.01.
      (2)   "Equivalent offense" means any of the following:
         A.   A violation of a municipal ordinance, law of another state, or law of the United States that is substantially equivalent to division (a) of this section;
         B.   A violation of a former law of this State that was substantially equivalent to division (a) of this section.
      (3)   "Jail" has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2929.01.
      (4)   "Mandatory jail term" means the mandatory term in jail of 3, 10, or 30 consecutive days that must be imposed under division (b)(1), (2), or (3) of this section upon an offender convicted of a violation of division (a) of this section and in relation to which all of the following apply:
         A.   Except as specifically authorized under this section, the term must be served in a jail.
         B.   Except as specifically authorized under this section, the term cannot be suspended, reduced, or otherwise modified pursuant to any provision of the Ohio Revised Code.
(ORC 4510.14)
   (h)   It is an affirmative defense to any prosecution brought under this section that the alleged offender drove under suspension, without a valid permit or driver's or commercial driver's license, or in violation of a restriction because of a substantial emergency, and because no other person was reasonably available to drive in response to the emergency.
(ORC 4510.04)
Statutory reference:
   Immobilization of vehicle; impoundment of license plates; criminal forfeiture of vehicle, see Ohio R.C. 4510.161
335.074 DRIVING UNDER FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY LAW SUSPENSION OR CANCELLATION; DRIVING UNDER A NONPAYMENT OF JUDGMENT SUSPENSION.
   (a)   No person, whose driver's or commercial driver's license or temporary instruction permit or nonresident's operating privilege has been suspended or canceled pursuant to Ohio R.C. Chapter 4509, shall operate any motor vehicle within this Municipality, or knowingly permit any motor vehicle owned by the person to be operated by another person in the Municipality, during the period of the suspension or cancellation, except as specifically authorized by Ohio R.C. Chapter 4509. No person shall operate a motor vehicle within this Municipality, or knowingly permit any motor vehicle owned by the person to be operated by another person in the Municipality, during the period in which the person is required by Ohio R.C. 4509.45 to file and maintain proof of financial responsibility for a violation of Ohio R.C. 4509.101, unless proof of financial responsibility is maintained with respect to that vehicle.
   (b)   No person shall operate any motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking in this municipality if the person’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or temporary instruction permit or nonresident operating privilege has been suspended pursuant to R.C. § 4509.37 or 4509.40 for nonpayment of a judgment.
   (c)   Upon the request or motion of the prosecuting authority, a noncertified copy of the law enforcement automated data system report or a noncertified copy of a record of the registrar of motor vehicles that shows the name, date of birth, and social security number of a person charged with a violation of division (a) or (b) of this section may be admitted into evidence as prima facie evidence that the license of the person was under either a financial responsibility law suspension at the time of the alleged violation of division (a) of this section or a nonpayment of judgment suspension at the time of the alleged violation of division (b) of this section. The person charged with a violation of division (a) or (b) of this section may offer evidence to rebut this prima facie evidence.
   (d)   Whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of driving under financial responsibility law suspension or cancellation and shall be punished as provided in this division (d). Whoever violates division (b) of this section is guilty of driving under a nonpayment of judgment suspension and shall be punished as provided in this division (d).
      (1)   Except as otherwise provided in this division (d)(2) of this section, the offense is an unclassified misdemeanor. When the offense is an unclassified misdemeanor, the offender shall be sentenced pursuant to §501.99 or R.C. §§ 2929.21 to 2929.28, except that the offender shall not be sentenced to a jail term; the offender shall not be sentenced to a community residential sanction pursuant to § 501.99(d) or R.C. § 2929.26; notwithstanding § 501.99(f)(1)B.1. and R.C. § 2929.28(A)(2)(a), the offender may be fined up to $1,000; and, notwithstanding § 501.99(e)(1)C. and R.C. § 2929.27(A)(3), the offender may be ordered pursuant to § 501.99(e)(3) or R.C. § 2929.27(C) to serve a term of community service of up to 500 hours. The failure of an offender to complete a term of community service imposed by the court may be punished as indirect criminal contempt under R.C. § 2705.02(A) that may be filed in the underlying case.
      (2)   If, within three years of the offense, the offender previously was convicted of or pleaded guilty to two or more violations of this section, or any combination of two violations of this section, R.C. § 4510.11, 4510.111 or 4510.16, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
      (3)   The offender shall provide the court with proof of financial responsibility as defined in R.C. § 4509.01. If the offender fails to provide that proof of financial responsibility, then in addition to any other penalties provided by law, the court may order restitution pursuant to R.C. § 2929.28 in an amount not exceeding $5,000 for any economic loss arising from an accident or collision that was the direct and proximate result of the offender’s operation of the vehicle before, during, or after committing the offense for which the offender is sentenced under this section.
(ORC 4510.16)
   (e)   (1)   It is an affirmative defense to any prosecution brought under this section that the alleged offender drove under suspension, without a valid permit or driver’s or commercial driver’s license, or in violation of a restriction because of a substantial emergency, and because no other person was reasonably available to drive in response to the emergency.
      (2)   It is an affirmative defense to any prosecution brought under this section that the order of suspension resulted from the failure of the alleged offender to respond to a financial responsibility random verification request under Ohio R.C. 4509.101(A)(3)(c) and that, at the time of the initial financial responsibility random verification request, the alleged offender was in compliance with Ohio R.C. 4509.101(A)(1) as shown by proof of financial responsibility that was in effect at the time of that request.
(ORC 4510.04)
Statutory reference:
   Immobilization of vehicle; impoundment of license plates; criminal forfeiture of vehicle, see Ohio R.C. 4510.161
335.075 FAILURE TO REINSTATE LICENSE.
   (a)   No person whose driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, or nonresident's operating privilege has been suspended shall operate any motor vehicle upon a public road or highway or any public or private property after the suspension has expired unless the person has complied with all license reinstatement requirements imposed by the court, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, or another provision of the Ohio Revised Code.
   (b)   Upon the request or motion of the prosecuting authority, a noncertified copy of the law enforcement automated data system report or a noncertified copy of a record of the registrar of motor vehicles that shows the name, date of birth, and social security number of a person charged with a violation of division (a) of this section may be admitted into evidence as prima facie evidence that the license of the person had not been reinstated by the person at the time of the alleged violation of division (a) of this section. The person charged with a violation of division (a) of this section may offer evidence to rebut this prima facie evidence.
   (c)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to reinstate a license, and shall be punished as follows:
      (1)   Except as provided in division (c)(2) of this section, whoever violates this section is guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor. When the offense is an unclassified misdemeanor, the offender shall be sentenced pursuant to § 501.99 or R.C. §§ 2929.21 to 2929.28, except that the offender shall not be sentenced to a jail term; the offender shall not be sentenced to a community residential sanction pursuant to § 501.99(d) or R.C. § 2929.26; notwithstanding § 501.99(f)(1)B.1. and R.C. § 2929.28(A)(2)(a), the offender may be fined up to $1,000; and, notwithstanding § 501.99(e)(1)C. and R.C. § 2929.27(A)(3), the offender may be ordered pursuant to § 501.99(e)(3) or R.C. § 2929.27(C) to serve a term of community service of up to 500 hours. The failure of an offender to complete a term of community service imposed by the court may be punished as indirect criminal contempt under R.C. § 2705.02(A) that may be filed in the underlying case.
      (2)   If, within three years of a violation of division (a) of this section, the offender previously has pleaded guilty to or been convicted of two or more violations of this section, R.C. § 4510.21 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the offender is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
      (3)   In all cases, the court may impose upon the offender a class seven suspension of the offender’s driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary driver’s license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in R.C. § 4510.02(A)(7).
(ORC 4510.21)
   (d)   It is an affirmative defense to any prosecution brought under this section that the alleged offender drove under suspension, without a valid permit or driver’s or commercial driver’s license, or in violation of a restriction because of a substantial emergency, and because no other person was reasonably available to drive in response to the emergency.
(ORC 4510.04)
335.08 OPERATION OR SALE WITHOUT CERTIFICATE OF TITLE.
   (a)   No person shall do any of the following:
      (1)   Operate in this municipality a motor vehicle for which a certificate of title is required without having that certificate in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapter 4505 or, if a physical certificate of title has not been issued for a motor vehicle, operate the motor vehicle in this State knowing that the ownership information relating to the vehicle has not been entered into the automated title processing system by a Clerk of a Court of Common Pleas;
      (2)   Display or display for sale or sell as a dealer or acting on behalf of a dealer, a motor vehicle without having obtained a manufacturer's or importer's certificate, a certificate of title, or an assignment of a certificate of title for it as provided in Ohio R.C. Chapter 4505;
      (3)   Fail to surrender any certificate of title or any certificate of registration or license plates upon cancellation of the same by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and notice of the cancellation as prescribed in Ohio R.C. Chapter 4505;
      (4)   Fail to surrender the certificate of title to a Clerk of a Court of Common Pleas as provided in Ohio R.C. Chapter 4505 in case of the destruction or dismantling or change of a motor vehicle in such respect that it is not the motor vehicle described in the certificate of title;
      (5)   Violate any rules adopted pursuant to Ohio R.C. Chapter 4505;
      (6)   Except as otherwise provided in Ohio R.C. Chapters 4505 and 4517, sell at wholesale a motor vehicle ownership of which is not evidenced by an Ohio certificate of title, or the current certificate of title issued for the motor vehicle, or the manufacturer's certificate of origin, and all title assignments that evidence the seller's ownership of the motor vehicle, and an odometer disclosure statement that complies with Ohio R.C. 4505.06 and subchapter IV of the "Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act," 86 Stat. 961 (1972), 15 U.S.C. 1981;
      (7)   Operate in this State a motor vehicle knowing that the certificate of title to the vehicle or ownership of the vehicle as otherwise reflected in the automated title processing system has been canceled.
   (b)   This section does not apply to persons engaged in the business of warehousing or transporting motor vehicles for the purpose of salvage disposition.
   (c)   Whoever violates this section shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00), imprisoned not more than 90 days, or both.
(ORC 4505.18)
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