(a) Notwithstanding the fines otherwise required to be imposed pursuant to Section 501.99 for violations of this chapter and the sentencing criteria provided in Ohio R.C. 2929.22, the court shall impose a mandatory fine for any violation of this chapter as follows:
Classification of Misdemeanor | Mandatory Fine |
First degree | $1,000.00 |
Second degree | 750.00 |
Third degree | 500.00 |
Fourth degree | 250.00 |
Minor | 100.00 |
(b) The court may impose a fine in addition to a mandatory fine imposed pursuant to division (a) of this section if the total of the additional and mandatory fines does not exceed the maximum fine that could be imposed pursuant to Section 501.99.
(c) The court shall not impose a mandatory fine pursuant to division (a) of this section upon an offender who alleges, in an affidavit filed with the court prior to the offender’s sentencing, that the offender is indigent and is unable to pay any mandatory fine imposed pursuant to division (a) of this section, if the court determines the offender is an indigent person and is unable to pay the fine.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor classification.)