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(a) Any person who becomes a resident of this state, within 30 days of becoming a resident, shall surrender any driver's license, temporary instruction permit, or identification card issued by another state to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles or a deputy registrar. If such a person intends to operate a motor vehicle upon the public roads or highways, the person shall apply for a temporary instruction permit or driver's license in this state. If the person fails to apply for a driver's license or temporary instruction permit or within 30 days of becoming a resident, the person shall not operate any motor vehicle in this state under a license or permit issued by another state.
(b) (1) Whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(2) The offense established under division (b)(1) of this section is a strict liability offense and strict liability is a culpable mental state for purposes of Ohio R.C. 2901.20. The designation of this offense as a strict liability offense shall not be construed to imply that any other offense, for which there is no specified degree of culpability, is not a strict liability offense.
(c) For purposes of division (a) of this section, “resident” means any person to whom any of the following applies:
(1) The person maintains their principal residence in this State and does not reside in this State as a result of the person’s active service in the United States Armed Forces.
(2) The person is determined by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to be a resident in accordance with standards adopted by the Registrar under Ohio R.C. 4507.01.
(R.C. § 4507.213)
(a) No holder of a temporary instruction permit issued under Ohio R.C. 4507.05(A) shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking in violation of the following conditions:
(1) If the permit is issued to a person who is at least fifteen years six months of age, but less than sixteen years of age:
A. The permit and identification card are in the holder’s immediate possession;
B. The holder is accompanied by an eligible adult who actually occupies the seat beside the permit holder and does not have a prohibited concentration of alcohol in the whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine as provided in Ohio R.C. 4511.19(A);
C. The total number of occupants of the vehicle does not exceed the total number of occupant restraining devices originally installed in the motor vehicle by its manufacturer, and each occupant of the vehicle is wearing all of the available elements of a properly adjusted occupant restraining device.
(2) If the permit is issued to a person who is at least sixteen years of age:
A. The permit and identification card are in the holder’s immediate possession;
B. The holder is accompanied by a licensed operator who is at least twenty-one years of age and is actually occupying a seat beside the driver and does not have a prohibited concentration of alcohol in the whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine as provided in Ohio R.C. 4511.19(A);
C. The total number of occupants of the vehicle does not exceed the total number of occupant restraining devices originally installed in the motor vehicle by its manufacturer, and each occupant of the vehicle is wearing all of the available elements of a properly adjusted occupant restraining device.
(b) Except as provided in subsection (b) hereof, no holder of a temporary instruction permit that is issued under Ohio R.C. 4507.05(A) and that is issued on or after July 1, 1998, and who has not attained the age of eighteen years, shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking between the hours of midnight and six a.m.
The holder of a permit issued under Ohio R.C. 4507.05(A) on or after July 1, 1998, who has not attained the age of eighteen years, may operate a motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking between the hours of midnight and six a.m. if, at the time of such operation, the holder is accompanied by the holder’s parent, guardian, or custodian, and the parent, guardian or custodian holds a current valid driver’s or commercial driver’s license issued by this State and is actually occupying a seat beside the permit holder, and does not have a prohibited concentration of alcohol in the whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine as provided in Section 434.01(a).
(c) As used in this section:
(1) “Eligible adult” means any of the following:
A. An instructor of a driver education course approved by the Department of Education or a driver training course approved by the Department of Public Safety;
B. Any of the following persons who holds a current valid driver’s or commercial driver’s license issued by this State:
1. A parent, guardian or custodian of the permit holder;
2. A person twenty-one years of age or older who acts in loco parentis of the permit holder.
(2) “Occupant restraining device” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4513.263.
(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. (ORC 4507.05)
(a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle, trackless trolley, or streetcar on any street, highway, or property open to the public for vehicular traffic while using, holding, or physically supporting with any part of the person's body an electronic wireless communications device.
(b) Division (a) of this section does not apply to any of the following:
(1) A person using an electronic wireless communications device to make contact, for emergency purposes, with a law enforcement agency, hospital or health care provider, fire department, or other similar emergency agency or entity;
(2) A person driving a public safety vehicle while using an electronic wireless communications device in the course of the person's duties;
(3) A person using an electronic wireless communications device when the person's motor vehicle is in a stationary position and is outside a lane of travel, at a traffic control signal that is currently directing traffic to stop, or parked on a road or highway due to an emergency or road closure;
(4) A person using and holding an electronic wireless communications device directly near the person's ear for the purpose of making, receiving, or conducting a telephone call, provided that the person does not manually enter letters, numbers, or symbols into the device;
(5) A person receiving wireless messages on an electronic wireless communications device regarding the operation or navigation of a motor vehicle; safety-related information, including emergency, traffic, or weather alerts; or data used primarily by the motor vehicle, provided that the person does not hold or support the device with any part of the person's body;
(6) A person using the speaker phone function of the electronic wireless communications device, provided that the person does not hold or support the device with any part of the person's body;
(7) A person using an electronic wireless communications device for navigation purposes, provided that the person does not do either of the following during the use:
A. Manually enter letters, numbers, or symbols into the device;
B. Hold or support the device with any part of the person's body;
(8) A person using a feature or function of the electronic wireless communications device with a single touch or single swipe, provided that the person does not do either of the following during the use:
A. Manually enter letters, numbers, or symbols into the device;
B. Hold or support the device with any part of the person's body;
(9) A person operating a commercial truck while using a mobile data terminal that transmits and receives data;
(10) A person operating a utility service vehicle or a vehicle for or on behalf of a utility, if the person is acting in response to an emergency, power outage, or circumstance that affects the health or safety of individuals;
(11) A person using an electronic wireless communications device in conjunction with a voice operated or hands-free feature or function of the vehicle or of the device without the use of either hand except to activate, deactivate, or initiate the feature or function with a single touch or swipe, provided the person does not hold or support the device with any part of the person's body;
(12) A person using technology that physically or electronically integrates the device into the motor vehicle, provided that the person does not do either of the following during the use:
A. Manually enter letters, numbers, or symbols into the device;
B. Hold or support the device with any part of the person's body;
(13) A person storing an electronic wireless communications device in a holster, harness, or article of clothing on the person's body.
(c) (1) On January 31 of each year, the Department of Public Safety shall issue a report to the General Assembly that specifies the number of citations issued for violations of this section during the previous calendar year.
(2) If a law enforcement officer issues an offender a ticket, citation, or summons for a violation of division (a) of this section, the officer shall do both of the following:
A. Report the issuance of the ticket, citation, or summons to the officer's law enforcement agency;
B. Ensure that such report indicates the offender's race.
(d) (1) Whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of operating a motor vehicle while using an electronic wireless communication device, an unclassified misdemeanor,
A. Except as provided in divisions (d)(1)B., C., D., and (d)(2) of this section, the court shall impose upon the offender a fine of not more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).
B. If, within two years of the violation, the offender has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one prior violation of this section or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the court shall impose upon the offender a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00),
C. If, within two years of the violation, the offender has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two or more prior violations of this section or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the court shall impose upon the offender a fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). The court also may impose a suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege for 90 days,
D. Notwithstanding divisions (d)(1)A. to C. of this section, if the offender was operating the motor vehicle at the time of the violation in a construction zone where a sign was posted in accordance with R.C. § 4511.98, the court, in addition to all other penalties provided by law, shall impose upon the offender a fine of two times the amount imposed for the violation under division (d)(1)A., B., or C. of this section, as applicable.
(2) In lieu of payment of the fine of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) under division (d)(1)A. of this section and the assessment of points under division (d)(4) of this section, the offender instead may elect to attend the distracted driving safety course, as described in R.C. § 4511.991. If the offender attends and successfully completes the course, the offender shall be issued written evidence that the offender successfully completed the course. The offender shall not be required to pay the fine and shall not have the points assessed against that offender's driver's license if the offender submits the written evidence to the court.
(3) The court may impose any other penalty authorized under R.C. §§ 2929.21 to 2929.28. However, the court shall not impose a fine or a suspension not otherwise specified in division (d)(1) of this section. The court also shall not impose a jail term or community residential sanction.
(4) Except as provided in division (d)(2) of this section, points shall be assessed for a violation of division (a) of this section in accordance with R.C. § 4510.036.
(5) The offense established under this section is a strict liability offense and R.C. § 2901.20 does not apply. The designation of this offense as a strict liability offense shall not be construed to imply that any other offense, for which there is no specified degree of culpability, is not a strict liability offense.
(e) (1) A law enforcement officer does not have probable cause and shall not stop the operator of a motor vehicle for purposes of enforcing this section unless the officer visually observes the operator using, holding, or physically supporting with any part of the person's body the electronic wireless communications device.
(2) A law enforcement officer who stops the operator of a motor vehicle, trackless trolley, or streetcar for a violation of division (a) of this section shall inform the operator that the operator may decline a search of the operator's electronic wireless communications device. The officer shall not do any of the following:
A. Access the device without a warrant, unless the operator voluntarily and unequivocally gives consent for the officer to access the device;
B. Confiscate the device while awaiting the issuance of a warrant to access the device;
C. Obtain consent from the operator to access the device through coercion or any other improper means. Any consent by the operator to access the device shall be voluntary and unequivocal before the officer may access the device without a warrant.
(f) As used in this section:
(1) "Electronic wireless communications device" includes any of the following:
A. A wireless telephone;
B. A text-messaging device;
C. A personal digital assistant;
D. A computer, including a laptop computer and a computer tablet;
E. Any device capable of displaying a video, movie, broadcast television image, or visual image;
F. Any other substantially similar wireless device that is designed or used to communicate text, initiate, or receive communication, or exchange information or data.
An "electronic wireless communications device" does not include a two-way radio transmitter or receiver used by a person who is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to participate in the amateur radio service.
(2) "Voice-operated or hands-free feature or function" means a feature or function that allows a person to use an electronic wireless communications device without the use of either hand, except to activate, deactivate, or initiate the feature or function with a single touch or single swipe.
(3) "Utility" means an entity specified in division (A), (C), (D), (E), OR (G) of R.C. § 4905.03.
(4) "Utility service vehicle" means a vehicle owned or operated by a utility.
(Ord. 2023-37. Passed 5–9-23.)
(a) (1) A. No holder of a probationary driver’s license who has held the license for less than twelve months shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking between the hours of midnight and six a.m. unless the holder is accompanied by the holder’s parent or guardian.
B. No holder of a probationary driver’s license who has held the license for twelve months or longer shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking between the hours of one a.m. and five a.m. unless the holder is accompanied by the holder’s parent or guardian.
(2) A. Subject to subsection (c)(1) of this section, subsection (a)(1)A. of this section does not apply to the holder of a probationary driver’s license who is doing either of the following:
1. Traveling to or from work between the hours of midnight and six a.m. provided that the holder has in the holder’s immediate possession written documentation from the holder’s employer.
2. Traveling to or from an official function sponsored by the school the holder attends between the hours of midnight and six a.m., provided that the holder has in the holder’s immediate possession written documentation from an appropriate official of the school;
3. Traveling to or from an official religious event between the hours of midnight and six a.m., provided that the holder has in the holder’s immediate possession written documentation from an appropriate official affiliated with the event.
B. Subsection (a)(1)B. of this section does not apply to the holder of a probationary driver’s license who is doing either of the following:
1. Traveling to or from work between the hours of one a.m. and five a.m., provided that the holder has in the holder’s immediate possession written documentation from the holder’s employer.
2. Traveling to or from an official function sponsored by the school the holder attends between the hours of one a.m. and five a.m., provided that the holder has in the holder’s immediate possession written documentation from an appropriate official of the school;
3. Traveling to or from an official religious event between the hours of one a.m. and five a.m., provided that the holder has in the holder’s immediate possession written documentation from an appropriate official affiliated with the event.
(3) An employer, school official or official affiliated with a religious event is not liable in damages in a civil action for any injury, death or loss to person or property that allegedly arises from, or is related to, the fact that the employer, school official, or official affiliated with a religious event provided the holder of a probationary driver’s license with the written documentation described in subsection (a)(2) of this section.
The Registrar of Motor Vehicles shall make available at no cost a form to serve as the written documentation described in subsection (a)(2) of this section, and employers, school officials, officials affiliated with religious events, and holders of probationary driver’s licenses may utilize that form or may choose to utilize any other written documentation to meet the requirements of that subsection.
(4) No holder of a probationary driver’s license who has held the license for less than twelve months shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking with more than one person who is not a family member occupying the vehicle unless the probationary license holder is accompanied by the probationary license holder’s parent, guardian or custodian.
(b) It is an affirmative defense to a violation of subsection (a)(1)A. or B. of this section if, at the time of the violation, an emergency existed that required the holder of the probationary driver’s license to operate a motor vehicle in violation of subsection (a)(1)A. or B. of this section; or the holder was an emancipated minor.
(c) (1) If a person is issued a probationary driver’s license prior to attaining the age of seventeen years and the person pleads guilty to, is convicted of, or is adjudicated in juvenile court of having committed a moving violation during the six-month period commencing on the date on which the person is issued the probationary driver’s license, the court with jurisdiction over the violation may order that the holder must be accompanied by the holder’s parent or guardian whenever the holder is operating a motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking for a period not to exceed six months or the date the holder attains the age of seventeen years, whichever occurs first.
(2) Any person who is subject to the operating restrictions established under subsection (c)(1) of this section as a result of a first moving violation may petition the court for driving privileges without being accompanied by the holder’s parent or guardian during the period of time determined by the court under that subsection. In granting the driving privileges, the court shall specify the purposes of the privileges and shall issue the person appropriate forms setting forth the privileges granted. If a person is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or is adjudicated in juvenile court of having committed a second or subsequent moving violation, the court with jurisdiction over the violation may terminate any driving privileges previously granted under this division.
(3) No person shall violate any operating restriction imposed under subsection (c)(1) or (2) of this section.
(d) No holder of a probationary license shall operate a motor vehicle upon a highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking unless the total number of occupants of the vehicle does not exceed the total number of occupant restraining devices originally installed in the motor vehicle by its manufacturer, and each occupant of the vehicle is wearing all of the available elements of a properly adjusted occupant restraining device.
(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no law enforcement officer shall cause the operator of a motor vehicle being operated on any street or highway to stop the motor vehicle for the sole purpose of determining whether each occupant of the motor vehicle is wearing all of the available elements of a properly adjusted occupant restraining device as required by subsection (d) hereof, or for the sole purpose of issuing a ticket, citation, or summons if the requirement in that subsection has been or is being violated, or for causing the arrest of or commencing a prosecution of a person for a violation of that requirement.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, no law enforcement officer shall cause the operator of a motor vehicle being operated on any street or highway to stop the motor vehicle for the sole purpose of determining whether a violation of subsection (a)(1)A. or B. hereof has been or is being committed or for the sole purpose of issuing a ticket, citation, or summons for such a violation or for causing the arrest of or commencing a prosecution of a person for such violation.
(g) As used in this section:
(1) “Occupant restraining device” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4513.263.
(2) “Family member” of a probationary license holder includes any of the following:
A. A spouse;
B. A child or stepchild;
C. A parent, stepparent, grandparent, or parent-in-law;
D. An aunt or uncle;
E. A sibling, whether or the whole or half blood or by adoption, a brother-in-law or a sister-in-law;
F. A son or daughter of the probationary license holder’s stepparent if the stepparent has not adopted the probationary license holder;
G. An eligible adult, as defined in Ohio R.C. 4507.05.
(3) “Moving violation” means any violation of any statute or ordinance that regulates the operation of vehicles, streetcars, or trackless trolleys on the highways or streets. “Moving violation” does not include a violation of Ohio R.C. 4513.263 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, or a violation of any statute or ordinance regulating pedestrians or the parking of vehicles, vehicle size or load limitations, vehicle fitness requirements, or vehicle registration.
(h) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(ORC 4507.071)
(a) No person shall do any of the following:
(1) Display, or cause or permit to be displayed, or possess any identification card, driver's or commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit or commercial driver's license temporary instruction permit knowing the same to be fictitious, or to have been canceled, suspended or altered;
(2) Lend to a person not entitled thereto, or knowingly permit a person not entitled thereto to use any identification card, driver's or commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit or commercial driver's license temporary instruction permit issued to the person so lending or permitting the use thereof;
(3) Display or represent as one's own, any identification card, driver's or commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit or commercial driver's license temporary instruction permit not issued to the person so displaying the same;
(4) Fail to surrender to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, upon the Registrar’s demand, any identification card, driver's or commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit or commercial driver's license temporary instruction permit that has been suspended or canceled;
(5) In any application for an identification card, driver’s or commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit or commercial driver’s license temporary instruction permit or any renewal, reprint, or duplicate thereof, knowingly conceal a material fact or present any physician’s statement required under R.C. § 4507.08 or 4507.081 when knowing the same to be false or fictitious.
(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(ORC 4507.30)
(a) No person shall permit a motor vehicle owned by the person or under the person’s control to be driven by another if any of the following apply:
(1) The offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the other person does not have a valid driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit or valid nonresident driving privileges.
(2) The offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the other person’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit or nonresident operating privileges have been suspended or canceled under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4510, or any other provision of the Ohio Revised Code or this Traffic Code.
(3) The offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the other person’s act of driving the motor vehicle would violate any prohibition contained in Ohio R.C. Chapter 4509.
(4) The offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the other person’s act of driving would violate Ohio R.C. 4511.19 or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(5) The offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the vehicle is the subject of an immobilization waiver order issued under Ohio R.C. 4503.235 and the other person is prohibited from operating the vehicle under that order.
(b) Without limiting or precluding the consideration of any other evidence in determining whether a violation of subsection (a)(1), (2), (3), or (4) of this section has occurred, it shall be prima-facie evidence that the offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the operator of the motor vehicle owned by the offender or under the offender’s control is in a category described in subsection (a)(1), (2), (3) or (4) of this section if any of the following applies:
(1) Regarding an operator allegedly in the category described in subsection (a)(1) or (3) of this section, the offender and the operator of the motor vehicle reside in the same household and are related by consanguinity or affinity.
(2) Regarding an operator allegedly in the category described in subsection (a)(2) of this section, the offender and the operator of the motor vehicle reside in the same household, and the offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the operator has been charged with or convicted of any violation of law or ordinance, or has committed any other act or omission, that would or could result in the suspension or cancellation of the operator’s license, permit or privilege.
(3) Regarding an operator allegedly in the category described in subsection (a)(4) of this section, the offender and the operator of the motor vehicle occupied the motor vehicle together at the time of the offense.
(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of wrongful entrustment of a motor vehicle and shall be punished as provided in subsections (c) to (h) of this section.
(1) Except as provided in subsection (c)(2) of this section, whoever violates subsection (a)(1), (2) or (3) of this section is guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor. When the offense is an unclassified misdemeanor, the offender shall be sentenced pursuant to Ohio 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 Ohio R.C. 2929.26; notwithstanding division (A)(2)(a) of Ohio R.C. 2929.28, the offender may be fined up to one thousand dollars ($1,000); and, notwithstanding division (A)(3) of Ohio R.C. 2929.27, the offender may be ordered pursuant to division (C) of that section to serve a term of community service of up to five hundred 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 division (A) of Ohio R.C. 2705.02.
(2) A. If, within three years of a violation of subsection (a)(1), (2) or (3) of this section, the offender previously has pleaded guilty to or been convicted of two or more violations of division (A)(1), (2) or (3) of Ohio R.C. 4511.203 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the offender is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
B. Whoever violates subsection (a)(4) or (5) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(3) For any violation of this section, in addition to the penalties imposed under Section 698.02, the court may impose a class seven suspension of the offender’s driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(7) of Ohio R.C. 4510.02, and, if the vehicle involved in the offense is registered in the name of the offender, the court may order one of the following:
A. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c)(3)B. or C. of this section, the court may order, for thirty days, the immobilization of the vehicle involved in the offense and the impoundment of that vehicle’s license plates. If issued, the order shall be issued and enforced under Ohio R.C. 4503.233.
B. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one violation of Ohio R.C. 4511.203 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the court may order, for sixty days, the immobilization of the vehicle involved in the offense and the impoundment of that vehicle’s license plates. If issued, the order shall be issued and enforced under Ohio R.C. 4503.233.
C. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two or more violations of Ohio R.C. 4511.203 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the court may order the criminal forfeiture to the state of the vehicle involved in the offense. If issued, the order shall be issued and enforced under Ohio R.C. 4503.234.
If title to a motor vehicle that is subject to an order for criminal forfeiture under this subsection is assigned or transferred and division (B)(2) or (3) of Ohio R.C. 4503.234 applies, in addition to or independent of any other penalty established by law, the court may fine the offender the value of the vehicle as determined by publications of the national automobile dealer’s association. The proceeds from any fine imposed under this subsection shall be distributed in accordance with division (C)(2) of Ohio R.C. 4503.234.
(d) If a court orders the immobilization of a vehicle under subsection (c) of this section, the court shall not release the vehicle from the immobilization before the termination of the period of immobilization ordered unless the court is presented with current proof of financial responsibility with respect to that vehicle.
(e) If a court orders the criminal forfeiture of a vehicle under subsection (c) of this section, upon receipt of the order from the court, neither the Registrar of Motor Vehicles nor any deputy registrar shall accept any application for the registration or transfer of registration of any motor vehicle owned or leased by the person named in the order. The period of denial shall be five years after the date the order is issued, unless, during that five-year period, the court with jurisdiction of the offense that resulted in the order terminates the forfeiture and notifies the Registrar of the termination. If the court terminates the forfeiture and notifies the Registrar, the Registrar shall take all necessary measures to permit the person to register a vehicle owned or leased by the person or to transfer the registration of the vehicle.
(f) This section does not apply to motor vehicle rental dealers or motor vehicle leasing dealers, as defined in Ohio R.C. 4549.65.
(g) Evidence of a conviction of, plea of guilty to, or adjudication as a delinquent child for a violation of this section or a substantially similar municipal ordinance shall not be admissible as evidence in any civil action that involves the offender or delinquent child who is the subject of the conviction, plea, or adjudication and that arises from the wrongful entrustment of a motor vehicle.
(h) For purposes of this section, a vehicle is owned by a person if, at the time of a violation of this section, the vehicle is registered in the person’s name.
(ORC 4511.203)
(a) The operator of a motor vehicle shall display the operator’s driver’s license, or furnish satisfactory proof that the operator has a driver’s license, upon demand of any peace officer or of any person damaged or injured in any collision in which the licensee may be involved. When a demand is properly made and the operator has the operator’s driver’s license on or about the operator’s person, the operator shall not refuse to display the license. A person’s failure to furnish satisfactory evidence that the person is licensed under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4507 when the person does not have the person’s license on or about the person’s person shall be prima- facie evidence of the person’s not having obtained a driver’s license.
(b) (1) Except as provided in subsection (b)(2) hereof, whoever violates this section is guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor. When the offense is an unclassified misdemeanor, the offender shall be sentenced pursuant to Ohio 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 Ohio R.C. 2929.26; notwithstanding division (A)(2)(a) of Ohio R.C. 2929.28, the offender may be fined up to one thousand dollars ($1,000); and, notwithstanding division (A)(3) of Ohio R.C. 2929.27, the offender may be ordered pursuant to division (C) of that section to serve a term of community service of up to five hundred 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 division (A) of Ohio R.C. 2705.02 that may be filed in the underlying case.
(2) If, within three years of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two or more violations of Ohio R.C. 4507.35 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 4507.35)
(a) Except as provided under subsection (b) hereof and Sections 436.072 and 436.074, no person whose driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit or nonresident operating privilege has been suspended under any provision of the Ohio Revised Code, other than Ohio R.C. Chapter 4509, or under any applicable law in any other jurisdiction in which the person’s license or permit was issued shall operate any motor vehicle upon the public roads and highways or upon any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking within this Municipality during the period of suspension unless the person is granted limited driving privileges and is operating the vehicle in accordance with the terms of the limited driving privileges.
(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 in violation of any restriction of the person’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit imposed under division (D) of Ohio R.C. 4506.10 or under Ohio R.C. 4507.14.
(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 subsection (a) or (b) of this section may be admitted into evidence as prima-facie evidence that the license of the person was under suspension at the time of the alleged violation of subsection (a) of this section or the person operated a motor vehicle in violation of a restriction at the time of the alleged violation of subsection (b) of this section. The person charged with a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section may offer evidence to rebut this prima-facie evidence.
(d) (1) Whoever violates subsection (a) or (b) hereof, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. 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 license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(7) of Ohio R.C. 4510.02.
(2) A. Except as provided in subsection (d)(2)B. or C. of this section, the court, in addition to any other penalty that it imposes on the offender and if the vehicle is registered in the offender’s name and if, within three years of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one violation of Ohio R.C. 4510.11 or Ohio R.C. 4510.111 or 4510.16, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the court, in addition to or independent of any other sentence that it imposes upon the offender, may order the immobilization of the vehicle involved in the offense for thirty days and the impoundment of that vehicle’s license plates for thirty days in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4503.233.
B. If the vehicle is registered in the offender’s name and if, within three years of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two violations of Ohio R.C. 4510.11 or any combination of two violations of Ohio R.C. 4510.11 or Ohio R.C. 4510.111 or 4510.16, or of a substantially similar municipal ordinance, the court, in addition to any other sentence that it imposes on the offender may order the immobilization of the vehicle involved in the offense for sixty days and the impoundment of that vehicle’s license plates for sixty days in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4503.233.
C. If the vehicle is registered in the offender’s name and if, within three years of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more violations of Ohio R.C. 4510.11, or any combination of three or more violations of Ohio R.C. 4501.11 or Ohio R.C. 4510.111 or 4510.16, or of a substantially similar municipal ordinance, the court, in addition to any other sentence that it imposes on the offender may order the criminal forfeiture of the vehicle involved in the offense to the State.
(e) Any order for immobilization and impoundment under this section shall be issued and enforced under Ohio R.C. 4503.233 and 4507.02, as applicable. The court shall not release a vehicle from immobilization ordered under this section unless the court is presented with current proof of financial responsibility with respect to that vehicle.
(f) Any order of criminal forfeiture under this section shall be issued and enforced under Ohio R.C. 4503.234. Upon receipt of the copy of the order from the court, neither the Ohio Registrar of Motor Vehicles nor a deputy registrar shall accept any application for the registration or transfer of registration of any motor vehicle owned or leased by the person named in the declaration of forfeiture. The period of registration denial shall be five years after the date of the order, unless, during that period, the court having jurisdiction of the offense that lead to the order terminates the forfeiture and notifies the Registrar of the termination. The Registrar shall then take necessary measures to permit the person to register a vehicle owned or leased by the person or to transfer registration of the vehicle.
(g) The offender shall provide the court with proof of financial responsibility as defined in Ohio 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 Ohio R.C. 2929.28 in an amount not exceeding five thousand dollars ($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 4510.11)
(h) Any person whose driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privileges are suspended as a repeat traffic offender under this section and who, during the suspension, operates any motor vehicle upon any public roads and highways is guilty of driving under a twelve-point suspension, a misdemeanor of the first degree. The court shall sentence the offender to a minimum term of three days in jail. No court shall suspend the first three days of jail time imposed pursuant to this subsection. (ORC 4510.037)
(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 subsection (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 subsection (c) of this section, the court instead imposes a sentence of not less than thirty consecutive days of house arrest with electronic monitoring. A period of house arrest with electronic monitoring imposed under this subsection shall not exceed six months. If the court imposes a mandatory three-day jail term under this subsection, 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).
C. A license suspension under subsection (e) of this section.
(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 ten consecutive days. Notwithstanding the jail terms provided in Ohio R.C. Chapter 2929, the court may sentence the offender to a longer jail term of not more than one year. The ten-day mandatory jail term shall be imposed unless, subject to subsection (c) of this section, the court instead imposes a sentence of not less than ninety 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).
C. A license suspension under subsection (e) of this section.
(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 of the first degree. The court shall sentence the offender to all of the following:
A. A mandatory jail term of thirty consecutive days. Notwithstanding the jail terms provided in Ohio R.C. Chapter 2929, 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).
C. A license suspension under subsection (e) of this section.
(c) No court shall impose an alternative sentence of house arrest with electronic monitoring under subsection (b)(1) or (2) of this section unless, within sixty 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 sixty-day period following the date of sentencing.
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 per cent of any fine imposed by a court under subsection (b)(1), (2) or (3) of this section shall be deposited into the county indigent drivers alcohol treatment fund or municipal indigent drivers alcohol treatment fund under the control of that court, as created by the county or municipal corporation pursuant to division (H) of Ohio R.C. 4511.191.
(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 division (A)(7) of Ohio R.C. 4510.02.
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 division (B) of that section.
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 Ohio 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 Ohio R.C. 2929.28 in an amount not exceeding five thousand dollars ($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. (ORC 4510.14)
(g) (1) If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of a municipal ordinance that is substantially equivalent to Ohio R.C. 4510.14, the court, in addition to and independent of any sentence that it imposes upon the offender for the offense, if the vehicle the offender was operating at the time of the offense is registered in the offender’s name, shall do whichever of the following is applicable:
A. If, within six years of the current offense, the offender has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of Ohio R.C. 4510.14 or former division (D)(2) of Ohio R.C. 4507.02, or a municipal ordinance that is substantially equivalent to that section or former division, the court shall order the immobilization for thirty days of the vehicle involved in the offense and the impoundment for thirty days of the license plates of that vehicle in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4503.233.
B. If, within six years of the current offense, the offender has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one violation of Ohio R.C. 4510.14 or former division (D)(2) of Ohio R.C. 4507.02, or a municipal ordinance that is substantially equivalent to that section or former division, the court shall order the immobilization for sixty days of the vehicle involved in the offense and the impoundment for sixty days of the license plates of that vehicle in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4503.233.
C. If, within six years of the current offense, the offender has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two or more violations of Ohio R.C. 4510.14 or former division (D)(2) of Ohio R.C. 4507.02 or a municipal ordinance that is substantially equivalent to that section or former division, the court shall order the criminal forfeiture to the State of the vehicle the offender was operating at the time of the offense.
(2) An order for immobilization and impoundment of a vehicle under this section shall be issued and enforced in accordance with Ohio R.C 4503.233 and 4507.02, as applicable. The court shall not release a vehicle from immobilization ordered under this section unless the court is presented with current proof of financial responsibility with respect to that vehicle.
(3) An order for criminal forfeiture of a vehicle under this section shall be issued and enforced under Ohio R.C. 4503.234. Upon receipt of a copy of the order from the court, neither the Registrar of Motor Vehicles nor a Deputy Registrar shall accept any application for the registration or transfer of registration of any motor vehicle owned or leased by the person named in the declaration of forfeiture. The period of registration denial shall be five years after the date of the order unless, during that period, the court having jurisdiction of the offense that led to the order terminates the forfeiture and notifies the Registrar of the termination. The Registrar then shall take the necessary measures to permit the person to register a vehicle owned or leased by the person or to transfer registration of the vehicle.
(ORC 4510.161)
(h) 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 subsection (a) of this section;
B. A violation of a former law of this State that was substantially equivalent to subsection (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 three, ten, or thirty consecutive days that must be imposed under subsection (b)(1), (2) or (3) of this section upon an offender convicted of a violation of subsection (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)
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