(a) Penalties for Misdemeanor. Whoever is convicted of or pleads guilty to a misdemeanor, or minor misdemeanor shall be sentenced in accordance with Section 698.02.
(b) General Code Penalty.
(1) Whoever violates any provision of this Traffic Code for which no penalty is otherwise provided is guilty of one of the following:
A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree;
B. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one violation of this Traffic Code, a misdemeanor of the third degree;
C. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two or more violations of this Traffic Code, a misdemeanor of the second degree.
(2) When any person is found guilty of a first offense for a violation of Section 333.03, upon a finding that the person operated a motor vehicle faster than 35 miles an hour in a business district of the Municipality, or faster than 50 miles an hour in other parts of the Municipality, or faster than 35 miles an
hour while passing through a school zone during recess or while children are going to or leaving school during the opening or closing hours, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(3) The penalties for the misdemeanors set forth in division (b)(1) and (2) of this section shall be as provided in division (a) of this section.
(4) A. Notwithstanding division (a) of this section, upon a finding that such person operated a motor vehicle in a construction zone where a sign was then posted in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4511.98, the court, in addition to all other penalties provided by law, shall impose a fine of two times the usual amount imposed for the violation. No court shall impose a fine of two times the usual amount imposed for the violation upon an offender who alleges, in an affidavit filed with the court prior to his or her sentencing, that the offender is indigent and is unable to pay the fine imposed pursuant to this division, provided the court determines that the offender is an indigent person and is unable to pay the fine.
B. As used in this division “construction zone” shall have the meaning given that term in Ohio R.C. 5501.26.
C. This division (b)(4) shall become effective at the earliest time permitted by law, but not before May 1, 1995.
(c) Suspension of Driver's License. Except as otherwise provided in Ohio R.C. 4510.07 or in any other provision of the Revised Code, whenever an offender is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of any provision of this Traffic Code that is substantially equivalent to a provision of the Revised Code, and a court is permitted or required to suspend a person's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit for a violation of that provision, a court, in addition to any other penalties authorized by law, may suspend the offender's driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident operating privilege for the period of time the court determines appropriate, but the period of suspension imposed for the violation of the provision of this Traffic Code shall not exceed the period of suspension that is permitted or required to be imposed for the violation of the provision of the Revised Code to which the provision of this Traffic Code is substantially equivalent.
(ORC 4510.05)