(a) No person shall knowingly make a false statement, or knowingly swear or affirm the truth of a false statement previously made, when any of the following applies:
(1) The statement is made in any official proceeding.
(2) The statement is made with purpose to incriminate another.
(3) The statement is made with purpose to mislead a public official in performing his or her official function.
(4) The statement is made with purpose to secure the payment of unemployment compensation; Ohio Works First; prevention, retention and contingency benefits and services; disability financial assistance; retirement benefits or health care coverage from a State retirement system; economic development assistance as defined in Ohio R.C. 9.66; or other benefits administered by a governmental agency or paid out of a public treasury.
(5) The statement is made with purpose to secure the issuance by a governmental agency of a license, permit, authorization, certificate, registration, release, or provider agreement.
(6) The statement is sworn or affirmed before a notary public or another person empowered to administer oaths.
(7) The statement is in writing on or in connection with a report or return that is required or authorized by law.
(8) The statement is in writing, and is made with purpose to induce another to extend credit to or employ the offender, or to confer any degree, diploma, certificate of attainment, award of excellence, or honor on the offender, or to extend to or bestow upon the offender any other valuable benefit or distinction, when the person to whom the statement is directed relies upon it to his or her detriment.
(9) The statement is made with purpose to commit or facilitate the commission of a theft offense.
(10) The statement is knowingly made to a probate court in connection with any action, proceeding, or other matter within its jurisdiction, either orally or in a written document, including, but not limited to, an application, petition, complaint, or other pleading, or an inventory, account, or report.
(11) The statement is made on an account, form, record, stamp, label or other writing that is required by law.
(12) The statement is made in connection with the purchase of a firearm, as defined in Ohio R.C. 2923.11, and in conjunction with the furnishing to the seller of the firearm of a fictitious or altered driver's or commercial driver's license or permit, a fictitious or altered identification card, or any other document that contains false information about the purchaser's identity.
(13) The statement is made in a document or instrument of writing that purports to be a judgment, lien, or claim of indebtedness and is filed or recorded with the Secretary of State, a county recorder, or the clerk of a court of record.
(14) The statement is made in an application filed with a county sheriff pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2923.125 in order to obtain or renew a concealed handgun license or is made in an affidavit submitted to a county sheriff to obtain a concealed handgun license on a temporary emergency basis under Ohio R.C. 2923.1213.
(15) The statement is required under Ohio R.C. 5743.72 in connection with the person's purchase of cigarettes or tobacco products in a delivery sale.
(b) No person, in connection with the purchase of a firearm as defined in Ohio R.C. 2923.11, shall knowingly furnish to the seller of the firearm a fictitious or altered driver's or commercial driver's license or permit, a fictitious or altered identification card, or any other document that contains false information about the purchaser's identity.
(c) No person, in an attempt to obtain a concealed handgun license under Ohio R.C. 2923.125, shall knowingly present to a sheriff a fictitious or altered document that purports to be certification of the person’s competence in handling a handgun as described in division (B)(3) of that section.
(d) It is no defense to a charge under division (a)(6) of this section that the oath or affirmation was administered or taken in an irregular manner.
(e) If contradictory statements relating to the same fact are made by the offender within the period of the statute of limitations for falsification, it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove which statement was false, but only that one or the other was false.
(f) (1) Whoever violates division (a)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (10), (11), (13), or (15) of this section is guilty of falsification. Except as otherwise provided in this division, falsification is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(2) Whoever violates division (a)(9) of this section is guilty of falsification in a theft offense. Except as otherwise provided in this division, falsification in a theft offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the value of the property or services stolen is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, falsification in a theft offense is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(3) Whoever violates division (a)(12) or (b) of this section is guilty of falsification to purchase a firearm, a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(4) Whoever violates division (a)(14) or (c) of this section is guilty of falsification to obtain a concealed handgun license, a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(5) Whoever violates division (a) of this section in removal proceedings under R.C. § 319.26, 321.37, 507.13 or 733.78 is guilty of falsification regarding a removal proceeding, a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(ORC 2921.13)
(g) (1) No person who has knowingly failed to maintain proof of financial responsibility in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4509.101 shall produce any document or present to a peace officer an electronic wireless communications device that is displaying any text or images with the purpose to mislead a peace officer upon the request of a peace officer for proof of financial responsibility made in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4509.101(D)(2).
(2) Whoever violates this division (g) is guilty of falsification, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(ORC 4509.102)
Statutory reference:
Civil liability for violations of this section, see R.C. § 2921.13(G)