(A) As used in this section:
(1) NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION has the same meaning as in § of the Terrace Park Code of Ordinances.
(2) PHYSICAL CONTROL means being in the driver's position of the front seat of a vehicle or in the driver's position of a streetcar or trackless trolley and having possession of the vehicle's, streetcar's, or trackless trolley's ignition key or other ignition device.
(B) No person shall be in physical control of a vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley while under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them or while the person's whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine contains at least the concentration of alcohol specified in division (A)(2), (3), (4), or (5) of R.C. § 4511.19.
(C) (1) In any criminal prosecution or juvenile court proceeding for a violation of this section, if a law enforcement officer has administered a field sobriety test to the person in physical control of the vehicle involved in the violation and if it is shown by clear and convincing evidence that the standards for any reliable, credible, and generally accepted field sobriety test that were in effect at the time the tests were administered, including, but not limited to, any testing standards then in effect that were set by the national highway traffic safety administration, all of the following apply:
(a) The officer may testify concerning the results of the field sobriety test so administered.
(b) The prosecution may introduce the results of the field sobriety test so administered as evidence in any proceedings in the criminal prosecution or juvenile court proceeding.
(c) If testimony is presented or evidence is introduced under division (C)(1)(a) or (b) of this section and if the testimony or evidence is admissible under rules of evidence, and the trier of fact shall give it whatever weight the trier of fact considers to be appropriate.
(2) Division (C)(1) of this section does not limit or preclude a court, in its determination of whether the arrest of a person was supported by probable cause or its determination of any other matter in a criminal prosecution or juvenile court proceeding of a type described in that division, from considering evidence or testimony that is not otherwise disallowed by division (C)(1) of this section.
(D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of having physical control of a vehicle while under the influence, a misdemeanor of the first degree. In addition to other sanctions imposed, the court may impose on 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 R.C. § 4510.02(A)(7).
(Ord. 1-1-2004, passed 1-13-04)
Statutory reference:
Physical control of vehicle while under the influence, see R.C. § 4511.194