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Van Wert Overview
Van Wert, Ohio Code of Ordinances
VAN WERT, OHIO CODE OF ORDINANCES
CITY OFFICIALS OF VAN WERT, OHIO
ADOPTING ORDINANCES
TITLE I: GENERAL PROVISIONS
TITLE III: ADMINISTRATION
TITLE V: PUBLIC WORKS
TITLE VII: TRAFFIC CODE
TITLE IX: GENERAL REGULATIONS
TITLE XI: BUSINESS REGULATIONS
TITLE XIII: GENERAL OFFENSES
CHAPTER 130: GENERAL PROVISIONS
CHAPTER 131: OFFENSES AGAINST PROPERTY
CHAPTER 132: OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC PEACE
CHAPTER 133: SEX OFFENSES
CHAPTER 134: GAMBLING OFFENSES
CHAPTER 135: OFFENSES AGAINST PERSONS
§ 135.01 DEFINITIONS.
§ 135.02 NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE.
§ 135.03 VEHICULAR HOMICIDE; VEHICULAR MANSLAUGHTER; VEHICULAR ASSAULT.
§ 135.04 ASSAULT; NEGLIGENT ASSAULT.
§ 135.05 INJURY TO PERSONS BY HUNTERS.
§ 135.06 MENACING; AGGRAVATED MENACING; MENACING BY STALKING.
§ 135.07 UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT.
§ 135.08 (RESERVED)
§ 135.09 COERCION.
§ 135.10 BIGAMY.
§ 135.11 UNLAWFUL ABORTION; FAILURE TO PERFORM VIABILITY TESTING.
§ 135.12 MISREPRESENTATION RELATING TO PROVISION OF CHILD CARE.
§ 135.13 NONSUPPORT OF DEPENDENTS.
§ 135.14 ENDANGERING CHILDREN.
§ 135.15 INTERFERENCE WITH CUSTODY; INTERFERENCE WITH SUPPORT ORDERS.
§ 135.16 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.
§ 135.17 HAZING PROHIBITED.
§ 135.18 CONTRIBUTING TO UNRULINESS OR DELINQUENCY OF A CHILD.
§ 135.19 FAILURE TO PROVIDE FOR A PERSON WITH A FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT.
§ 135.20 PATIENT ABUSE OR NEGLECT; PATIENT ENDANGERMENT; EXCEPTIONS; FALSE STATEMENTS; RETALIATION.
§ 135.21 INTERFERENCE WITH RIGHT OF PERSON TO ENGAGE IN HOUSING TRANSACTIONS BECAUSE OF RACE, RELIGION, OR THE LIKE.
§ 135.22 ETHNIC INTIMIDATION.
§ 135.23 VIOLATING A PROTECTION ORDER, CONSENT AGREEMENT, ANTI-STALKING PROTECTION ORDER OR ORDER ISSUED BY A COURT OF ANOTHER STATE.
§ 135.24 ADULTERATION OF FOOD.
§ 135.25 ILLEGAL DISTRIBUTION OF CIGARETTES, OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS, OR ALTERNATIVE NICOTINE PRODUCTS; TRANSACTION SCANS.
§ 135.26 NONSMOKING AREAS IN PLACES OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY.
§ 135.27 SPREADING CONTAGION.
§ 135.28 ABUSE OF A CORPSE.
§ 135.29 DESECRATION.
§ 135.30 UNLAWFUL COLLECTION OF BODILY SUBSTANCES.
§ 135.31 PROHIBITING PERSONS UNDER 21 FROM USING, CONSUMING OR POSSESSING ANY TOBACCO PRODUCT OR ALTERNATIVE NICOTINE PRODUCT.
CHAPTER 136: OFFENSES AGAINST JUSTICE AND ADMINISTRATION
CHAPTER 137: WEAPONS CONTROL
CHAPTER 138: DRUG OFFENSES
TITLE XV: LAND USAGE
TABLE OF SPECIAL ORDINANCES
PARALLEL REFERENCES
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§ 135.23 VIOLATING A PROTECTION ORDER, CONSENT AGREEMENT, ANTI-STALKING PROTECTION ORDER OR ORDER ISSUED BY A COURT OF ANOTHER STATE.
   (A)   No person shall recklessly violate the terms of any of the following:
      (1)   A protection order issued or consent agreement approved pursuant to R.C. § 2919.26 or R.C. § 3113.31;
      (2)   A protection order issued pursuant to R.C. § 2151.34, 2903.213 or 2903.214;
      (3)   A protection order issued by a court of another state.
   (B)   (1)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of violating a protection order.
      (2)   Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(3) or (4) of this section, violating a protection order is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
      (3)   Violating a protection order is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law if the offender previously has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to, or been adjudicated a delinquent child for any of the following:
         (a)   A violation of a protection order issued or consent agreement approved pursuant to R.C. § 2151.34, 2903.213, 2903.214, 2919.26, or 3113.31, or any substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance;
         (b)   Two or more violations of R.C. § 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, or 2911.211, or any substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, or any combination of those offenses, that involved the same person who is the subject of the protection order or consent agreement;
         (c)   One or more violations of this section, or any substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance.
      (4)   If the offender violates a protection order or consent agreement while committing a felony offense, violating a protection order is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
      (5)   If the protection order violated by the offender was an order issued pursuant to R.C. § 2151.34 or 2903.214 that required electronic monitoring of the offender pursuant to that section, the court may require in addition to any other sentence imposed upon the offender that the offender be electronically monitored for a period not exceeding 5 years by a law enforcement agency designated by the court. If the court requires under this division that the offender be electronically monitored, unless the court determines that the offender is indigent, the court shall order that the offender pay the costs of the installation of the electronic monitoring device and the cost of monitoring the electronic monitoring device.
   (C)   It is an affirmative defense to a charge under division (A)(3) of this section that the protection order issued by a court of another state does not comply with the requirements specified in 18 U.S.C. § 2265(b) for a protection order that must be accorded full faith and credit by a court of this state or that it is not entitled to full faith and credit under 18 U.S.C. § 2265(c).
   (D)   In a prosecution for a violation of this section, it is not necessary for the prosecution to prove that the protection order or consent agreement was served on the defendant if the prosecution proves that the defendant was shown the protection order or consent agreement or a copy of either or a judge, magistrate, or law enforcement officer informed the defendant that a protection order or consent agreement had been issued, and proves that the defendant recklessly violated the terms of the order or agreement.
   (E)   As used in this section, PROTECTION ORDER ISSUED BY A COURT OF ANOTHER STATE means an injunction or another order issued by a criminal court of another state for the purpose of preventing violent or threatening acts or harassment against, contact or communication with, or physical proximity to another person including a temporary order, and means an injunction or order of that nature issued by a civil court of another state, including a temporary order and a final order issued in an independent action or as a pendente lite order in a proceeding for other relief, if the court issued it in response to a complaint, petition or motion filed by or on behalf of a person seeking protection. The term does not include an order for support or for custody of a child issued pursuant to the divorce and child custody laws of another state, except to the extent that the order for support or for custody of a child is entitled to full faith and credit under the laws of the United States.
(R.C. § 2919.27)
§ 135.24 ADULTERATION OF FOOD.
   (A)   No person shall do either of the following, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that any person may suffer physical harm or be seriously inconvenienced or annoyed thereby:
      (1)   Place a pin, razor blade, glass, laxative, drug of abuse, or other harmful or hazardous object or substance in any food or confection.
      (2)   Furnish to any person any food or confection which has been adulterated in violation of division (A)(1) of this section.
(R.C. § 3716.11)
   (B)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(R.C. § 3716.99(C)) (1981 Code, § 135.09)
Statutory reference:
   Adulteration of food generally, see R.C. § 3715.59
§ 135.25 ILLEGAL DISTRIBUTION OF CIGARETTES, OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS, OR ALTERNATIVE NICOTINE PRODUCTS; TRANSACTION SCANS.
   (A)   Illegal distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products.
      (1)   As used in this section:
         AGE VERIFICATION. A service provided by an independent third party (other than a manufacturer, producer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer of cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes) that compares information available from a commercially available database, or aggregate of databases, that regularly are used by government and businesses for the purpose of age and identity verification to personal information provided during an internet sale or other remote method of sale to establish that the purchaser is 21 years of age or older.
         ALTERNATIVE NICOTINE PRODUCT.
            1.   Subject to division 2. of this definition, an electronic smoking device, vapor product, or any other product or device that consists of or contains nicotine that can be ingested into the body by any means, including, but not limited to, chewing, smoking, absorbing, dissolving, or inhaling.
            2.   The phrase does not include any of the following:
               a.   Any cigarette or other tobacco product;
               b.   Any product that is a "drug" as that term is defined in 21 U.S.C. § 321(g)(1);
               c.   Any product that is a "device" as that term is defined in 21 U.S.C. § 321(h);
               d.   Any product that is a "combination product" as described in 21 U.S.C. § 353(g).
         CIGARETTE. Includes clove cigarettes and hand-rolled cigarettes.
         DISTRIBUTE. Means to furnish, give, or provide cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes to the ultimate consumer of the cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes.
         ELECTRONIC SMOKING DEVICE. Means any device that can be used to deliver aerosolized or vaporized nicotine or any other substance to the person inhaling from the device including an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic hookah, vaping pen, or electronic pipe. The phrase includes any component, part, or accessory of such a device, whether or not sold separately, and includes any substance intended to be aerosolized or vaporized during the use of the device. The phrase does not include any product that is a drug, device, or combination product, as those terms are defined or described in 21 U.S.C. §§ 321 and 353(g).
         PROOF OF AGE. Means a driver’s license, a commercial driver’s license, a military identification card, a passport, or an identification card issued under R.C. §§ 4507.50 to 4507.52 that shows that a person is 21 years of age or older.
         TOBACCO PRODUCT. Means any product that is made or derived from tobacco or that contains any form of nicotine, if it is intended for human consumption or is likely to be consumed, whether smoked, heated, chewed, absorbed, dissolved, inhaled, or ingested by any other means, including, but not limited to, a cigarette, an electronic smoking device, a cigar, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, or snus. The phrase also means any component or accessory used in the consumption of a tobacco product, such as filters, rolling papers, pipes, blunt or hemp wraps, and liquids used in electronic smoking devices, whether or not they contain nicotine. The phrase does not include any product that is a drug, device, or combination product, as those terms are defined or described in 21 U.S.C. §§ 321 and 353(g).
         VAPOR PRODUCT. Means a product, other than a cigarette or other tobacco product as defined in R.C. Chapter 5743, that contains or is made or derived from nicotine and that is intended and marketed for human consumption, including by smoking, inhaling, snorting, or sniffing. The phrase includes any component, part, or additive that is intended for use in an electronic smoking device, a mechanical heating element, battery, or electronic circuit and is used to deliver the product. The phrase does not include any product that is a drug, device, or combination product, as those terms are defined or described in 21 U.S.C. §§ 321 and 353(g). The phrase includes any product containing nicotine, regardless of concentration.
         VENDING MACHINE. Has the same meaning as "coin machine" in R.C. § 2913.01.
      (2)   No manufacturer, producer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer of cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes, no agent, employee, or representative of a manufacturer, producer, distributor, wholesaler, or retailer of cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes, and no other person shall do any of the following:
         (a)   Give, sell, or otherwise distribute cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes:
            1.   To any person under 21 years of age; or
            2.   Without first verifying proof of age.
         (b)   Give away, sell, or distribute cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes in any place that does not have posted in a conspicuous place a legibly printed sign in letters at least one-half inch high stating that giving, selling, or otherwise distributing cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes to a person under 21 years of age is prohibited by law;
         (c)   Knowingly furnish any false information regarding the name, age, or other identification of any person under 21 years of age with purpose to obtain cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes for that person;
         (d)   Manufacture, sell, or distribute in this state any pack or other container of cigarettes containing fewer than 20 cigarettes or any package of roll-your-own tobacco containing less than six-tenths of one ounce of tobacco;
         (e)   Sell cigarettes or alternative nicotine products in a smaller quantity than that placed in the pack or other container by the manufacturer;
         (f)   Give, sell, or otherwise distribute alternative nicotine products, papers used to roll cigarettes, or tobacco products other than cigarettes over the internet or through another remote method without age verification.
         (g)   Allow an employee under 18 years of age to sell any tobacco product;
         (h)   Give away or otherwise distribute free samples of cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or coupons redeemable for cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alterative tobacco products.
      (3)   No person shall sell or offer to sell cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products by or from a vending machine, except in the following locations:
         (a)   An area within a factory, business, office, or other place not open to the general public;
         (b)   An area to which persons under 21 years of age are not generally permitted access;
         (c)   Any other place not identified in division (A)(3)(a) or (A)(3)(b) of this section, upon all of the following conditions:
            1.   The vending machine is located within the immediate vicinity, plain view, and control of the person who owns or operates the place, or an employee of that person, so that all cigarettes, other tobacco product, and alternative nicotine product purchases from the vending machine will be readily observed by the person who owns or operates the place or an employee of that person. For the purpose of this section, a vending machine located in any unmonitored area, including an unmonitored coatroom, restroom, hallway, or outer waiting area, shall not be considered located within the immediate vicinity, plain view, and control of the person who owns or operates the place, or an employee of that person.
            2.   The vending machine is inaccessible to the public when the place is closed.
            3.   A clearly visible notice is posted in the area where the vending machine is located that states the following in letters that are legibly printed and at least one-half inch high: "It is illegal for any person under the age of 21 to purchase tobacco or alternative nicotine products."
      (4)   The following are affirmative defenses to a charge under division (A)(2)(a) of this section:
         (a)   The person under 21 years of age was accompanied by a parent, spouse who is 21 years of age or older, or legal guardian of the person under 21 years of age.
         (b)   The person who gave, sold, or distributed cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes to a person under 21 years of age under division (A)(2)(a) of this section is a parent, spouse who is 21 years of age or older, or legal guardian of the person under 21 years of age.
      (5)   (a)   It is not a violation of division (A)(2)(a) or (A)(2)(b) of this section for a person to give or otherwise distribute to a person under 21 years of age cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes while the person under 21 years of age is participating in a research protocol if all of the following apply:
            1.   The parent, guardian, or legal custodian of the person under 21 years of age has consented in writing to the person under 21 years of age participating in the research protocol.
            2.   An institutional human subjects protection review board, or an equivalent entity, has approved the research protocol.
            3.   The person under 21 years of age is participating in the research protocol at the facility or location specified in the research protocol.
         (b)   It is not a violation of division (A)(2)(a) or (A)(2)(b) of this section for an employer to permit an employee 18, 19, or 20 years of age to sell a tobacco product.
      (6)   (a)   No delivery service shall accept from, transport or deliver to, or allow pick-up by, a person under 21 years of age with respect to any of the following:
            1.   Alternative nicotine products;
            2.   Papers used to roll cigarettes;
            3.   Tobacco products other than cigarettes.
         (b)   A delivery service shall require proof of age as a condition of accepting, transporting, delivering, or allowing pickup of the items described in divisions (A)(6)(a)1. to 3. of this section.
      (7)   Whoever violates division (A)(2)(a), (A)(2)(b), (A)(2)(d), (A)(2)(e), (A)(2)(f), (A)(2)(g), (A)(2)(h), (A)(3) or (A)(6) of this section is guilty of illegal distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products. Except as otherwise provided in this division, illegal distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to illegal distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is a misdemeanor of the third degree.
      (8)   Whoever violates division (A)(2)(c) of this section is guilty of permitting a person under 21 years of age to use cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products. Except as otherwise provided in this division, permitting a person under 21 years of age to use cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of division (A)(2)(c) of this section or a substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, permitting a person under 21 years of age to use cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is a misdemeanor of the third degree.
      (9)   Any cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes that are given, sold, or otherwise distributed to a person under 21 years of age in violation of this section and that are used, possessed, purchased, or received by a person under 21 years of age in violation of R.C. § 2151.87 are subject to seizure and forfeiture as contraband under R.C. Chapter 2981.
(R.C. § 2927.02)
   (B)   Transaction scan.
      (1)   As used in this division and division (C) of this section:
         CARD HOLDER means any person who presents a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or an identification card to a seller, or an agent or employee of a seller, to purchase or receive cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products from a seller, agent, or employee.
         IDENTIFICATION CARD means an identification card issued under R.C. §§ 4507.50 to 4507.52.
         SELLER means a seller of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products and includes any person whose gift of or other distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is subject to the prohibitions of division (A) of this section.
         TRANSACTION SCAN means the process by which a seller or an agent or employee of a seller checks, by means of a transaction scan device, the validity of a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or an identification card that is presented as a condition for purchasing or receiving cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products.
         TRANSACTION SCAN DEVICE means any commercial device or combination of devices used at a point of sale that is capable of deciphering in an electronically readable format the information encoded on the magnetic strip or bar code of a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or an identification card.
      (2)   (a)   A seller or an agent or employee of a seller may perform a transaction scan by means of a transaction scan device to check the validity of a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card presented by a card holder as a condition for selling, giving away, or otherwise distributing to the card holder cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products.
         (b)   If the information deciphered by the transaction scan performed under division (B)(2)(a) of this section fails to match the information printed on the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card presented by the card holder, or if the transaction scan indicates that the information so printed is false or fraudulent, neither the seller nor any agent or employee of the seller shall sell, give away, or otherwise distribute any cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products to the card holder.
         (c)   Division (B)(2)(a) of this section does not preclude a seller or an agent or employee of a seller from using a transaction scan device to check the validity of a document other than a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card, if the document includes a bar code or magnetic strip that may be scanned by the device, as a condition for selling, giving away, or otherwise distributing cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products to the person presenting the document.
      (3)   Rules adopted by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles under R.C. § 4301.61(C) apply to the use of transaction scan devices for purposes of this division (B) and division (C) of this section.
      (4)   (a)   No seller or agent or employee of a seller shall electronically or mechanically record or maintain any information derived from a transaction scan, except for the following:
            1.   The name and date of birth of the person listed on the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card presented by the card holder;
            2.   The expiration date and identification number of the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card presented by the card holder.
         (b)   No seller or agent or employee of a seller shall use the information that is derived from a transaction scan or that is permitted to be recorded and maintained under division (B)(4)(a) of this section, except for purposes of division (C) of this section.
         (c)   No seller or agent or employee of a seller shall use a transaction scan device for a purpose other than the purpose specified in division (C)(2)(a) of this section.
         (d)   No seller or agent or employee of a seller shall sell or otherwise disseminate the information derived from a transaction scan to any third party, including but not limited to selling or otherwise disseminating that information for any marketing, advertising, or promotional activities, but a seller or agent or employee of a seller may release that information pursuant to a court order or as specifically authorized by division (C) of this section or another section of this code or the Ohio Revised Code.
      (5)   Nothing in this division (B) or division (C) of this section relieves a seller or an agent or employee of a seller of any responsibility to comply with any other applicable local, state or federal laws or rules governing the sale, giving away, or other distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products.
      (6)   Whoever violates division (B)(2)(b) or (B)(4) of this section is guilty of engaging in an illegal tobacco product or alternative nicotine product transaction scan, and the court may impose upon the offender a civil penalty of up to $1,000 for each violation. The Clerk of the Court shall pay each collected civil penalty to the County Treasurer for deposit into the County Treasury.
(R.C. § 2927.021)
   (C)   Affirmative defenses.
      (1)   A seller or an agent or employee of a seller may not be found guilty of a charge of a violation of division (A) of this section in which the age of the purchaser or other recipient of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is an element of the alleged violation, if the seller, agent, or employee raises and proves as an affirmative defense that all of the following occurred:
         (a)   A card holder attempting to purchase or receive cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products presented a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or an identification card.
         (b)   A transaction scan of the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card that the card holder presented indicated that the license or card was valid.
         (c)   The cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products were sold, given away, or otherwise distributed to the card holder in reasonable reliance upon the identification presented and the completed transaction scan.
      (2)   In determining whether a seller or an agent or employee of a seller has proven the affirmative defense provided by division (C)(1) of this section, the trier of fact in the action for the alleged violation of division (A) of this section shall consider any written policy that the seller has adopted and implemented and that is intended to prevent violations of division (A) of this section. For purposes of division (C)(1)(c) of this section, the trier of fact shall consider that reasonable reliance upon the identification presented and the completed transaction scan may require a seller or an agent or employee of a seller to exercise reasonable diligence to determine, and that the use of a transaction scan device does not excuse a seller or an agent or employee of a seller from exercising reasonable diligence to determine, the following:
         (a)   Whether a person to whom the seller or agent or employee of a seller sells, gives away, or otherwise distributes cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is 21 years of age or older;
         (b)   Whether the description and picture appearing on the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card presented by a card holder is that of the card holder.
      (3)   In any criminal action in which the affirmative defense provided by division (C)(1) of this section is raised, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles or a deputy registrar who issued an identification card under R.C. §§ 4507.50 to 4507.52 shall be permitted to submit certified copies of the records of that issuance in lieu of the testimony of the personnel of or contractors with the Bureau of Motor Vehicles in the action.
(R.C. § 2927.022)
   (D)   Shipment of tobacco products.
      (1)   As used in this division (D):
         AUTHORIZED RECIPIENT OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS. Means:
            1.   In the case of cigarettes, a person who is:
               a.    Licensed as a cigarette wholesale dealer under R.C. § 5743.15;
               b.    Licensed as a retail dealer as long as the person purchases cigarettes with the appropriate tax stamp affixed;
               c.   An export warehouse proprietor as defined in Internal Revenue Code § 5702;
               d.   An operator of a customs bonded warehouse under 19 U.S.C. § 1311 or 19 U.S.C. § 1555;
               e.   An officer, employee, or agent of the federal government or of this state acting in the person's official capacity;
               f.   A department, agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision of the federal government or of this state;
               g.   A person having a consent for consumer shipment issued by the Ohio Tax Commissioner under R.C. § 5743.71.
            2.   In the case of electronic smoking devices or vapor products, a person who is:
               a.    Licensed as a distributor of tobacco or vapor products under R.C. § 5743.61;
               b.   A retail dealer of vapor products, as defined in R.C. § 5741.01(C)(3), that is not licensed as a vapor distributor, as long as the tax levied by R.C. § 5743.51, 5743.62, or 5743.63, as applicable, has been paid;
               c.   An operator of a customs bonded warehouse under 19 U.S.C. § 1311 or 19 U.S.C. § 1555;
               d.   An officer, employee, or agent of the federal government or of this state acting in the person's official capacity;
               e.   A department, agency, instrumentality, or political subdivision of the federal government or of this state.
         MOTOR CARRIER. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4923.01.
      (2)   The purpose of this section is to prevent the sale of cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products to minors and to ensure compliance with the Master Settlement Agreement, as defined in R.C. § 1346.01.
      (3)   (a)   No person shall cause to be shipped any cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products to any person in this municipality other than an authorized recipient of tobacco products.
         (b)   No motor carrier, or other person shall knowingly transport cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products to any person in this municipality that the carrier or other person reasonably believes is not an authorized recipient of tobacco products. If cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products are transported to a home or residence, it shall be presumed that the motor carrier, or other person knew that the person to whom the cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products were delivered was not an authorized recipient of tobacco products.
      (4)   No person engaged in the business of selling cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products who ships or causes to be shipped cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products to any person in this municipality in any container or wrapping other than the original container or wrapping shall fail to plainly and visibly mark the exterior of the container or wrapping in which the cigarettes, electronic smoking devices, and vapor products are shipped with the words “cigarettes”, “electronic smoking devices”, or “vapor products”, as applicable.
      (5)   A court shall impose a fine of up to $1,000 for each violation of division (D)(3)(a), (D)(3)(b) or (D)(4) of this section.
(R.C. § 2927.023)
   (E)   Furnishing false information to obtain tobacco products.
      (1)   No person who is 18 years of age or older but younger than 21 years of age shall knowingly furnish false information concerning that person's name, age, or other identification for the purpose of obtaining tobacco products.
      (2)   Whoever violates division (E)(1) of this section is guilty of furnishing false information to obtain tobacco products. Except as otherwise provided in this division, furnishing false information to obtain tobacco products is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (E)(1) of this section or a substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, furnishing false information to obtain tobacco products is a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(R.C. § 2927.024)
§ 135.26 NONSMOKING AREAS IN PLACES OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY.
   (A)   As used in this section, PLACE OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY means:
      (1)   Enclosed theaters, except the lobby; opera houses; auditoriums; classrooms; elevators; rooms in which persons are confined as a matter of health care, including but not limited to a hospital room and a room in a residential care facility serving as the residence of a person living in such residential care facility.
      (2)   All buildings and other enclosed structures owned by the state, its agencies, or political subdivisions, including but not limited to hospitals and state institutions for persons with mental illnesses and persons with intellectual disabilities; university and college buildings, except rooms within those buildings used primarily as the residences of students or other persons affiliated with the university or college; office buildings; libraries; museums; and vehicles used in public transportation. That portion of a building or other enclosed structure that is owned by the state, a state agency, or a political subdivision, and that is used primarily as a food service establishment, is not a place of public assembly.
      (3)   Each portion of a building or enclosed structure that is not included in division (A)(1) or (2) of this section is a place of public assembly if it has a seating capacity of 50 or more persons and is available to the public. Restaurants, food service establishments, dining rooms, cafes, cafeterias, or other rooms used primarily for the service of food, as well as bowling alleys and places licensed by the Ohio Division of Liquor Control to sell intoxicating beverages for consumption on the premises, are not places of public assembly.
   (B)   For the purpose of separating persons who smoke from persons who do not smoke for the comfort and health of persons not smoking, in every place of public assembly there shall be an area where smoking is not permitted, which shall be designated a no smoking area, provided that not more than one-half of the rooms in any health care facility in which persons are confined as a matter of health care may be designated as smoking areas in their entirety. The designation shall be made before the place of public assembly is made available to the public. In places included in division (A)(1) of this section, the local fire authority having jurisdiction shall designate the no smoking area. In places included in division (A)(2) of this section that are owned by the state or its agencies, the Ohio Director of Administrative Services shall designate the area, and if the place is owned by a political subdivision, its legislative authority shall designate an officer who shall designate the area. In places included in division (A)(3) of this section, the person having control of the operations of the place of public assembly shall designate the no smoking area. In places included in division (A)(2) of this section which are also included in division (A)(1) of this section, the officer who has authority to designate the area in places in division (A)(2) of this section shall designate the no smoking area. A no smoking area may include the entire place of public assembly. Designations shall be made by the placement of signs that are clearly visible and that state “no smoking.” No person shall remove signs from areas designated as no smoking areas.
   (C)   This section does not affect or modify the prohibition contained in R.C. § 3313.751(B).
   (D)   No person shall smoke in any area designated as a no smoking area in accordance with division (B) of this section.
   (E)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(R.C. § 3791.031)
§ 135.27 SPREADING CONTAGION.
   (A)   No person, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the person has a dangerous, contagious disease, shall knowingly fail to take reasonable measures to prevent exposing self to other persons, except when seeking medical aid.
   (B)   No person, having charge or care of a person whom the person having charge or care knows or has reasonable cause to believe has a dangerous, contagious disease, shall recklessly fail to take reasonable measures to protect others from exposure to the contagion, and to inform health authorities of the existence of the contagion.
   (C)   No person, having charge of a public conveyance or place of public accommodation, amusement, resort, or trade, and knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that persons using such conveyance or place have been or are being exposed to a dangerous, contagious disease, shall negligently fail to take reasonable measures to protect the public from exposure to the contagion, and to inform health authorities of the existence of the contagion.
(R.C. § 3701.81)
   (D)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.
(R.C. § 3701.99(C))
Statutory reference:
   Contagion and quarantine, see R.C. §§ 3707.04 et seq.
   Power to prevent contagious diseases, see R.C. § 715.37
§ 135.28 ABUSE OF A CORPSE.
   (A)   No person, except as authorized by law, shall treat a human corpse in a way that he or she knows would outrage reasonable family sensibilities.
   (B)   No person, except as authorized by law, shall treat a human corpse in a way that would outrage reasonable community sensibilities.
   (C)   Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of abuse of a corpse, a misdemeanor of the second degree. Whoever violates division (B) of this section is guilty of gross abuse of a corpse, a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(R.C. § 2927.01)
§ 135.29 DESECRATION.
   (A)   No person, without privilege to do so, shall purposely deface, damage, pollute, or otherwise mistreat any of the following:
      (1)   The flag of the United States or of this state;
      (2)   Any historical or commemorative marker, or any structure, Indian mound or earthwork, cemetery, thing, or site of great historical or archaeological interest;
      (3)   A place of worship or its furnishings, or religious artifacts or sacred texts within the place of worship or within the grounds upon which the place of worship is located;
      (4)   A work of art or museum piece;
      (5)   Any other object of reverence or sacred devotion.
   (B)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of desecration. A violation of division (A)(1), (A)(2), (A)(4) or (A)(5) is a misdemeanor of the second degree. A violation of division (A)(3) is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
   (C)   As used in this section, CEMETERY means any place of burial and includes burial sites that contain American Indian burial objects placed with or containing American Indian human remains.
(R.C. § 2927.11) (1981 Code, § 139.02) Penalty, see § 130.99
§ 135.30 UNLAWFUL COLLECTION OF BODILY SUBSTANCES.
   (A)   No person shall knowingly collect any blood, urine, tissue, or other bodily substance of another person without privilege or consent to do so.
   (B)   (1)   Division (A) of this section does not apply to any of the following:
         (a)   The collection of any bodily substance of a person by a law enforcement officer, or by another person pursuant to the direction or advice of a law enforcement officer, for purposes of a chemical test or tests of the substance under R.C. § 1547.111(A)(1) or R.C. § 4511.191(A)(2) to determine the alcohol, drug, controlled substance, metabolite of a controlled substance, or combination content of the bodily substance;
         (b)   The collection of any bodily substance of a person by a peace officer, or by another person pursuant to the direction or advice of a peace officer, for purposes of a test or tests of the substance as provided in R.C. § 4506.17(A) to determine the person’s alcohol concentration or the presence of any controlled substance or metabolite of a controlled substance.
      (2)   Division (B)(1) of this section shall not be construed as implying that the persons identified in divisions (B)(1)(a) and (b) of this section do not have privilege to collect the bodily substance of another person as described in those divisions or as limiting the definition of “privilege” set forth in R.C. § 2901.01.
   (C)   Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of unlawful collection of a bodily substance. Except as otherwise provided in this division, unlawful collection of a bodily substance is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (A) of this section or a substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, unlawful collection of a bodily substance is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(R.C. § 2927.15)
§ 135.31 PROHIBITING PERSONS UNDER 21 FROM USING, CONSUMING OR POSSESSING ANY TOBACCO PRODUCT OR ALTERNATIVE NICOTINE PRODUCT.
   (A)   Within the City of Van Wert it shall be unlawful for any individual under 21 years of age to use, consume, or possess any tobacco product or alternative nicotine product - including electronic smoking devices and corresponding vapor products, as each of those terms are defined in R.C. § 2927.02.
   (B)   Any person found in violation of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a $250 fine.
(Ord. 24-06-038, passed 7-22-2024)