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Editor’s note:
(a) Driving under suspension or in violation of license restriction.
(1) Except as provided in division (a)(2) of this section, division (b) of this section, § 436.11 and in R.C. §§ 4510.111 and 4510.16, no person whose driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit or nonresident operating privilege has been suspended under any provision of the Revised Code, other than 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.
(2) 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 R.C. § 4506.10(D) or § 4507.14.
(3) 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 division (a)(1) or (a)(2) 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 division (a)(1) of this section or the person operated a motor vehicle in violation of a restriction at the time of the alleged violation of division (a)(2) of this section. The person charged with a violation of division (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section may offer evidence to rebut this prima facie evidence.
(4) A. Whoever violates division (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section 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 R.C. § 4510.02(A)(7).
B. 1. Except as provided in division (a)(4)B.2. or (a)(4)B.3. 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 this section, R.C. § 4510.11, 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 30 days and the impoundment of that vehicle’s license plates for 30 days in accordance with R.C. § 4503.233.
2. 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 this section, or any combination of two violations of this section, R.C. § 4510.11, 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 60 days and the impoundment of that vehicle’s license plates for 60 days in accordance with R.C. § 4503.233.
3. 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 this section, or any combination of three or more violations of this section or R.C. § 4510.11, 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.
(5) Any order for immobilization and impoundment under this section shall be issued and enforced under 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.
(6) Any order of criminal forfeiture under this section shall be issued and enforced under R.C. § 4503.234. Upon receipt of the 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 necessary measures to permit the person to register a vehicle owned or leased by the person or to transfer registration of the vehicle.
(7) The offender shall provide the court with proof of financial responsibility as defined in 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 § 698.02(f) or R.C. § 2929.28 in an amount not exceeding $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.
(R.C. § 4510.11)
(b) Driving under suspension in violation of other provisions.
(1) 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 whose driver’s or commercial driver’s license has been suspended pursuant to R.C. § 2151.354, 2151.87, 2935.27, 3123.58, 4301.99, 4510.032, 4510.22, or 4510.33, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(2) 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 division (b)(1) 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 division (b)(1) of this section. The person charged with a violation of division (b)(1) of this section may offer evidence to rebut this prima facie evidence.
(3) Whoever violates division (b)(1) of this section is guilty of driving under suspension and shall be punished as provided in division (b)(3)A. or division (b)(3)B. of this section.
A. Except as otherwise provided in division (b)(3)B. of this section, the offense is an unclassified misdemeanor. The offender shall be sentenced pursuant to § 698.02, § 698.03 or 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 § 698.02(d) or R.C. § 2929.26; notwithstanding § 698.02(f)(1)B.1. and R.C. § 2929.28(A)(2)(a), the offender may be fined up to $1,000; and, notwithstanding § 698.02(e)(1)C. and R.C. § 2929.27(A)(3), the offender may be ordered pursuant to § 698.02(e)(3) or R.C. § 2929.27(C) to serve a term of community service of up to 500 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 R.C. § 2705.02(A) that may be filed in the underlying case.
B. If, within three years of the offense, the offender previously was convicted of or pleaded guilty to two or more violations of division (b)(1) of this section, or any combination of two or more violations of division (b)(1) of this section, R.C. § 4510.11, 4510.111 or 4510.16, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the offense is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, and the offender shall provide the court with proof of financial responsibility as defined in 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 R.C. § 2929.28 in an amount not exceeding $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.
(R.C. § 4510.111)
(c) Repeat traffic offender; point system suspension. Any person whose driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit or nonresident operating privileges are suspended as a repeat traffic offender under R.C. § 4510.037 and who, during the suspension, operates any motor vehicle upon any public roads and highways is guilty of driving under a 12-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 division.
(R.C. § 4510.037(J))
(d) It is an affirmative defense to any prosecution brought under this section that the alleged offender drove under suspension, without a valid permit or driver's or commercial driver's license, or in violation of a restriction because of a substantial emergency, and because no other person was reasonably available to drive in response to the emergency.
(R.C. § 4510.04)
(a) (1) No person, except those expressly exempted under R.C. §§ 4507.03, 4507.04 and 4507.05, shall operate any motor vehicle upon a public road or highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking in this municipality unless the person has a valid driver’s license issued under R.C. Chapter 4507 or a commercial driver’s license issued under R.C. Chapter 4506.
(2) No person, except a person expressly exempted under R.C. §§ 4507.03, 4507.04 and 4507.05, shall operate any motorcycle upon a public road or highway or any public or private property used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking in this municipality unless the person has a valid license as a motorcycle operator that was issued upon application by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles under R.C. Chapter 4507. The license shall be in the form of an endorsement, as determined by the Registrar, upon a driver’s or commercial driver’s license, if the person has a valid license to operate a motor vehicle or commercial motor vehicle, or in the form of a restricted license as provided in R.C. § 4507.14, if the person does not have a valid license to operate a motor vehicle or commercial motor vehicle.
(b) 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 division (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section may be admitted into evidence as prima facie evidence that the person did not have either a valid driver’s or commercial driver’s license at the time of the alleged violation of division (a)(1) of this section or a valid license as a motorcycle operator either in the form of an endorsement upon a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or a restricted license at the time of the alleged violation of division (a)(2) of this section. The person charged with a violation of division (a)(1) or (a)(2) of this section may offer evidence to rebut this prima facie evidence.
(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of operating a motor vehicle or motorcycle without a valid license and shall be punished as follows:
(1) If the trier of fact finds that the offender never has held a valid driver’s or commercial driver’s license issued by this state or any other jurisdiction, or, in a case involving the operation of a motorcycle by the offender, if the offender has never held a valid license as a motorcycle operator, either in the form of an endorsement upon a driver’s or commercial driver’s license or in the form of a restricted license, except as otherwise provided in this division, the offense is an unclassified misdemeanor. When the offense is an unclassified misdemeanor, the offender shall be sentenced pursuant to § 698.02, § 698.03 or 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 § 698.02(d) or R.C. § 2929.26; notwithstanding § 698.02(f)(1)B.1. and R.C. § 2929.28(A)(2)(a), the offender may be fined up to $1,000; and, notwithstanding § 698.02(e)(1)C. and R.C. § 2929.27(A)(3), the offender may be ordered pursuant to § 698.02(e)(3) or R.C. § 2929.27(C) to serve a term of community service of up to 500 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 R.C. § 2705.02(A) that may be filed in the underlying case. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any violation of this section or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(2) If the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit or, in a case involving the operation of a motorcycle by the offender, the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license bearing the motorcycle endorsement or the offender’s restricted license was expired at the time of the offense, except as otherwise provided in this division, the offense is a minor misdemeanor. If within three years of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two or more violations of this section or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(d) The court shall not impose a license suspension for a first violation of this section or if more than three years have passed since the offender’s last violation of R.C. § 4510.12, this section, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(e) If the offender is sentenced under division (c)(2) of this section, if within three years of the offense the offender previously was convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more violations of R.C. § 4510.12, this section, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance within the past three years, and if the offender’s license was expired for more than six months at the time of the offense, the court may impose a class seven suspension of the offender’s driver 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).
(R.C. § 4510.12)
(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 O.V.I. 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 O.V.I. 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 division (b)(2) or (3) of this section, driving under O.V.I. 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 division (c) of this section, the court instead imposes a sentence of not less than 30 consecutive days of house arrest with electronic monitoring. A period of house arrest with electronic monitoring imposed under this division shall not exceed six months. If the court imposes a mandatory three-day jail term under this division, 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 ($1,000.00);
C. A license suspension under division (e) of this section;
D. If the vehicle the offender was operating at the time of the offense is registered in the offender’s name, immobilization for 30 days of the offender’s vehicle and impoundment for 30 days of the identification license plates of that vehicle. The order for immobilization and impoundment shall be issued and enforced in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4503.233.
(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 O.V.I. 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 10 consecutive days. Notwithstanding the jail terms provided in Ohio R.C. 2929.21 to 2929.28, the court may sentence the offender to a longer jail term of not more than one year. The 10-day mandatory jail term shall be imposed unless, subject to division (c) of this section, the court instead imposes a sentence of not less than 90 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 ($2,500.00);
C. A license suspension under division (e) of this section;
D. If the vehicle the offender was operating at the time of the offense is registered in the offender’s name, immobilization of the offender’s vehicle for 60 days and the impoundment for 60 days of the identification license plates of that vehicle. The order for immobilization and impoundment shall be issued and enforced in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4503.233.
(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 O.V.I. suspension is a misdemeanor. The court shall sentence the offender to all of the following:
A. A mandatory jail term of 30 consecutive days. Notwithstanding the jail terms provided in Ohio R.C. 2929.21 to 2929.28, 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 ($2,500.00);
C. A license suspension under division (e) of this section;
D. If the vehicle the offender was operating at the time of the offense is registered in the offender’s name, criminal forfeiture to the state of the offender’s vehicle. The order of criminal forfeiture shall be issued and enforced in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4503.234. If title to a motor vehicle that is subject to an order for criminal forfeiture under this division is assigned or transferred and Ohio R.C. 4503.234(B)(2) or (3) applies, the court may fine the offender the value of the vehicle as determined by publications of the National Automobile Dealers Association. The proceeds from any fine so imposed shall be distributed in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4503.234(C)(2).
(c) (1) No court shall impose an alternative sentence of house arrest with electronic monitoring under division (b)(1) or (2) of this section unless, within 60 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 60-day period following the date of sentencing.
(2) 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 percent of any fine imposed by a court under division (b)(1), (2), or (3) of this section shall be deposited into the Municipal Indigent Drivers’ Alcohol Treatment Fund under the control of that court, as created by the Municipality pursuant to Ohio R.C. 4511.191(H).
(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 Ohio R.C. 4510.02(A)(7).
(1) 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 Ohio R.C. 4503.231(B).
(2) 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 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 § 698.02(f) or R.C. § 2929.28 in an amount not exceeding $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.
(g) As used in this section:
(1) ELECTRONIC MONITORING. The same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2929.01.
(2) EQUIVALENT OFFENSE. 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 division (a) of this section;
B. A violation of a former law of this State that was substantially equivalent to division (a) of this section.
(3) JAIL. The same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2929.01.
(4) MANDATORY JAIL TERM. The mandatory term in jail of three, ten, or 30 consecutive days that must be imposed under division (b)(1), (2), or (3) of this section upon an offender convicted of a violation of division (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)
(h) It is an affirmative defense to any prosecution brought under this section that the alleged offender drove under suspension, without a valid permit or driver’s or commercial driver’s license, or in violation of a restriction because of a substantial emergency, and because no other person was reasonably available to drive in response to the emergency.
(ORC 4510.04)
Statutory reference:
Immobilization of vehicle; impoundment oflicense plates; criminal forfeiture of vehicle, see Ohio R.C. 4510.161
(a) No person, whose driver’s or commercial driver’s license or temporary instruction permit or nonresident’s operating privilege has been suspended or canceled pursuant to R.C. Chapter 4509, shall operate any motor vehicle within this municipality, or knowingly permit any motor vehicle owned by the person to be operated by another person in the municipality, during the period of the suspension or cancellation, except as specifically authorized by R.C. Chapter 4509. No person shall operate a motor vehicle within this municipality, or knowingly permit any motor vehicle owned by the person to be operated by another person in the municipality, during the period in which the person is required by R.C. § 4509.45 to file and maintain proof of financial responsibility for a violation of R.C. § 4509.101, unless proof of financial responsibility is maintained with respect to that vehicle.
(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 if the person’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or temporary instruction permit or nonresident operating privilege has been suspended pursuant to R.C. § 4509.37 or 4509.40 for nonpayment of a judgment.
(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 division (a) or (b) of this section may be admitted into evidence as prima facie evidence that the license of the person was under either a financial responsibility law suspension at the time of the alleged violation of division (a) of this section or a nonpayment of judgment suspension at the time of the alleged violation of division (b) of this section. The person charged with a violation of division (a) or (b) of this section may offer evidence to rebut this prima facie evidence.
(d) Whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of driving under financial responsibility law suspension or cancellation and shall be punished as provided in this division (d). Whoever violates division (b) of this section is guilty of driving under a nonpayment of judgment suspension and shall be punished as provided in this division (d).
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division (d)(2) of this section, the offense is an unclassified misdemeanor. When the offense is an unclassified misdemeanor, the offender shall be sentenced pursuant to § 698.02, § 698.03 or 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 § 698.02(d) or R.C. § 2929.26; notwithstanding § 698.02(f)(1)B.1. and R.C. § 2929.28(A)(2)(a), the offender may be fined up to $1,000; and, notwithstanding § 698.02(e)(1)C. and R.C. § 2929.27(A)(3), the offender may be ordered pursuant to § 698.02(e)(3) or R.C. § 2929.27(C) to serve a term of community service of up to 500 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 R.C. § 2705.02(A) that may be filed in the underlying case.
(2) If, within three years of the offense, the offender previously was convicted of or pleaded guilty to two or more violations of this section, or any combination of two violations of this section, R.C. § 4510.11, 4510.111 or 4510.16, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the offense is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(3) The offender shall provide the court with proof of financial responsibility as defined in 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 R.C. § 2929.28 in an amount not exceeding $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.
(R.C. § 4510.16)
(e) It is an affirmative defense to any prosecution brought under this section that the alleged offender drove under suspension, without a valid permit or driver’s or commercial driver’s license, or in violation of a restriction because of a substantial emergency, and because no other person was reasonably available to drive in response to the emergency.
(R.C. § 4510.04)
Statutory reference:
Immobilization of vehicle; impoundment of license plates; criminal forfeiture of vehicle, see R.C. § 4510.161
(a) No person whose driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit or nonresident’s operating privilege has been suspended shall operate any motor vehicle upon a public road or highway or any public or private property after the suspension has expired unless the person has complied with all license reinstatement requirements imposed by the court, the Bureau of Motor Vehicles or another provision of the Ohio Revised Code.
(b) 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 division (a) of this section may be admitted into evidence as prima facie evidence that the license of the person had not been reinstated by the person at the time of the alleged violation of division (a) of this section. The person charged with a violation of division (a) of this section may offer evidence to rebut this prima facie evidence.
(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to reinstate a license, and shall be punished as follows:
(1) Except as provided in division (c)(2) of this section, whoever violates this section is guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor. When the offense is an unclassified misdemeanor, the offender shall be sentenced pursuant to § 698.02, § 698.03 or 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 § 698.02(d) or R.C. § 2929.26; notwithstanding § 698.02(f)(1)B.1. and R.C. § 2929.28(A)(2)(a), the offender may be fined up to $1,000; and, notwithstanding § 698.02(e)(1)C. and R.C. § 2929.27(A)(3), the offender may be ordered pursuant to § 698.02(e)(3) or R.C. § 2929.27(C) to serve a term of community service of up to 500 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 R.C. § 2705.02(A) that may be filed in the underlying case.
(2) If, within three years of a violation of division (a) of this section, the offender previously has pleaded guilty to or been convicted of two or more violations of this section, R.C. § 4510.21 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, the offender is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(3) In all cases, 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 driver's license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in R.C. § 4510.02(A)(7).
(R.C. § 4510.21)
(d) It is an affirmative defense to any prosecution brought under this section that the alleged offender drove under suspension, without a valid permit or driver’s or commercial driver’s license, or in violation of a restriction because of a substantial emergency, and because no other person was reasonably available to drive in response to the emergency.
(R.C. § 4510.04)
(a) No person shall do any of the following:
(1) Operate in this municipality a motor vehicle for which a certificate of title is required without having that certificate in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapter 4505 or, if a physical certificate of title has not been issued for a motor vehicle, operate the motor vehicle in this State knowing that the ownership information relating to the vehicle has not been entered into the automated title processing system by a Clerk of a Court of Common Pleas;
(2) Display or display for sale or sell as a dealer or acting on behalf of a dealer, a motor vehicle without having obtained a manufacturer’s or importer’s certificate, a certificate of title, or an assignment of a certificate of title for it as provided in Ohio R.C. Chapter 4505;
(3) Fail to surrender any certificate of title or any certificate of registration or license plates upon cancellation of the same by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and notice of the cancellation as prescribed in Ohio R.C. Chapter 4505;
(4) Fail to surrender the certificate of title to a Clerk of a Court of Common Pleas as provided in Ohio R.C. Chapter 4505 in case of the destruction or dismantling or change of a motor vehicle in such respect that it is not the motor vehicle described in the certificate of title;
(5) Violate any rules adopted pursuant to Ohio R.C. Chapter 4505;
(6) Except as otherwise provided in Ohio R.C. Chapters 4505 and 4517, sell at wholesale a motor vehicle ownership of which is not evidenced by an Ohio certificate of title, or the current certificate of title issued for the motor vehicle, or the manufacturer’s certificate of origin, and all title assignments that evidence the seller’s ownership of the motor vehicle, and an odometer disclosure statement that complies with Ohio R.C. 4505.06 and subchapter IV of the “Motor Vehicle Information and Cost Savings Act,” 86 Stat. 961 (1972), 15 U.S.C. 1981;
(7) Operate in this State a motor vehicle knowing that the certificate of title to the vehicle or ownership of the vehicle as otherwise reflected in the automated title processing system has been canceled.
(b) This section does not apply to persons engaged in the business of warehousing or transporting motor vehicles for the purpose of salvage disposition.
(c) Whoever violates this section shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00), imprisoned not more than 90 days, or both.
(ORC 4505.18)
(a) (1) No person who is the owner or operator of a motor vehicle shall fail to display in plain view on the rear of the motor vehicle a license plate that displays the distinctive number and registration mark assigned to the motor vehicle by the Ohio Director of Public Safety, including any county identification sticker and any validation sticker when required by and issued under R.C. §§ 4503.19 and 4503.191. However, a commercial tractor shall display the license plate on the front of the commercial tractor.
(2) The license plate shall be securely fastened so as not to swing, and shall not be covered by any material that obstructs its visibility.
(3) No person to whom a temporary motor vehicle license registration has been issued for the use of a motor vehicle under R.C. § 4503.182, and no operator of that motor vehicle, shall fail to display the temporary motor vehicle license registration in plain view from the rear of the vehicle either in the rear window or on an external rear surface of the motor vehicle.
(4) No person shall cover a temporary motor vehicle license registration by any material that obstructs its visibility.
(R.C. § 4503.21(A))
(b) Except as otherwise provided by R.C. § 4503.103, 4503.173, 4503.41, 4503.43, and 4503.46, no person who is the owner or chauffeur of a motor vehicle operated or driven upon the public roads or highways shall fail to file annually the application for registration or to pay the tax therefor.
(R.C. § 4503.11(A))
(c) (1) Within 30 days of becoming a resident of this state, any person who owns a motor vehicle operated or driven upon the public roads or highways shall register the vehicle in this state. If such a person fails to register a vehicle owned by the person, the person shall not operate any motor vehicle in this state under a license issued by another state.
(2) For purposes of division (c)(1) of this section, “resident” means any person to whom any of the following applies:
A. 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.
B. The person is determined by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to be a resident in accordance with standards adopted by the Registrar under R.C. § 4507.01.
(R.C. § 4503.111(A), (C))
(d) Upon the transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle, the registration of the motor vehicle expires, and the original owner immediately shall remove the license plates from the motor vehicle, except as otherwise provided in R.C. § 4503.12.
(R.C. § 4503.12(A))
(e) No person shall operate or drive upon the highways of this Municipality a motor vehicle acquired from a former owner who has registered the motor vehicle, while the motor vehicle displays the distinctive number or identification mark assigned to it upon its original registration.
(R.C. § 4549.11(A))
(f) No person who is the owner of a motor vehicle and a resident of this State shall operate or drive the motor vehicle upon the highways of this Municipality while it displays a distinctive number or identification mark issued by or under the authority of another state, without complying with the laws of this State relating to the registration and identification of motor vehicles.
(R.C. § 4549.12(A))
(g) No person shall park or operate any vehicle upon any public street or highway upon which are displayed any license plates for any period of time which has expired, or any license plates issued in another state for which the period of reciprocal agreement with the state of issue has expired.
(h) No person shall park or operate any vehicle upon any public street or highway upon which are displayed any license plates not legally registered and issued for such vehicle, or upon which are displayed any license plates that were issued on an application for registration that contains any false statement by the applicant.
(i) No person shall operate a motor vehicle, upon which license plates are required by law to be displayed, unless the license plates legally registered and issued for such vehicle are fastened in such a manner, and not covered, obscured or concealed by any part or accessory of such vehicle, to be readable in their entirety from left to right.
(j) (1) A. Whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
B. The offenses established under division (a) of this section are strict liability offenses and R.C. § 2901.20 does not apply. The designation of these offenses as strict liability offenses 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.
(R.C. § 4503.21(B), (C))
(2) Whoever violates division (b) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(R.C. § 4503.11(D))
(3) A. Whoever violates division (c) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
B. The offense established under division (j)(3)A. of this section is a strict liability offense and strict liability is a culpable mental state for purposes of 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.
(R.C. § 4503.111(B))
(4) Whoever violates division (d) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(5) Whoever violates division (e) of this section is guilty of operation of a motor vehicle bearing license plates or an identification mark issued to another, a minor misdemeanor on a first offense and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense.
(R.C. § 4549.11(B))
(6) Whoever violates division (f) of this section is guilty of illegal operation by a resident of this State of a motor vehicle bearing the distinctive number or identification mark issued by a foreign jurisdiction, a minor misdemeanor.
(R.C. § 4549.12(B))
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