General Offenses Code – Village of Bellaire Ordinances

PART FIVE – GENERAL OFFENSES CODE

Chap. 501. General Provisions and Penalty.
Chap. 505. Animals and Fowl.
Chap. 509. Disorderly Conduct and Peace Disturbance.
Chap. 513. Drug Abuse Control.
Chap. 517. Gambling.
Chap. 521. Health, Safety and Sanitation.
Chap. 525. Law Enforcement and Public Office.
Chap. 529. Liquor Control.
Chap. 533. Obscenity and Sex Offenses.
Chap. 535. Criminal Conduct in Sexually Oriented Business.
Chap. 537. Offenses Against Persons.
Chap. 541. Property Offenses.
Chap. 543. Trees, Weeds and Grass.
Chap. 545. Theft and Fraud.
Chap. 549. Weapons and Explosives.
Chap. 553. Railroads.

CHAPTER 501
General Provisions and Penalty

501.01 Definitions.
501.02 Classification of offenses.
501.03 Common law offenses abrogated.
501.04 Rules of construction.
501.05 Criminal law jurisdiction.
501.06 Limitation of criminal prosecution.
501.07 Requirements for criminal liability.
501.08 Culpable mental states.
501.09 Attempt.
501.10 Complicity.
501.11 Organizational criminal liability.
501.12 Personal accountability for organizational conduct.
501.13 Conspiracy.
501.99 Penalties for misdemeanors.

CROSS REFERENCES

See sectional histories for similar State law
Limitation of prosecution for income tax violations – see Ohio R.C. 718.06
Modification of sentence – see Ohio R.C. 2929.10(C), (D)
Penalty considerations – see Ohio R.C. 2929.22
Citation issuance for minor misdemeanors – see Ohio R.C. 2935.26 et seq.

501.01 DEFINITIONS.

As used in the Codified Ordinances:

(a) “Force” means any violence, compulsion or constraint physically exerted by any means upon or against a person or thing.

(b) “Deadly force” means any force that carries a substantial risk that it will proximately result in the death of any person.

(c) “Physical harm to persons” means any injury, illness or other physiological impairment, regardless of its gravity or duration.

(d) “Physical harm to property” means any tangible or intangible damage to property that, in any degree, results in loss to its value or interferes with its use or enjoyment. “Physical harm to property” does not include wear and tear occasioned by normal use.

(e) “Serious physical harm to persons” means any of the following:

(1) Any mental illness or condition of such gravity as would normally require hospitalization or prolonged psychiatric treatment;
(2) Any physical harm that carries a substantial risk of death;
(3) Any physical harm that involves some permanent incapacity, whether partial or total, or that involves some temporary, substantial incapacity;
(4) Any physical harm that involves some permanent disfigurement, or that involves some temporary, serious disfigurement;
(5) Any physical harm that involves acute pain of such duration as to result in substantial suffering, or that involves any degree of prolonged or intractable pain.

(f) “Serious physical harm to property” means any physical harm to property that does either of the following:

(1) Results in substantial loss to the value of the property, or requires a substantial amount of time, effort or money to repair or replace;
(2) Temporarily prevents the use or enjoyment of the property, or substantially interferes with its use and enjoyment for an extended period of time.

(g) “Risk” means a significant possibility, as contrasted with a remote possibility, that a certain result may occur or that certain circumstances may exist.

(h) “Substantial risk” means a strong possibility, as contrasted with a remote or significant possibility, that a certain result may occur or that certain circumstances may exist.

(i) “Offense of violence” means any of the following:

(1) A violation of Ohio R.C. 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.15, 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, 2905.01, 2905.02, 2905.11, 2905.32, 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.05, 2909.02, 2909.03, 2909.24, 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2917.01, 2917.02, 2917.03, 2917.31, 2919.25, 2921.03, 2921.04, 2921.34, 2923.161, 2911.12(A)(1) to (3) or 2919.22(B)(1) to (4), or felonious sexual penetration in violation of former Ohio R.C. 2907.12;
(2) A violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States, substantially equivalent to any section listed in subsection (i)(1) hereof;
(3) An offense, other than a traffic offense, under an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States, committed, purposely or knowingly, and involving physical harm to persons or a risk of serious physical harm to persons;
(4) A conspiracy or attempt to commit, or complicity in committing any offense under subsection (i)(1), (2) or (3) hereof.

(j) (1) “Property” means any property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, and any interest or license in that property. “Property” includes, but is not limited to, cable television service, other telecommunications service, telecommunications devices, information service, computers, data, computer software, financial instruments associated with computers, other documents associated with computers, or copies of the documents, whether in machine or human readable form, trade secrets, trademarks, copyrights, patents, and property protected by a trademark, copyright, or patent. “Financial instruments associated with computers” include, but are not limited to, checks, drafts, warrants, money orders, notes of indebtedness, certificates of deposit, letters of credit, bills of credit or debit cards, financial transaction authorization mechanisms, marketable securities, or any computer system representations of any of them.
(2) As used in this section, “trade secret” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 1333.61, and “telecommunications service” and “information service” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2913.01.
(3) As used in this section, “cable television service”, “computer”, “computer software”, “computer system”, “computer network”, “data”, and “telecommunications device” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2913.01.

(k) “Law enforcement officer” means any of the following:

(1) A sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable, police officer of a township or joint police district, marshal, deputy marshal, municipal police officer, member of a police force employed by a metropolitan housing authority under Ohio R.C. 3735.31(D) or State highway patrol trooper;
(2) An officer, agent or employee of the State or any of its agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions, upon whom, by statute, Charter or ordinance, a duty to conserve the peace or to enforce all or certain laws is imposed and the authority to arrest violators is conferred, within the limits of that statutory duty and authority;
(3) A mayor or manager in the mayor’s or manager’s capacity as chief conservator of the peace within the mayor’s or manager’s municipal corporation;
(4) A member of an auxiliary police force organized by county, township or municipal law enforcement authorities, within the scope of the member’s appointment or commission;
(5) A person lawfully called pursuant to Ohio R.C. 311.07 to aid a sheriff in keeping the peace, for the purposes and during the time when the person is called;
(6) A person appointed by a mayor pursuant to Ohio R.C. 737.01 as a special patrolling officer during riot or emergency, for the purposes and during the time when the person is appointed;
(7) A member of the organized militia of this State or the armed forces of the United States, lawfully called to duty to aid civil authorities in keeping the peace or protect against domestic violence;
(8) A prosecuting attorney, assistant prosecuting attorney, secret service officer or municipal prosecutor;
(9) A veterans’ home police officer appointed under Ohio R.C. 5907.02;
(10) A member of a police force employed by a regional transit authority under Ohio R.C. 306.35(Y);
(11) A special police officer employed by a port authority under Ohio R.C. 4582.04 or 4582.28;
(12) The Senate Sergeant of Arms and or Assistant Sergeant at Arms;
(13) A special police officer employed by a municipal corporation at a municipal airport, or other municipal air navigation facility, that has scheduled operations, as defined in Section 119.3 of Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations, 14 C.F.R. 119.3, as amended, and that is required to be under a security program and is governed by aviation security rules of the transportation security administration of the United States Department of Transportation as provided in Parts 1542 and 1544 of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, as amended.

(l) “Privilege” means an immunity, license or right conferred by law, or bestowed by express or implied grant, or arising out of status, position, office or relationship, or growing out of necessity.

(m) “Contraband” means any property that is illegal for a person to acquire or possess under a statute, ordinance, or rule, or that a trier of fact lawfully determines to be illegal to possess by reason of the property’s involvement in an offense. “Contraband” includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

(1) Any controlled substance, as defined in Ohio R.C. 3719.01, or any device, or paraphernalia;
(2) Any unlawful gambling device, or paraphernalia;
(3) Any dangerous ordnance or obscene material.

(n) A person is “not guilty by reason of insanity” relative to a charge of an offense only if the person proves, in the manner specified in Ohio R.C. 2901.05, that at the time of the commission of the offense, the person did not know, as a result of a severe mental disease or defect, the wrongfulness of the person’s acts.

(o) (1) A. Subject to subsection (o)(2) hereof, as used in any section contained in Part Five – General Offenses Code that sets forth a criminal offense, “person” includes all of the following:

An individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association;
An unborn human who is viable.

B. As used in any section contained in Part Five – General Offenses Code that does not set forth a criminal offense, “person” includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership and association.
C. As used in subsection (o)(1)A. hereof:

“Unborn human” means an individual organism of the species Homo sapiens from fertilization until live birth.
“Viable” means the stage of development of a human fetus at which there is a realistic possibility of maintaining and nourishing of a life outside the womb with or without temporary artificial life-sustaining support.

(2) Notwithstanding subsection (o)(1)A. hereof, in no case shall the portion of the definition of the term “person” that is set forth in subsection (o)(1)A.2. hereof be applied or construed in any section contained in Part Five – General Offenses Code that sets forth a criminal offense in any of the following manners:

A. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (o)(2)A. hereof, in a manner so that the offense prohibits or is construed as prohibiting any pregnant woman or her physician from performing an abortion with the consent of the pregnant woman, with the consent of the pregnant woman implied by law in a medical emergency, or with the approval of one otherwise authorized by law to consent to medical treatment on behalf of the pregnant woman. An abortion that violates the conditions described in the immediately preceding sentence may be punished as a violation of Ohio R.C. 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.05, 2903.06, 2903.08, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13, 2903.14, 2903.21, or 2903.22, as applicable. An abortion that does not violate the conditions described in the second immediately preceding sentence, but that does violate Ohio R.C. 2919.12, division (B) of Ohio R.C. 2919.13, or Ohio R.C. 2919.151, 2919.17 or 2919.18, may be punished as a violation of Ohio R.C. 2919.12, division (B) of Ohio R.C. 2919.13, or Ohio R.C. 2919.151, 2919.17 or 2919.18, as applicable. Consent is sufficient under this subsection if it is of the type otherwise adequate to permit medical treatment to the pregnant woman, even if it does not comply with Ohio R.C. 2919.12.
B. In a manner so that the offense is applied or is construed as applying to a woman based on an act or omission of the woman that occurs while she is or was pregnant and that results in any of the following:

Her delivery of a stillborn baby;
Her causing, in any other manner, the death in utero of a viable, unborn human that she is carrying;
Her causing the death of her child who is born alive but who dies from one or more injuries that are sustained while the child is a viable, unborn human;
Her causing her child who is born alive to sustain one or more injuries while the child is a viable, unborn human;
Her causing, threatening to cause, or attempting to cause, in any other manner, an injury, illness or other physiological impairment, regardless of its duration or gravity, or a mental illness or condition, regardless of its duration or gravity, to a viable, unborn human that she is carrying.

(p) “School safety zone” consists of a school, school building, school premises, school activity, and school bus.

(q) “School”, “school building” and “school premises” have the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2925.01.

(r) “School activity” means any activity held under the auspices of a board of education of a city, local, exempted village, joint vocational, or cooperative education school district; a governing authority of a community school established under Ohio R.C. Chapter 3314; a governing body of an educational service center; or the governing body of a nonpublic school for which the State Board of Education prescribes minimum standards under Ohio R.C. 3301.07.

(s) “School bus” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4511.01.
(ORC 2901.01)

501.02 CLASSIFICATION OF OFFENSES.

As used in the Codified Ordinances:

(a) Offenses include misdemeanors of the first, second, third and fourth degree, minor misdemeanors and offenses not specifically classified.

(b) Regardless of the penalty that may be imposed, any offense specifically classified as a misdemeanor is a misdemeanor.

(c) Any offense not specifically classified is a misdemeanor if imprisonment for not more than one year may be imposed as a penalty.
(d) Any offense not specifically classified is a minor misdemeanor if the only penalty that may be imposed is one of the following:

(1) For an offense committed prior to January 1, 2004, a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00);
(2) For an offense committed on or after January 1, 2004, a fine not exceeding one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00), community service under division (D) of Ohio R.C. 2929.27, or a financial sanction other than a fine under Ohio R.C. 2929.28.
(ORC 2901.02)

501.03 COMMON LAW OFFENSES ABROGATED.

(a) No conduct constitutes a criminal offense against the Municipality unless it is defined as an offense in the Codified Ordinances or any other Municipal ordinance.

(b) An offense is defined when one or more sections of the Codified Ordinances state a positive prohibition or enjoin a specific duty, and provide a penalty for violation of such prohibition or failure to meet such duty.

(c) This section does not affect the power of a court to punish for contempt or to employ any sanction authorized by law to enforce an order, civil judgment or decree.
(ORC 2901.03)

501.04 RULES OF CONSTRUCTION.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) hereof, sections of the Codified Ordinances defining offenses or penalties shall be strictly construed against the Municipality and liberally construed in favor of the accused.

(b) Rules of criminal procedure and sections of the Ohio Revised Code providing for criminal procedure shall be construed so as to effect the fair, impartial, speedy and sure administration of justice.

(c) Any provision of a section of the Codified Ordinances that refers to a previous conviction of or plea of guilty to a violation of a section of the Codified Ordinances or Ohio Revised Code or of a division of a section of the Codified Ordinances or Ohio Revised Code shall be construed to also refer to a previous conviction of or plea of guilty to a substantially equivalent offense under an existing or former law of this State, another state, or the United States or under an existing or former municipal ordinance.

(d) Any provision of the Codified Ordinances that refers to a section, or to a division of a section, of the Codified Ordinances that defines or specifies a criminal offense shall be construed to also refer to an existing or former law of this State, another state, or the United States, to an existing or former municipal ordinance, or to an existing or former division of any such existing or former law or ordinance that defines or specifies, or that defined or specified, a substantially equivalent offense. (ORC 2901.04)

501.05 CRIMINAL LAW JURISDICTION.

(a) A person is subject to misdemeanor prosecution and punishment in this Municipality if any of the following occur:

(1) The person commits an offense under the laws of this Municipality, any element of which takes place in this Municipality.
(2) While in this Municipality, the person attempts to commit, or is guilty of complicity in the commission of, an offense in another jurisdiction, which offense is an offense under both the laws of this Municipality or this State and the other jurisdiction, or, while in this Municipality, the person conspires to commit an offense in another jurisdiction, which offense is an offense under both the laws of this Municipality or this State and the other jurisdiction, and a substantial overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy is undertaken in this Municipality by the person or another person involved in the conspiracy, subsequent to the person’s entrance into the conspiracy. In any case in which a person attempts to commit, is guilty of complicity in the commission of, or conspires to commit an offense in another jurisdiction as described in this subsection, the person is subject to criminal prosecution and punishment in this Municipality for the attempt, complicity, or conspiracy, and for any resulting offense that is committed or completed in the other jurisdiction.
(3) While out of this Municipality, the person conspires or attempts to commit, or is guilty of complicity in the commission of, an offense in this Municipality.
(4) While out of this Municipality, the person omits to perform a legal duty imposed by the laws of this Municipality, which omission affects a legitimate interest of the Municipality in protecting, governing or regulating any person, property, thing, transaction or activity in this Municipality.
(5) While out of this Municipality, the person unlawfully takes or retains property and subsequently brings any of the unlawfully taken or retained property into this Municipality. 9 General Provisions and Penalty 501.06
(6) While out of this Municipality, the person unlawfully takes or entices another and subsequently brings the other person into this Municipality.
(7) The person, by means of a computer, computer system, computer network, telecommunication, telecommunications device, telecommunications service, or information service, causes or knowingly permits any writing, data, image, or other telecommunication to be disseminated or transmitted into this Municipality in violation of the law of this Municipality.

(b) This Municipality includes the land and water within its boundaries and the air space above such land and water, and real property outside the corporate limits, with respect to which this Municipality has either exclusive or concurrent legislative jurisdiction. Where the boundary between this Municipality and another jurisdiction is disputed, the disputed territory is conclusively presumed to be within this Municipality for purposes of this section.

(c) When an offense is committed under the laws of this Municipality, and it appears beyond a reasonable doubt that the offense or any element of the offense took place either in this Municipality or in another jurisdiction or jurisdictions, but it cannot reasonably be determined in which it took place, the offense or element is conclusively presumed to have taken place in this Municipality for purposes of this section.

(d) When a person is subject to criminal prosecution and punishment in this Municipality for an offense committed or completed outside of this Municipality, the person is subject to all specifications for that offense that would be applicable if the offense had been committed within this Municipality.

(e) Any act, conduct, or element that is a basis of a person being subject under this section to criminal prosecution and punishment in this Municipality need not be committed personally by the person as long as it is committed by another person who is in complicity or conspiracy with the person.

(f) This section shall be liberally construed, consistent with constitutional limitations, to allow this Municipality the broadest possible jurisdiction over offenses and persons committing offenses in, or affecting, this Municipality.

(g) For purposes of subsection (a)(2) of this section, an overt act is substantial when it is of a character that manifests a purpose on the part of the actor that the object of the conspiracy should be completed.

(h) As used in this section, “computer”, “computer system”, “computer network”, “information service”, “telecommunication”, “telecommunications device”, “telecommunications service”, “data”, and “writing” have the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2913.01. (ORC 2901.11)

501.06 LIMITATION OF CRIMINAL PROSECUTION.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a prosecution shall be barred unless it is commenced within the following periods after an offense is committed:

(1) For misdemeanor other than a minor misdemeanor, two years;
(2) For a minor misdemeanor, six months.

(b) If the period of limitation provided in subsection (a) hereof has expired, prosecution shall be commenced for an offense of which an element is fraud or breach of a fiduciary duty, within one year after discovery of the offense either by an aggrieved person, or by his legal representative who is not himself a party to the offense.

(c) (1) If the period of limitation provided in this section has expired, prosecution shall be commenced for the following offenses during the following specified periods of time:

A. For an offense involving misconduct in office by a public servant at any time while the accused remains a public servant, or within two years thereafter;
B. For an offense by a person who is not a public servant but whose offense is directly related to the misconduct in office of a public servant, at any time while that public servant remains a public servant, or within two years thereafter.

(2) As used in this subsection:

A. An “offense is directly related to the misconduct in office of a public servant” includes, but is not limited to, a violation of Ohio R.C. 101.71, 101.91, 121.61 or 2921.13, division (F) or (H) of Ohio R.C. 102.03, division (A) of Ohio R.C. 2921.02, division (A) or (B) of Ohio R.C. 2921.43, or division (F) or (G) of Ohio R.C. 3517.13, that is directly related to an offense involving misconduct in office of a public servant.
B. “Public servant” has the same meaning as in Section 525.01.

(d) An offense is committed when every element of the offense occurs. In the case of an offense of which an element is a continuing course of conduct, the period of limitation does not begin to run until such course of conduct or the accused’s accountability for it terminates, whichever occurs first.

(e) A prosecution is commenced on the date an indictment is returned or an information filed, or on the date a lawful arrest without a warrant is made, or on the date a warrant, summons, citation or other process is issued, whichever occurs first. A prosecution is not commenced by the return of an indictment or the filing of an information unless reasonable diligence is exercised to issue and execute process on the same. A prosecution is not commenced upon issuance of a warrant, summons, citation or other process, unless reasonable diligence is exercised to execute the same.

(f) The period of limitation shall not run during any time when the corpus delicti remains undiscovered.

(g) The period of limitation shall not run during any time when the accused purposely avoids prosecution. Proof that the accused absented himself from this Municipality or concealed his identity or whereabouts is prima-facie evidence of his purpose to avoid prosecution.

(h) The period of limitation shall not run during any time a prosecution against the accused based on the same conduct is pending in this State, even though the indictment, information or process that commenced the prosecution is quashed or the proceedings on the indictment, information or process are set aside or reversed on appeal.

(i) The period of limitation for a violation of any provision of this General Offenses Code that involves a physical or mental wound, injury, disability or condition of a nature that reasonably indicates abuse or neglect of a child under eighteen years of age or of a mentally retarded, developmentally disabled, or physically impaired child under twenty-one years of age shall not begin to run until either of the following occurs:

(1) The victim of the offense reaches the age of majority.
(2) A public children services agency, or a municipal or county peace officer that is not the parent or guardian of the child, in the county in which the child resides or in which the abuse or neglect is occurring or has occurred has been notified that abuse or neglect is known, suspected, or believed to have occurred. (ORC 2901.13)

(j) This section shall not apply to prosecutions commenced within the period of limitations set forth in Ohio R.C. 718.12(B) for violations of the Municipal income tax ordinance.

501.07 REQUIREMENTS FOR CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) hereof, a person is not guilty of an offense unless both of the following apply:

(1) The person’s liability is based on conduct that includes either a voluntary act, or an omission to perform an act or duty that the person is capable of performing;
(2) The person has the requisite degree of culpability for each element as to which a culpable mental state is specified by the language defining the offense.

(b) When the language defining an offense does not specify any degree of culpability, and plainly indicates a purpose to impose strict criminal liability for the conduct described in the section, then culpability is not required for a person to be guilty of the offense. The fact that one subsection of a section plainly indicates a purpose to impose strict liability for an offense defined in that subsection does not by itself plainly indicate a purpose to impose strict criminal liability for an offense defined in other subsections of the section that do not specify a degree of culpability.

(c) (1) When language defining an element of an offense that is related to knowledge or intent or to which mens rea could fairly be applied neither specifies culpability nor plainly indicates a purpose to impose strict liability, the element of the offense is established only if a person acts recklessly.
(2) Subsection (c)(1) of this section does not apply to offenses defined in the Traffic Code.
(3) Subsection (c)(1) of this section does not relieve the prosecution of the burden of proving the culpable mental state required by any definition incorporated into the offense.

(d) Voluntary intoxication may not be taken into consideration in determining the existence of a mental state that is an element of a criminal offense. Voluntary intoxication does not relieve a person of a duty to act if failure to act constitutes a criminal offense. Evidence that a person was voluntarily intoxicated may be admissible to show whether or not the person was physically capable of performing the act with which the person is charged.

(e) As used in this section:

(1) Possession is a voluntary act if the possessor knowingly procured or received the thing possessed, or was aware of the possessor’s control of the thing possessed for a sufficient time to have ended possession.
(2) Reflexes, convulsions, body movements during unconsciousness or sleep, and body movements that are not otherwise a product of the actor’s volition, are involuntary acts.
(3) “Culpability” means purpose, knowledge, recklessness or negligence, as defined in Section 501.08.
(4) “Intoxication” includes, but is not limited to, intoxication resulting from the ingestion of alcohol, a drug, or alcohol and a drug.
(ORC 2901.21)

501.08 CULPABLE MENTAL STATES.

(a) A person acts purposely when it is the person’s specific intention to cause a certain result, or when the gist of the offense is a prohibition against conduct of a certain nature, regardless of what the offender intends to accomplish thereby, it is the offender’s specific intention to engage in conduct of that nature.

(b) A person acts knowingly, regardless of purpose, when the person is aware that the person’s conduct will probably cause a certain result or will probably be of a certain nature. A person has knowledge of circumstances when the person is aware that such circumstances probably exist.

When knowledge of the existence of a particular fact is an element of an offense, such knowledge is established if a person subjectively believes that there is a high probability of its existence and fails to make inquiry or acts with a conscious purpose to avoid learning the fact.

(c) A person acts recklessly when, with heedless indifference to the consequences, the person perversely disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that the person’s conduct is likely to cause a certain result or is likely to be of a certain nature. A person is reckless with respect to circumstances when, with heedless indifference to the consequences, the person perversely disregards a substantial and unjustifiable risk that such circumstances are likely to exist.

(d) A person acts negligently when, because of a substantial lapse from due care, the person fails to perceive or avoid a risk that the person’s conduct may cause a certain result or may be of a certain nature. A person is negligent with respect to circumstances when, because of a substantial lapse from due care, the person fails to perceive or avoid a risk that such circumstances may exist.

(e) When the section defining an offense provides that negligence suffices to establish an element thereof, then recklessness, knowledge or purpose is also sufficient culpability for such element. When recklessness suffices to establish an element of an offense, then knowledge or purpose is also sufficient culpability for such element. When knowledge suffices to establish an element of an offense, then purpose is also sufficient culpability for such element.
(ORC 2901.22)

501.09 ATTEMPT.

(a) No person, purposely or knowingly, and when purpose or knowledge is sufficient culpability for the commission of an offense, shall engage in conduct that, if successful, would constitute or result in the offense.

(b) It is no defense to a charge under this section that, in retrospect, commission of the offense that was the object of the attempt was either factually or legally impossible under the attendant circumstances, if that offense could have been committed had the attendant circumstances been as the actor believed them to be.

(c) No person who is convicted of committing a specific offense or of complicity in the commission of an offense, shall be convicted of an attempt to commit the same offense in violation of this section.

(d) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that the actor abandoned the actor’s effort to commit the offense or otherwise prevented its commission, under circumstances manifesting a complete and voluntary renunciation of the actor’s criminal purpose.

(e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of an attempt to commit an offense. An attempt to commit a drug abuse offense for which the penalty is determined by the amount or number of unit doses of the controlled substance involved in the drug abuse offense is an offense of the same degree as the drug abuse offense attempted would be if that drug abuse offense had been committed and had involved an amount or number of unit doses of the controlled substance that is within the next lower range of controlled substance amounts than was involved in the attempt. An attempt to commit any other misdemeanor is a misdemeanor of the next lesser degree than the misdemeanor attempted. In the case of an attempt to commit an offense other than a violation of Ohio R.C. Chapter 3734 that is not specifically classified, an attempt is a misdemeanor of the first degree if the offense attempted is a felony under the Ohio Revised Code, and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree if the offense attempted is a misdemeanor. An attempt to commit a minor misdemeanor is not an offense under this section.

(f) As used in this section, “drug abuse offense” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2925.01. (ORC 2923.02)

501.10 COMPLICITY.

(a) No person, acting with the kind of culpability required for the commission of an offense, shall do any of the following:

(1) Solicit or procure another to commit the offense;
(2) Aid or abet another in committing the offense;
(3) Cause an innocent or irresponsible person to commit the offense.

(b) It is no defense to a charge under this section that no person with whom the accused was in complicity has been convicted as a principal offender.

(c) No person shall be convicted of complicity under this section unless an offense is actually committed, but a person may be convicted of complicity in an attempt to commit an offense in violation of Section 501.09.

(d) If an alleged accomplice of the defendant testifies against the defendant in a case in which the defendant is charged with complicity in the commission of or an attempt to commit an offense, an attempt to commit an offense or an offense, the court when it charges the jury, shall state substantially the following:

“The testimony of an accomplice does not become inadmissible because of his complicity, moral turpitude or self-interest, but the admitted or claimed complicity of a witness may affect his credibility and make his testimony subject to grave suspicion, and require that it be weighed with great caution.

“It is for you, as jurors, in the light of all the facts presented to you from the witness stand, to evaluate such testimony and to determine its quality and worth or its lack of quality and worth.”

(e) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that, prior to the commission of or attempt to commit the offense, the actor terminated his complicity, under circumstances manifesting a complete and voluntary renunciation of his criminal purpose.

(f) Whoever violates this section is guilty of complicity in the commission of an offense, and shall be prosecuted and punished as if he were a principal offender. A charge of complicity may be stated in terms of this section, or in terms of the principal offense.
(ORC 2923.03)

501.11 ORGANIZATIONAL CRIMINAL LIABILITY.

(a) An organization may be convicted of an offense under any of the following circumstances:

(1) The offense is a minor misdemeanor committed by an officer, agent or employee of the organization acting in its behalf and within the scope of the officer’s, agent’s or employee’s office or employment, except that if the section defining the offense designates the officers, agents or employees for whose conduct the organization is accountable or the circumstances under which it is accountable, those provisions shall apply.
(2) A purpose to impose organizational liability plainly appears in the section defining the offense, and the offense is committed by an officer, agent or employee of the organization acting in its behalf and within the scope of the officer’s, agent’s or employee’s office or employment, except that if the section defining the offense designates the officers, agents or employees for whose conduct the organization is accountable or the circumstances under which it is accountable, those provisions shall apply.
(3) The offense consists of an omission to discharge a specific duty imposed by law on the organization.
(4) If, acting with the kind of culpability otherwise required for the commission of the offense, its commission was authorized, requested, commanded, tolerated or performed by the board of directors, trustees, partners or by a high managerial officer, agent or employee acting in behalf of the organization and within the scope of such a board’s or person’s office or employment.

(b) If strict liability is imposed for the commission of an offense, a purpose to impose organizational liability shall be presumed, unless the contrary plainly appears.

(c) In a prosecution of an organization for an offense other than one for which strict liability is imposed, it is a defense that the high managerial officer, agent or employee having supervisory responsibility over the subject matter of the offense exercised due diligence to prevent its commission. This defense is not available if it plainly appears inconsistent with the purpose of the section defining the offense.

(d) As used in this section, “organization” means a corporation for profit or not for profit, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, unincorporated nonprofit association, estate, trust or other commercial or legal entity. “Organization” does not include an entity organized as or by a governmental agency for the execution of a governmental program. (ORC 2901.23)

501.12 PERSONAL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ORGANIZATIONAL CONDUCT.

(a) An officer, agent or employee of an organization as defined in Section 501.11 may be prosecuted for an offense committed by such organization, if he acts with the kind of culpability required for the commission of the offense, and any of the following apply:

(1) In the name of the organization or in its behalf, he engages in conduct constituting the offense, or causes another to engage in such conduct, or tolerates such conduct when it is of a type for which he has direct responsibility;
(2) He has primary responsibility to discharge a duty imposed on the organization by law, and such duty is not discharged.

(b) When a person is convicted of an offense by reason of this section, he is subject to the same penalty as if he had acted in his own behalf. (ORC 2901.24)

501.13 CONSPIRACY.

(a) No person, with purpose to commit or to promote or facilitate the commission of aggravated murder, murder, kidnapping, abduction, compelling prostitution, promoting prostitution, trafficking in persons, aggravated arson, arson, aggravated robbery, robbery, aggravated burglary, burglary, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, corrupting another with drugs, a felony drug trafficking, manufacturing, processing or possession offense, theft of drugs, or illegal processing of drug documents, the commission of a felony offense of unauthorized use of a vehicle, illegally transmitting multiple commercial electronic mail messages or unauthorized access of a computer in violation of Ohio R.C. 2923.421 or the commission of a violation of any provision of Ohio R.C. Chapter 3734, other than Ohio R.C. 3734.18, that relates to hazardous wastes, shall do either of the following:

(1) With another person or persons, plan or aid in planning the commission of any of the specified offenses;
(2) Agree with another person or persons that one or more of them will engage in conduct that facilitates the commission of any of the specified offenses.

(b) No person shall be convicted of conspiracy unless a substantial overt act in furtherance of the conspiracy is alleged and proved to have been done by the accused or a person with whom the accused conspired, subsequent to the accused’s entrance into the conspiracy. For purposes of this section, an overt act is substantial when it is of a character that manifests a purpose on the part of the actor that the object of the conspiracy should be completed.

(c) When the offender knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a person with whom the offender conspires also has conspired or is conspiring with another to commit the same offense, the offender is guilty of conspiring with that other person, even though the other person’s identity may be unknown to the offender.

(d) It is no defense to a charge under this section that, in retrospect, commission of the offense that was the object of the conspiracy was impossible under the circumstances.

(e) A conspiracy terminates when the offense or offenses that are its objects are committed or when it is abandoned by all conspirators. In the absence of abandonment, it is no defense to a charge under this section that no offense that was the object of the conspiracy was committed.

(f) A person who conspires to commit more than one offense is guilty of only one conspiracy, when the offenses are the object of the same agreement or continuous conspiratorial relationship.

(g) When a person is convicted of committing or attempting to commit a specific offense or of complicity in the commission of or attempt to commit the specific offense, the person shall not be convicted of conspiracy involving the same offense.

(h) (1) No person shall be convicted of conspiracy upon the testimony of a person with whom the defendant conspired, unsupported by other evidence.
(2) If a person with whom the defendant allegedly has conspired testifies against the defendant in a case in which the defendant is charged with conspiracy and if the testimony is supported by other evidence, the court, when it charges the jury, shall state substantially the following: “The testimony of an accomplice that is supported by other evidence does not become inadmissible because of the accomplice’s complicity, moral turpitude, or self-interest, but the admitted or claimed complicity of a witness may affect the witness’ credibility and make the witness’ testimony subject to grave suspicion, and requires that it be weighed with great caution.
It is for you, as jurors, in light of all the facts presented to you from the witness stand, to evaluate such testimony and to determine its quality and worth or its lack of quality and worth”.
(3) “Conspiracy”, as used in subsection (h)(1) of this section, does not include any conspiracy that results in an attempt to commit an offense or in the commission of an offense.

(i) The following are affirmative defenses to a charge of conspiracy:

(1) After conspiring to commit an offense, the actor thwarted the success of the conspiracy under circumstances manifesting a complete and voluntary renunciation of the actor’s criminal purpose.
(2) After conspiring to commit an offense, the actor abandoned the conspiracy prior to the commission of or attempt to commit any offense that was the object of the conspiracy, either by advising all other conspirators of the actor’s abandonment, or by informing any law enforcement authority of the existence of the conspiracy and of the actor’s participation in the conspiracy.

(j) Whoever violates this section is guilty of conspiracy, which is a misdemeanor of the first degree, when the most serious offense that is the object of the conspiracy is a felony of the fifth degree.

(k) This section does not define a separate conspiracy offense or penalty where conspiracy is defined as an offense by one or more sections of this Code, other than this section. In such a case, however:

(1) With respect to the offense specified as the object of the conspiracy in the other section or sections, subsection (a) hereof defines the voluntary act or acts and culpable mental state necessary to constitute the conspiracy;
(2) Subsections (b) to (i) hereof are incorporated by reference in the conspiracy offense defined by the other section or sections of this Code.

(l) (1) In addition to the penalties that otherwise are imposed for conspiracy, a person who is found guilty of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of corrupt activity is subject to divisions (B)(2) and (3) of Ohio R.C. 2923.32, division (A) of Ohio R.C. 2981.04 and division (D) of Ohio R.C. 2981.06.
(2) If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to conspiracy and if the most serious offense that is the object of the conspiracy is a felony drug trafficking, manufacturing, processing or possession offense, in addition to the penalties or sanctions that may be imposed for the conspiracy under subsection (j) hereof and Ohio R.C. Chapter 2929, both of the following apply:

A. The provisions of divisions (D), (F) and (G) of Ohio R.C. 2925.03, division (D) of Ohio R.C. 2925.04, division (D) of Ohio R.C. 2925.05, division (D) of Ohio R.C. 2925.06 and division (E) of Ohio R.C. 2925.11 that pertain to mandatory and additional fines, driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit suspensions, and professionally licensed persons and that would apply under the appropriate provisions of those divisions to a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to the felony drug trafficking, manufacturing, processing, or possession offense that is the most serious offense that is the basis of the conspiracy shall apply to the person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to the conspiracy as if the person had been convicted or pleaded guilty to the felony drug trafficking, manufacturing, processing or possession offense that is the most serious offense that is the basis of the conspiracy.
B. The court that imposes sentence upon the person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to the conspiracy shall comply with the provisions identified as being applicable under subsection (l)(2) of this section, in addition to any other penalty or sanction that it imposes for the conspiracy under subsection (j) of this section and Ohio R.C. Chapter 2929.

(m) As used in this section:

(1) “Felony drug trafficking, manufacturing, processing or possession offense” means any of the following that is a felony:

A. A violation of Ohio R.C. 2925.03, 2925.04, 2925.05, or 2925.06;
B. A violation of Ohio R.C. 2925.11 that is not a minor drug possession offense.

(2) “Minor drug possession offense” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2925.01. (ORC 2923.01)

501.99 PENALTIES FOR MISDEMEANORS.

(a) Financial Sanctions. In addition to imposing court costs pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2947.23, the court imposing a sentence upon an offender for a misdemeanor committed under the Codified Ordinances, including a minor misdemeanor, may sentence the offender to any financial sanction or combination of financial sanctions authorized under this section. If the court in its discretion imposes one or more financial sanctions, the financial sanctions that may be imposed pursuant to this section include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) Restitution. Unless the misdemeanor offense is a minor misdemeanor or could be disposed of by the traffic violations bureau serving the court under Traffic Rule 13, restitution by the offender to the victim of the offender’s crime or any survivor of the victim, in an amount based on the victim’s economic loss. The court may not impose restitution as a sanction pursuant to this section if the offense is a minor misdemeanor or could be disposed of by the traffic violations bureau serving the court under Traffic Rule 13. If the court requires restitution, the court shall order that the restitution be made to the victim in open court or to the adult probation department that serves the jurisdiction or the clerk of the court on behalf of the victim.
If the court imposes restitution, the court shall determine the amount of restitution to be paid by the offender. If the court imposes restitution, the court may base the amount of restitution it orders on an amount recommended by the victim, the offender, a presentence investigation report, estimates or receipts indicating the cost of repairing or replacing property, and other information, provided that the amount the court orders as restitution shall not exceed the amount of the economic loss suffered by the victim as a direct and proximate result of the commission of the offense. If the court decides to impose restitution, the court shall hold an evidentiary hearing on restitution if the offender, victim or survivor disputes the amount of restitution. If the court holds an evidentiary hearing, at the hearing the victim or survivor has the burden to prove by a preponderance of the evidence the amount of restitution sought from the offender. All restitution payments shall be credited against any recovery of economic loss in a civil action brought by the victim or any survivor of the victim against the offender. No person may introduce evidence of an award of restitution under this section in a civil action for purposes of imposing liability against an insurer under Ohio R.C. 3937.18. If the court imposes restitution, the court may order that the offender pay a surcharge, of not more than five per cent of the amount of the restitution otherwise ordered, to the entity responsible for collecting and processing restitution payments.
The victim or survivor may request that the prosecutor in the case file a motion, or the offender may file a motion, for modification of the payment terms of any restitution ordered. If the court grants the motion, it may modify the payment terms as it determines appropriate.
(2) Fines. A fine in the following amount:

A. For a misdemeanor of the first degree, not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000);
B. For a misdemeanor of the second degree, not more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00);
C. For a misdemeanor of the third degree, not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00);
D. For a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00);
E. For a minor misdemeanor, not more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).

(3) Reimbursement of costs of sanctions.

A. Reimbursement by the offender of any or all of the costs of sanctions incurred by the government, including, but not limited to, the following:

All or part of the costs of implementing any community control sanction, including a supervision fee under Ohio R.C. 2951.021;
All or part of the costs of confinement in a jail or other residential facility, including, but not limited to, a per diem fee for room and board, the costs of medical and dental treatment, and the costs of repairing property damaged by the offender while confined.

B. The amount of reimbursement ordered under subsection (a)(3)A. of this section shall not exceed the total amount of reimbursement the offender is able to pay and shall not exceed the actual cost of the sanctions. The court may collect any amount of reimbursement the offender is required to pay under that subsection. If the court does not order reimbursement under that subsection, confinement costs may be assessed pursuant to a repayment policy adopted under Ohio R.C. 2929.37. In addition, the offender may be required to pay the fees specified in Ohio R.C. 2929.38 in accordance with that section.
(ORC 2929.28)

(b) Jail Terms.

(1) Except as provided in Ohio R.C. 2929.22 or 2929.23 of the Revised Code, and unless another term is required or authorized pursuant to law, if the sentencing court imposing a sentence upon an offender for a misdemeanor elects or is required to impose a jail term on the offender pursuant to this General Offenses Code, the court shall impose a definite jail term that shall be one of the following:

A. For a misdemeanor of the first degree, not more than one hundred eighty days;
B. For a misdemeanor of the second degree, not more than ninety days;
C. For a misdemeanor of the third degree, not more than sixty days;
D. For a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, not more than thirty days.

(2) A. A court that sentences an offender to a jail term under this section may permit the offender to serve the sentence in intermittent confinement or may authorize a limited release of the offender as provided in Ohio R.C. 2929.26(B). The court retains jurisdiction over every offender sentenced to jail to modify the jail sentence imposed at any time, but the court shall not reduce any mandatory jail term.

B. 1. If a prosecutor, as defined in Ohio R.C. 2935.01, has filed a notice with the court that the prosecutor wants to be notified about a particular case and if the court is considering modifying the jail sentence of the offender in that case, the court shall notify the prosecutor that the court is considering modifying the jail sentence of the offender in that case. The prosecutor may request a hearing regarding the court’s consideration of modifying the jail sentence of the offender in that case, and, if the prosecutor requests a hearing, the court shall notify the eligible offender of the hearing.
2. If the prosecutor requests a hearing regarding the court’s consideration of modifying the jail sentence of the offender in that case, the court shall hold the hearing before considering whether or not to release the offender from the offender’s jail sentence.

(3) If a court sentences an offender to a jail term under this section and the court assigns the offender to a county jail that has established a county jail industry program pursuant to Ohio R.C. 5147.30, the court shall specify, as part of the sentence, whether the offender may be considered for participation in the program. During the offender’s term in the county jail, the court retains jurisdiction to modify its specification regarding the offender’s participation in the county jail industry program.
(4) If a person is sentenced to a jail term pursuant to this section, the court may impose as part of the sentence pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2929.28 a reimbursement sanction, and, if the local detention facility in which the term is to be served is covered by a policy adopted pursuant to Ohio R.C. 307.93, 341.14, 341.19, 341.21, 341.23, 753.02, 753.04, 753.16, 2301.56, or 2947.19 and Ohio R.C. 2929.37, both of the following apply:

A. The court shall specify both of the following as part of the sentence:

If the person is presented with an itemized bill pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2929.37 for payment of the costs of confinement, the person is required to pay the bill in accordance with that section.
If the person does not dispute the bill described in subsection (b)(4)A.1. of this section and does not pay the bill by the times specified in Ohio R.C. 2929.37, the clerk of the court may issue a certificate of judgment against the person as described in that section.

B. The sentence automatically includes any certificate of judgment issued as described in subsection (b)(4)A.2. of this section. (ORC 2929.24)

(c) Organizations. Regardless of the penalties provided in subsections (a) and (b) hereof, an organization convicted of an offense pursuant to Section 501.11 shall be fined, in accordance with this section. The court shall fix the fine as follows:

Type of Misdemeanor	Fine Maximum
First degree	$5000.00
Second degree	4000.00
Third degree	3000.00
Fourth degree	2000.00
Minor	1000.00
Misdemeanor not specifically classified	2000.00
Minor misdemeanor not specificially classified	1000.00

(1) When an organization is convicted of an offense that is not specifically classified, and the section defining the offense or penalty plainly indicates a purpose to impose the penalty provided for violation upon organizations, then the penalty so provided shall be imposed in lieu of the penalty provided in this subsection (c).
(2) When an organization is convicted of an offense that is not specifically classified, and the penalty provided includes a higher fine than the fine that is provided in this subsection (c), then the penalty imposed shall be pursuant to the penalty provided for the violation of the section defining the offense.
(3) This subsection (c) does not prevent the imposition of available civil sanctions against an organization convicted of an offense pursuant to Section 501.11, either in addition to or in lieu of a fine imposed pursuant to this subsection (c).
(ORC 2929.31)

CHAPTER 505
Animals and Fowl

505.001 Definitions.
505.01 Dogs and other animals running at large.
505.02 Impounding and disposition; records.
505.03 Annual registration of dogs; tags required.
505.04 Abandoning animals.
505.05 Killing or injuring animals.
505.06 Poisoning animals.
505.07 Cruelty to animals generally.
505.071 Cruelty to companion animals.
505.08 Nuisance conditions prohibited.
505.09 Barking or howling dogs.
505.10 Animal bites; reports and quarantine.
505.11 Hunting prohibited.
505.12 Coloring rabbits or baby poultry; sale or display of poultry.
505.13 Dangerous wild animals and restricted snakes.
505.14 Dangerous dogs.
505.15 Animal defecation.
505.99 Penalty.

CROSS REFERENCES

See sectional histories for similar State law
Owner or keeper liable for damages – see Ohio R.C 951.10
Dog registration – see Ohio R.C. 955.01

505.001 DEFINITIONS.

As used in this chapter unless otherwise specifically provided herein:

(a) (1) “Dangerous dog” means a dog that, without provocation, and subject to subsection (a)(2) hereof has done any of the following:

A. Caused injury, other than killing or serious injury, to any person;
B. Killed another dog;
C. Been the subject of a third or subsequent violation of Section 505.01(c).

(2) “Dangerous dog” does not include a police dog that has caused injury, other than killing or serious injury, to any person or has killed another dog while the police dog is being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties.

(b) “Menacing fashion” means that a dog would cause any person being chased or approached to reasonably believe that the dog will cause physical injury to that person.

(c) (1) Subject to subsection (c)(2) hereof, “nuisance dog” means a dog that without provocation and while off the premises of its owner, keeper or harborer has chased or approached a person in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack or has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger any person.
(2) “Nuisance dog” does not include a police dog that while being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of official duties has chased or approached a person in either a menacing fashion or an apparent attitude of attack or has attempted to bite or otherwise endanger any person.

(d) “Police dog” means a dog that has been trained, and may be used, to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties.

(e) “Serious injury” means any of the following:

(1) Any physical harm that carries a substantial risk of death;
(2) Any physical harm that involves a permanent incapacity, whether partial or total, or a temporary, substantial incapacity;
(3) Any physical harm that involves a permanent disfigurement or a temporary, serious disfigurement;
(4) Any physical harm that involves acute pain of a duration that results in substantial suffering or any degree of prolonged or intractable pain.

(f) (1) “Vicious dog” means a dog that, without provocation and subject to subsection (f)(2) hereof has killed or caused serious injury to any person.
(2) “Vicious dog” does not include either of the following:

A. A police dog that has killed or caused serious injury to any person while the police dog is being used to assist one or more law enforcement officers in the performance of their official duties;
B. A dog that has killed or caused serious injury to any person while a person was committing or attempting to commit a trespass or other criminal offense on the property of the owner, keeper or harborer of the dog.

(g) “Without provocation” means that a dog was not teased, tormented or abused by a person, or that the dog was not coming to the aid or the defense of a person who was not engaged in illegal or criminal activity and who was not using the dog as a means of carrying out such activity. (ORC 955.11)

505.01 DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS RUNNING AT LARGE.

(a) No person being the owner or having charge of cattle, horses, swine, sheep, geese, ducks, goats, turkeys, chickens or other fowl or animals shall permit them to run at large upon any public place, or upon any unenclosed lands or upon the premises of another.
(ORC 951.02)

(b) No owner, keeper or harborer of any female dog shall permit it to go beyond the premises of the owner, keeper or harborer at any time the dog is in heat, unless the dog is properly in leash.

(1) Keep the dog physically confined or restrained upon the premises of the owner, keeper, or harborer by a leash, tether, adequate fence, supervision, or secure enclosure to prevent escape.
(2) Keep the dog under the reasonable control of some person.
(ORC 955.22)

(d) The running at large of any such animal in or upon any of the places mentioned in this section is prima-facie evidence that it is running at large in violation of this section.
(ORC 951.02)

(e) (1) Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. (ORC 951.99)
(2) A. Whoever violates subsection (b) hereof is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for each subsequent offense.

B. In addition to the penalties prescribed in subsection (e)(2)A. hereof, if the offender is guilty of a violation of subsection (b) hereof, the court may order the offender to personally supervise the dog that the offender owns, keeps or harbors, to cause that dog to complete dog obedience training, or to do both.

(3) A. 1. Whoever violates subsection (c) hereof that involves a dog that is not a nuisance dog, dangerous dog or vicious dog is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for each subsequent offense.
2. In addition to the penalties prescribed above, if the offender is guilty of a violation of subsection (c) hereof, that involves a dog that is not a nuisance dog, dangerous dog or vicious dog, the court may order the offender to personally supervise the dog that the offender owns, keeps or harbors, to cause that dog to complete dog obedience training, or to do both.

B. 1. Whoever commits a violation of subsection (c) hereof, that involves a nuisance dog is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on the first offense and of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on each subsequent offense involving the same dog. Upon a person being convicted of or pleading guilty to a third violation of subsection (c) hereof, involving the same dog, the court shall require the offender to register the involved dog as a dangerous dog.
2. In addition to the penalties prescribed above, if a violation of subsection (c) hereof involves a nuisance dog, the court may order the offender to personally supervise the nuisance dog that the offender owns, keeps or harbors, to cause that dog to complete obedience training, or to do both.

C. Whoever commits a violation of subsection (c) hereof that involves a dangerous dog, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the third degree on each subsequent offense. Additionally, the court may order the offender to personally supervise the dangerous dog that the offender owns, keeps or harbors, to cause that dog to complete dog obedience training, or to do both, and the court may order the offender to obtain liability insurance pursuant to division (E) of Ohio R.C. 955.22. The court, in the alternative, may order the dangerous dog to be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian, the County Dog Warden, or the County Humane Society at the owner’s expense. With respect to a violation of subsection (c) hereof that involves a dangerous dog, until the court makes a final determination and during the pendency of any appeal of a violation of that division and at the discretion of the Dog Warden, the dog shall be confined or restrained in accordance with division (D) of Ohio R.C. 955.22 or at the County Dog Pound at the owner’s expense.

D. 1. Whoever commits a violation of subsection (c) hereof that involves a vicious dog is guilty of one or the following:

a. A felony, if the dog kills a person, and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. Additionally, the court shall order that the vicious dog be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian, the County Dog Warden or the County Humane Society at the owner’s expense.
b. A misdemeanor of the first degree if the dog causes serious injury to a person. Additionally, the court may order the vicious dog to be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian, the County Dog Warden, or the County Humane Society;

If the court does not order the vicious dog to be destroyed under subsection (e)(3)D.1.b. hereof, the court shall issue an order that specifies that division (D) of Ohio R.C. 955.11 and divisions (D) to (I) of Ohio R.C. 955.22 apply with respect to the dog and the owner, keeper or harborer of the dog as if the dog were a dangerous dog and that Ohio R.C. 955.54 applies with respect to the dog as if it were a dangerous dog. As part of the order, the court shall order the offender to obtain the liability insurance required under division (E)(1) of Ohio R.C. 955.22 in an amount, exclusive of interest and costs, that equals or exceeds one hundred thousand dollars. Until the court makes a final determination and during the pendency of any appeal of a violation of subsection (c) hereof and at the discretion of the Dog Warden, the dog shall be confined or restrained in accordance with the provisions described in division (D) of Ohio R.C. 955.22 or at the County Dog Pound at the owner’s expense.
(ORC 955.99)

505.02 IMPOUNDING AND DISPOSITION; RECORDS.

(a) A police officer or animal warden may impound every animal or dog found in violation of Section 505.01. If the dog is not wearing a valid registration tag and the owner is not otherwise reasonably determined, notice shall be posted in the pound or animal shelter both describing the dog and place where seized and advising the unknown owner that unless the dog is redeemed within three days, it may thereafter be sold or destroyed according to law. If the dog is wearing a valid registration tag or the identity of the owner, keeper or harborer is otherwise reasonably determined, notice shall be given by certified mail to such owner, keeper or harborer that the dog has been impounded and unless redeemed within fourteen days of the date of notice, it may thereafter be sold or destroyed according to law. Any dog seized and impounded may be redeemed by its owner, keeper or harborer at any time prior to the applicable redemption period upon payment of all lawful costs assessed against the animal and upon providing the dog with a valid registration tag if it has none.

(b) A record of all dogs impounded, the disposition of the same, the owner’s name and address where known, and a statement of any costs assessed against the dog shall be kept by any poundkeeper.

505.03 ANNUAL REGISTRATION OF DOGS; TAGS REQUIRED.

(a) Except for guide dogs registered under Ohio R.C. 955.011 and dogs kept by an institution or organization for teaching and research purposes under Ohio R.C. 955.16, no person shall own, keep or harbor a dog more than three months of age without annually registering such dog with the County Auditor. Failure of any dog at any time to wear a valid registration tag shall be prima-facie evidence of lack of registration and subject such dog to impounding and disposition as provided by Ohio R.C. 955.16.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and a misdemeanor of the fourth degree for each subsequent offense. (ORC 955.99)

505.04 ABANDONING ANIMALS.

(a) No owner or keeper of a dog, cat or other domestic animal shall abandon such animal.
(ORC 959.01)

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree on a first offense and a misdemeanor of the first degree on each subsequent offense.
(ORC 959.99)

505.05 KILLING OR INJURING ANIMALS.

(a) No person shall maliciously, or willfully, and without the consent of the owner, kill or injure a farm animal, dog, cat or other domestic animal that is the property of another. This section does not apply to a licensed veterinarian acting in an official capacity, or to trespassing animals as set forth in Ohio R.C. 959.04.
(ORC 959.02)

(b) Except as otherwise provided herein, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the value of the animal killed or the injury done amounts to three hundred dollars ($300.00) or more, such person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 959.99)

505.06 POISONING ANIMALS.

(a) No person shall maliciously, or willfully and without the consent of the owner, administer poison, except a licensed veterinarian acting in such capacity, to a farm animal, dog, cat, poultry or other domestic animal that is the property of another; and no person shall, willfully and without the consent of the owner, place any poisoned food where it may be easily found and eaten by any of such animals, either upon his own lands or the lands of another. This section does not apply to trespassing animals as set forth in Ohio R.C. 959.04.
(ORC 959.03)

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(ORC 959.99)

505.07 CRUELTY TO ANIMALS GENERALLY.

(a) No person shall:

(1) Torture an animal, deprive one of necessary sustenance, unnecessarily or cruelly beat, needlessly mutilate or kill, or impound or confine an animal without supplying it during such confinement with a sufficient quantity of good wholesome food and water;
(2) Impound or confine an animal without affording it, during such confinement, access to shelter from wind, rain, snow or excessive direct sunlight if it can reasonably be expected that the animal would otherwise become sick or in some other way suffer. This subsection (a)(2) does not apply to animals impounded or confined prior to slaughter. For the purpose of this section, “shelter” means a man-made enclosure, windbreak, sunshade or natural windbreak or sunshade that is developed from the earth’s contour, tree development or vegetation;
(3) Carry or convey an animal in a cruel or inhuman manner;
(4) Keep animals other than cattle, poultry or fowl, swine, sheep or goats in an enclosure without wholesome exercise and change of air, nor feed cows on food that produces impure or unwholesome milk;
(5) Detain livestock in railroad cars or compartments longer than twenty-eight hours after they are so placed without supplying them with necessary food, water and attention, nor permit such livestock to be so crowded as to overlie, crush, wound or kill each other.

(b) Upon the written request of the owner or person in custody of any particular shipment of livestock, which written request shall be separate and apart from any printed bill of lading or other railroad form, the length of time in which such livestock may be detained in any cars or compartments without food, water and attention, may be extended to thirty-six hours without penalty therefor. This section does not prevent the dehorning of cattle. (ORC 959.13)

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree. In addition, the court may order the offender to forfeit the animal or livestock and may provide for its disposition including, but not limited to, the sale of the animal or livestock. If an animal or livestock is forfeited and sold pursuant to this subsection, the proceeds from the sale first shall be applied to pay the expenses incurred with regard to the care of the animal from the time it was taken from the custody of the former owner. The balance of the proceeds from the sale, if any, shall be paid to the former owner of the animal. (ORC 959.99)

505.071 CRUELTY TO COMPANION ANIMALS.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Companion animal” means any animal that is kept inside a residential dwelling and any dog or cat regardless of where it is kept. “Companion animal” does not include livestock or any wild animal.
(2) “Cruelty”, “torment” and “torture” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 1717.01.
(3) “Residential dwelling” means a structure or shelter or the portion of a structure or shelter that is used by one or more humans for the purpose of a habitation.
(4) “Practice of veterinary medicine” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4741.01.
(5) “Wild animal” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 1531.01.
(6) “Federal animal welfare act” means the “Laboratory Animal Act of 1966”, Pub. L. No. 89-544, 80 Stat. 350 (1966), 7 U.S.C.A. 2131 et seq., as amended by the “Animal Welfare Act of 1970”, Pub. L. No. 91-579, 84 Stat. 1560 (1970), the “Animal Welfare Act Amendments of 1976”, Pub. L. No. 94-279, 90 Stat. 417 (1976), and the “Food Security Act of 1985”, Pub. L. No. 99-198, 99 Stat. 1354 (1985), and as it may be subsequently amended.
(7) “Dog kennel” means an animal rescue for dogs that is registered under Ohio R.C. 956.06, a boarding kennel or a training kennel.

(b) No person shall knowingly torture, torment, needlessly mutilate or maim, cruelly beat, poison, needlessly kill, or commit an act of cruelty against a companion animal.

(c) No person who confines or who is the custodian or caretaker of a companion animal shall negligently do any of the following:

(1) Commit any act by which unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering is caused, permitted or allowed to continue, when there is a reasonable remedy or relief, against the companion animal;
(2) Omit any act of care by which unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering is caused, permitted or allowed to continue, when there is a reasonable remedy or relief, against the companion animal;
(3) Commit any act of neglect by which unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering is caused, permitted or allowed to continue, when there is a reasonable remedy or relief, against the companion animal;
(4) Needlessly kill the companion animal;
(5) Deprive the companion animal of necessary sustenance, confine the companion animal without supplying it during the confinement with sufficient quantities of good, wholesome food and water, or impound or confine the companion animal without affording it, during the impoundment or confinement, with access to shelter from heat, cold, wind, rain, snow, or excessive direct sunlight, if it can reasonably be expected that the companion animal would become sick or suffer in any other way as a result of or due to the deprivation, confinement, or impoundment in any of those specified manners.

(d) No owner, manager, or employee of a dog kennel who confines or is the custodian or caretaker of a companion animal shall negligently do any of the following:

(1) Commit any act by which unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering is caused, permitted or allowed to continue, when there is a reasonable remedy or relief, against the companion animal;
(2) Omit any act of care by which unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering is caused, permitted, or allowed to continue, when there is a reasonable relief, against the companion animal;
(3) Commit any act of neglect by which unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering is caused, permitted or allowed to continue, when there is a reasonable remedy or relief, against the companion animal;
(4) Needlessly kill the companion animal;
(5) Deprive the companion animal of necessary sustenance, confine the companion animal without supplying it during the confinement with sufficient quantities of good, wholesome food and water, or impound or confine the companion animal without affording it, during the impoundment or confinement, with access to shelter from heat, cold, wind, rain, snow or excessive direct sunlight if it can reasonably be expected that the companion animal would become sick or suffer in any other way as a result of or due to the deprivation, confinement, or impoundment or confinement in any of those specified manners.

(e) Subsections (b), (c) and (d) of this section do not apply to any of the following:

(1) A companion animal used in scientific research conducted by an institution in accordance with the federal animal welfare act and related regulations;
(2) The lawful practice of veterinary medicine by a person who has been issued a license, temporary permit, or registration certificate to do so under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4741;
(3) Dogs being used or intended for use for hunting or field trial purposes, provided that the dogs are being treated in accordance with usual and
commonly accepted practices for the care of hunting dogs;
(4) The use of common training devices, if the companion animal is being treated in accordance with usual and commonly accepted practices for the training of animals;
(5) The administering of medicine to a companion animal that was properly prescribed by a person who has been issued a license, temporary permit, or registration certificate under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4741.
(ORC 959.131)

(f) (1) Whoever violates subsection (b) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree on a first offense. On each subsequent offense such person is guilty of a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(2) Whoever violates subsection (c) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree on a first offense and a misdemeanor of the first degree on each subsequent offense.
(3) Whoever violates subsection (d) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(4) A. A court may order a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section to forfeit to an impounding agency, as defined in Ohio R.C. 959.132, any or all of the companion animals in that person’s ownership or care. The court also may prohibit or place limitations on the person’s ability to own or care for any companion animals for a specified or indefinite period of time.
B. A court may order a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section to reimburse an impounding agency for the reasonably necessary costs incurred by the agency for the care of a companion animal that the agency impounded as a result of the investigation or prosecution of the violation, provided that the costs were not otherwise paid under Ohio R.C. 959.132.

(5) If a court has reason to believe that a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section suffers from a mental or emotional disorder that contributed to the violation, the court may impose as a community control sanction or as a condition of probation a requirement that the offender undergo psychological evaluation or counseling. The court shall order the offender to pay the costs of the evaluation or counseling. (ORC 959.99)

505.08 NUISANCE CONDITIONS PROHIBITED.

(a) No person shall keep or harbor any animal or fowl in the Municipality so as to create noxious, or offensive odors or unsanitary conditions which are a menace to the health, comfort or safety of the public.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

505.09 BARKING OR HOWLING DOGS.

(a) No person shall keep or harbor any dog within the Municipality which, by frequent and habitual barking, howling or yelping, creates unreasonably loud and disturbing noises of such a character, intensity and duration as to disturb the peace, quiet and good order of the Municipality. Any person who shall allow any dog habitually to remain, be lodged or fed within any dwelling, building, yard or enclosure, which he occupies or owns, shall be considered as harboring such dog.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

505.10 ANIMAL BITES; REPORTS AND QUARANTINE.

(a) Whenever any person is bitten by a dog or other animal, report of such bite shall be made to the Health Commissioner within twenty-four hours. Whenever it is reported to the Health Commissioner that any dog or cat has bitten a person, that dog or cat shall be quarantined under an order issued by the Health Commissioner. The dog or cat shall be quarantined by its owner or by a harborer, or shall be quarantined in a pound or kennel. In all cases, such quarantine shall be under the supervision of the Health Commissioner and shall be at the expense of the owner or harborer. Quarantine shall continue until the Health Commissioner determines that the dog or cat is not afflicted with rabies. The quarantine period hereby required shall not be less than ten days from the date on which the person was bitten. If at any time during the quarantine, the Health Commissioner requires the dog or cat to be examined for symptoms of rabies, then the examination shall be by a licensed doctor of veterinary medicine. The veterinarian shall report to the Health Commissioner the conclusions reached as a result of the examinations. The examination by a veterinarian shall be at the expense of the owner or harborer. No dog or cat shall be released from the required quarantine unless and until it has been properly vaccinated against rabies.

No person shall fail to comply with the requirements of this section or with any order of the Health Commissioner made pursuant thereto, nor fail to immediately report to the Health Commissioner any symptoms or behavior suggestive of rabies.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

505.11 HUNTING PROHIBITED.

(a) No person shall hunt, kill or attempt to kill any animal or fowl by the use of firearms, bow and arrow, air rifle or any other means within the corporate limits of the Municipality.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

505.12 COLORING RABBITS OR BABY POULTRY; SALE OR DISPLAY OF POULTRY.

(a) No person shall dye or otherwise color any rabbit or baby poultry, including, but not limited to, chicks and ducklings. No person shall sell, offer for sale, expose for sale, raffle or give away any rabbit or poultry which has been dyed or otherwise colored. No poultry younger than four weeks of age may be sold, given away or otherwise distributed to any person in lots of less than six. Stores, shops, vendors and others offering young poultry for sale or other distribution shall provide and operate brooders or other heating devices that may be necessary to maintain poultry in good health, and shall keep adequate food and water available to the poultry at all times. (ORC 925.62)

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

505.13 DANGEROUS WILD ANIMALS AND RESTRICTED SNAKES.

(a) For purposes of this section, “dangerous wild animal” and “restricted snake” have the same meanings as set forth in Ohio R.C. 935.01.

(b) (1) Except for a restricted snake specified in Ohio R.C. 935.01(L)(1), no person shall sell or offer for sale at auction a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake.
(2) Except for a microchip removed for purposes of a medical emergency by a veterinarian that is qualified to provide veterinary care to the dangerous wild animal, no person shall knowingly remove a microchip that is implanted in a dangerous wild animal as required in Ohio R.C. 935.04.
(3) No person that possesses a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake shall fail to post and display any of the following:

A. On each cage in which a dangerous wild animal is confined, signs warning the public that a dangerous wild animal is confined in the cage;
B. At each entrance to the property where a dangerous wild animal is confined, a sign warning the public that a dangerous wild animal is on the property;
C. On each container in which a restricted snake is confined, a sign warning the public that a restricted snake is in the container;
D. At the main entrance to each structure where a restricted snake is confined, a sign warning the public that a restricted snake is in the structure;
E. On a vehicle that is used to transport a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake, a sign warning that a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake, as applicable, is in the vehicle.
The signs shall comply with standards established in rules adopted by the State Director of Agriculture.

(4) No person shall allow a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake to roam off the property where it is confined.
(5) No person shall remove any teeth or claws from a dangerous wild animal or restricted snake, as applicable, unless determined to be medically necessary by a veterinarian. (ORC 935.18)

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree on the first offense. On a second or subsequent offense, such person is guilty of a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. (ORC 935.99)

505.14 DANGEROUS DOGS.

(a) Except when a dangerous dog is lawfully engaged in hunting or training for the purpose of hunting and is accompanied by the owner, keeper, harborer, or handler of the dog, no owner, keeper, or harborer of a dangerous dog shall fail to do either of the following:

(1) While that dog is on the premises of the owner, keeper or harborer, securely confine it at all times in a building, in a locked pen that has a top, locked fenced yard or other locked enclosure that has a top;
(2) While that dog is off the premises of the owner, keeper or harborer, keep that dog on a chain-link leash or tether that is not more than six feet in length and additionally do at least one of the following:

A. Keep that dog in a locked pen that has a top, locked fenced yard or other locked enclosure that has a top;
B. Have the leash or tether controlled by a person who is of suitable age and discretion or securely attach, tie or affix the leash or tether to the ground or stationary object or fixture so that the dog is adequately restrained and station such a person in close enough proximity to that dog so as to prevent it from causing injury to any person;
C. Muzzle that dog.

(b) No owner, keeper or harborer of a dangerous dog shall fail to do the following:

(1) Obtain liability insurance with an insurer authorized to write liability insurance in this State providing coverage in each occurrence because of damage or bodily injury to or death of a person caused by the dangerous dog if so ordered by a court and provide proof of that liability insurance upon request to any law enforcement officer, County Dog Warden, or public health official charged with enforcing this section;
(2) Obtain a dangerous dog registration certificate from the County Auditor pursuant to Ohio R.C. 955.22(I), affix a tag that identifies the dog as a dangerous dog to the dog’s collar, and ensure that the dog wears the collar and tag at all times;
(3) Notify the local Dog Warden immediately if any of the following occurs:

A. The dog is loose or unconfined.
B. The dog bites a person, unless the dog is on the property of the owner of the dog, and the person who is bitten is unlawfully trespassing or committing a criminal act within the boundaries of that property.
C. The dog attacks another animal while the dog is off the property of the owner of the dog.

(4) If the dog is sold, given to another person, or dies, notify the County Auditor within ten days of the sale, transfer or death.
(ORC 955.22)

(c) Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on a first offense and of a misdemeanor of the third degree on each subsequent offense. Additionally, the court may order the offender to personally supervise the dangerous dog that the offender owns, keeps or harbors, to cause that dog to complete dog obedience training, or to do both, and the court may order the offender to obtain liability insurance pursuant to subsection (b) hereof. The court, in the alternative, may order the dangerous dog to be humanely destroyed by a licensed veterinarian, the Dog Warden or the humane society at the owner’s expense.

(d) (1) Whoever violates subsection (b)(2) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(2) Whoever violates subsections (b)(1), (3) or (4) hereof is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. (ORC 955.99)

505.15 ANIMAL DEFECATION.

(a) No person owning, harboring, keeping or in charge of any dog, cat or other animal, shall cause, suffer or allow such dog, cat or other animal, to soil, defile, defecate on or commit any nuisance on any private property without the permission of the owner of such property, or upon any public property whatsoever.

The restriction in this section shall not apply to streets or alleys, which shall be used to curb such dog, cat or other animal, under the following conditions:

(1) The person who so curbs such dog, cat or other animal shall immediately remove all feces deposited by such animal in a sanitary manner.
(2) The feces removed from the aforementioned designated area shall be disposed of by the person owning, harboring, keeping or in charge of the dog, cat or other animal, in a sanitary manner.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(Ord. 955. Passed 1-17-80.)

505.99 PENALTY.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor
classification.)

CHAPTER 509
Disorderly Conduct and Peace Disturbance

509.01 Riot.
509.011 Inciting to violence.
509.02 Failure to disperse.
509.03 Disorderly conduct; intoxication.
509.04 Disturbing a lawful meeting.
509.05 Misconduct at an emergency.
509.06 Inducing panic.
509.07 Making false alarms.
505.08 Minor’s curfew.
505.09 Parks and public grounds curfew.
505.10 Selling or furnishing or possession of by minors aerosol containers of paint.
505.99 Penalty.

CROSS REFERENCES

See sectional histories for similar State law
Use of force to suppress riot – see Ohio R.C. 2917.05
Cordoning off riot areas, prohibiting sales of firearms and explosives – see Ohio R.C. 3761.16
Emergency suspension of permits and sales by Director of Liquor Control – see Ohio R.C 4301.251
Criminal trespass – see GEN. OFF. 541.05

509.01 RIOT.

(a) No person shall participate with four or more others in a course of disorderly conduct in violation of Section 509.03:

(1) With purpose to commit or facilitate the commission of a misdemeanor, other than disorderly conduct;
(2) With purpose to intimidate a public official or employee into taking or refraining from official action, or with purpose to hinder, impede or obstruct a function of government;
(3) With purpose to hinder, impede or obstruct the orderly process of administration or instruction at an educational institution, or to interfere with or disrupt lawful activities carried on at such institution.

(b) No person shall participate with four or more others with purpose to do an act with unlawful force or violence, even though such act might otherwise be lawful.

509.011 INCITING TO VIOLENCE.

(a) No person shall knowingly engage in conduct designed to urge or incite another to commit any offense of violence, when either of the following apply:

(1) The conduct takes place under circumstances that create a clear and present danger that any offense of violence will be committed;
(2) The conduct proximately results in the commission of any offense of violence.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of inciting to violence. If the offense of violence that the other person is being urged or incited to commit is a misdemeanor, inciting to violence is a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 2917.01)

509.02 FAILURE TO DISPERSE.

(a) Where five or more persons are participating in a course of disorderly conduct in violation of Section 509.03, and there are other persons in the vicinity whose presence creates the likelihood of physical harm to persons or property or of serious public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm, a law enforcement officer or other public official may order the participants and such other persons to disperse. No person shall knowingly fail to obey such order.

(b) Nothing in this section requires persons to disperse who are peaceably assembled for a lawful purpose.

(c) (1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to disperse.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c)(3) hereof, failure to disperse is a minor misdemeanor.
(3) Failure to disperse is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree if the failure to obey the order described in subsection (a) hereof, creates the likelihood of physical harm to persons or is committed at the scene of a fire, accident, disaster, riot, or emergency of any kind. (ORC 2917.04)

509.03 DISORDERLY CONDUCT; INTOXICATION.

(a) No person shall recklessly cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm to another by doing any of the following:

(1) Engaging in fighting, in threatening harm to persons or property, or in violent or turbulent behavior;
(2) Making unreasonable noise or offensively coarse utterance, gesture or display, or communicating unwarranted and grossly abusive language to any person, which by its very utterance or usage inflicts injury or tends to incite an immediate breach of the peace;
(3) Insulting, taunting or challenging another, under circumstances in which that conduct is likely to provoke a violent response;
(4) Hindering or preventing the movement of persons on a public street, road, highway or right of way, or to, from, within or upon public or private property, so as to interfere with the rights of others, and by any act that serves no lawful and reasonable purpose of the offender;
(5) Creating a condition that is physically offensive to persons or that presents a risk of physical harm to persons or property, by any act that serves no lawful and reasonable purpose of the offender.

(b) No person, while voluntarily intoxicated shall do either of the following:

(1) In a public place or in the presence of two or more persons, engage in conduct likely to be offensive or to cause inconvenience, annoyance or alarm to persons of ordinary sensibilities, which conduct the offender, if the offender were not intoxicated, should know is likely to have that effect on others;
(2) Engage in conduct or create a condition that presents a risk of physical harm to the offender or another, or to the property of another.

(c) Violation of any statute or ordinance of which an element is operating a motor vehicle, locomotive, watercraft, aircraft or other vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or any drug of abuse, is not a violation of subsection (b) hereof.

(d) If a person appears to an ordinary observer to be intoxicated, it is probable cause to believe that person is voluntarily intoxicated for purposes of subsection (b) hereof.

(e) (1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of disorderly conduct.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (e)(3), disorderly conduct is a minor misdemeanor.
(3) Disorderly conduct is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree if any of the following applies:

A. The offender persists in disorderly conduct after reasonable warning or request to desist.
B. The offense is committed in the vicinity of a school or in a school safety zone.
C. The offense is committed in the presence of any law enforcement officer, firefighter, rescuer, medical person, emergency medical services person, or other authorized person who is engaged in the person’s duties at the scene of a fire, accident, disaster, riot or emergency of any kind.
D. The offense is committed in the presence of any emergency facility person who is engaged in the person’s duties in an emergency facility.

(f) As used in this section:

(1) “Emergency medical services person” is the singular of “emergency medical services personnel” as defined in Ohio R.C. 2133.21.
(2) “Emergency facility person” is the singular of “emergency facility personnel” as defined in Ohio R.C. 2909.04.
(3) “Emergency facility” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2909.04.
(4) “Committed in the vicinity of a school” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2925.01. (ORC 2917.11)

509.04 DISTURBING A LAWFUL MEETING.

(a) No person, with purpose to prevent or disrupt a lawful meeting, procession or gathering, shall do either of the following:

(1) Do any act which obstructs or interferes with the due conduct of such meeting, procession or gathering;
(2) Make any utterance, gesture or display which outrages the sensibilities of the group.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of disturbing a lawful meeting, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. (ORC 2917.12)

509.05 MISCONDUCT AT AN EMERGENCY.

(a) No person shall knowingly do any of the following:

(1) Hamper the lawful operations of any law enforcement officer, firefighter, rescuer, medical person, emergency medical services person, or other authorized person, engaged in the person’s duties at the scene of a fire, accident, disaster, riot, or emergency of any kind;
(2) Hamper the lawful activities of any emergency facility person who is engaged in the person’s duties in an emergency facility;
(3) Fail to obey the lawful order of any law enforcement officer engaged in the law enforcement officer’s duties at the scene of or in connection with a fire, accident, disaster, riot, or emergency of any kind.

(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit access or deny information to any news media representative in the lawful exercise of the news media representative’s duties.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of misconduct at an emergency. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, misconduct at an emergency is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If a violation of this section creates a risk of physical harm to persons or property, misconduct at an emergency is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(d) As used in this section:

509.06 INDUCING PANIC.

(a) No person shall cause the evacuation of any public place, or otherwise cause serious public inconvenience or alarm, by doing any of the following:

(1) Initiating or circulating a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire, explosion, crime or other catastrophe, knowing that such report or
warning is false;
(2) Threatening to commit any offense of violence;
(3) Committing any offense, with reckless disregard of the likelihood that its commission will cause serious public inconvenience or alarm.

(b) Division (a) hereof does not apply to any person conducting an authorized fire or emergency drill.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of inducing panic, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If inducing panic results in physical harm to any person, economic harm of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, if the public place involved in a violation of this section is a school or an institution of higher education, or if the violation pertains to a purported, threatened or actual use of a weapon of mass destruction, inducing panic is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

(d) Any act that is a violation of this section and any other section of the Codified Ordinances may be prosecuted under this section, the other section, or both sections.

(e) As used in this section:

(1) “Economic harm” means any of the following:

A. All direct, incidental, and consequential pecuniary harm suffered by a victim as a result of criminal conduct. “Economic harm” as described in this division includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

All wages, salaries, or other compensation lost as a result of the criminal conduct;
The cost of all wages, salaries, or other compensation paid to employees for time those employees are prevented from working as a result of the criminal conduct;
The overhead costs incurred for the time that a business is shut down as a result of the criminal conduct;
The loss of value to tangible or intangible property that was damaged as a result of the criminal conduct.

B. All costs incurred by the Municipality as a result of, or in making any response to, the criminal conduct that constituted the violation of this section or Section 509.07, including, but not limited to, all costs so incurred by any law enforcement officers, firefighters, rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel of the state or the political subdivision.

(2) “School” means any school operated by a board of education or any school for which the state board of education prescribes minimum standards under Ohio R.C. 3301.07, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular activities, or training provided by the school is being conducted at the time a violation of this section is committed.
(3) “Weapon of mass destruction” means any of the following:

A. Any weapon that is designed or intended to cause death or serious physical harm through the release, dissemination, or impact of toxic or poisonous chemicals, or their precursors;
B. Any weapon involving a disease organism or biological agent;
C. Any weapon that is designed to release radiation or radioactivity at a level dangerous to human life;
D. Any of the following, except to the extent that the item or device in question is expressly excepted from the definition of “destructive device” pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 921(a)(4) and regulations issued under that section:

Any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas bomb, grenade, rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, mine, or similar device;
Any combination of parts either designed or intended for use in converting any item or device into any item or device described in division (e)(3)D.1. of this section and from which an item or device described in that division may be readily assembled.

(4) “Biological agent” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2917.33.
(5) “Emergency medical services personnel” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2133.21.
(6) “Institution of higher education” means any of the following:

A. A state university or college as defined in Ohio R.C. 3345.12(A)(1), community college, state community college, university branch, or technical college;
B. A private, nonprofit college, university or other post-secondary institution located in this State that possesses a certificate of authorization issued by the Ohio Board of Regents pursuant to Ohio R.C. Chapter 1713.
C. A post-secondary institution with a certificate of registration issued by the State Board of Career Colleges and Schools under Ohio R.C. Chapter 3332. (ORC 2917.31)

509.07 MAKING FALSE ALARMS.

(a) No person shall do any of the following:

(1) Initiate or circulate a report or warning of an alleged or impending fire, explosion, crime or other catastrophe, knowing that the report or warning is false and likely to cause public inconvenience or alarm;
(2) Knowingly cause a false alarm of fire or other emergency to be transmitted to or within any organization, public or private, for dealing with emergencies involving a risk of physical harm to persons or property;
(3) Report to any law enforcement agency an alleged offense or other incident within its concern, knowing that such offense did not occur.

(b) This section does not apply to any person conducting an authorized fire or emergency drill.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of making false alarms, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If a violation of this section results in economic harm of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, or if a violation of this section pertains to a purported, threatened, or actual use of a weapon of mass destruction, making false alarms is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

(d) Any act that is a violation of this section and any other section of the Codified Ordinances may be prosecuted under this section, the other section, or both sections.

(e) As used in this section, “economic harm” and “weapon of mass destruction” have the same meanings as in Section 509.06. (ORC 2917.32)

509.08 MINOR’S CURFEW.

(a) No person seventeen years of age or under shall be found upon the streets, alleys, sidewalks or other public places of the Municipality after 10:00 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, inclusive, and after 11:15 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, unless accompanied by his parents or legal guardian or unless he is in the discharge of duties of the parent or guardian.

(b) The Mayor is hereby directed and authorized to have a curfew sounded at 9:45 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, inclusive, and at 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, notifying all such persons that they must be off the streets. He is further authorized to sound another curfew at 10:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at 11:15 p.m. on Friday and Saturday as the final warning.
(Ord. 421. Passed 5-16-68.)

(c) Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof shall be reprimanded and the violation shall be brought to the attention of the parents of such children. For repeated violations such person shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree and shall be brought before the juvenile authorities of this County to be dealt with in accordance with law.

509.09 PARKS AND PUBLIC GROUNDS CURFEW.

(a) No person shall trespass, loiter or remain upon the public grounds of the Municipality, including the Municipal parks, in violation of the rules and regulations of the Municipality.
(Ord. 687. Passed 8-11-73.)

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

509.10 SELLING OR FURNISHING OR POSSESSION OF BY MINORS AEROSOL CONTAINERS OF PAINT.

(a) (1) A. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, or corporation to sell to another person, who is under the age of 18 years, any aerosol container of paint that is capable of defacing property without first obtaining bona-fide evidence of majority and identity.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to furnish or give to anther person, who is under the age of 18 years, any aerosol container of paint that is capable of defacing property.

(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “bona-fide evidence of majority and identity” is any document evidencing the age and identity of an individual which has been issued by a federal, state or local governmental entity, including, but not limited to, a motor vehicle operator’s license, a registration certificate issued under federal Selective Service Act, or an identification card issued to a member of the armed forces.
(3) Subsection (a)(1)B. hereof shall not apply to the furnishing of an aerosol container of paint to a minor for the minor’s use or possession while engaged in a lawful activity under the supervision and control of the minor’s parent, guardian, teacher or employer.
(4) Subsection (a)(1)B. hereof shall not apply to aerosol containers of paint or related substances that are furnished for use in school-related activities as part of the instructional program when used under the control and supervision of a teacher, instructor or other adult supervisor for such activities, either within the classroom or on the site of a supervised project. These containers shall be inventoried by the teacher, instructor, or adult supervisor upon completion of the activity or project.

(b) (1) It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of 18 years to purchase an aerosol container of paint that is capable of defacing property.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of 18 years to possess or to have under his control an aerosol container of paint that is capable of defacing property.
(3) It shall be unlawful for any person under the age of 18 years to possess or to have under his control an aerosol container of paint with purpose to deface property while on any public highway, street, alley, or way, or other public place, regardless of whether that person is or is not in any automobile, vehicle, or other conveyance.
(4) Subsection (b)(2) hereof does not apply to the possession of an aerosol paint container by a person under the age of 18 in the circumstances described in subsection (b)(3) and (4).

(c) After thirty days from passage of this section, all retail businesses within the Village of Bellaire that sell or offer for sale aerosol containers of paint shall post in a conspicuous area near such containers a notice that states:

“WARNING: SALE OF SPRAY PAINT TO MINOR PROHIBITED”

(1) It is unlawful in the Village of Bellaire for any person under the age of 18 to purchase an aerosol container of paint.
(2) It is unlawful in the Village of Bellaire for any person under the age of 18 to possess or to be furnished with an aerosol container of paint, except while engaged in a lawful activity under the supervision and control of a parent, guardian, teacher or employer.

(d) (1) After thirty days from passage of this section, whoever violates subsection (c) hereof is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00).
(2) Whoever violates subsection (a)(1)A. or (a)(1)B. hereof is guilty of selling or furnishing an aerosol paint container to a minor, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(3) Whoever violates subsection (b)(1), (2) and (3) is guilty of unlawful purchase or possession of an aerosol container of paint, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(Ord. 2008-05. Passed 4-3-08.)

509.99 PENALTY.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor classification.)

CHAPTER 513
Drug Abuse Control

513.01 Definitions.
513.02 Gift of marihuana.
513.03 Drug abuse; controlled substance possession or use.
513.04 Possessing drug abuse instruments.
513.05 Permitting drug abuse.
513.06 Illegal cultivation of marihuana.
513.07 Possessing or using harmful intoxicants.
513.08 Illegally dispensing drug samples.
513.09 Controlled substance or prescription labels.
513.10 Hypodermic possession, display and dispensing.
513.11 Harmful intoxicants; possessing nitrous oxide in motor vehicle.
513.12 Drug paraphernalia.
513.121 Marihuana drug paraphernalia.
513.13 Counterfeit controlled substances.
513.14 Offender may be required to pay for controlled substance tests.
513.99 Penalty.

CROSS REFERENCES

See sectional histories for similar State law
Federal prosecution bar to local prosecution – see Ohio R.C. 2925.50, 3719.19
Analysis report and notarized statement as evidence – see Ohio R.C 2925.51
Criteria for granting probation – see Ohio R.C 3719.70(B)
Attempted drug abuse offenses – see GEN. OFF. 501.09(e)
Adulterating food with drug of abuse – see GEN. OFF. 537.13
Using weapons while under the influence – see GEN. OFF. 549.03.

513.01 DEFINITIONS.

As used in this chapter, certain terms are defined as follows:

(a) “Administer” means the direct application of a drug, whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion or any other means to a person or an animal.

(b) “Controlled substance” means a drug, compound, mixture, preparation or substance included in Schedule I, II, III, IV, or V.

(d) “Distribute” means to deal in, ship, transport or deliver but does not include administering or dispensing a drug.

(e) “Hypodermic” means a hypodermic syringe or needle, or other instrument or device for the injection of medication.

(f) “Manufacturer” means a person who manufactures a controlled substance as “manufacture” is defined in Ohio R.C. 3715.01.

(g) Except as provided in subsection (g)(2) hereof:

(1) “Marihuana” means all parts of a plant of the genus cannabis, whether growing or not, the seeds of a plant of that type; the resin extracted from a part of a plant of that type; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of a plant of that type or of its seeds or resin. “Marihuana” does not include the mature stalks of the plant, fiber produced from the stalks, oils or cake made from the seeds of the plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the mature stalks, except the resin extracted from the mature stalks, fiber, oil or cake, or the sterilized seed of the plant that is incapable of germination. (ORC 3719.01)
(2) “Marihuana” does not include hashish.
(ORC 2925.01)

(h) “Controlled substance analog” has the same meaning as provided in Ohio R.C. 3719.01.

(i) “Official written order” means an order written on a form provided for that purpose by the Director of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, under any laws of the United States making provision for the order, if the order forms are authorized and required by Federal law.

(j) “Pharmacist” means a person licensed under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4729 to engage in the practice of pharmacy.

(k) “Pharmacy” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4729.01.

(l) “Poison” means any drug, chemical, or preparation likely to be deleterious or destructive to adult human life in quantities of four grams or less.

(m) “Licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs”, “prescriber” and “prescription” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 4729.01.

(n) “Sale” includes delivery, barter, exchange, transfer or gift, or offer thereof, and each transaction of those natures made by any person, whether as principal, proprietor, agent, servant or employee.

(o) “Schedule I”, “Schedule II”, “Schedule III”, “Schedule IV” and “Schedule V” mean controlled substance Schedules I, II, III, IV, and V respectively, established pursuant to Ohio R.C. 3719.41, as amended pursuant to Ohio R.C. 3719.43 or 3719.44.

(p) “Wholesaler” means a person who, on official written orders other than prescriptions, supplies controlled substances that the person has not manufactured, produced or prepared personally and includes a “wholesale distributor of dangerous drugs” as defined in Ohio R.C. 4729.01.
(ORC 3719.01)

(q) “Drug of abuse” means any controlled substance as defined in subsection (b) hereof, any harmful intoxicant as defined in subsection (x) hereof and any dangerous drug as defined in subsection (r) hereof.
(ORC 3719.011)

(r) “Dangerous drug” means any of the following:

(1) Any drug to which either of the following applies:

A. Under the “Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act”, 52 Stat. 1040 (1938), 21 U.S.C.A. 301, as amended, the drug is required to bear a label containing the legend “Caution: Federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription” or “Caution: Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian” or any similar restrictive statement, or the drug may be dispensed only upon a prescription;
B. Under Ohio R.C. Chapter 3715 or 3719, the drug may be dispensed only upon a prescription.

(2) Any drug that contains a Schedule V narcotic drug and that is exempt from Ohio R.C. Chapter 3719 or to which that chapter does not apply;
(3) Any drug intended for administration by injection into the human body other than through a natural orifice of the human body. (ORC 4729.02)

(s) “Bulk amount” of a controlled substance means any of the following:

(1) For any compound, mixture, preparation, or substance included in Schedule I, Schedule II or Schedule III, with the exception of controlled substance analogs, marihuana, cocaine, L.S.D., heroin, and hashish and except as provided in subsection (s)(2) or (5) hereof, whichever of the following is applicable:

A. An amount equal to or exceeding ten grams or twenty-five unit doses of a compound, mixture, preparation or substance that is or contains any amount of a Schedule I opiate or opium derivative;
B. An amount equal to or exceeding ten grams of a compound, mixture, preparation or substance that is or contains any amount of raw or gum opium;
C. An amount equal to or exceeding thirty grams or ten unit doses of a compound, mixture, preparation or substance that is or contains any amount of a Schedule I hallucinogen other than tetrahydrocannabinol, or lysergic acid amide, or a Schedule I stimulant or depressant;
D. An amount equal to or exceeding twenty grams or five times the maximum daily dose in the usual dose range specified in a standard pharmaceutical reference manual of a compound, mixture, preparation or substance that is or contains any amount of a Schedule II opiate or opium derivative;
E. An amount equal to or exceeding five grams or ten unit doses of a compound, mixture, preparation or substance that is or contains any amount of phencyclidine;
F. An amount equal to or exceeding 120 grams or thirty times the maximum daily dose in the usual dose range specified in a standard pharmaceutical reference manual of a compound, mixture, preparation or substance that is or contains any amount of a Schedule II stimulant that is in a final dosage form manufactured by a person authorized by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, 52 Stat. 1040 (1938), 21 U.S.C.A. 301, as amended, and the Federal Drug Abuse Control laws as defined in Ohio R.C. 3719.01, that is or contains any amount of a Schedule II depressant substance or a Schedule II hallucinogenic substance;
G. An amount equal to or exceeding three grams of a compound, mixture, preparation or substance that is or contains any amount of a Schedule II stimulant, or any of its salts or isomers, that is not in a final dosage form manufactured by a person authorized by the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Federal Drug Abuse Control laws;

(2) An amount equal to or exceeding one hundred twenty grams or thirty times the maximum daily dose in the usual dose range specified in a standard pharmaceutical reference manual of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of a Schedule III or IV substance other than an anabolic steroid or a Schedule III opiate or opium derivative;
(3) An amount equal to or exceeding twenty grams or five times the maximum daily dose in the usual dose range specified in a standard pharmaceutical reference manual of a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance that is or contains any amount of a Schedule III opiate or opium derivative;
(4) An amount equal to or exceeding 250 milliliters or 250 grams of a compound, mixture, preparation or substance that is or contains any amount of a Schedule V substance.
(5) An amount equal to or exceeding 200 solid dosage units, sixteen grams or sixteen milliliters of a compound, mixture, preparation or substance that is or contains any amount of a Schedule III anabolic steroid.

(t) “Unit dose” means an amount or unit of a compound, mixture or preparation containing a controlled substance, that is separately identifiable and in a form that indicates that it is the amount or unit by which the controlled substance is separately administered to or taken by an individual.

(u) “Cultivate” includes planting, watering, fertilizing or tilling.

(v) “Drug abuse offense” means any of the following:

(1) A violation of Ohio R.C.. 2925.02, 2925.03, 2925.04 to 2925.06, 2925.11, 2925.12, 2925.13, 2925.22, 2925.23, 2925.24, 2925.31, 2925.32, 2925.36 or 2925.37; or a violation of Ohio R.C. 2913.02(A) that constitutes theft of drugs;
(2) A violation of an existing or former law of this or any other state or of the United States, that is substantially equivalent to any section listed in subsection (v)(1) hereof;
(3) An offense under an existing or former law of this or any other state, or of the United States, of which planting, cultivating, harvesting, processing, making, manufacturing, producing, shipping, transporting, delivering, acquiring, possessing, storing, distributing, dispensing, selling, inducing another to use, administering to another, using or otherwise dealing with a controlled substance is an element;
(4) A conspiracy or attempt to commit, or complicity in committing or attempting to commit any offense under subsection (v)(1), (2) or (3) hereof.

(w) “Felony drug abuse offense” means any drug abuse offense that would constitute a felony under the laws of this State, any other state or the United States.

(x) “Harmful intoxicant” does not include beer or intoxicating liquor, but means any of the following:

(1) Any compound, mixture, preparation or substance the gas, fumes or vapor of which when inhaled can induce intoxication, excitement, giddiness, irrational behavior, depression, stupefaction, paralysis, unconsciousness, asphyxiation or other harmful physiological effects, and includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

A. Any volatile organic solvent, plastic cement, model cement, fingernail polish remover, lacquer thinner, cleaning fluid, gasoline, or other preparation containing a volatile organic solvent;
B. Any aerosol propellant;
C. Any fluorocarbon refrigerant;
D. Any anesthetic gas.

(2) Gamma Butyrolactone;
(3) 1,4 Butanediol.

(y) “Manufacture” means to plant, cultivate, harvest, process, make, prepare or otherwise engage in any part of the production of a drug by propagation, extraction, chemical synthesis or compounding, or any combination of the same, and includes packaging, repackaging, labeling and other activities incident to production.

(z) “Possess” or “possession” means having control over a thing or substance but may not be inferred solely from mere access to the thing or substance through ownership or occupation of the premises upon which the thing or substance is found.

(aa) “Sample drug” means a drug or pharmaceutical preparation that would be hazardous to health or safety if used without the supervision of a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs, or a drug of abuse, and that, at one time, had been placed in a container plainly marked as a sample by a manufacturer.

(bb) “Standard pharmaceutical reference manual” means the current edition, with cumulative changes if any, of references that are approved by the State Board of Pharmacy.

(cc) “Juvenile” means a person under eighteen years of age.

(dd) “School” means any school operated by a board of education, any community school established under Ohio R.C. Chapter 3314, or any nonpublic school for which the State Board of Education prescribes minimum standards under Ohio R.C. 3301.07, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular activities or training provided by the school is being conducted at the time a criminal offense is committed.

(ee) “School premises” means either of the following:

(1) The parcel of real property on which any school is situated, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular activities or training provided by the school is being conducted on the premises at the time a criminal offense is committed;
(2) Any other parcel of real property that is owned or leased by a board of education of a school, any community school established under Ohio R.C. Chapter 3314, or the governing body of a nonpublic school for which the State Board of Education prescribes minimum standards under Ohio R.C. 3301.07 and on which some of the instruction, extracurricular activities or training of the school is conducted, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular activities or training provided by the school is being conducted on the parcel of real property at the time a criminal offense is committed.

(ff) “School building” means any building in which any of the instruction, extracurricular activities or training provided by a school is conducted, whether or not any instruction, extracurricular activities or training provided by the school is being conducted in the school building at the time a criminal offense is committed.

(gg) “Counterfeit controlled substance” means:

(1) Any drug that bears, or whose container or label bears, a trademark, trade name or other identifying mark used without authorization of the owner of rights to that trademark, trade name or identifying mark; or
(2) Any unmarked or unlabeled substance that is represented to be a controlled substance manufactured, processed, packed or distributed by a person other than the person that manufactured, processed, packed or distributed it; or
(3) Any substance that is represented to be a controlled substance but is not a controlled substance or is a different controlled substance; or
(4) Any substance other than a controlled substance that a reasonable person would believe to be a controlled substance because of its similarity in shape, size and color, or its marking, labeling, packaging, distribution or the price for which it is sold or offered for sale.

(hh) An offense is “committed in the vicinity of a school” if the offender commits the offense on school premises, in a school building, or within one thousand feet of the boundaries of any school premises, regardless of whether the offender knows the offense is being committed on school premises, in a school building, or within one thousand feet of the boundaries of any school premises.

(ii) An offense is “committed in the vicinity of a juvenile” if the offender commits the offense within one hundred feet of a juvenile or within the view of a juvenile, regardless of whether the offender knows the age of the juvenile, whether the offender knows the offense is being committed within one hundred feet of or within view of the juvenile, or whether the juvenile actually views the commission of the offense.

(jj) “Hashish” means the resin or a preparation of the resin contained in marihuana, whether in solid form or in a liquid concentrate, liquid extract, or liquid distillate form.

(kk) “Public premises” means any hotel, restaurant, tavern, store, arena, hall, or other place of public accommodation, business, amusement, or resort.

(ll) “Methamphetamine” means methamphetamine, any salt, isomer, or salt of an isomer of methamphetamine, or any compound, mixture, preparation, or substance containing methamphetamine or any salt, isomer or salt of an isomer of methamphetamine.

(mm) “Lawful prescription” means a prescription that is issued for a legitimate medical purpose by a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs, that is not altered or forged, and that was not obtained by means of deception or by the commission of any theft offense.

(nn) “Deception” and “theft offense” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2913.01. (ORC 2925.01)

513.02 GIFT OF MARIHUANA.

(a) No person shall knowingly give or offer to make a gift of twenty grams or less of marihuana.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of trafficking in marihuana. Trafficking in marihuana is a minor misdemeanor for the first offense and, for any subsequent offense, it is a misdemeanor of the third degree. If the offense was committed in the vicinity of a school or the vicinity of a juvenile, trafficking in marihuana is a misdemeanor of the third degree.

(c) The court may suspend for not less than six months or more than five years the driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit of any person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to any violation of this section. If an offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit is suspended pursuant to this subsection, the offender, at any time after the expiration of two years from the day on which the offender’s sentence was imposed, may file a motion with the sentencing court requesting termination of the suspension; upon the filing of such a motion and the court’s finding of good cause for the termination, the court may terminate the suspension.
(ORC 2925.03)

513.03 DRUG ABUSE; CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE POSSESSION OR USE.

(a) No person shall knowingly obtain, possess or use a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog.

(b) This section does not apply to the following:

(1) Manufacturers, licensed health professionals authorized to prescribe drugs, pharmacists, owners of pharmacies and other persons whose conduct was in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapters 3719, 4715, 4729, 4730, 4731 and 4741.
(2) If the offense involves an anabolic steroid, any person who is conducting or participating in a research project involving the use of an anabolic steroid if the project has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration;
(3) Any person who sells, offers for sale, prescribes, dispenses or administers for livestock or other nonhuman species an anabolic steroid that is expressly intended for administration through implants to livestock or other nonhuman species and approved for that purpose under the “Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act”, 52 Stat. 1040 (1938), 21 U.S.C.A. 301, as amended, and is sold, offered for sale, prescribed, dispensed or administered for that purpose in accordance with that Act;
(4) Any person who obtained the controlled substance pursuant to a lawful prescription issued by a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs.

(1) If the drug involved in the violation is a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance included in Schedule III, IV, or V, whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of possession of drugs. Possession of drugs is a misdemeanor if the amount of the drug involved does not exceed the bulk amount. The penalty for the offense shall be determined as follows: possession of drugs is a misdemeanor of the first degree or, if the offender previously has been convicted of a drug abuse offense, a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(2) If the drug involved in the violation is marihuana or a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance containing marihuana other than hashish, whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of possession of marihuana. Possession of marihuana is a misdemeanor if the amount of the drug involved does not exceed 200 grams. The penalty for the offense shall be determined as follows:

A. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c)(2)B. hereof, possession of marihuana is a minor misdemeanor.
B. If the amount of the drug involved equals or exceeds 100 grams but is less than 200 grams, possession of marihuana is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(3) If the drug involved in the violation is hashish or a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance containing hashish, whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of possession of hashish. Possession of hashish is a misdemeanor if the amount of the drug involved does not exceed the maximum amount specified in subsection (c)(3)B. hereof. The penalty for the offense shall be determined as follows:

A. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c)(3)B. hereof, possession of hashish is a minor misdemeanor.
B. If the amount of the drug involved equals or exceeds five grams but is less than ten grams of hashish in a solid form or equals or exceeds one gram but is less than two grams of hashish in a liquid concentrate, liquid extract, or liquid distillate form, possession of hashish is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(d) In addition to any other sanction that is imposed for an offense under this section, the court that sentences an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section may suspend for not less than six months or more than five years the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit.

(e) Arrest or conviction for a minor misdemeanor violation of this section does not constitute a criminal record and need not be reported by the person so arrested or convicted in response to any inquiries about the person’s criminal record, including any inquiries contained in any application for employment, license, or other right or privilege, or made in connection with the person’s appearance as a witness. (ORC 2925.11)

513.04 POSSESSING DRUG ABUSE INSTRUMENTS.

(a) No person shall knowingly make, obtain, possess or use any instrument, article or thing the customary and primary purpose of which is for the administration or use of a dangerous drug, other than marihuana, when the instrument involved is a hypodermic or syringe, whether or not of crude or extemporized manufacture or assembly, and the instrument, article or thing involved has been used by the offender to unlawfully administer or use a dangerous drug, other than marihuana, or to prepare a dangerous drug, other than marihuana, for unlawful administration or use.

(b) This section does not apply to manufacturers, licensed health professionals authorized to prescribe drugs, pharmacists, owners of pharmacies and other persons whose conduct was in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapters 3719, 4715, 4729, 4730, 4731 and 4741.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of possessing drug abuse instruments, a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a drug abuse offense, violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(d) In addition to any other sanction imposed upon an offender for a violation of this section, the court may suspend for not less than six months or more than five years the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit. (ORC 2925.12)

513.05 PERMITTING DRUG ABUSE.

(a) No person, who is the owner, operator or person in charge of a locomotive, watercraft, aircraft or other vehicle as defined in Ohio R.C 4501.01(A), shall knowingly permit the vehicle to be used for the commission of a felony drug abuse offense.

(b) No person, who is the owner, lessee or occupant, or who has custody, control or supervision of premises, or real estate, including vacant land, shall knowingly permit the premises, or real estate, including vacant land, to be used for the commission of a felony drug abuse offense by another person.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of permitting drug abuse, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the felony drug abuse offense in question is a violation of Ohio R.C. 2925.02 or 2925.03, permitting drug abuse is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

(d) In addition to any other sanction imposed for an offense under this section, the court that sentences a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section may suspend for not less than six months or more than five years the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit.

(e) Any premises or real estate that is permitted to be used in violation of subsection (b) hereof constitutes a nuisance subject to abatement pursuant to Ohio R.C. Chapter 3767.
(ORC 2925.13)

513.06 ILLEGAL CULTIVATION OF MARIHUANA.

(a) No person shall knowingly cultivate marihuana.

(b) This section does not apply to any person listed in Ohio R.C. 2925.03(B)(1) to (3) to the extent and under the circumstances described in those divisions.

(c) Whoever commits a violation of subsection (a) hereof is guilty of illegal cultivation of marihuana. Illegal cultivation of marihuana is a misdemeanor if the amount of marihuana involved does not exceed 200 grams.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c)(2) hereof, illegal cultivation of marihuana is a minor misdemeanor, or if the offense was committed in the vicinity of a school or in the vicinity of a juvenile, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(2) If the amount of marihuana involved equals or exceeds 100 grams but is less than 200 grams, illegal cultivation of marihuana is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, or if the offense was committed in the vicinity of a school or in the vicinity of a juvenile, a misdemeanor of the third degree.

(d) In addition to any other sanction imposed for an offense under this section, the court that sentences an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section may suspend the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit in accordance with division (G) of Ohio R.C. 2925.03. If an offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit is suspended in accordance with that division, the offender may request termination of, and the court may terminate, the suspension in accordance with that division.

(e) Arrest or conviction for a minor misdemeanor violation of this section does not constitute a criminal record and need not be reported by the person so arrested or convicted in response to any inquiries about the person’s criminal record, including any inquiries contained in an application for employment, a license, or any other right or privilege or made in connection with the person’s appearance as a witness. (ORC 2925.04)

513.07 POSSESSING OR USING HARMFUL INTOXICANTS.

(a) Except for lawful research, clinical, medical, dental or veterinary purposes, no person, with purpose to induce intoxication or similar physiological effects, shall obtain, possess or use a harmful intoxicant.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of abusing harmful intoxicants, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a drug abuse offense, abusing harmful intoxicants is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

(c) In addition to any other sanction imposed upon an offender for a violation of this section, the court may suspend for not less than six months or more than five years the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit. (ORC 2925.31)

513.08 ILLEGALLY DISPENSING DRUG SAMPLES.

(a) No person shall knowingly furnish another a sample drug.

(b) Subsection (a) hereof does not apply to manufacturers, wholesalers, pharmacists, owners of pharmacies, licensed health professionals authorized to prescribe drugs, and other persons whose conduct is in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapters 3719, 4715, 4729, 4730, 4731, and 4741.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of illegal dispensing of drug samples. If the drug involved in the offense is a dangerous drug or a compound, mixture, preparation, or substance included in Schedule III, IV, or V, or is marihuana, the penalty for the offense shall be determined as follows:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c)(2) hereof, illegal dispensing of drug samples is a misdemeanor of the second degree.
(2) If the offense was committed in the vicinity of a school or in the vicinity of a juvenile, illegal dispensing of drug samples is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(d) In addition to any other sanction imposed for an offense under this section, the court that sentences an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section may suspend for not less than six months or more than five years the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit. (ORC 2925.36)

513.09 CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE OR PRESCRIPTION LABELS.

(a) No person shall alter, deface or remove any label affixed by a manufacturer, wholesaler, pharmacist or licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs who dispenses a controlled substance in a package or container, as long as any of the original contents remain, except when lawfully filling a prescription. (ORC 3719.08)

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender has previously been convicted of a violation of this section, Ohio R.C. 3719.07 or 3719.08 or a drug abuse offense, such violation is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. (ORC 3719.99)

513.10 HYPODERMIC POSSESSION, DISPLAY AND DISPENSING.

(a) Possession of a hypodermic is authorized for the following:

(1) A manufacturer or distributor of, or dealer in, hypodermics or medication packaged in hypodermics, and any authorized agent or employee of that manufacturer, distributor or dealer, in the regular course of business;
(2) Terminal distributor of dangerous drugs, in the regular course of business;
(3) A person authorized to administer injections, in the regular course of the person’s profession or employment;
(4) A person, when the hypodermic was lawfully obtained and is kept and used for the purpose of self-administration of insulin or other drug prescribed for the treatment of disease by a licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs;
(5) A person whose use of a hypodermic is for legal research, clinical, educational or medicinal purposes;
(6) A farmer, for the lawful administration of a drug to an animal;
(7) A person whose use of a hypodermic is for lawful professional, mechanical, trade or craft purposes.

(b) No manufacturer or distributor of, or dealer in, hypodermics or medication packaged in hypodermics, or their authorized agents or employees, and no terminal distributor of dangerous drugs, shall display any hypodermic for sale. No person authorized to possess a hypodermic pursuant to division (a) of this section shall negligently fail to take reasonable precautions to prevent any hypodermic in the person’s possession from theft or acquisition by any unauthorized person. (ORC 3719.172)

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. If the offender has previously been convicted of a violation of this section, Ohio R.C. 3719.05, 3719.06, 3719.13, 3719.172(B) or (E), or 3719.31 or a drug abuse offense, a violation is a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 3719.99)

513.11 HARMFUL INTOXICANTS; POSSESSING NITROUS OXIDE IN MOTOR VEHICLE.

(a) As used in this section, “motor vehicle”, “street” and “highway” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 4511.01.

(b) Unless authorized under Ohio R.C. Chapter 3719, 4715, 4729, 4731, 4741 or 4765, no person shall possess an open cartridge of nitrous oxide in either of the following circumstances:

(1) While operating or being a passenger in or on a motor vehicle on a street, highway, or other public or private property open to the public for purposes of vehicular traffic or parking;
(2) While being in or on a stationary motor vehicle on a street, highway, or other public or private property open to the public for purposes of vehicular traffic or parking.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of possessing nitrous oxide in a motor vehicle, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(ORC 2925.33)

513.12 DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.

(a) As used in this section, “drug paraphernalia” means any equipment, product or material of any kind that is used by the offender, intended by the offender for use or designed for use, in propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing, preparing, testing, analyzing, packaging, repackaging, storing, containing, concealing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling or otherwise introducing into the human body, a controlled substance in violation of this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 2925. “Drug paraphernalia” includes, but is not limited to, any of the following equipment, products or materials that are used by the offender, intended by the offender for use or designated by the offender for use, in any of the following manners:

(1) A kit for propagating, cultivating, growing or harvesting any species of a plant that is a controlled substance or from which a controlled substance can be derived;
(2) A kit for manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing or preparing a controlled substance;
(3) Any object, instrument, or device for manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing, or preparing methamphetamine;
(4) An isomerization device for increasing the potency of any species of a plant that is a controlled substance;
(5) Testing equipment for identifying, or analyzing the strength, effectiveness or purity of, a controlled substance;
(6) A scale or balance for weighing or measuring a controlled substance;
(7) A diluent or adulterant, such as quinine hydrochloride, mannitol, mannite, dextrose or lactose, for cutting a controlled substance;
(8) A separation gin or sifter for removing twigs and seeds from, or otherwise cleaning or refining, marihuana;
(9) A blender, bowl, container, spoon or mixing device for compounding a controlled substance;
(10) A capsule, balloon, envelope or container for packaging small quantities of a controlled substance;
(11) A container or device for storing or concealing a controlled substance;
(12) A hypodermic syringe, needle or instrument for parenterally injecting a controlled substance into the human body;
(13) An object, instrument or device for ingesting, inhaling or otherwise introducing into the human body, marihuana, cocaine, hashish or hashish oil, such as a metal, wooden, acrylic, glass, stone, plastic or ceramic pipe, with or without a screen, permanent screen, hashish head or punctured metal bowl; water pipe; carburetion tube or device; smoking or carburetion mask; roach clip or similar object used to hold burning material, such as a marihuana cigarette, that has become too small or too short to be held in the hand; miniature cocaine spoon, or cocaine vial; chamber pipe; carburetor pipe; electric pipe; air driver pipe; chillum; bong; or ice pipe or chiller.

(b) In determining if any equipment, product or material is drug paraphernalia, a court or law enforcement officer shall consider, in addition to other relevant factors, the following:

(1) Any statement by the owner, or by anyone in control, of the equipment, product or material, concerning its use;
(2) The proximity in time or space of the equipment, product or material, or of the act relating to the equipment, product or material, to a violation of any provision of this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 2925;
(3) The proximity of the equipment, product or material to any controlled substance;
(4) The existence of any residue of a controlled substance on the equipment, product or material;
(5) Direct or circumstantial evidence of the intent of the owner, or of anyone in control, of the equipment, product or material, to deliver it to any person whom the owner or person in control of the equipment, product or material knows intends to use the object to facilitate a violation of any provision of this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 2925. A finding that the owner, or anyone in control, of the equipment, product or material, is not guilty of a violation of any other provision of this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 2925, does not prevent a finding that the equipment, product or material was intended or designed by the offender for use as drug paraphernalia;
(6) Any oral or written instruction provided with the equipment, product or material concerning its use;
(7) Any descriptive material accompanying the equipment, product or material and explaining or depicting its use;
(8) National or local advertising concerning the use of the equipment, product or material;
(9) The manner and circumstances in which the equipment, product or material is displayed for sale;
(10) Direct or circumstantial evidence of the ratio of the sales of the equipment, product or material to the total sales of the business enterprise;
(11) The existence and scope of legitimate uses of the equipment, product or material in the community;
(12) Expert testimony concerning the use of the equipment, product or material.

(c) (1) Subject to subsection (d)(2) of this section, no person shall knowingly use, or possess with purpose to use, drug paraphernalia.
(2) No person shall knowingly sell, or possess or manufacture with purpose to sell, drug paraphernalia, if the person knows or reasonably should know that the equipment, product or material will be used as drug paraphernalia.
(3) No person shall place an advertisement in any newspaper, magazine, handbill or other publication that is published and printed and circulates primarily within this State, if the person knows that the purpose of the advertisement is to promote the illegal sale in the State of the equipment, product or material that the offender intended or designed for use as drug paraphernalia.

(d) (1) This section does not apply to manufacturers, licensed health professionals authorized to prescribe drugs, pharmacists, owners of pharmacies and other persons whose conduct is in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapters 3719, 4715, 4729, 4730, 4731, and 4741. This section shall not be construed to prohibit the possession or use of a hypodermic as authorized by Section 513.10.
(2) Subsection (c)(1) of this section does not apply to a person’s use, or possession with purpose to use, any drug paraphernalia that is equipment, a product, or material of any kind that is used by the person, intended by the person for use, or designed for use in storing, containing, concealing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling or otherwise introducing into the human body marihuana.

(e) Notwithstanding Ohio R.C. Chapter 2981, any drug paraphernalia that was used, possessed, sold or manufactured in violation of this section shall be seized, after a conviction for that violation shall be forfeited, and upon forfeiture shall be disposed of pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2981.12.

(f) (1) Whoever violates subsection (c)(1) hereof is guilty of illegal use or possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (f)(3) hereof, whoever violates subsection (c)(2) hereof is guilty of dealing in drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor of the second degree.
(3) Whoever violates subsection (c)(2) hereof by selling drug paraphernalia to a juvenile is guilty of selling drug paraphernalia to juveniles, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(4) Whoever violates subsection (c)(3) hereof is guilty of illegal advertising of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor of the second degree.

(g) In addition to any other sanction imposed upon an offender for a violation of this section, the court may suspend for not less than six months or more than five years the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit. If the offender is a professionally licensed person, in addition to any other sanction imposed for a violation of this section, the court immediately shall comply with Ohio R.C. 2925.38. (ORC 2925.14)

513.121 MARIHUANA DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.

(a) As used in this section, “drug paraphernalia” has the same meaning as in Section 513.12.

(b) In determining if any equipment, product, or material is drug paraphernalia, a court or law enforcement officer shall consider, in addition to other relevant factors, all factors identified in subsection (b) of Section 513.12.

(c) No person shall knowingly use, or possess with purpose to use, any drug paraphernalia that is equipment, a product, or material of any kind that is used by the person, intended by the person for use, or designed for use in storing, containing, concealing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling or otherwise introducing into the human body marihuana.

(d) This section does not apply to any person identified in subsection (d)(1) of Section 513.12 and it shall not be construed to prohibit the possession or use of a hypodermic as authorized by Section 513.10.

(e) Subsection (e) of Section 513.12 applies with respect to any drug paraphernalia that was used or possessed in violation of this section.

(f) Whoever violates subsection (c) of this section is guilty of illegal use or possession of marihuana drug paraphernalia, a minor misdemeanor.

(g) In addition to any other sanction imposed upon an offender for a violation of this section, the court shall suspend for not less than six months or more than five years the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license or permit. If the offender is a professionally licensed person, in addition to any other sanction imposed for a violation of this section, the court immediately shall comply with Ohio R.C. 2925.38. (ORC 2925.141)

513.13 COUNTERFEIT CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES.

(a) No person shall knowingly possess any counterfeit controlled substance.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of possession of counterfeit controlled substances, a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 2925.37)

513.14 OFFENDER MAY BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE TESTS.

In addition to the financial sanctions authorized or required under Ohio R.C. 2929.18 and 2929.28 and to any costs otherwise authorized or required under any provision of law, the court imposing sentence upon an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a drug abuse offense may order the offender to pay to the state, municipal, or county law enforcement agencies that handled the investigation and prosecution all of the costs that the state, municipal corporation, or county reasonably incurred in having tests performed under Ohio R.C. 2925.51, or in any other manner on any substance that was the basis of, or involved in, the offense to determine whether the substance contained any amount of a controlled substance if the results of the tests indicate that the substance tested contained any controlled substance. No court shall order an offender under this section to pay the costs of tests performed on a substance if the results of the tests do not indicate that the substance tested contained any controlled substance.

The court shall hold a hearing to determine the amount of costs to be imposed under this section. The court may hold the hearing as part of the sentencing hearing for the offender.
(ORC 2925.511)

513.99 PENALTY.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor classification.)

CHAPTER 517
Gambling

517.01 Definitions.
517.02 Gambling.
517.03 Operating a gambling house.
517.04 Public gaming.
517.05 Cheating.
517.06 Methods of conducting a bingo game; prohibitions.
517.07 Instant bingo conduct.
517.08 Raffles.
517.09 Charitable instant bingo organizations.
517.10 Location of instant bingo.
517.11 Bingo or game of chance records.
517.12 Bingo operator prohibitions.
517.13 Bingo exceptions.
517.14 Instant bingo conduct by a veteran’s or fraternal organization.
517.15 Skill-based amusement machines.
517.99 Penalty.

CROSS REFERENCES

See sectional histories for similar State law
Lotteries prohibited; exception – see Ohio Const., Art. XV, Sec. 6
Contributing to delinquency of minors – see Ohio R.C. 2151.41
Search warrants – see Ohio R.C. 2933.21(E)
Licensing charitable bingo games – see Ohio R.C. 2915.08

517.01 DEFINITIONS.

As used in this chapter:

(a) “Bookmaking” means the business of receiving or paying off bets.

(b) “Bet” means the hazarding of anything of value upon the result of an event, undertaking or contingency, but does not include a bona fide business risk.

(c) “Scheme of chance” means a slot machine unless authorized under Ohio R.C. Chapter 3772, lottery unless authorized under Ohio R.C. Chapter 3770, numbers game, pool conducted for profit, or other scheme in which a participant gives a valuable consideration for a chance to win a prize, but does not include bingo, a skill-based amusement machine, or a pool not conducted for profit. “Scheme of chance” includes the use of an electronic device to reveal the results of a game entry if valuable consideration is paid, directly or indirectly, for a chance to win a prize. Valuable consideration is deemed to be paid for a chance to win a prize in the following instances:

(1) Less than fifty per cent of the goods or services sold by a scheme of chance operator in exchange for game entries are used or redeemed by participants at any one location;
(2) Less than fifty per cent of participants who purchase goods or services at any one location do not accept, use or redeem the goods or services sold or purportely sold;
(3) More than fifty per cent of prizes at any one location are revealed to participants through an electronic device simulating a game of chance or a “casino game” as defined in Ohio R.C. 3772.01;
(4) The good or service sold by a scheme of chance operator in exchange for a game entry cannot be used or redeemed in the manner advertised;
(5) A participant pays more than fair market value for goods or services offered by a scheme of chance operator in order to receive one or more game entries;
(6) A participant may use the electronic device to purchase additional game entries;
(7) A participant may purchase additional game entries by using points or credits won as prizes while using the electronic device;
(8) A scheme of chance operator pays out in prize money more than twenty per cent of the gross revenue received at one location; or
(9) A participant makes a purchase or exchange in order to obtain any good or service that may be used to facilitate play on the electronic device.
As used in this subsection, “electronic device” means a mechanical, video, digital or electronic machine or device that is capable of displaying information on a screen or other mechanism and that is owned, leased or otherwise possessed by any person conducting a scheme of chance, or by that person’s partners, affiliates, subsidiaries or contractors.

(d) “Game of chance” means poker, craps, roulette, or other game in which a player gives anything of value in the hope of gain, the outcome of which is determined largely by chance, but does not include bingo.

(e) “Game of chance conducted for profit” means any game of chance designed to produce income for the person who conducts or operates the game of chance, but does not include bingo.

(f) “Gambling device” means any of the following:

(1) A book, totalizer or other equipment for recording bets;
(2) A ticket, token or other device representing a chance, share or interest in a scheme of chance or evidencing a bet;
(3) A deck of cards, dice, gaming table, roulette wheel, slot machine, or other apparatus designed for use in connection with a game of chance;
(4) Any equipment, device, apparatus or paraphernalia specially designed for gambling purposes;
(5) Bingo supplies sold or otherwise provided, or used, in violation of this chapter.

(g) “Gambling offense” means the following:

(1) A violation of Ohio R.C. 2915.02 to 2915.092, 2915.10 or 2915.11;
(2) A violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States substantially equivalent to any section listed in subsection (g)(1) hereof or a violation of Ohio R.C. 2915.06 as it existed prior to July 1, 1996;
(3) An offense under an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States, of which gambling is an element;
(4) A conspiracy or attempt to commit, or complicity in committing an offense under subsection (g)(1), (2) or (3) hereof.

(h) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, “charitable organization” means either of the following:

(1) An organization that is and has received from the Internal Revenue Service a determination letter that currently is in effect stating that the organization is, exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
(2) A volunteer rescue service organization, volunteer firefighter’s organization, veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization that is exempt from federal, income taxation under subsection 501(c)(4), (c)(7), (c)(8), (c)(10) or (c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code. To qualify as a charitable organization, an organization shall have been in continuous existence as such in this State for a period of two years immediately preceding either the making of an application for a bingo license under Ohio R.C. 2915.08 or the conducting of any game of chance as provided in division (D) of Ohio R.C. 2915.02.

(i) “Religious organization” means any church, body of communicants or group that is not organized or operated for profit, that gathers in common membership for regular worship and religious observances.

(j) “Veteran’s organization” means any individual post or state headquarters of a national veteran’s association or an auxiliary unit of any individual post of a national veteran’s association, which post, state headquarters, or auxiliary unit is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation and either has received a letter from the state headquarters of the national veteran’s association indicating that the individual post or auxiliary unit is in good standing with the national veteran’s association or has received a letter from the national veteran’s association indicating that the state headquarters is in good standing with the national veteran’s association. As used in this subsection, “national veteran’s association” means any veteran’s association that has been in continuous existence as such for a period of at least five years and either is incorporated by an act of the United States congress or has a national dues-paying membership of at least five thousand persons.

(k) “Volunteer firefighter’s organization” means any organization of volunteer firefighters, as defined in Ohio R.C. 146.01, that is organized and operated exclusively to provide financial support for a volunteer fire department or a volunteer fire company and that is recognized or ratified by a county, municipal corporation, or township.

(l) “Fraternal organization” means any society, order, state headquarters, or association within this State, except a college or high school fraternity, that is not organized for profit, that is a branch, lodge or chapter of a national or state organization, that exists exclusively for the common business of sodality of its members.

(m) “Volunteer rescue service organization” means any organization of volunteers organized to function as an emergency medical service organization as defined in Ohio R.C. 4765.01.

(n) “Charitable bingo game” means any bingo game described in subsection (o)(1) or (2) of this section that is conducted by a charitable organization that has obtained a license pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2915.08 and the proceeds of which are used for a charitable purpose.

(o) “Bingo” means either of the following:

(1) A game with all of the following characteristics:

A. The participants use bingo cards or sheets, including paper formats and electronic representation or image formats, that are divided into twenty-five spaces arranged in five horizontal and five vertical rows of spaces, with each space, except the central space, being designated by a combination of a letter and a number and with the central space being designated as a free space.
B. The participants cover the space on the bingo cards or sheets that correspond to combinations of letters and numbers that are announced by a bingo game operator.
C. A bingo game operator announces combinations of letters and numbers that appear on objects that a bingo game operator selects by chance, either manually or mechanically from a receptacle that contains seventy-five objects at the beginning of each game, each object marked by a different combination of a letter and a number that corresponds to one of the seventy-five possible combinations of a letter and a number that can appear on the bingo cards or sheets.
D. The winner of the bingo game includes any participant who properly announces during the interval between the announcements of letters and numbers as described in subsection (o)(1)C. hereof, that a predetermined and preannounced pattern of spaces has been covered on a bingo card or sheet being used by a participant.

(2) Instant bingo, punch boards and raffles.

(p) “Conduct” means to back, promote, organize, manage, carry on, sponsor, or prepare for the operation of bingo or a game of chance, a scheme of chance, or a sweepstakes.

(q) “Bingo game operator” means any person, except security personnel, who performs work or labor at the site of bingo, including, but not limited to, collecting money from participants, handing out bingo cards or sheets or objects to cover spaces on bingo cards or sheets, selecting from a receptacle the objects that contain the combination of letters and numbers that appear on bingo cards or sheets, calling out the combinations of letters and numbers, distributing prizes, selling or redeeming instant bingo tickets or cards, supervising the operation of a punch board, selling raffle tickets, selecting raffle tickets from a receptacle and announcing the winning numbers in a raffle, and preparing, selling, and serving food or beverages.

(r) “Participant” means any person who plays bingo.

(s) “Bingo session” means a period that includes both of the following:

(1) Not to exceed five continuous hours for the conduct of one or more games described in subsection (o)(1) of this section, instant bingo, and seal cards;
(2) A period for the conduct of instant bingo and seal cards for not more than two hours before and not more than two hours after the period described in subsection (s)(1) of this section.

(t) “Gross receipts” means all money or assets, including admission fees, that a person receives from bingo without the deduction of any amounts for prizes paid out or for the expenses of conducting bingo. “Gross receipts” does not include any money directly taken in from the sale of food or beverages by a charitable organization conducting bingo, or by a bona fide auxiliary unit or society of a charitable organization conducting bingo, provided all of the following apply:

(1) The auxiliary unit or society has been in existence as a bona fide auxiliary unit or society of the charitable organization for at least two years prior to conducting bingo.
(2) The person who purchases the food or beverage receives nothing of value except the food or beverage and items customarily received with the purchase of that food or beverage.
(3) The food and beverages are sold at customary and reasonable prices.

(u) “Security personnel” includes any person who either is a sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, township constable, or a police officer of a municipal corporation or has successfully completed a peace officer’s training course pursuant to Ohio R.C. 109.71 to 109.79 and who is hired to provide security for the premises on which bingo is conducted.

(v) “Charitable purpose” means that the net profit of bingo, other than instant bingo, is used by, or is given, donated, or otherwise transferred to, any of the following:

(1) Any organization that is described in subsection 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is either a governmental unit or an organization that is tax exempt under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
(2) A veteran’s organization that is a post, chapter, or organization of veterans, or an auxiliary unit or society of, or a trust or foundation for, any such post, chapter, or organization organized in the United States or any of its possessions, at least seventy-five per cent of the members of which are veterans and substantially all of the other members of which are individuals who are spouses, widows, or widowers of veterans, or such individuals, provided that no part of the net earnings of such post, chapter, or organization inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual, and further provided that the net profit is used by the post, chapter, or organization for the charitable purposes set forth in division (B)(12) of Ohio R.C. 5739.02, is used for awarding scholarships to or for attendance at an institution mentioned in division (B)(12) of Ohio R.C. 5739.02, is donated to a governmental agency, or is used for nonprofit youth activities, the purchase of United States or Ohio flags that are donated to schools, youth groups, or other bona fide nonprofit organizations, promotion of patriotism, or disaster relief;
(3) A fraternal organization that has been in continuous existence in this State for fifteen years and that uses the net profit exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals if contributions for such use would qualify as a deductible charitable contribution under subsection 170 of the Internal Revenue Code;
(4) A volunteer firefighter’s organization that uses the net profit for the purposes set forth in subsection (k) of this section.

(w) “Internal Revenue Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U..S.C. 1, as now or hereafter amended.

(x) “Youth athletic organization” means any organization, not organized for profit, that is organized and operated exclusively to provide financial support to, or to operate, athletic activities for persons who are twenty-one years of age or younger by means of sponsoring, organizing, operating or contributing to the support of an athletic team, club, league or association.

(y) “Youth athletic park organization” means any organization, not organized for profit, that satisfies both of the following:

(1) It owns, operates and maintains playing fields that satisfy both of the following:

A. The playing fields are used at least one hundred days per year for athletic activities by one or more organizations not organized for profit, each of which is organized and operated exclusively to provide financial support to, or to operate, athletic activities for persons who are eighteen years of age or younger by means of sponsoring, organizing, operating or contributing to the support of an athletic team, club, league or association;
B. The playing fields are not used for any profit-making activity at any time during the year,

(2) It uses the proceeds of bingo it conducts exclusively for the operation, maintenance and improvement of its playing fields of the type described in paragraph (1) hereof.

(z) “Bingo supplies” means bingo cards or sheets; instant bingo tickets or cards; electronic bingo aids; raffle tickets; punch boards; seal cards; instant bingo ticket dispensers; and devices for selecting or displaying the combination of bingo letters and numbers or raffle tickets. Items that are “bingo supplies” are not gambling devices if sold or otherwise provided, and used, in accordance with this chapter. For purposes of this chapter, “bingo supplies” are not to be considered equipment used to conduct a bingo game.

(aa) “Instant bingo” means a form of bingo that shall use folded or banded tickets or paper cards with perforated break-open tabs, a face of which is covered or otherwise hidden from view to conceal a number, letter, or symbol, or set of numbers, letters, or symbols, some of which have been designated in advance as prize winners, and may also include games in which some winners are determined by the random selection of one or more bingo numbers by the use of a seal card or bingo blower. In all “instant bingo” the prize amount and structure shall be predetermined. “Instant bingo” does not include any device that is activated by the insertion of a coin, currency, token, or an equivalent, and that contains as one of its components a video display monitor that is capable of displaying numbers, letters, symbols, or characters in winning or losing combinations.

(bb) “Seal card” means a form of instant bingo that uses instant bingo tickets in conjunction with a board or placard that contains one or more seals that, when removed or opened, reveal predesignated winning numbers, letters, or symbols.

(cc) “Raffle” means a form of bingo in which the one or more prizes are won by one or more persons who have purchased a raffle ticket. The one or more winners of the raffle are determined by drawing a ticket stub or other detachable section from a receptacle containing ticket stubs or detachable sections corresponding to all tickets sold for the raffle. “Raffle” does not include the drawing of a ticket stub or other detachable section of a ticket purchased to attend a professional sporting event if both of the following apply:

(1) The ticket stub or other detachable section is used to select the winner of a free prize given away at the professional sporting event; and
(2) The cost of the ticket is the same as the cost of a ticket to the professional sporting event on days when no free prize is given away.

(dd) “Punch board” means a board containing a number of holes or receptacles of uniform size in which are placed, mechanically and randomly, serially numbered slips of paper that may be punched or drawn from the hole or receptacle when used in conjunction with instant bingo. A player may punch or draw the numbered slips of paper from the holes or receptacles and obtain the prize established for the game if the number drawn corresponds to a winning number or, if the punch board includes the use of a seal card, a potential winning number.

(ee) “Gross profit” means gross receipts minus the amount actually expended for the payment of prize awards.

(ff) “Net profit” means gross profit minus expenses.

(gg) “Expenses” means the reasonable amount of gross profit actually expended for all of the following:

(1) The purchase or lease of bingo supplies;
(2) The annual license fee required under Ohio R.C. 2915.08;
(3) Bank fees and service charges for a bingo session or game account described in Ohio R.C. 2915.10;
(4) Audits and accounting services;
(5) Safes;
(6) Cash registers;
(7) Hiring security personnel;
(8) Advertising bingo;
(9) Renting premises in which to conduct a bingo session;
(10) Tables and chairs;
(11) Expenses for maintaining and operating a charitable organization’s facilities, including, but not limited to, a post home, club house, lounge, tavern, or canteen and any grounds attached to the post home, club house, lounge, tavern, or canteen;
(12) Payment of real property taxes and assessments that are levied on a premises on which bingo is conducted;
(13) Any other product or service directly related to the conduct of bingo that is authorized in rules adopted by the Attorney General under division (B)(1) of Ohio R.C. 2915.08.

(hh) “Person” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 1.59 and includes any firm or any other legal entity, however organized.

(ii) “Revoke” means to void permanently all rights and privileges of the holder of a license issued under Ohio R.C. 2915.08, 2915.081, or 2915.082 or a charitable gaming license issued by another jurisdiction.

(jj) “Suspend” means to interrupt temporarily all rights and privileges of the holder of a license issued under Ohio R.C. 2915.08, 2915.081, or 2915.082 or a charitable gaming license issued by another jurisdiction.

(kk) “Distributor” means any person who purchases or obtains bingo supplies and who does either of the following:

(1) Sells, offers for sale, or otherwise provides or offers to provide the bingo supplies to another person for use in this State;
(2) Modifies, converts, adds to, or removes parts from the bingo supplies to further their promotion or sale for use in this State.

(ll) “Manufacturer” means any person who assembles completed bingo supplies from raw materials, other items, or subparts or who modifies, converts, adds to, or removes parts from bingo supplies to further their promotion or sale.

(mm) “Gross annual revenues” means the annual gross receipts derived from the conduct of bingo described in subsection (o)(1) of this section plus the annual net profit derived from the conduct of bingo described in subsection (o)(2) of this section.

(nn) “Instant bingo ticket dispenser” means a mechanical device that dispenses an instant bingo ticket or card as the sole item of value dispensed and that has the following characteristics:

(1) It is activated upon the insertion of United States currency.
(2) It performs no gaming functions.
(3) It does not contain a video display monitor or generate noise.
(4) It is not capable of displaying any numbers, letters, symbols, or characters in winning or losing combinations.
(5) It does not simulate or display rolling or spinning reels.
(6) It is incapable of determining whether a dispensed bingo ticket or card is a winning or nonwinning ticket or card and requires a winning ticket or
card to be paid by a bingo game operator.
(7) It may provide accounting and security features to aid in accounting for the instant bingo tickets or cards it dispenses.
(8) It is not part of an electronic network and is not interactive.

(oo) (1) “Electronic bingo aid” means an electronic device used by a participant to monitor bingo cards or sheets purchased at the time and place of a bingo session and that does all of the following:

A. It provides a means for a participant to input numbers and letters announced by a bingo caller.
B. It compares the numbers and letters entered by the participant to the bingo faces previously stored in the memory of the device.
C. It identifies a winning bingo pattern.

(2) “Electronic bingo aid” does not include any device into which a coin, currency, token, or an equivalent is inserted to activate play.

(pp) “Deal of instant bingo tickets” means a single game of instant bingo tickets all with the same serial number.

(qq) (1) “Slot machine” means either of the following:

A. Any mechanical, electronic, video, or digital device that is capable of accepting anything of value, directly or indirectly, from or on behalf of a player who gives the thing of value in the hope of gain;
B. Any mechanical, electronic, video, or digital device that is capable of accepting anything of value, directly or indirectly, from or on behalf of a player to conduct bingo or a scheme or game of chance.

(2) “Slot machine” does not include a skill-based amusement machine or an instant bingo ticket dispenser.

(rr) “Net profit from the proceeds of the sale of instant bingo” means gross profit minus the ordinary, necessary, and reasonable expense expended for the purchase of instant bingo supplies, and, in the case of instant bingo conducted by a veteran’s, fraternal or sporting organization, minus the payment by that organization of real property taxes, and assessments levied on a premises on which instant bingo is conducted.

(ss) “Charitable instant bingo organization” means an organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is a charitable organization as defined in this section. A “charitable instant bingo organization” does not include a charitable organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that is created by a veteran’s organization, a fraternal organization, or a sporting organization in regards to bingo conducted or assisted by a veteran’s organization, a fraternal organization, or a sporting organization pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2915.13.

(tt) “Game flare” means the board or placard that accompanies each deal of instant bingo tickets and that has printed on or affixed to it the following information for the game:

(1) The name of the game;
(2) The manufacturer’s name or distinctive logo;
(3) The form number;
(4) The ticket count;
(5) The prize structure, including the number of winning instant bingo tickets by denomination and the respective winning symbol or number combinations for the winning instant bingo tickets;
(6) The cost per play;
(7) The serial number of the game.

(uu) (1) “Skill-based amusement machine” means mechanical, video, digital, or electronic device that rewards the player or players, if at all, only with merchandise prizes or with redeemable vouchers redeemable only for merchandise prizes, provided that with respect to rewards for playing the game all of the following apply:

A. The wholesale value of a merchandise prize awarded as a result of the single play of a machine does not exceed ten dollars;
B. Redeemable vouchers awarded for any single play of a machine are not redeemable for a merchandise prize with a wholesale value of more than ten dollars;
C. Redeemable vouchers are not redeemable for a merchandise prize that has a wholesale value of more than ten dollars times the fewest number of single plays necessary to accrue the redeemable vouchers required to obtain that prize; and
D. Any redeemable vouchers or merchandise prizes are distributed at the site of the skill-based amusement machine at the time of play.
A card for the purchase of gasoline is a redeemable voucher for purposes of division (uu)(1) of this section even if the skill-based amusement machine for the play of which the card is awarded is located at a place where gasoline may not be legally distributed to the public or the card is not redeemable at the location of, or at the time of playing, the skill-based amusement machine.

(2) A device shall not be considered a skill-based amusement machine and shall be considered a slot machine if it pays cash or one or more of the following apply:

A. The ability of a player to succeed at the game is impacted by the number or ratio of prior wins to prior losses of players playing the game.
B. Any reward of redeemable vouchers is not based solely on the player achieving the object of the game or the player’s score;
C. The outcome of the game, or the value of the redeemable voucher or merchandise prize awarded for winning the game, can be controlled by a source other than any player playing the game.
D. The success of any player is or may be determined by a chance event that cannot be altered by player actions.
E. The ability of any player to succeed at the game is determined by game features not visible or known to the player.
F. The ability of the player to succeed at the game is impacted by the exercise of a skill that no reasonable player could exercise.

(3) All of the following apply to any machine that is operated as described in subsection (uu)(1) of this section:

A. As used in subsection (uu) of this section, “game” and “play” mean one event from the initial activation of the machine until the results of play are determined without payment of additional consideration. An individual utilizing a machine that involves a single game, play, contest, competition or tournament may be awarded redeemable vouchers or merchandise prizes based on the results of play.
B. Advance play for a single game, play, contest, competition or tournament participation may be purchased. The cost of the contest, competition, or tournament participation may be greater than a single noncontest, competition or tournament play.
C. To the extent that the machine is used in a contest, competition or tournament, that contest, competition, or tournament has a defined starting and ending date and is open to participants in competition for scoring and ranking results toward the awarding of redeemable vouchers or merchandise prizes that are stated prior to the start of the contest, competition or tournament.

(4) For purposes of subsection (uu)(1) of this section, the mere presence of a device, such as a pin-setting, ball-releasing, or scoring mechanism, that does not contribute to or affect the outcome of the play of the game does not make the device a skill-based amusement machine.

(vv) “Merchandise prize” means any item of value, but shall not include any of the following:

(1) Cash, gift cards, or any equivalent thereof;
(2) Plays on games of chance, state lottery tickets, bingo, or instant bingo;
(3) Firearms, tobacco, or alcoholic beverages; or
(4) A redeemable voucher that is redeemable for any of the items listed in subsection (vv)(1), (2) or (3) of this section.

(ww) “Redeemable voucher” means any ticket, token, coupon, receipt, or other noncash representation of value.

(xx) “Pool not conducted for profit” means a scheme in which a participant gives a valuable consideration for a chance to win a prize and the total amount of consideration wagered is distributed to a participant or participants.

(yy) “Sporting organization” means a hunting, fishing or trapping organization, other than a college or high school fraternity or sorority, that is not organized for profit, that is affiliated with a state or national sporting organization, including but not limited to, the league of Ohio sportsmen, and that has been in continuous existence in this State for a period of three years.

(zz) “Community action agency” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 122.66.

(aaa) (1) “Sweepstakes terminal device” means a mechanical, video, digital or electronic machine or device that is owned, leased or otherwise possessed by any person conducting a sweepstakes, or by that person’s partners, affiliates, subsidiaries, or contractors, that is intended to be used by a sweepstakes participant, and that is capable of displaying information on a screen or other mechanism. A device is a sweepstakes terminal device if any of the following apply:

A. The device uses a simulated game terminal as a representation of the prizes associated with the results of the sweepstakes entries.
B. The device utilizes software such that the simulated game influences or determines the winning of or value of the prize.
C. The device selects prizes from a predetermined finite pool of entries.
D. The device utilizes a mechanism that reveals the content of a predetermined sweepstakes entry.
E. The device predetermines the prize results and stores those results for delivery at the time the sweepstakes entry results are revealed.
F. The device utilizes software to create a game result.
G. The device reveals the prize incrementally, even though the device does not influence the awarding of the prize or the value of any prize awarded.
H. The device determines and associates the prize with an entry or entries at the time the sweepstakes is entered.

(2) As used in this subsection and in Section 517.02:

A. “Enter” means the act by which a person becomes eligible to receive any prize offered in a sweepstakes.
B. “Entry” means one event from the initial activation of the sweepstakes terminal device until all of the sweepstakes prize results from that activation are revealed.
C. “Prize” means any gift, award, gratuity, good, service, credit, reward or any other thing of value that may be transferred to a person, whether possession of the prize is actually transferred, or placed on an account or other record as evidence of the intent to transfer the prize.
D. “Sweepstakes terminal device facility” means any location in this Municipality where a sweepstakes terminal device is provided to a sweepstakes participant, except as provided in Ohio R.C. 2915.02(G).

(bbb) “Sweepstakes” means any game, contest, advertising scheme or plan, or other promotion where consideration is not required for a person to enter to win or become eligible to receive any prize, the determination of which is based upon chance. “Sweepstakes” does not include bingo as authorized under this chapter, pari-mutuel wagering as authorized by Ohio R.C. Chapter 3769, lotteries conducted by the State Lottery Commission as authorized by Ohio R.C. Chapter 3770, and casino gaming as authorized by Ohio R.C. Chapter 3772.
(ORC 2915.01)

517.02 GAMBLING.

(a) No person shall do any of the following:

(1) Engage in bookmaking, or knowingly engage in conduct that facilitates bookmaking;
(2) Establish, promote, or operate or knowingly engage in conduct that facilitates any game of chance conducted for profit or any scheme of chance;
(3) Knowingly procure, transmit, exchange, or engage in conduct that facilitates the procurement, transmission, or exchange of information for use in establishing odds or determining winners in connection with bookmaking or with any game of chance conducted for profit or any scheme of chance;
(4) Engage in betting or in playing any scheme or game of chance as a substantial source of income or livelihood;
(5) Conduct, or participate in the conduct of, a sweepstakes with the use of a sweepstakes terminal device at a sweepstakes terminal device facility and either:

A. Give to another person any item described in subsection (vv)(1), (2), (3) or (4) of Section 517.01 as a prize for playing or participating in a sweepstakes; or
B. Give to another person any merchandise prize, or a redeemable voucher for a merchandise prize, the wholesale value of which is in excess of ten dollars and which is awarded as a single entry for playing or participating in a sweepstakes. Redeemable vouchers shall not be redeemable for a merchandise prize that has a wholesale value of more than ten dollars.

(6) Conduct, or participate in the conduct of, a sweepstakes with the use of a sweepstakes terminal device at a sweepstakes terminal device facility without first obtaining a current annual “certificate of registration” from the Attorney General as required by division (F) of Ohio R.C. 2915.02.
(7) With purpose to violate subsection (a)(1), (2), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of this section, acquire, possess, control, or operate any gambling device.

(b) For purposes of subsection (a)(1) of this section, a person facilitates bookmaking if the person in any way knowingly aids an illegal bookmaking operation, including, without limitation, placing a bet with a person engaged in or facilitating illegal bookmaking. For purposes of subsection (a)(2) of this section, a person facilitates a game of chance conducted for profit or a scheme of chance if the person in any way knowingly aids in the conduct or operation of any such game or scheme, including, without limitation, playing any such game or scheme.

(d) This section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) Games of chance, if all of the following apply:

A. The games of chance are not craps for money or roulette for money.
B. The games of chance are conducted by a charitable organization that is, and has received from the Internal Revenue Service a determination letter that is currently in effect, stating that the organization is, exempt from Federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
C. The games of chance are conducted at festivals of the charitable organization that are conducted not more than a total of five days a calendar year, and are conducted on premises owned by the charitable organization for a period of no less than one year immediately preceding the conducting of the games of chance, on premises leased from a governmental unit, or on premises that are leased from a veteran’s or fraternal organization and that have been owned by the lessor veteran’s or fraternal organization for a period of no less than one year immediately preceding the conducting of the games of chance.
A charitable organization shall not lease premises from a veteran’s or fraternal organization to conduct a festival described in subsection (d)(1)C. hereof if the veteran’s or fraternal organization has already leased the premises twelve times during the preceding year to charitable organizations for that purpose. If a charitable organization leases premises from a veteran’s or fraternal organization to conduct a festival described in subsection (d)(1)C. hereof, the charitable organization shall not pay a rental rate for the premises per day of the festival that exceeds the rental rate per bingo session that a charitable organization may pay under Section 517.06(b)(1) when it leases premises from another charitable organization to conduct bingo games.
D. All of the money or assets received from the games of chance after deduction only of prizes paid out during the conduct of the games of chance are used by, or given, donated or otherwise transferred to, any organization that is described in subsection 509(a)(1), (2) or (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is either a governmental unit or an organization that is tax exempt under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code;
E. The games of chance are not conducted during, or within ten hours of, a bingo game conducted for amusement purposes only pursuant to Section 517.13.
No person shall receive any commission, wage, salary, reward, tip, donations, gratuity or other form of compensation, directly or indirectly, for operating or assisting in the operation of any game of chance.

(2) Any tag fishing tournament operated under a permit issued under Ohio R.C. 1533.92, as “tag fishing tournament” is defined in Ohio R.C. 1531.01.
(3) Bingo conducted by a charitable organization that holds a license issued under Ohio R.C. 2915.08.

(e) Subsection (d) hereof shall not be construed to authorize the sale, lease or other temporary or permanent transfer of the right to conduct games of chance, as granted by subsection (d) hereof, by any charitable organization that is granted that right.

(f) Whoever violates this section is guilty of gambling, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a gambling offense, gambling is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. (ORC 2915.02)

517.03 OPERATING A GAMBLING HOUSE.

(a) No person, being the owner or lessee, or having custody, control or supervision of premises, shall:

(1) Use or occupy such premises for gambling in violation of Section 517.02;
(2) Recklessly permit such premises to be used or occupied for gambling in violation of Section 517.02.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of operating a gambling house, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a gambling offense, operating a gambling house is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

(c) Premises used or occupied in violation of this section constitute a nuisance subject to abatement pursuant to Ohio R.C. Chapter 3767. (ORC 2915.03)

517.04 PUBLIC GAMING.

(a) No person, while at a hotel, restaurant, tavern, store, arena, hall, or other place of public accommodation, business, amusement, or resort shall make a bet or play any game of chance or scheme of chance.

(b) No person, being the owner or lessee, or having custody, control, or supervision, of a hotel, restaurant, tavern, store, arena, hall, or other place of public accommodation, business, amusement, or resort shall recklessly permit those premises to be used or occupied in violation of subsection (a) of this section.

(c) Subsections (a) and (b) of this section do not prohibit conduct in connection with gambling expressly permitted by law.

(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of public gaming. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, public gaming is a minor misdemeanor. If the offender previously has been convicted of any gambling offense, public gaming is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(e) Premises used or occupied in violation of subsection (b) of this section constitute a nuisance subject to abatement under Ohio R.C. Chapter 3767. (ORC 2915.04)

517.05 CHEATING.

(a) No person, with purpose to defraud or knowing that the person is facilitating a fraud, shall engage in conduct designed to corrupt the outcome of any of the following:

(1) The subject of a bet;
(2) A contest of knowledge, skill, or endurance that is not an athletic or sporting event;
(3) A scheme or game of chance;
(4) Bingo.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of cheating. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection cheating is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the potential gain from the cheating is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, or if the offender previously has been convicted of any gambling offense or of any theft offense as defined in Ohio R.C. 2913.01, cheating is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. (ORC 2915.05)

517.06 METHODS OF CONDUCTING A BINGO GAME; PROHIBITIONS.

(a) No charitable organization that conducts bingo shall fail to do any of the following:

(1) Own all of the equipment used to conduct bingo or lease that equipment from a charitable organization that is licensed to conduct bingo, or from the landlord of a premises where bingo is conducted, for a rental rate that is not more than is customary and reasonable for that equipment;
(2) Use, or give, donate, or otherwise transfer, all of the net profit derived from bingo, other than instant bingo, for a charitable purpose listed in its license application and described in Section 517.01(v), or distribute all of the net profit from the proceeds of the sale of instant bingo as stated in its license application and in accordance with Ohio R.C. 2915.101.

(b) No charitable organization that conducts a bingo game described in Section 517.01(o)(1) shall fail to do any of the following:

(1) Conduct the bingo game on premises that are owned by the charitable organization, on premises that are owned by another charitable organization and leased from that charitable organization for a rental rate not in excess of the lesser of six hundred dollars ($600.00) per bingo session or forty-five per cent of the gross receipts of the bingo session, on premises that are leased from a person other than a charitable organization for a rental rate that is not more than is customary and reasonable for premises that are similar in location, size, and quality but not in excess of four hundred fifty dollars ($450.00) per bingo session, or on premises that are owned by a person other than a charitable organization, that are leased from that person by another charitable organization, and that are subleased from that other charitable organization by the charitable organization for a rental rate not in excess of four hundred fifty dollars ($450.00) per bingo session. No charitable organization is required to pay property taxes or assessments on premises that the charitable organization leases from another person to conduct bingo sessions. If the charitable organization leases from a person other than a charitable organization the premises on which it conducts bingo sessions, the lessor of the premises shall provide the premises to the organization and shall not provide the organization with bingo game operators, security personnel, concessions or concession operators, bingo supplies, or any other type of service. A charitable organization shall not lease or sublease premises that it owns or leases to more than three other charitable organizations per calendar week for conducting bingo sessions on the premises. A person that is not a charitable organization shall not lease premises that it owns, leases, or otherwise is empowered to lease to more than three charitable organizations per calendar week for conducting bingo sessions on the premises. In no case shall more than nine bingo sessions be conducted on any premises in any calendar week.
(2) Display its license conspicuously at the premises where the bingo session is conducted;
(3) Conduct the bingo session in accordance with the definition of bingo set forth in Section 517.01(o)(1).

(c) No charitable organization that conducts a bingo game described in Section 517.01(o)(1) shall do any of the following:

(1) Pay any compensation to a bingo game operator for operating a bingo session that is conducted by the charitable organization or for preparing, selling, or serving food or beverages at the site of the bingo session, permit any auxiliary unit or society of the charitable organization to pay compensation to any bingo game operator who prepares, sells, or serves food or beverages at a bingo session conducted by the charitable organization, or permit any auxiliary unit or society of the charitable organization to prepare, sell, or serve food or beverages at a bingo session conducted by the charitable organization, if the auxiliary unit or society pays any compensation to the bingo game operators who prepare, sell, or serve the food or beverages;
(2) Pay consulting fees to any person for any services performed in relation to the bingo session;
(3) Pay concession fees to any person who provides refreshments to the participants in the bingo session;
(4) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c)(4) of this section, conduct more than three bingo sessions in any seven-day period. A volunteer firefighter’s organization or a volunteer rescue service organization that conducts not more than five bingo sessions in a calendar year may conduct more than three bingo sessions in a seven-day period after notifying the Attorney General when it will conduct the sessions;
(5) Pay out more than six thousand dollars ($6,000) in prizes for bingo games described in Section 517.01(o)(1) during any bingo session that is conducted by the charitable organization. “Prizes” does not include awards from the conduct of instant bingo;
(6) Conduct a bingo session at any time during the eight-hour period between two a.m. and ten a.m., at any time during, or within ten hours of, a bingo game conducted for amusement only pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2915.12, at any premises not specified on its license, or on any day of the week or during any time period not specified on its license. Subsection (c)(6) of this section does not prohibit the sale of instant bingo tickets beginning at nine a.m. for a bingo session that begins at ten a.m. If circumstances make it impractical for the charitable organization to conduct a bingo session at the premises, or on the day of the week or at the time, specified on its license or if a charitable organization wants to conduct bingo sessions on a day of the week or at a time other than the day or time specified on its license, the charitable organization may apply in writing to the Attorney General for an amended license, pursuant to division (F) of Ohio R.C. 2915.08. A charitable organization may apply twice in each calendar year for an amended license to conduct bingo sessions on a day of the week or at a time other than the day or time specified on its license. If the amended license is granted, the organization may conduct bingo sessions at the premises, on the day of the week, and at the time specified on its amended license;
(7) Permit any person whom the charitable organization knows, or should have known, is under the age of eighteen to work as a bingo game operator;
(8) Permit any person whom the charitable organization knows, or should have known, has been convicted of a felony or gambling offense in any jurisdiction to be a bingo game operator;
(9) Permit the lessor of the premises on which the bingo session is conducted, if the lessor is not a charitable organization, to provide the charitable organization with bingo game operators, security personnel, concessions, bingo supplies, or any other type of service;
(10) Purchase or lease bingo supplies from any person except a distributor issued a license under Ohio R.C. 2915.081;

(11) A. Use or permit the use of electronic bingo aids except under the following circumstances:

For any single participant, not more than ninety bingo faces can be played using an electronic bingo aid or aids.
The charitable organization shall provide a participant using an electronic bingo aid with corresponding paper bingo cards or sheets.
The total price of bingo faces played with an electronic bingo aid shall be equal to the total price of the same number of bingo faces played with a paper bingo card or sheet sold at the same bingo session but without an electronic bingo aid.
An electronic bingo aid cannot be part of an electronic network other than a network that includes only bingo aids and devices that are located on the premises at which the bingo is being conducted or be interactive with any device not located on the premises at which the bingo is being conducted.
An electronic bingo aid cannot be used to participate in bingo that is conducted at a location other than the location at which the bingo session is conducted and at which the electronic bingo aid is used.
An electronic bingo aid cannot be used to provide for the input of numbers and letters announced by a bingo caller other than the bingo caller who physically calls the numbers and letters at the location at which the bingo session is conducted and at which the electronic bingo aid is used.

B. The Attorney General may adopt rules in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapter 119 that govern the use of electronic bingo aids. The rules may include a requirement that an electronic bingo aid be capable of being audited by the Attorney General to verify the number of bingo cards or sheets played during each bingo session.

(12) Permit any person the charitable organization knows, or should have known, to be under eighteen years of age to play bingo described in Section 517.01(o)(1).

(d) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d)(3) hereof, no charitable organization shall provide to a bingo game operator, and no bingo game operator shall receive or accept, any commission, wage, salary, reward, tip, donation, gratuity, or other form of compensation, directly or indirectly, regardless of the source, for conducting bingo or providing other work or labor at the site of bingo during a bingo session.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d)(3) hereof, no charitable organization shall provide to a bingo game operator any commission, wage, salary, reward, tip, donation, gratuity, or other form of compensation, directly or indirectly, regardless of the source, for conducting instant bingo other than at a bingo session at the site of instant bingo other than at a bingo session.
(3) Nothing in subsection (d) hereof prohibits an employee of a fraternal organization, veteran’s organization, or sporting organization from selling instant bingo tickets or cards to the organization’s members or invited guests, as long as no portion of the employee’s compensation is paid from any receipts of bingo.

(e) Notwithstanding subsection (b)(1) of this section, a charitable organization that, prior to December 6, 1977, has entered into written agreements for the lease of premises it owns to another charitable organization or other charitable organizations for the conducting of bingo sessions so that more than two bingo sessions are conducted per calendar week on the premises, and a person that is not a charitable organization and that, prior to December 6, 1977, has entered into written agreements for the lease of premises it owns to charitable organizations for the conducting of more than two bingo sessions per calendar week on the premises, may continue to lease the premises to those charitable organizations, provided that no more than four sessions are conducted per calendar week, that the lessor organization or person has notified the Attorney General in writing of the organizations that will conduct the sessions and the days of the week and the times of the day on which the sessions will be conducted, that the initial lease entered into with each organization that will conduct the sessions was filed with the Attorney General prior to December 6, 1977, and that each organization that will conduct the sessions was issued a license to conduct bingo games by the Attorney General prior to December 6, 1977.

(f) This section does not prohibit a bingo licensed charitable organization or a game operator from giving any person an instant bingo ticket as a prize.

(g) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whoever violates subsection (a)(1) or (2), (b)(1), (2), or (3), (c)(1) to (11) or (d) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of subsection (a)(1) or (2), (b)(1), (2) or (3), (c)(1) to (11), or (d) of this section, a violation of subsection (a)(1) or (2), (b)(1), (2) or (3) or (c)(1) to (11) or (d) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Whoever violates subsection (c)(12) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of subsection (c)(12) of this section, a violation of subsection (c)(12) is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2915.09)

517.07 INSTANT BINGO CONDUCT.

(a) No charitable organization that conducts instant bingo shall do any of the following:

(1) Fail to comply with the requirements of divisions (A)(1), (2), and (3) of Ohio R.C. 2915.09;
(2) Conduct instant bingo unless either of the following applies:

A. That organization is, and has received from the Internal Revenue Service a determination letter that is currently in effect stating that the organization is, exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a), is described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, is a charitable organization as defined in Section 517.01, is in good standing in the State pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2915.08, and is in compliance with Ohio R.C. Chapter 1716;
B. That organization is, and has received from the Internal Revenue Service a determination letter that is currently in effect stating that the organization is, exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a), is described in subsection 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), or 501(c)(19) or is a veteran’s organization described in subsection 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, and conducts instant bingo under Section 517.14.

(3) Conduct instant bingo on any day, at any time, or at any premises not specified on the organization’s license issued pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2915.08;
(4) Permit any person whom the organization knows or should have known has been convicted of a felony or gambling offense in any jurisdiction to be a bingo game operator in the conduct of instant bingo;
(5) Purchase or lease supplies used to conduct instant bingo or punch board games from any person except a distributor licensed under Ohio R.C. 2915.081;
(6) Sell or provide any instant bingo ticket or card for a price different from the price printed on it by the manufacturer on either the instant bingo ticket or card or on the game flare;
(7) Sell an instant bingo ticket or card to a person under eighteen years of age;
(8) Fail to keep unsold instant bingo tickets or cards for less than three years;
(9) Pay any compensation to a bingo game operator for conducting instant bingo that is conducted by the organization or for preparing, selling, or serving food or beverages at the site of the instant bingo game, permit any auxiliary unit or society of the organization to pay compensation to any bingo game operator who prepares, sells, or serves food or beverages at an instant bingo game conducted by the organization, or permit any auxiliary unit or society of the organization to prepare, sell, or serve food or beverages at an instant bingo game conducted by the organization, if the auxiliary unit or society pays any compensation to the bingo game operators who prepare, sell, or serve the food or beverages;
(10) Pay fees to any person for any services performed in relation to an instant bingo game, except as provided in Section 517.09(d);
(11) Pay fees to any person who provides refreshments to the participants in an instant bingo game;

(12) A. Allow instant bingo tickets or cards to be sold to bingo game operators at a premises at which the organization sells instant bingo tickets or cards or to be sold to employees of a D permit holder who are working at a premises at which instant bingo tickets or cards are sold;
B. Subsection (a)(12)A. of this section does not prohibit a licensed charitable organization or a bingo game operator from giving any person an instant bingo ticket as a prize in place of a cash prize won by a participant in an instant bingo game. In no case shall an instant bingo ticket or card be sold or provided for a price different from the price printed on it by the manufacturer on either the instant bingo ticket or card or on the game flare.

(13) Fail to display its bingo license, and the serial numbers of the deal of instant bingo tickets or cards to be sold, conspicuously at each premises at which it sells instant bingo tickets or cards;
(14) Possess a deal of instant bingo tickets or cards that was not purchased from a distributor licensed under Ohio R.C. 2915.081 as reflected on an invoice issued by the distributor that contains all of the information required by Section 517.11(f);
(15) Fail, once it opens a deal of instant bingo tickets or cards, to continue to sell the tickets or cards in that deal until the tickets or cards with the top two highest tiers of prizes in that deal are sold;
(16) Possess bingo supplies that were not obtained in accordance with Ohio R.C. 2915.01 to 2915.13.

(b) A charitable organization may purchase, lease, or use instant bingo ticket dispensers to sell instant bingo tickets or cards.

(c) Whoever violates subsection (a) of this section or a rule adopted under Ohio R.C. 2915.091(C) is guilty of illegal instant bingo conduct. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, illegal instant bingo conduct is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of subsection (a) of this section or of such a rule, illegal instant bingo conduct is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2915.091)

517.08 RAFFLES.

(a) (1) Subject to subsection (a)(2) of this section, a charitable organization, a public school, a chartered nonpublic school, a community school, or a veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and is described in subsection 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), 501(c)(7), 501(c)(8), 501(c)(10), or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code may conduct a raffle to raise money for the organization or school and does not need a license to conduct bingo in order to conduct a raffle drawing that is not for profit.
(2) If a charitable organization that is described in subsection (a)(1) of this section, but that is not also described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, conducts a raffle, the charitable organization shall distribute at least fifty per cent of the net profit from the raffle to a charitable purpose described in Section 517.01(v) or to a department or agency of the federal government, the state, or any political subdivision.

(b) Except as provided in subsection (a) of this section, no person shall conduct a raffle drawing that is for profit or a raffle drawing that is not for profit.

(c) Whoever violates subsection (b) of this section is guilty of illegal conduct of a raffle. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, illegal conduct of a raffle is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of subsection (b) of this section, illegal conduct of a raffle is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. (ORC 2915.092)

517.09 CHARITABLE INSTANT BINGO ORGANIZATIONS.

(a) As used in this section, “retail income from all commercial activity” means the income that a person receives from the provision of goods, services, or activities that are provided at the location where instant bingo other than at a bingo session is conducted, including the sale of instant bingo tickets. A religious organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, at not more than one location at which it conducts its charitable programs, may include donations from its members and guests as retail income.

(b) (1) If a charitable instant bingo organization conducts instant bingo other than at a bingo session, the charitable instant bingo organization shall enter into a written contract with the owner or lessor of the location at which the instant bingo is conducted to allow the owner or lessor to assist in the conduct of instant bingo other than at a bingo session, identify each location where the instant bingo other than at a bingo session is being conducted, and identify the owner or lessor of each location.
(2) A charitable instant bingo organization that conducts instant bingo other than at a bingo session is not required to enter into a written contract with the owner or lessor of the location at which the instant bingo is conducted provided that the owner or lessor is not assisting in the conduct of the instant bingo other than at a bingo session and provided that the conduct of the instant bingo other than at a bingo session at that location is not more than five days per calendar year and not more than ten hours per day.

(c) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, no charitable instant bingo organization shall conduct instant bingo other than at a bingo session at a location where the primary source of retail income from all commercial activity at that location is the sale of instant bingo tickets.

(d) The owner or lessor of a location that enters into a contract pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall pay the full gross profit to the charitable instant bingo organization, in return for the deal of instant bingo tickets. The owner or lessor may retain the money that the owner or lessor receives for selling the instant bingo tickets, provided, however, that after the deal has been sold, the owner or lessor shall pay to the charitable instant bingo organization the value of any unredeemed instant bingo prizes remaining in the deal of instant bingo tickets.

The charitable instant bingo organization shall pay six per cent of the total gross receipts of any deal of instant bingo tickets for the purpose of reimbursing the owner or lessor for expenses described in this subsection.

As used in this subsection, “expenses” means those items provided for in subsections (gg)(4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (12) and (13) of Section 517.01 and that percentage of the owner’s or lessor’s rent for the location where instant bingo is conducted. “Expenses” in the aggregate, shall not exceed six per cent of the total gross receipts of any deal of instant bingo tickets.

As used in this subsection, “full gross profit” means the amount by which the total receipts of all instant bingo tickets, if the deal had been sold in full, exceeds the amount that would be paid out if all prizes were redeemed.

(e) A charitable instant bingo organization shall provide the Attorney General with all of the following information:

(1) That the charitable instant bingo organization has terminated a contract entered into pursuant to subsection (b) of this section with an owner or lessor of a location;
(2) That the charitable instant bingo organization has entered into a written contract pursuant to subsection (b) of this section with a new owner or lessor of a location;
(3) That the charitable instant bingo organization is aware of conduct by the owner or lessor of a location at which instant bingo is conducted that is in violation of this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 2915.

(f) Subsection (c) of this section does not apply to a volunteer firefighter’s organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, that conducts instant bingo other than at a bingo session on the premises where the organization conducts firefighter training, that has conducted instant bingo continuously for at least five years prior to July 1, 2003, and that, during each of those five years, had gross receipts of at least one million five hundred thousand dollars. (ORC 2915.093)

517.10 LOCATION OF INSTANT BINGO.

(a) No owner or lessor of a location shall assist a charitable instant bingo organization in the conduct of instant bingo other than at a bingo session at that location unless the owner or lessor has entered into a written contract, as described in Section 517.09, with the charitable instant bingo organization to assist in the conduct of instant bingo other than at a bingo session.

(b) The location of the lessor or owner shall be designated as a location where the charitable instant bingo organization conducts instant bingo other than at a bingo session.

(c) No owner or lessor of a location that enters into a written contract as prescribed in subsection (a) of this section shall violate any provision of Ohio R.C. Chapter 2915, or permit, aid, or abet any other person in violating any provision of Ohio R.C. Chapter 2915.

(d) No owner or lessor of a location that enters into a written contract as prescribed in subsection (a) of this section shall violate the terms of the contract.

(e) (1) Whoever violates subsection (c) or (d) of this section is guilty of illegal instant bingo conduct. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, illegal instant bingo conduct is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of subsection (c) or (d) of this section, illegal instant bingo conduct is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(2) If an owner or lessor of a location knowingly, intentionally, or recklessly violates subsection (c) or (d) of this section, any license that the owner or lessor holds for the retail sale of any goods on the owner’s or lessor’s premises that is issued by the State or a political subdivision is subject to suspension, revocation, or payment of a monetary penalty at the request of the Attorney General. (ORC 2915.094)

517.11 BINGO OR GAME OF CHANCE RECORDS.

(a) No charitable organization that conducts bingo or a game of chance pursuant to Section 517.02(d), shall fail to maintain the following records for at least three years from the date on which the bingo or game of chance is conducted:

(1) An itemized list of the gross receipts of each bingo session, each game of instant bingo by serial number, each raffle, each punch board game, and each game of chance, and an itemized list of the gross profits of each game of instant bingo by serial number;
(2) An itemized list of all expenses, other than prizes, that are incurred in conducting bingo or instant bingo, the name of each person to whom the expenses are paid, and a receipt for all of the expenses;
(3) A list of all prizes awarded during each bingo session, each raffle, each punch board game, and each game of chance conducted by the charitable organization, the total prizes awarded from each game of instant bingo by serial number, and the name, address, and social security number of all persons who are winners of prizes of six hundred dollars ($600.00) or more in value;
(4) An itemized list of the recipients of the net profit of the bingo or game of chance, including the name and address of each recipient to whom the money is distributed, and if the organization uses the net profit of bingo, or the money or assets received from a game of chance, for any charitable or other purpose set forth in Section 517.01(v), Section 517.02(d), or Ohio R.C. 2915.101, a list of each purpose and an itemized list of each expenditure for each purpose;
(5) The number of persons who participate in any bingo session or game of chance that is conducted by the charitable organization;
(6) A list of receipts from the sale of food and beverages by the charitable organization or one of its auxiliary units or societies, if the receipts were excluded from “gross receipts” Section 517.01(t);
(7) An itemized list of all expenses incurred at each bingo session, each raffle, each punch board game, or each game of instant bingo conducted by the charitable organization in the sale of food and beverages by the charitable organization or by an auxiliary unit or society of the charitable organization, the name of each person to whom the expenses are paid, and a receipt for all of the expenses.

(b) A charitable organization shall keep the records that it is required to maintain pursuant to subsection (a) of this section at its principal place of business in this State or at its headquarters in this State and shall notify the Attorney General of the location at which those records are kept.

(c) The gross profit from each bingo session or game described in Section 517.01(o)(1) or (2) shall be deposited into a checking account devoted exclusively to the bingo session or game. Payments for allowable expenses incurred in conducting the bingo session or game and payments to recipients of some or all of the net profit of the bingo session or game shall be made only by checks or electronic fund transfers drawn on the bingo session or game account.

(d) Each charitable organization shall conduct and record an inventory of all of its bingo supplies as of the first day of November of each year.

(e) The Attorney General may adopt rules in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapter 119 that establish standards of accounting, record keeping, and reporting to ensure that gross receipts from bingo or games of chance are properly accounted for.

(f) A distributor shall maintain, for a period of three years after the date of its sale or other provision, a record of each instance of its selling or otherwise providing to another person bingo supplies for use in this State. The record shall include all of the following for each instance:

(1) The name of the manufacturer from which the distributor purchased the bingo supplies and the date of the purchase;
(2) The name and address of the charitable organization or other distributor to which the bingo supplies were sold or otherwise provided;
(3) A description that clearly identifies the bingo supplies;
(4) Invoices that include the nonrepeating serial numbers of all paper bingo cards and sheets and all instant bingo deals sold or otherwise provided to each charitable organization.

(g) A manufacturer shall maintain, for a period of three years after the date of its sale or other provision, a record of each instance of its selling or otherwise providing bingo supplies for use in this State. The record shall include all of the following for each instance:

(1) The name and address of the distributor to whom the bingo supplies were sold or otherwise provided;
(2) A description that clearly identifies the bingo supplies, including serial numbers;
(3) Invoices that include the nonrepeating serial numbers of all paper bingo cards and sheets and all instant bingo deals sold or otherwise provided to each distributor.

(h) The Attorney General, or any law enforcement agency, may do all of the following:

(1) Investigate any charitable organization or any officer, agent, trustee, member, or employee of the organization;
(2) Examine the accounts and records of the organization;
(3) Conduct inspections, audits, and observations of bingo or games of chance;
(4) Conduct inspections of the premises where bingo or games of chance are conducted;
(5) Take any other necessary and reasonable action to determine if a violation of any provision of this chapter has occurred and to determine whether Section 517.12 has been complied with.

If any law enforcement agency has reasonable grounds to believe that a charitable organization or an officer, agent, trustee, member, or employee of the organization has violated any provision of this chapter, the law enforcement agency may proceed by action in the proper court to enforce this chapter, provided that the law enforcement agency shall give written notice to the Attorney General when commencing an action as described in this subsection.

(i) No person shall destroy, alter, conceal, withhold, or deny access to any accounts or records of a charitable organization that have been requested for examination, or obstruct, impede, or interfere with any inspection, audit, or observation of bingo or a game of chance or premises where bingo or a game of chance is conducted, or refuse to comply with any reasonable request of, or obstruct, impede, or interfere with any other reasonable action undertaken by, the Attorney General or a law enforcement agency pursuant to subsection (h) of this section.

(j) Whoever violates subsection (a) or (i) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 2915.10)

517.12 BINGO OPERATOR PROHIBITIONS.

(a) No person shall be a bingo game operator unless he is eighteen years of age or older.

(b) No person who has been convicted of a felony or a gambling offense in any jurisdiction shall be a bingo game operator.

(d) Whoever violates subsection (b) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 2915.11)

517.13 BINGO EXCEPTIONS.

(a) Ohio R.C. 2915.07 to 2915.11 or Section 517.06 et seq. of this chapter do not apply to bingo games that are conducted for the purpose of amusement only. A bingo game is conducted for the purpose of amusement only if it complies with all of the requirements specified in either subsection (a)(1) or (2) hereof:

(1) A. The participants do not pay any money or any other thing of value including an admission fee, or any fee for bingo cards, sheets, objects to cover the spaces or other devices used in playing bingo, for the privilege of participating in the bingo game or to defray any costs of the game, or pay tips or make donations during or immediately before or after the bingo game.
B. All prizes awarded during the course of the game are nonmonetary, and in the form of merchandise, goods or entitlements to goods or services only, and the total value of all prizes awarded during the game is less than one hundred dollars ($100.00).
C. No commission, wages, salary, reward, tip, donation, gratuity or other form of compensation, either directly or indirectly, and regardless of the source, is paid to any bingo game operator for work or labor performed at the site of the bingo game.
D. The bingo game is not conducted either during or within ten hours of any of the following:

A bingo session during which a charitable bingo game is conducted pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2915.07 to 2915.11 or Section 517.06 et seq. of this chapter;
A scheme or game of chance or bingo described in Section 517.01(o)(2).
E. The number of players participating in the bingo game does not
exceed fifty.

(2) A. The participants do not pay money or any other thing of value as an admission fee, and no participant is charged more than twenty-five cents (25¢) to purchase a bingo card or sheet, objects to cover the spaces or other devices used in playing bingo.
B. The total amount of money paid by all of the participants for bingo cards or sheets, objects to cover the spaces or other devices used in playing bingo does not exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00).
C. All of the money paid for bingo cards or sheets, objects to cover spaces or other devices used in playing bingo is used only to pay winners monetary and nonmonetary prizes and to provide refreshments.
D. The total value of all prizes awarded during the game does not exceed one hundred dollars ($100.00).
E. No commission, wages, salary, reward, tip, donation, gratuity or other form of compensation, either directly or indirectly, and regardless of the source, is paid to any bingo game operator for work or labor performed at the site of the bingo game.
F. The bingo game is not conducted during or within ten hours of either of the following:

A bingo session during which a charitable bingo game is conducted pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2915.07 to 2915.11 or Section 517.06 et seq. of this chapter;
A scheme of chance or game of chance or bingo described in Section 517.01(o)(2).

G. All of the participants reside at the premises where the bingo game is conducted.
H. The bingo games are conducted on different days of the week and not more than twice in a calendar week.

(b) The Attorney General, or any local law enforcement agency, may investigate the conduct of a bingo game that purportedly is conducted for purposes of amusement only if there is reason to believe that the purported amusement bingo game does not comply with subsection (a) hereof. A local law enforcement agency may proceed by action in the proper court to enforce this section if the local law enforcement agency gives written notice to the Attorney General when commencing the action. (ORC 2915.12)

517.14 INSTANT BINGO CONDUCT BY A VETERAN’S OR FRATERNAL ORGANIZATION.

(a) A veteran’s organization, a fraternal organization, or a sporting organization authorized to conduct a bingo session pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2915.01 to 2915.12 may conduct instant bingo other than at a bingo session if all of the following apply:

(1) The veteran’s organization, fraternal organization or sporting organization limits the sale of instant bingo to twelve hours during any day, provided that the sale does not begin earlier than ten a.m. and ends not later than two a.m.
(2) The veteran’s organization, fraternal organization or a sporting organization limits the sale of instant bingo to its own premises and to its own members and invited guests.
(3) The veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization is raising money for an organization that is described in subsection 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is either a governmental unit or an organization that maintains its principal place of business in this State, that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that is in good standing in this State and executes a written contract with that organization as required in subsection (b) of this section.

(b) If a veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization authorized to conduct instant bingo pursuant to subsection (a) of this section is raising money for another organization that is described in subsection 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is either a governmental unit or an organization that maintains its principal place of business in this State, that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that is in good standing in this State, the veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or sporting organization shall execute a written contract with the organization that is described in subsection 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2), or 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is either a governmental unit or an organization that maintains its principal place of business in this State, that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that is in good standing in this State in order to conduct instant bingo. That contract shall include a statement of the percentage of the net proceeds that the veteran’s, fraternal or sporting organization will be distributing to the organization that is described in subsection 509(a)(1), 509(a)(2) or 509(a)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is either a governmental unit or an organization that maintains its principal place of business in this State, that is exempt from federal income taxation under subsection 501(a) and described in subsection 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and that is in good standing in this State.

(c) (1) If a veteran’s organization, fraternal organization or a sporting organization authorized to conduct instant bingo pursuant to subsection (a) of this section has been issued a liquor permit under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4303, that permit may be subject to suspension, revocation, or cancellation if the veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or a sporting organization violates a provision of this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 2915.
(2) No veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or a sporting organization that enters into a written contract pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall violate any provision of this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 2915, or permit, aid, or abet any other person in violating any provision of this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 2915.

(d) A veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or a sporting organization shall give all required proceeds earned from the conduct of instant bingo to the organization with which the veteran’s organization, fraternal organization, or a sporting organization has entered into a written contract.

(e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of illegal instant bingo conduct. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, illegal instant bingo conduct is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of this section, illegal instant bingo conduct is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2915.13)

517.15 SKILL-BASED AMUSEMENT MACHINES.

(a) (1) No person shall give to another person any item described in Section 517.01(vv)(1), (2), (3), or (4) in exchange for a noncash prize, toy, or novelty received as a reward for playing or operating a skill-based amusement machine or for a free or reduced-prize game won on a skillbased amusement machine.
(2) Whoever violates subsection (a)(1) of this section is guilty of skill-based amusement machine prohibited conduct. Except as provided herein, a violation of subsection (a)(1) is a misdemeanor of the first degree for each redemption of a prize that is involved in the violation. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of subsection (a)(1), a violation of subsection (a)(1) is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2915.06)

(b) Any regulation of skill-based amusement machines shall be governed by this chapter and Ohio R.C. Chapter 2915 and not by Ohio R.C. Chapter 1345.
(ORC 2915.061)

517.99 PENALTY.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor classification.)

CHAPTER 521
Health, Safety and Sanitation

521.01 Abandoned refrigerators and airtight containers.
521.02 Venting of heaters and burners.
521.03 Barricades and warning lights; abandoned excavations.
521.04 Sidewalk obstructions; damage or injury.
521.05 Notice to fill lots, remove putrid substances.
521.06 Duty to keep sidewalks in repair and clean.
521.07 Fences.
521.08 Littering and deposit of garbage, rubbish, junk, etc.
521.09 Noxious or offensive odors.
521.10 Nonsmoking areas in places of public assembly.
521.11 Junk and junk motor vehicles.
521.12 No Smoking policy in public buildings.
521.99 Penalty.

CROSS REFERENCES

See sectional histories for similar State law
Flagpole installation in sidewalk – see Ohio R.C. 723.012
Excavation liability – see Ohio R.C. 723.49 et seq.
Removal of noxious weeds or litter – see Ohio R.C. 731.51 et seq.
Nuisances – see Ohio R.C. Ch. 3767
Tampering with safety devices – see GEN. OFF. 541.04

521.01 ABANDONED REFRIGERATORS AND AIRTIGHT CONTAINERS.

(a) No person shall abandon, discard, or knowingly permit to remain on premises under his control, in a place accessible to children, any abandoned or discarded icebox, refrigerator or other airtight or semiairtight container which has a capacity of one and one-half cubic feet or more and an opening of fifty square inches or more and which has a door or lid equipped with hinge, latch or other fastening device capable of securing such door or lid, without rendering such equipment harmless to human life by removing such hinges, latches or other hardware which may cause a person to be confined therein. This section shall not apply to an icebox, refrigerator or other airtight or semiairtight container located in that part of a building occupied by a dealer, warehouseman or repairman. (ORC 3767.29)

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

521.02 VENTING OF HEATERS AND BURNERS.

(a) A brazier, salamander, space heater, room heater, furnace, water heater or other burner or heater using wood, coal, coke, fuel oil, kerosene, gasoline, natural gas, liquid petroleum gas or similar fuel, and tending to give off carbon monoxide or other harmful gas:

(1) When used in living quarters, or in any enclosed building or space in which persons are usually present, shall be used with a flue or vent so designed, installed and maintained as to vent the products of combustion outdoors; except in storage, factory or industrial buildings which are provided with sufficient ventilation to avoid the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning;
(2) When used as a portable or temporary burner or heater at a construction site, or in a warehouse, shed or structure in which persons are temporarily present, shall be vented as provided in subsection (a) hereof, or used with sufficient ventilation to avoid the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning.

(b) This section does not apply to domestic ranges, laundry stoves, gas logs installed in a fireplace with an adequate flue, or hot plates, unless the same are used as space or room heaters.

(c) No person shall negligently use, or, being the owner, person in charge, or occupant of premises, negligently permit the use of a burner or heater in violation of the standards for venting and ventilation provided in this section.

(d) Subsection (a) hereof does not apply to any kerosene-fired space or room heater that is equipped with an automatic extinguishing tip-over device, or to any natural gas-fired or liquid petroleum gas-fired space or room heater that is equipped with an oxygen depletion safety shutoff system, and that has its fuel piped from a source outside of the building in which it is located, that are approved by an authoritative source recognized by the State Fire Marshal in the State Fire Code adopted by him under Ohio R.C. 3737.82.

(e) The State Fire Marshal may make rules to ensure the safe use of unvented kerosene, natural gas or liquid petroleum gas heaters exempted from subsection (a) hereof when used in assembly buildings, business buildings, high hazard buildings, institutional buildings, mercantile buildings and type R-1 and R-2 residential buildings, as these groups of buildings are defined in rules adopted by the Board of Building Standards under Ohio R.C. 3781.10. No person shall negligently use, or, being the owner, person in charge or occupant of premises, negligently permit the use of a heater in violation of any rules adopted under this subsection.

(f) The State Fire Marshal may make rules prescribing standards for written instructions containing ventilation requirements and warning of any potential fire hazards that may occur in using a kerosene, natural gas, or liquid petroleum gas heater. No person shall sell or offer for sale any kerosene, natural gas or liquid petroleum gas heater unless the manufacturer provides with the heater written instructions that comply with any rules adopted under this subsection.

(g) No product labeled as a fuel additive for kerosene heaters and having a flash point below one hundred degrees Fahrenheit or thirty-seven and eight-tenths degrees centigrade shall be sold, offered for sale or used in any kerosene space heater.

(h) No device that prohibits any safety feature on a kerosene, natural gas or liquid petroleum gas space heater from operating shall be sold, offered for sale or used in connection with any kerosene, natural gas or liquid petroleum gas space heater.

(i) No person shall sell or offer for sale any kerosene-fired, natural gas or liquid petroleum gas-fired heater that is not exempt from subsection (a) hereof unless it is marked conspicuously by the manufacturer on the container with the phrase “Not Approved For Home Use.”

(j) No person shall use a cabinet-type, liquid petroleum gas-fired heater having a fuel source within the heater, inside any building, except as permitted by the State Fire Marshal in the State Fire Code adopted by him under Ohio R.C. 3737.82. (ORC 3701.82)

(k) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(ORC 3701.99(C))

521.03 BARRICADES AND WARNING LIGHTS; ABANDONED EXCAVATIONS.

(a) No person shall abandon or knowingly permit to remain on public or private property, any excavation, well, cesspool or structure which is in the process of construction, reconstruction, repair or alteration unless the same is adequately protected by suitable barricades and guarded by warning devices or lights at night so that the condition will not reasonably prove dangerous to life or limb.

(b) No person shall destroy, remove, damage or extinguish any barricade or warning light that is placed for the protection of the public so as to prevent injury to life or limb.

(c) Any owner or agent in control of a premises upon which a basement, cellar, well or cistern has been abandoned due to demolition, failure to build or any other reason shall cause the same to be filled to the ground surface with rock, gravel, earth or other suitable material.

(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

521.04 SIDEWALK OBSTRUCTIONS; DAMAGE OR INJURY.

(a) No person shall place or knowingly drop upon any part of a sidewalk, playground or other public place any tacks, bottles, wire, glass, nails or other articles which may damage property of another or injure any person or animal traveling along or upon such sidewalk or playground.

(b) No person shall walk on, or allow any animal upon, or injure or deface in any way, any soft or newly laid sidewalk pavement.

(c) No person shall place, deposit or maintain any merchandise, goods, material or equipment upon any sidewalk so as to obstruct pedestrian traffic thereon except for such reasonable time as may be actually necessary for the delivery or pickup of such articles. In no such case shall the obstruction remain on such sidewalk for more than one hour.

(d) No person shall unload upon, or transport any heavy merchandise, goods, material or equipment over or across any sidewalk or curb without first placing some sufficient protection over the pavement to protect against damage or injury. The affected area shall be rendered safe and free from danger.

(e) No person shall allow any cellar or trap door, coal chute or elevator or lift opening in any sidewalk to remain open without providing suitable safeguards to protect and warn pedestrian traffic of the dangerous condition.

(f) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

521.05 NOTICE TO FILL LOTS, REMOVE PUTRID SUBSTANCES.

(a) No person shall fail to comply with the following requirements within the lawful time after service or publication of the notice or resolution is made as required by law:

To fill or drain any lot or land or remove all putrid substances therefrom, or remove all obstructions from culverts, covered drains or natural watercourses as provided in Ohio R.C. 715.47.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

521.06 DUTY TO KEEP SIDEWALKS IN REPAIR AND CLEAN.

(a) No owner or occupant of abutting lands shall fail to keep the sidewalks, curbs or gutters in repair and free from snow, ice or any nuisance. (ORC 723.011)

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

521.07 FENCES.

(a) No person shall erect or maintain any fence charged with electrical current.

(b) No person shall erect or maintain a barbed wire fence which abuts or is adjacent to any public street or sidewalk. This subsection (b) does not prevent the placement and use of not more than three strands of barbed wire on top of a fence other than a barbed wire fence, provided such strands are not less than seventy-two inches from the ground.

521.08 LITTERING AND DEPOSIT OF GARBAGE, RUBBISH, JUNK, ETC.

(a) No person, regardless of intent, shall deposit litter or cause litter to be deposited on any public property, on private property not owned by the person, or in or on waters of the State, or Municipality, unless one of the following applies:

(1) The person is directed to do so by a public official as part of a litter collection drive;
(2) Except as provided in subsection (b) hereof, the person deposits the litter in a litter receptacle in a manner that prevents its being carried away by the elements;
(3) The person is issued a permit or license covering the litter pursuant to Ohio R. C. Chapter 3734 or 6111.

(b) No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly deposit litter, or cause it to be deposited, in a litter receptacle located on any public property or on any private property not owned by the person, unless one of the following applies:

(1) The litter was generated or located on the property on which the litter receptacle is located.
(2) The person is directed to do so by a public official as part of a litter collection drive.
(3) The person is directed to do so by a person whom the person reasonably believes to have the privilege to use the litter receptacle.
(4) The litter consists of any of the following:

A. The contents of a litter bag or container of a type and size customarily carried and used in a motor vehicle;
B. The contents of an ash tray of a type customarily installed or carried and used in a motor vehicle;
C. Beverage containers and food sacks, wrappings and containers of a type and in an amount that reasonably may be expected to be generated during routine commuting or business or recreational travel by a motor vehicle;
D. Beverage containers, food sacks, wrappings, containers and other materials of a type and in an amount that reasonably may be expected to be generated during a routine day by a person and deposited in a litter receptacle by a casual passerby.

(c) (1) As used in subsection (b)(1) hereof, “public property” includes any private property open to the public for the conduct of business, the provision of a service, or upon the payment of a fee but does not include any private property to which the public otherwise does not have a right of access.
(2) As used in subsection (b)(4) hereof, “casual passerby” means a person who does not have depositing litter in a litter receptacle as the person’s primary reason for traveling to or by the property on which the litter receptacle is located.

(d) As used in this section:

(1) “Litter” means garbage, trash, waste, rubbish, ashes, cans, bottles, wire, paper, cartons, boxes, automobile parts, furniture, glass or anything else of an unsightly or unsanitary nature.
(2) “Deposit” means to throw, drop, discard or place.
(3) “Litter receptacle” means a dumpster, trash can, trash bin, garbage can or similar container in which litter is deposited for removal.
(ORC 3767.32)

(e) No person shall cause or allow litter to be collected or remain in any place to the damage or prejudice of others or of the public, or unlawfully obstruct, impede, divert, corrupt or render unwholesome or impure, any natural watercourse.

(f) Whoever violates any provision of subsections (a) to (d) hereof, is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. The sentencing court may, in addition to or in lieu of the penalty provided in this subsection require a person who violates subsections (a) to (d) hereof to remove litter from any public or private property, or in or on any waters.
(ORC 3767.99(C))

(g) Whoever violates subsection (e) hereof is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

521.09 NOXIOUS OR OFFENSIVE ODORS.

(a) No person shall erect, continue, use or maintain a dwelling, building, structure or place for a residence or for the exercise of a trade, employment or business, or for the keeping or feeding of an animal which, by occasioning noxious exhalations or noisome or offensive smells, becomes injurious to the health, comfort or property of individuals or of the public.
(ORC 3767.13)

(b) No person shall carry, or cause to be carried, in any vehicle of any type whatsoever, upon the public streets, highways and alleys of the Municipality, any substance or material which by its nature or condition gives off noxious or offensive odors, fumes, smoke or gases.
(Ord. 1901. Passed 9-18-42.)

(c) No person shall carry on, produce or engage in any business which is or may be productive of unwholesome or noxious odors in a building or place within the Village, without first complying with the Federal and State laws regulating such businesses or with the regulations set forth by the County Board of Health.
(Ord. Unno. Passed 2-5-59.)

(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.

521.10 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 rest home serving as the residence of a person living in such rest home;
(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 the mentally retarded and the mentally ill; 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 subsection (a)(1) or (2) hereof is a place of public assembly if it has a seating capacity of fifty 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 Department 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, no 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 subsection (a)(1) hereof the local fire authority having jurisdiction shall designate no smoking area. In places included in subsection (a)(2) hereof that are owned by the Municipality, Council shall designate an officer who shall designate the area. In places included in subsection (a)(3) hereof, the person having control of the operations of the place of public assembly shall designate the no smoking area. In places included in subsection (a)(2) hereof which are also included in subsection (a)(1) hereof, the officer who has authority to designate the area in places in subsection (a)(2) hereof 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.

(d) No person shall smoke in any area designated as a no smoking area in accordance with subsection (b) hereof or Ohio R.C. 3791.031.

(e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(ORC 3791.031)

521.11 JUNK AND JUNK MOTOR VEHICLES.

(a) No person shall deposit, store, maintain or collect junk or junk motor vehicles uncovered, in the open on any premises within the Municipality, for more than seventy-two hours.

For the purpose of this section, junk and junk motor vehicles are defined as follows:

(1) “Junk” means any wornout, castoff or discarded article or material which is ready for destruction or has been collected or stored for salvage or conversion to some other use. Any article or material which, unaltered or unchanged and without further reconditioning, can be used for its original purpose as readily as when new, shall not be considered junk, except portions of junk motor vehicles, such as hoods, fenders, radiators, wheels, rims, motors, etc., not being utilized for the repair of a motor vehicle shall be considered as junk.
(2) “Junk motor vehicle” means any motor vehicle meeting all the following requirements:

A. Three years old or older;
B. Extensively damaged, such damage including, but not limited to any of the following: a broken window, or windshield, missing wheels, tires, motor or transmission;
C. Apparently inoperable;
D. Having a fair market value of two hundred dollars ($200.00) or less.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) hereof, shall not apply to junk or junk motor vehicles contained within structures; to persons operating a junk yard or scrap metal processing facility or property on which the junk or junk motor vehicle is located that is subject to licensure or regulation by law; to persons having the right to the possession of the property that can establish that the junk or junk motor vehicle is part of a bonafide commercial operation.

(c) The Chief of Police may send notice, by certified mail with return receipt requested, to the person having the right to the possession of the premises on which junk or a junk motor vehicle is left, that within ten days of receipt of notice, the junk or junk motor vehicle shall be covered by being housed in a garage or other suitable structure or shall be removed from the property.

(d) No person shall willfully leave junk or a junk motor vehicle uncovered in the open for more than ten days after receipt of a notice as provided in this subsection. The fact that junk or a junk motor vehicle is so left, is prima-facie evidence of willful failure to comply with the notice, and each subsequent period of thirty days that junk or a junk motor vehicle continues to be so left constitutes a separate offense.
(Ord. 737. Passed 8-1-74.)

(e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor for a first offense and a misdemeanor of the third degree for each subsequent offense. Any such violation shall constitute a separate offense on each successive day continued.

521.12 NO SMOKING POLICY IN PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

(a) No person shall smoke a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, or smokeless tobacco in a public building owned by the Municipality.

(b) Any person violating subsection (a) hereof shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor for each offense. (Ord. 93-005. Passed 4-1-93.)

521.99 PENALTY.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor classification.)

CHAPTER 525
Law Enforcement and Public Office

525.01 Definitions.
525.02 Falsification.
525.03 Impersonation of peace officer.
525.04 Compounding a crime.
525.05 Failure to report a crime, injury or knowledge of death.
525.06 Failure to aid a law enforcement officer.
525.07 Obstructing official business.
525.08 Obstructing justice.
525.09 Resisting arrest.
525.10 Having an unlawful interest in a public contract.
525.11 Soliciting or receiving improper compensation.
525.12 Dereliction of duty.
525.13 Interfering with civil rights.
525.14 Unauthorized display of law enforcement emblems on motor vehicles.
525.15 Assaulting police dog or horse or an assistance dog.
525.16 False allegation of peace officer misconduct.
525.17 Refusal to disclose personal information in public place.
525.18 Registration of convicted felons.
525.99 Penalty.

CROSS REFERENCES

See sectional histories for similar State law
Law enforcement officer defined – see GEN. OFF. 501.01(k)
Misconduct at an emergency – see GEN. OFF. 509.05
Making false alarms – see GEN. OFF. 509.07
Personating an officer to defraud – see GEN. OFF. 545.16

525.01 DEFINITIONS.

As used in this chapter:

(a) “Public official” means any elected or appointed officer, or employee, or agent of the State or any political subdivision thereof, whether in a temporary or permanent capacity, and includes, but is not limited to, legislators, judges and law enforcement officers. “Public official” does not include an employee, officer, or governor-appointed member of the board of directors of the nonprofit corporation formed under Ohio R.C. 187.01.

(b) “Public servant” means any of the following:

(1) Any public official;
(2) Any person performing ad hoc a governmental function, including, but not limited to, a juror, member of a temporary commission, master, arbitrator, advisor or consultant;
(3) A person who is a candidate for public office, whether or not the person is elected or appointed to the office for which the person is a candidate. A person is a candidate for purposes of this subsection if the person has been nominated according to law for election or appointment to public office, or if the person has filed a petition or petitions as required by law to have the person’s name placed on the ballot in a primary, general or special election, or if the person campaigns as a write-in candidate in any primary, general or special election. “Public servant” does not include an employee, officer, or governor-appointed member of the board of directors of the nonprofit corporation formed under Ohio R.C. 187.01.

(c) “Party official” means any person who holds an elective or appointive post in a political party in the United States or this State, by virtue of which the person directs, conducts or participates in directing or conducting party affairs at any level of responsibility.

(d) “Official proceeding” means any proceeding before a legislative, judicial, administrative or other governmental agency or official authorized to take evidence under oath, and includes any proceeding before a referee, hearing examiner, commissioner, notary or other person taking testimony or a deposition in connection with an official proceeding.

(e) “Detention” means arrest, confinement in any vehicle subsequent to an arrest, confinement in any public or private facility for custody of persons charged with or convicted of a crime in this State or another state or under the laws of the United States or alleged or found to be a delinquent child or unruly child in this State or another state or under the laws of the United States; hospitalization, institutionalization or confinement in any public or private facility that is ordered pursuant to or under the authority of Ohio R.C. 2945.37, 2945.371, 2945.38, 2945.39 or 2945.40, 2945.401 or 2945.402; confinement in any vehicle for transportation to or from any facility of any of those natures; detention for extradition or deportation, except as provided in this subsection, supervision by any employee of any facility of any of those natures; that is incidental to hospitalization, institutionalization or confinement in the facility but that occurs outside the facility; supervision by an employee of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction of a person on any type of release from a State correctional institution; or confinement in any vehicle, airplane, or place while being returned from outside of this State into this State by a private person or entity pursuant to a contract entered into under Ohio R.C. 311.29(E) or Ohio R.C. 5149.03(B). For a person confined in a county jail who participates in a county jail industry program pursuant to Ohio R.C. 5147.30, “detention” includes time spent at an assigned work site and going to and from the work site.

(f) “Detention facility” means any public or private place used for the confinement of a person charged with or convicted of any crime in this State or another state or under the laws of the United States or alleged or found to be a delinquent child or unruly child in this State or another state or under the laws of the United States.

(g) “Valuable thing or valuable benefit” includes, but is not limited to, a contribution. This inclusion does not indicate or imply that a contribution was not included in those terms before September 17, 1986.

(h) “Campaign committee,” “contribution,” “political action committee,” “legislative campaign fund,” “political party” and “political contributing entity” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 3517.01.

(i) “Provider agreement” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 5164.01.
(ORC 2921.01)

525.02 FALSIFICATION.

(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 the public official’s 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 that person’s 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 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.
(13) The statement is required under Ohio R.C. 5743.71 in connection with the person’s purchase of cigarettes or tobacco products in a delivery sale.

(b) It is no defense to a charge under subsection (a)(6) hereof that the oath or affirmation was administered or taken in an irregular manner.

(c) 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.

(d) (1) Whoever violates any provision of subsection (a)(1) to (8) or (10) to (13) hereof is guilty of falsification, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(2) Whoever violates subsection (a)(9) hereof is guilty of falsification in a theft offense, 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 and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

(e) A person who violates this section is liable in a civil action to any person harmed by the violation for injury, death, or loss to person or property incurred as a result of the commission of the offense and for reasonable attorney’s fees, court costs, and other expenses incurred as a result of prosecuting the civil action commenced under this section. A civil action under this section is not the exclusive remedy of a person who incurs injury, death, or loss to person or property as a result of a violation of this section.
(ORC 2921.13)

525.03 IMPERSONATION OF PEACE OFFICER.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Peace officer” means a sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, member of the organized police department of a municipal corporation or township constable who is employed by a political subdivision of this State; a member of a police force employed by a metropolitan housing authority under Ohio R.C. 3735.31(D); a member of a police force employed by a regional transit authority under Ohio R.C. 306.35(Y), a State university law enforcement officer appointed under Ohio R.C. 3345.04; a veterans’ home police officer appointed under Ohio R.C. 5907.02; a special police officer employed by a port authority under Ohio R.C. 4582.04 or 4582.28; an officer, agent, or employee of the State or any of its agencies, instrumentalities or political subdivisions, upon whom, by statute, a duty to conserve the peace or to enforce all or certain laws is imposed and the authority to arrest violators is conferred, within limits of that statutory duty and authority; or a State highway patrol trooper whose primary duties are to preserve the peace, to protect life and property and to enforce the laws, ordinances or rules of the State or any of its political subdivisions.
(2) “Private police officer” means any security guard, special police officer, private detective or other person who is privately employed in a police capacity.
(3) “Federal law enforcement officer” means an employee of the United States who serves in a position the duties of which are primarily the investigation, apprehension or detention of individuals suspected or convicted of offenses under the criminal laws of the United States.
(4) “Investigator of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2903.11.
(5) “Impersonate” means to act the part of, assume the identity of, wear the uniform or any part of the uniform of or display the identification of a particular person or of a member of a class of persons with purpose to make another person believe that the actor is that particular person or is a member of that class of persons.

(b) No person shall impersonate a peace officer, private police officer, federal law enforcement officer or investigator of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.

(c) No person, by impersonating a peace officer, private police officer, federal law enforcement officer, or investigator of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, shall arrest or detain any person, search any person or search the property of any person.

(d) No person, with purpose to commit or facilitate the commission of an offense, shall impersonate a peace officer, private police officer, federal law enforcement officer, an officer, agent or employee of the State or the Municipality or investigator of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.

(e) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under subsection (b) hereof that the impersonation of the peace officer was for a lawful purpose.

(f) Whoever violates subsection (b) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Whoever violates subsections (c) or (d) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the purpose of a violation of subsection (d) hereof is to commit or facilitate the commission of a felony, such violation is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. (ORC 2921.51)

525.04 COMPOUNDING A CRIME.

(a) No person shall knowingly demand, accept or agree to accept anything of value in consideration of abandoning or agreeing to abandon a pending criminal prosecution.

(b) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section when both of the following apply:

(1) The pending prosecution involved is for violation of Sections 545.05, 545.07, 545.09 or 545.10(b)(2), or Ohio R.C. 2913.02, 2913.11, 2913.21(B)(2) or 2913.47, of which the actor under this section was the victim.
(2) The thing of value demanded, accepted or agreed to be accepted, in consideration of abandoning or agreeing to abandon the prosecution, did not exceed an amount that the actor reasonably believed due him as restitution for the loss caused him by the offense.

(c) When a prosecuting witness abandons or agrees to abandon a prosecution under subsection (b) hereof, the abandonment or agreement in no way binds the State or Municipality to abandoning the prosecution.

(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of compounding a crime, a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 2921.21)

525.05 FAILURE TO REPORT A CRIME, INJURY OR KNOWLEDGE OF DEATH.

(a) (1) Except as provided in subsection (a)(2) hereof, no person, knowing that a felony has been or is being committed, shall knowingly fail to report such information to law enforcement authorities.
(2) No person, knowing that a violation of division (B) of Ohio R.C. 2913.04 has been, or is being committed or that the person has received information derived from such a violation, shall knowingly fail to report the violation to law enforcement authorities.

(b) Except for conditions that are within the scope of subsection (e) of this section, no physician, limited practitioner, nurse, or other person giving aid to a sick or injured person shall negligently fail to report to law enforcement authorities any gunshot or stab wound treated or observed by the physician, limited practitioner, nurse, or person, or any serious physical harm to persons that the physician, limited practitioner, nurse, or person knows or has reasonable cause to believe resulted from an offense of violence.

(c) No person who discovers the body or acquires the first knowledge of the death of a person shall fail to report the death immediately to a physician whom the person knows to be treating the deceased for a condition from which death at such time would not be unexpected, or to a law enforcement officer, an ambulance service, an emergency squad, or the coroner in a political subdivision in which the body is discovered, the death is believed to have occurred, or knowledge concerning the death is obtained.

(d) No person shall fail to provide upon request of the person to whom a report required by subsection (c) of this section was made, or to any law enforcement officer who has reasonable cause to assert the authority to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, any facts within the person’s knowledge that may have a bearing on the investigation of the death.

(e) (1) As used in this subsection, “burn injury” means any of the following:

A. Second or third degree burns;
B. Any burns to the upper respiratory tract or laryngeal edema due to the inhalation of superheated air;
C. Any burn injury or wound that may result in death;
D. Any physical harm to persons caused by or as the result of the use of fireworks, novelties and trick noisemakers, and wire sparklers, as each is defined by Ohio R.C. 3743.01.

(2) No physician, nurse, or limited practitioner who, outside a hospital, sanitarium, or other medical facility, attends or treats a person who has sustained a burn injury that is inflicted by an explosion or other incendiary device, or that shows evidence of having been inflicted in a violent, malicious, or criminal manner, shall fail to report the burn injury immediately to the local arson, or fire and explosion investigation, bureau, if there is a bureau of this type in the jurisdiction in which the person is attended or treated, or otherwise to local law enforcement authorities.
(3) No manager, superintendent or other person in charge of a hospital, sanitarium or other medical facility in which a person is attended or treated for any burn injury that is inflicted by an explosion or other incendiary device, or that shows evidence of having been inflicted in a violent, malicious, or criminal manner, shall fail to report the burn injury immediately to the local arson, or fire and explosion investigation, bureau, if there is a bureau of this type in the jurisdiction in which the person is attended or treated, or otherwise to local law enforcement authorities.
(4) No person who is required to report any burn injury under subsection (e)(2) or (3) of this section shall fail to file, within three working days after attending or treating the victim, a written report of the burn injury with the office of the State Fire Marshal. The report shall comply with the uniform standard developed by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Ohio R.C. 3737.22(A)(15).
(5) Anyone participating in the making of reports under subsection (e) of this section or anyone participating in a judicial proceeding resulting from the reports is immune from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise might be incurred or imposed as a result of such actions. Notwithstanding Ohio R.C. 4731.22, the physician-patient relationship is not a ground for excluding evidence regarding a person’s burn injury or the cause of the burn injury in any judicial proceeding resulting from a report submitted under subsection (e) of this section.

(f) (1) Any doctor of medicine or osteopathic medicine, hospital intern or resident, registered or licensed practical nurse, psychologist, social worker, independent social worker, social work assistant, licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent marriage and family therapist or marriage and family therapist who knows or has reasonable cause to believe that a patient or client has been the victim of domestic violence, as defined in Ohio R.C. 3113.31, shall note that knowledge or belief and the basis for it in the patient’s or client’s records.
(2) Notwithstanding Ohio R.C. 4731.22, the doctor-patient privilege shall not be a ground for excluding any information regarding the report containing the knowledge or belief noted under subsection (f)(1) of this section, and the information may be admitted as evidence in accordance with the Rules of Evidence.

(g) Subsections (a) and (d) of this section do not require disclosure of information, when any of the following applies:

(1) The information is privileged by reason of the relationship between attorney and client; doctor and patient; licensed psychologist or licensed school psychologist and client; licensed professional clinical counselor, licensed professional counselor, independent social worker, social worker, independent marriage and family therapist, or marriage and family therapist and client; member of the clergy, rabbi, minister, or priest and any person communicating information confidentially to the member of the clergy, rabbi, minister, or priest for a religious counseling purpose of a professional character; husband and wife; or a communications assistant and those who are a party to a telecommunications relay service call.
(2) The information would tend to incriminate a member of the actor’s immediate family.
(3) Disclosure of the information would amount to revealing a news source, privileged under Ohio R.C. 2739.04 or 2739.12.
(4) Disclosure of the information would amount to disclosure by a member of the ordained clergy of an organized religious body of a confidential communication made to that member of the clergy in that member’s capacity as a member of the clergy by a person seeking the aid or counsel of that member of the clergy.
(5) Disclosure would amount to revealing information acquired by the actor in the course of the actor’s duties in connection with a bona fide program of treatment or services for drug dependent persons or persons in danger of drug dependence, which program is maintained or conducted by a hospital, clinic, person, agency, or services provider certified pursuant to Ohio R.C. 5119.36.
(6) Disclosure would amount to revealing information acquired by the actor in the course of the actor’s duties in connection with a bona fide program for providing counseling services to victims of crimes that are violations of Ohio R.C. 2907.02 or 2907.05 or to victims of felonious sexual penetration in violation of former Ohio R.C. 2907.12. As used in this subsection, “counseling services” include services provided in an informal setting by a person who, by education or experience, is competent to provide those services.

(h) No disclosure of information pursuant to this section gives rise to any liability or recrimination for a breach of privilege or confidence.

(i) Whoever violates subsection (a) or (b) of this section is guilty of failure to report a crime. Violation of subsection (a)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Violation of subsection (a)(2) or (b) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree.

(j) Whoever violates subsection (c) or (d) of this section is guilty of failure to report knowledge of a death, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(k) (1) Whoever negligently violates subsection (e) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(2) Whoever knowingly violates subsection (e) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree. (ORC 2921.22)

525.06 FAILURE TO AID A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.

(a) No person shall negligently fail or refuse to aid a law enforcement officer, when called upon for assistance in preventing or halting the commission of an offense, or in apprehending or detaining an offender, when such aid can be given without a substantial risk of physical harm to the person giving it.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to aid a law enforcement officer, a minor misdemeanor. (ORC 2921.23)

525.07 OBSTRUCTING OFFICIAL BUSINESS.

(a) No person, without privilege to do so and with purpose to prevent, obstruct or delay the performance by a public official of any authorized act within the public official’s official capacity, shall do any act that hampers or impedes a public official in the performance of the public official’s lawful duties.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of obstructing official business. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (b), obstructing official business is a misdemeanor of the second degree. If a violation of this section creates a risk of physical harm to any person, obstructing official business is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2921.31)

525.08 OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE.

(a) No person, with purpose to hinder the discovery, apprehension, prosecution, conviction, or punishment of another for a misdemeanor, or to assist another to benefit from the commission of a misdemeanor, and no person, with purpose to hinder the discovery, apprehension, prosecution, adjudication as a delinquent child, or disposition of a child for an act that if committed by an adult would be a misdemeanor or to assist a child to benefit from the commission of an act that if committed by an adult would be a misdemeanor, shall do any of the following:

(1) Harbor or conceal the other person or child;
(2) Provide the other person or child with money, transportation, a weapon, a disguise, or other means of avoiding discovery or apprehension;
(3) Warn the other person or child of impending discovery or apprehension;
(4) Destroy or conceal physical evidence of the misdemeanor, or act, or induce any person to withhold testimony or information or to elude legal process summoning the person to testify or supply evidence;
(5) Communicate false information to any person.
(6) Prevent or obstruct any person, by means of force, intimidation, or deception, from performing any act to aid in the discovery, apprehension, or prosecution of the other person or child.

(b) A person may be prosecuted for, and may be convicted of or adjudicated a delinquent child for committing, a violation of subsection (a) hereof, regardless of whether the person or child aided ultimately is apprehended for, is charged with, is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or is adjudicated a delinquent child for committing the crime or act the person or child aided committed. The crime or act the person or child aided committed shall be used under subsection (c) hereof in determining the penalty for the violation of subsection (a) hereof, regardless of whether the person or child aided ultimately is apprehended for, is charged with, is convicted of, pleads guilty to, or is adjudicated a delinquent child for committing the crime or act the person or child aided committed.

(c) (1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of obstructing justice.
(2) If the crime committed by the person aided is a misdemeanor or if the act committed by the child aided would be a misdemeanor if committed by an adult, obstructing justice is a misdemeanor of the same degree as the misdemeanor committed by the person aided or a misdemeanor of the same degree that the act committed by the child aided would be if committed by an adult.

(d) As used in this section:

(1) “Adult” and “child” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2151.011.
(2) “Delinquent child” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2152.02.
(ORC 2921.32)

525.09 RESISTING ARREST.

(a) No person, recklessly or by force, shall resist or interfere with a lawful arrest of the person or another.

(b) No person, recklessly or by force, shall resist or interfere with a lawful arrest of the person or another person and, during the course of or as a result of the resistance or interference, cause physical harm to a law enforcement officer.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of resisting arrest. A violation of subsection (a) hereof is a misdemeanor of the second degree. A violation of subsection (b) hereof is a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 2921.33)

525.10 HAVING AN UNLAWFUL INTEREST IN A PUBLIC CONTRACT.

(a) No public official shall knowingly do any of the following:

(1) During the public official’s term of office or within one year thereafter, occupy any position of profit in the prosecution of a public contract authorized by the public official or by a legislative body, commission or board of which the public official was a member at the time of authorization unless the contract was let by competitive bidding, to the lowest and best bidder;
(2) Have an interest in the profits or benefits of a public contract entered into by or for the use of the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality with which the public official is connected;
(3) Have an interest in the profits or benefits of a public contract that is not let by competitive bidding if required by law, and that involves more than one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).

(b) In the absence of bribery or a purpose to defraud, a public official, member of a public official’s family or any of a public official’s business associates shall not be considered as having an interest in a public contract if all of the following apply:

(1) The interest of that person is limited to owning or controlling shares of the corporation, or being a creditor of the corporation or other organization that is the contractor on the public contract involved, or that is the issuer of the security in which public funds are invested;
(2) The shares owned or controlled by that person do not exceed five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of the corporation, and the amount due that person as creditor does not exceed five percent (5%) of the total indebtedness of the corporation or other organization;
(3) That person, prior to the time the public contract is entered into, files with the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality involved, an affidavit giving that person’s exact status in connection with the corporation or other organization.

(c) This section does not apply to a public contract in which a public official, member of a public official’s family, or one of a public official’s business associates, has an interest, when all of the following apply:

(1) The subject of the public contract is necessary supplies or services for the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality involved;
(2) The supplies or services are unobtainable elsewhere for the same or lower cost, or are being furnished to the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality as part of a continuing course of dealing established prior to the public official’s becoming associated with the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality involved;
(3) The treatment accorded the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality is either preferential to or the same as that accorded other customers or clients in similar transactions;
(4) The entire transaction is conducted at arm’s length, with full knowledge by the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality involved, of the interest of the public official, member of the public official’s family or business associate, and the public official takes no part in the deliberations or decisions of the Municipality or governmental agency or instrumentality with respect to the public contract.

(d) Subsection (a)(4) does not prohibit participation by a public employee in any housing program funded by public moneys if the public employee otherwise qualifies for the program and does not use the authority or influence of the public employee’s office or employment to secure benefits from the program and if the moneys are to be used on the primary residence of the public employee. Such participation does not constitute an unlawful interest in a public contract in violation of this section.

(e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of having an unlawful interest in a public contract. Violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(f) It is not a violation of this section for a prosecuting attorney to appoint assistants and employees in accordance with Ohio R.C. 309.06 and 2921.421, or for a chief legal officer of a municipal corporation or an official designated as prosecutor in a municipal corporation to appoint assistants and employees in accordance with Ohio R.C. 733.621 and 2921.421.

(g) Any public contract in which a public official, a member of the public official’s family, or any of the public official’s business associates has an interest in violation of this section is void and unenforceable. Any contract securing the investment of public funds in which a public official, a member of the public official’s family, or any of the public official’s business associates has an interest, is an underwriter, or receives any brokerage, origination, or servicing fees and that was entered into in violation of this section is void and unenforceable.

(h) As used in this section:

(1) “Public contract” means any of the following:

A. The purchase or acquisition, or a contract for the purchase or acquisition of property or services by or for the use of the State, any of its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of either, including the employment of an individual by the State, any of its political subdivisions, or any agency or instrumentality of either.
B. A contract for the design, construction, alteration, repair or maintenance of any public property.

(2) “Chief legal officer” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 733.621.
(ORC 2921.42)

525.11 SOLICITING OR RECEIVING IMPROPER COMPENSATION.

(a) No public servant shall knowingly solicit or accept and no person shall knowingly promise or give to a public servant either of the following:

(1) Any compensation, other than is allowed by Ohio R.C. 102.03(G), (H), and (I) or other provisions of law, to perform the public servant’s official duties, to perform any other act or service in the public servant’s public capacity, for the general performance of the duties of the public servant’s public office or public employment, or as a supplement to the public servant’s public compensation;
(2) Additional or greater fees or costs than are allowed by law to perform the public servant’s official duties.

(b) No public servant for the public servant’s own personal or business use and no person for the person’s own personal or business use or for the personal or business use of a public servant or party official, shall solicit or accept anything of value in consideration of either of the following:

(1) Appointing or securing, maintaining or renewing the appointment of any person to any public office, employment or agency;
(2) Preferring, or maintaining the status of, any public employee with respect to compensation, duties, placement, location, promotion or other material aspects of employment.

(c) No person for the benefit of a political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee or political contributing entity shall coerce any contribution in consideration of either of the following:

(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of soliciting improper compensation, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(e) A public servant who is convicted of a violation of this section is disqualified from holding any public office, employment or position of trust in this Municipality for a period of seven years from the date of conviction.

(f) Subsections (a), (b) and (c) hereof do not prohibit a person from making voluntary contributions to a political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee or political contributing entity or prohibit a political party, campaign committee, legislative campaign fund, political action committee or political contributing entity from accepting voluntary contributions. (ORC 2921.43)

525.12 DERELICTION OF DUTY.

(a) No law enforcement officer shall negligently do any of the following:

(1) Fail to serve a lawful warrant without delay;
(2) Fail to prevent or halt the commission of an offense or to apprehend an offender, when it is in the law enforcement officer’s power to do so alone or with available assistance.

(b) No law enforcement, ministerial or judicial officer shall negligently fail to perform a lawful duty in a criminal case or proceeding.

(1) Allow the detention facility to become littered or unsanitary;
(2) Fail to provide persons confined in the detention facility with adequate food, clothing, bedding, shelter and medical attention;
(3) Fail to control an unruly prisoner, or to prevent intimidation of or physical harm to a prisoner by another;
(4) Allow a prisoner to escape;
(5) Fail to observe any lawful and reasonable regulation for the management of the detention facility.

(d) No public official of the Municipality shall recklessly create a deficiency, incur a liability or expend a greater sum than is appropriated by the legislative authority of the Municipality for the use in any one year of the department, agency or institution with which the public official is connected.

(e) No public servant shall recklessly fail to perform a duty expressly imposed by law with respect to the public servant’s office, or recklessly do any act expressly forbidden by law with respect to the public servant’s office.

(f) Whoever violates this section is guilty of dereliction of duty, a misdemeanor of the second degree.

(g) As used in this section, “public servant” includes an officer or employee of a contractor as defined in Ohio R.C. 9.08.

525.13 INTERFERING WITH CIVIL RIGHTS.

(a) No public servant, under color of his office, employment or authority, shall knowingly deprive, or conspire or attempt to deprive any person of a constitutional or statutory right.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of interfering with civil rights, a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 2921.45)

525.14 UNAUTHORIZED DISPLAY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EMBLEMS ON MOTOR VEHICLES.

(a) No person who is not entitled to do so shall knowingly display on a motor vehicle the emblem of a law enforcement agency or an organization of law enforcement officers.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of the unlawful display of the emblem of a law enforcement agency or an organization of law enforcement officers, a minor misdemeanor.
(ORC 2913.441)

525.15 ASSAULTING POLICE DOG OR HORSE OR AN ASSISTANCE DOG.

(a) No person shall knowingly cause, or attempt to cause, physical harm to a police dog or horse in either of the following circumstances:

(1) The police dog or horse is assisting a law enforcement officer in the performance of the officer’s official duties at the time the physical harm is caused or attempted.
(2) The police dog or horse is not assisting a law enforcement officer in the performance of the officer’s official duties at the time the physical harm is caused or attempted, but the offender has actual knowledge that the dog or horse is a police dog or horse.

(b) No person shall recklessly do any of the following:

(1) Taunt, torment, or strike a police dog or horse;
(2) Throw an object or substance at a police dog or horse;
(3) Interfere with or obstruct a police dog or horse, or interfere with or obstruct a law enforcement officer who is being assisted by a police dog or horse, in a manner that does any of the following:

A. Inhibits or restricts the law enforcement officer’s control of the police dog or horse;
B. Deprives the law enforcement officer of control of the police dog or horse;
C. Releases the police dog or horse from its area of control;
D. Enters the area of control of the police dog or horse without the consent of the law enforcement officer, including placing food or any other object or substance into that area;
E. Inhibits or restricts the ability of the police dog or horse to assist a law enforcement officer.

(4) Engage in any conduct that is likely to cause serious physical injury or death to a police dog or horse.
(5) If the person is the owner, keeper, or harborer of a dog, fail to reasonably restrain the dog from taunting, tormenting, chasing, approaching in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, or attempting to bite or otherwise endanger a police dog or horse that at the time of the conduct is assisting a law enforcement officer in the performance of the officer’s duties or that the person knows is a police dog or horse.

(c) No person shall knowingly cause, or attempt to cause, physical harm to an assistance dog in either of the following circumstances:

(1) The dog is assisting or serving a blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person at the time the physical harm is caused or attempted.
(2) The dog is not assisting or serving a blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person at the time the physical harm is caused or attempted, but the offender has actual knowledge that the dog is an assistance dog.

(d) No person shall recklessly do any of the following:

(1) Taunt, torment, or strike an assistance dog;
(2) Throw an object or substance at an assistance dog;
(3) Interfere with or obstruct an assistance dog, or interfere with or obstruct a blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person who is being assisted or served by an assistance dog, in a manner that does any of the following:

A. Inhibits or restricts the assisted or served person’s control of the dog;
B. Deprives the assisted or served person of control of the dog;
C. Releases the dog from its area of control;
D. Enters the area of control of the dog without the consent of the assisted or served person, including placing food or any other object or substance into that area;
E. Inhibits or restricts the ability of the dog to assist the assisted or served person.

(4) Engage in any conduct that is likely to cause serious physical injury or death to an assistance dog;
(5) If the person is the owner, keeper or harborer of a dog, fail to reasonably restrain the dog from taunting, tormenting, chasing, approaching in a menacing fashion or apparent attitude of attack, or attempting to bite or otherwise endanger an assistance dog that at the time of the conduct is assisting or serving a blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person or that the person knows is an assistance dog.

(e) (1) Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of assaulting a police dog or horse. If the violation results in physical harm to the police dog or horse, assaulting a police dog or horse is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the violation does not result in death, serious physical harm, or physical harm to the police dog or horse, assaulting a police dog or horse is a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the violation results in death or serious physical harm to the police dog or horse, such violation is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(2) Whoever violates subsection (b) hereof is guilty of harassing a police dog or horse. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, harassing a police dog or horse is a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the violation results in the death of the police dog or horse or if the violation results in serious physical harm to the police dog or horse but does not result in its death, harassing a police dog or horse is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. If the violation results in physical harm to the police dog or horse but does not result in its death or in serious physical harm to it, harassing a police dog or horse is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(3) Whoever violates subsection (c) hereof is guilty of assaulting an assistance dog. If the violation results in physical harm to the dog other than death or serious physical harm, assaulting an assistance dog is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the violation does not result in death, serious physical harm, or physical harm to the dog, assaulting an assistance dog is a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the violation results in death or serious physical harm to the dog, such violation is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(4) Whoever violates subsection (d) of this section is guilty of harassing an assistance dog. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, harassing an assistance dog is a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the violation results in the death of or serious physical harm to the assistance dog but does not result in its death, harassing an assistance dog is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. If the violation results in physical harm to the assistance dog but does not result in its death or in serious physical harm to it, harassing an assistance dog is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(5) In addition to any other sanction or penalty imposed for the offense under this section, whoever violates subsection (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this section is responsible for the payment of all of the following:

A. Any veterinary bill or bill for medication incurred as a result of the violation by the Police Department regarding a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section or by the blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person assisted or served by the assistance dog regarding a violation of subsection (c) or (d) of this section;
B. The cost of any damaged equipment that results from the violation;
C. If the violation did not result in the death of the police dog or horse or the assistance dog that was the subject of the violation and if, as a result of that dog or horse being the subject of the violation, the dog or horse needs further training or retraining to be able to continue in the capacity of a police dog or horse or an assistance dog, the cost of any further training or retraining of that dog or horse by a law enforcement officer or by the blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person assisted or served by the assistance dog;
D. If the violation resulted in the death of the police dog or horse or the assistance dog that was the subject of the violation or resulted in serious physical harm to that dog or horse to the extent that the dog or horse needs to be replaced on either a temporary or a permanent basis, the cost of replacing that dog or horse and of any further training of a new police dog or horse or a new assistance dog by a law enforcement officer or by the blind, deaf or hearing impaired, or mobility impaired person assisted or served by the assistance dog, which replacement or training is required because of the death of or the serious physical harm to the dog or horse that was the subject of the violation.

(f) This section does not apply to a licensed veterinarian whose conduct is in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapter 4741.

(g) This section only applies to an offender who knows or should know at the time of the violation that the police dog or horse or assistance dog that is the subject of a violation under this section is a police dog or horse or assistance dog.

(h) As used in this section:

(1) “Physical harm” means any injury, illness, or other physiological impairment, regardless of its gravity or duration.
(2) “Police dog or horse” means a dog or horse that has been trained, and may be used, to assist law enforcement officers in the performance of
their official duties.
(3) “Serious physical harm” means any of the following:

A. Any physical harm that carries a substantial risk of death;
B. Any physical harm that causes permanent maiming or that involves some temporary, substantial maiming;
C. Any physical harm that causes acute pain of a duration that results in substantial suffering.

(4) “Assistance dog”, “blind”, and “mobility impaired person” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 955.011.
(ORC 2921.321)

525.16 FALSE ALLEGATION OF PEACE OFFICER MISCONDUCT.

(a) As used in this section, “peace officer” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2935.01.

(b) No person shall knowingly file a complaint against a peace officer that alleges that the peace officer engaged in misconduct in the performance of the officer’s duties if the person knows that the allegation is false.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of making a false allegation of peace officer misconduct, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(ORC 2921.15)

525.17 REFUSAL TO DISCLOSE PERSONAL INFORMATION IN PUBLIC PLACE.

(a) No person who is in a public place shall refuse to disclose the person’s name, address, or date of birth, when requested by a law enforcement officer who reasonably suspects either of the following:

(1) The person is committing, has committed, or is about to commit a criminal offense.
(2) The person witnessed any of the following:

A. An offense of violence that would constitute a felony under the laws of this State;
B. A felony offense that causes or results in, or creates a substantial risk of, serious physical harm to another person or to property;
C. Any attempt or conspiracy to commit, or complicity in committing, any offense identified in subsection (a)(2)A. or B. of this section;
D. Any conduct reasonably indicating that any offense identified in subsection (a)(2)A. or B. of this section or any attempt, conspiracy, or complicity described in subsection (a)(2)C. of this section has been, is being, or is about to be committed.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to disclose one’s personal information, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(c) Nothing in this section requires a person to answer any questions beyond that person’s name, address, or date of birth. Nothing in this section authorizes a law enforcement officer to arrest a person for not providing any information beyond that person’s name, address, or date of birth or for refusing to describe the offense observed.

(d) It is not a violation of this section to refuse to answer a question that would reveal a person’s age or date of birth if age is an element of the crime that the person is suspected of committing. (ORC 2921.29)

525.18 REGISTRATION OF CONVICTED FELONS.

(a) Every person who, within five years prior to the effective date of this section has been convicted of a felony under the laws of the United States, of the State of Ohio or of any other State, or any other government or country, or who has violated any national or state law relating to the possession, sale or transportation of any narcotic, and who is residing in the Municipality on the effective date of this section or who comes into the Municipality from any point outside the Municipality, whether in transit through the Municipality or otherwise, shall report to the Chief of Police of the Municipality within five days of the effective date or within forty-eight hours after his arrival within the Municipality if coming into the Municipality after such effective date, and shall furnish to the Chief of Police a written statement signed by such person, giving the following information:

(1) His true name and all aliases which he has used or under which he may have been known.
(2) A full and complete description of his person.
(3) The kind, character and nature of each crime of which he has been convicted.
(4) The place where such crime was or crimes were committed and the place of conviction of the same.
(5) The name under which he was convicted in each instance and the date thereof.
(6) The name, if any, and the location of each prison, reformatory, jail or other penal institution in which he was confined or to which he was sentenced.
(7) The location and address of his residence, stopping place, living quarters or place of abode in the Municipality; if he has more than one residence, stopping place or place of abode, that fact must be stated and the location and address of each given.
(8) A statement of the kind of residence, stopping place or place of abode in which he resides, whether the same is temporary or permanent, i.e., whether the same is a private residence, hotel, apartment house, or other building or structure.
(9) The length of time he has occupied each such place of residence, stopping place or place of abode, and the length of time he expects or intends to remain in the Municipality.
(10) Such other information as the Chief of Police shall find reasonably necessary to carry out the intent of this subsection (a):

A. Full parolees excepted. This subsection shall not be construed to apply to any person who has received a full pardon for each crime whereof he shall have been convicted.
B. Photographs and fingerprints. At the time for furnishing such information as required above, the persons registering shall be photographed and fingerprinted by the Chief of Police and photographs and fingerprints shall be made a part of the permanent record herein provided for.
C. False information. It shall be unlawful for any person required by any provision of this section to furnish any such report, to furnish in such report any false or fictitious address, or any address other than a true address or intended address, or to furnish in making any such report any false, untrue or misleading information or statement relating to any information required by any provision of this section to be made or furnished.
D. Records confidential. The statements herein required shall at all times be kept by the Chief of Police in a file or files separate and apart from other files and records maintained and kept by the Police Department and shall not be open to inspection by the public or by any person other than a regular member of the Police Department.
E. Records available to police officials. The Chief of Police shall have the authority to transmit copies of records required herein to the sheriff of any county of the State, to the head of any organized police department of any municipality in the State, or to the head of any department of the State engaged in the enforcement of any criminal law of this State, or to the head of any Federal law enforcement agency, or to any sheriff or chief of police of a municipality, or to the head of any other law enforcement agency or any state, in any state or territory outside of the State, when request is made in writing by such sheriff or other head of a law enforcement agency asking for the record of a certain person named therein, and stating that such record is deemed necessary for the use of such law enforcement officer or agency for the investigation of any crime, or any person who is accused of committing a crime, or any crime which is reported to have been committed, and further stating that the record will be used only for such purpose.
F. Disclosure of information illegal. It shall be unlawful for any police officer or employee of the Police Department to disclose to any person any information contained in a statement required hereunder.

(b) Whoever violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. (Ord. 1089. Passed 12-15-83.)

525.99 PENALTY.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor
classification.)

CHAPTER 529
Liquor Control

529.01 Definitions.
529.02 Sales to and use by underage persons; securing public accommodations.
529.021 Purchase by minor; misrepresentation.
529.03 Sales to intoxicated persons.
529.04 Liquor consumption in motor vehicle.
529.05 Permit required.
529.06 Low-alcohol beverages: sale to and purchase by underage persons prohibited.
529.07 Open container prohibited.
529.08 Hours of sale or consumption.
529.09 Sales on municipal property.
529.99 Penalty.

CROSS REFERENCES

See sectional histories for similar State law
Prohibiting sale of intoxicating liquor on Sunday – see Ohio R.C. 4301.22(D)
Local option – see Ohio R.C. 4301.32 et seq., 4303.29
Disorderly conduct; intoxication – see GEN. OFF. 509.03
Using weapons while intoxicated – see GEN. OFF. 549.03

529.01 DEFINITIONS.

As used in the Codified Ordinances:

(a) “Alcohol” means ethyl alcohol, whether rectified or diluted with water or not, whatever its origin may be, and includes synthetic ethyl alcohol. Such term excludes denatured alcohol and wood alcohol.

(b) “Intoxicating liquor” and “liquor” include all liquids and compounds, other than beer as defined in subsection (c) hereof, containing one half of one percent (0.5%) or more of alcohol by volume which are fit to use for beverage purposes, from whatever source and by whatever process produced, by whatever name called and whether they are medicated, proprietary or patented. Such phrase includes cider and alcohol and all solids and confections which contain one-half of one percent or more of alcohol by volume.

(c) “Beer” includes all beverages brewed or fermented wholly or in part from malt products and containing one-half of one percent (0.5%) or more, but not more than twelve percent (12%) of alcohol by volume.

(d) “Person” includes firms and corporations.

(e) “Low-alcohol beverage” means any brewed or fermented malt product, or any product made from the fermented juices of grapes, fruits, or other agricultural products, that contains either no alcohol or less than one-half of one percent (0.5%) of alcohol by volume. The beverages described in subsection (e) hereof do not include a soft drink such as root beer, birch beer, or ginger beer.
(ORC 4301.01)

529.02 SALES TO AND USE BY UNDERAGE PERSONS; SECURING PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 4301, no person shall sell beer or intoxicating liquor to an underage person, or shall buy beer or intoxicating liquor for an underage person, or shall furnish it to, an underage person, unless given by a physician in the regular line of his practice or given for established religious purposes, or unless the underage person is supervised by a parent, spouse who is not an underage person or legal guardian.

In proceedings before the Liquor Control Commission, no permit holder, or no employee or agent of a permit holder, charged with a violation of this subsection shall be charged, for the same offense, with a violation of Ohio R.C. 4301.22(A)(1).

(b) No person who is the owner or occupant of any public or private place shall knowingly allow any underage person to remain in or on the place while possessing or consuming beer or intoxicating liquor, unless the intoxicating liquor or beer is given to the person possessing or consuming it by that person’s parent, spouse who is not an underage person or legal guardian and the parent, spouse who is not an underage person or legal guardian is present at the time of the person’s possession or consumption of the beer or intoxicating liquor.

An owner of a public or private place is not liable for acts or omissions in violation of this subsection that are committed by a lessee of that place, unless the owner authorizes or acquiesces in the lessee’s acts or omissions.

(c) No person shall engage or use accommodations at a hotel, inn, cabin, campground or restaurant when he knows or has reason to know either of the following:

(1) That beer or intoxicating liquor will be consumed by an underage person on the premises of the accommodations that the person engages or uses, unless the person engaging or using the accommodations is the spouse of the underage person and is not an underage person, or is the parent or legal guardian of all of the underage persons, who consume beer or intoxicating liquor on the premises and that person is on the premises at all times when beer or intoxicating liquor is being consumed by an underage person;
(2) That a drug of abuse will be consumed on the premises of the accommodations by any person, except a person who obtained the drug of abuse pursuant to a prescription issued by a practitioner and has the drug of abuse in the original container in which it was dispensed to the person.

(d) (1) No person is required to permit the engagement of accommodations at any hotel, inn, cabin or campground by an underage person or for an underage person, if the person engaging the accommodations knows or has reason to know that the underage person is intoxicated, or that the underage person possesses any beer or intoxicating liquor and is not supervised by a parent, spouse who is not an underage person or legal guardian who is or will be present at all times when the beer or intoxicating liquor is being consumed by the underage person.
(2) No underage person shall knowingly engage or attempt to engage accommodations at any hotel, inn, cabin or campground by presenting identification that falsely indicates that the underage person is twenty-one years of age or older for the purpose of violating this section.

(e) No underage person shall knowingly order, pay for, share the cost of, attempt to purchase, possess, or consume any beer or intoxicating liquor, in any public or private place. No underage person shall knowingly be under the influence of any beer or intoxicating liquor in any public place. The prohibitions set forth in this subsection (e) hereof against an underage person knowingly possessing, consuming, or being under the influence of any beer or intoxicating liquor shall not apply if the underage person is supervised by a parent, spouse who is not an underage person, or legal guardian, or the beer or intoxicating liquor is given by a physician in the regular line of the physician’s practice or given for established religious purposes.

(f) No parent, spouse who is not an underage person or legal guardian of a minor shall knowingly permit the minor to violate this section or Section 529.021(a) to (c).

(g) The operator of any hotel, inn, cabin or campground shall make the provisions of this section available in writing to any person engaging or using accommodations at the hotel, inn, cabin or campground.

(h) As used in this section:

(1) “Drug of abuse” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 3719.011.
(2) “Hotel” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 3731.01.
(3) “Licensed health professional authorized to prescribe drugs” and “prescription” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 4729.01.
(4) “Minor” means a person under the age of eighteen years.
(5) “Underage person” means a person under the age of twenty-one years.
(ORC 4301.69)

(i) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. In addition, whoever violates subsection (a) hereof shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00). (ORC 4301.99)

529.021 PURCHASE BY MINOR; MISREPRESENTATION.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 4301, no person under the age of twenty-one years shall purchase beer or intoxicating liquor. (ORC 4301.63)

(b) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 4301, no person shall knowingly furnish any false information as to the name, age or other identification of any person under twenty-one years of age for the purpose of obtaining or with the intent to obtain, beer or intoxicating liquor for a person under twenty-one years of age, by purchase, or as a gift.
(ORC 4301.633)

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 4301, no person under the age of twenty-one years shall knowingly show or give false information concerning the person’s name, age or other identification for the purpose of purchasing or otherwise obtaining beer or intoxicating liquor in any place where beer or intoxicating liquor is sold under a permit issued by the Division of Liquor Control or sold by the Division of Liquor Control.
(ORC 4301.634)

(d) (1) Whoever violates any provision of this section for which no other penalty is provided is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(2) Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof, shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00). The court imposing a fine for a violation of subsection (a) hereof may order that the fine be paid by the performance of public work at a reasonable hourly rate established by the court. The court shall designate the time within which the public work shall be completed.

(3) A. Whoever violates subsection (c) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. If, in committing a first violation of that subsection, the offender presented to the permit holder or the permit holder’s employee or agent a false, fictitious or altered identification card, a false or fictitious driver’s license purportedly issued by any state, or a driver’s license issued by any state that has been altered, the offender is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree and shall be fined not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) and not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than six months.
B. On a second violation in which, for the second time, the offender presented to the permit holder or the permit holder’s employee or agent a false, fictitious or altered identification card, a false or fictitious driver’s license purportedly issued by any state, or a driver’s license issued by any state that has been altered, the offender is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree and shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), and may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than six months. The court also may impose 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).
C. On a third or subsequent violation in which, for the third or subsequent time, the offender presented to the permit holder or the permit holder’s employee or agent a false, fictitious or altered identification card, a false or fictitious driver’s license purportedly issued by any state, or a driver’s license issued by any state that has been altered, the offender is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree and shall be fined not less than five hundred dollars ($500.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000), and may be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not more than six months. Except as provided in this subsection, the court also may impose a class six 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)(6), and the court may order that the suspension or denial remain in effect until the offender attains the age of twenty-one years. The court, in lieu of suspending the offenders temporary instruction permit, probationary driver’s license or driver’s license, instead may order the offender to perform a determinate number of hours of community service, with the court determining the actual number of hours and the nature of the community service the offender shall perform. (ORC 4301.99)

529.03 SALES TO INTOXICATED PERSONS.

(a) No permit holder and no agent or employee of a permit holder shall sell or furnish beer or intoxicating liquor to an intoxicated person.
(ORC 4301.22)

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(ORC 4301.99)

529.04 LIQUOR CONSUMPTION IN MOTOR VEHICLE.

(a) No person shall consume any beer or intoxicating liquor in a motor vehicle. This section does not apply to persons described in Section 529.07(d). (ORC 4301.64)

(b) Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(c) If an offender who violates this section was under the age of eighteen years at the time of the offense, the court, in addition to any other penalties it imposes upon the offender, shall suspend the offender’s temporary instruction permit, probationary driver’s license, or driver’s license for a period of not less than six months and not more than one year. In lieu of suspending the offender’s temporary instruction permit, probationary driver’s license or driver’s license, the court may instead require the offender to perform community service for a number of hours to be determined by the court. If the offender is fifteen years and six months of age or older and has not been issued a temporary instruction permit or probationary driver’s license, the offender shall not be eligible to be issued such a license or permit for a period of six months. If the offender has not attained the age of fifteen years and six months, the offender shall not be eligible to be issued a temporary instruction permit until the offender attains the age of sixteen years. (ORC 4301.99)

529.05 PERMIT REQUIRED.

(a) No person personally or by the person’s clerk, agent or employee shall manufacture, manufacture for sale, offer, keep or possess for sale, furnish or sell, or solicit the purchase or sale of any beer or intoxicating liquor in this Municipality, or transport, import or cause to be transported or imported any beer, intoxicating liquor or alcohol on or into this Municipality for delivery, use or sale, unless the person has fully complied with Ohio R.C. Chapters 4301 and 4303 or is the holder of a permit issued by the Division of Liquor Control and in force at the time. (ORC 4303.25)

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

529.06 LOW-ALCOHOL BEVERAGES: SALE TO AND PURCHASE BY UNDERAGE PERSONS PROHIBITED.

(a) As used in this section, “underage person” means a person under eighteen years of age.

(b) No underage person shall purchase any low-alcohol beverage.

(d) No person shall knowingly furnish any false information as to the name, age, or other identification of any underage person for the purpose of obtaining or with the intent to obtain any low-alcohol beverage for an underage person, by purchase or as a gift.

(e) No underage person shall knowingly show or give false information concerning the person’s name, age, or other identification for the purpose of purchasing or otherwise obtaining any low-alcohol beverage in any place in this Municipality.

(f) No person shall sell or furnish any low-alcohol beverage to, or buy any low-alcohol beverage for, an underage person, unless given by a physician in the regular line of his practice or given for established religious purposes, or unless the underage person is accompanied by a parent, spouse who is not an underage person, or legal guardian.

(g) No person who is the owner or occupant of any public or private place shall knowingly allow any underage person to remain in or on the place while possessing or consuming any low-alcohol beverage, unless the low-alcohol beverage is given to the person possessing or consuming it by that person’s parent, spouse who is not an underage person, or legal guardian, and the parent, spouse who is not an underage person, or legal guardian is present when the person possesses or consumes the low-alcohol beverage.

An owner of a public or private place is not liable for acts or omissions in violation of this division that are committed by a lessee of that place, unless the owner authorizes or acquiesces in the lessee’s acts or omissions.

(h) No underage person shall knowingly possess or consume any low-alcohol beverage in any public or private place, unless accompanied by a parent, spouse who is not an underage person, or legal guardian, or unless the low-alcohol beverage is given by a physician in the regular line of the physician’s practice or given for established religious purposes.

(i) No parent, spouse who is not an underage person, or legal guardian of an underage person shall knowingly permit the underage person to violate this section. (ORC 4301.631)

(j) Whoever violates any provision of this section for which no other penalty is provided is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(k) Whoever violates subsection (b) hereof shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars ($25.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00). The court imposing a fine for a violation of subsection (b) hereof may order that the fine be paid by the performance of public work at a reasonable hourly rate established by the court. The court shall designate the time within which the public work shall be completed.
(ORC 4301.99)

529.07 OPEN CONTAINER PROHIBITED.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Chauffeured limousine” means a vehicle registered under Ohio R.C. 4503.24.
(2) “Street,” “highway” and “motor vehicle” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 4511.01.

(b) No person shall have in the person’s possession an opened container of beer or intoxicating liquor in any of the following circumstances:

(1) Except as provided in subsection (c)(1)E. hereof, in an agency store;
(2) Except as provided in subsection (c) hereof, on the premises of the holder of any permit issued by the Division of Liquor Control;
(3) In any other public place;
(4) Except as provided in subsection (d) or (e) hereof, while operating or being a passenger in or on a motor vehicle on any street, highway or other public or private property open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking;
(5) Except as provided in subsection (d) or (e) hereof, while being in or on a stationary motor vehicle on any street, highway or other public or private property open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking.

A. Beer or intoxicating liquor that has been lawfully purchased for consumption on the premises where bought from the holder of an A-1-A, A-2, A-3a, D-1, D-2, D-3, D-3a, D-4, D-4a, D-5, D-5a, D-5b, D-5c, D-5d, D-5e, D-5f, D-5g, D-5h, D-5i, D-5j, D-5k, D- 5l, D-5m, D-5n, D-5o, D-7, D8, E, F, F-2, F-5, F-7 or F-8 permit;
B. Beer, wine or mixed beverages served for consumption on the premises by the holder of an F-3 permit or wine served for consumption on the premises by the holder of an F-4 or F-6 permit;
C. Beer or intoxicating liquor consumed on the premises of a convention facility as provided in Ohio R.C. 4303.201;
D. Beer or intoxicating liquor to be consumed during tastings and samplings approved by rule of the Liquor Control Commission.
E. Spirituous liquor to be consumed for purposes of a tasting sample, as defined in Ohio R.C. 4301.171.

(2) A person may have in the person’s possession on an F liquor permit premises an opened container of beer or intoxicating liquor that was not purchased from the holder of the F permit if the premises for which the F permit is issued is a music festival and the holder of the F permit grants permission for that possession on the premises during the period for which the F permit is issued. As used in this section, “music festival” means a series of outdoor live musical performances, extending for a period of at least three consecutive days and located on an area of land of at least forty
acres.

(3) A. A person may have in the person’s possession on a D-2 liquor permit premises an opened or unopened container of wine that was not purchased from the holder of the D-2 permit if the premises for which the D-2 permit is issued is an outdoor performing arts center, the person is attending an orchestral performance, and the holder of the D-2 permit grants permission for the possession and consumption of wine in certain predesignated areas of the premises during the period for which the D-2 permit is issued.
B. As used in subsection (c)(3)A. of this section:

“Orchestral performance” means a concert comprised of a group of not fewer than forty musicians playing various musical instruments.
“Outdoor performing arts center” means an outdoor performing arts center that is located on not less than one hundred fifty acres of land and that is open for performances from the first day of April to the last day of October of each year.

(4) A person may have in the person’s possession an opened or unopened container of beer or intoxicating liquor at an outdoor location at which the person is attending an orchestral performance as defined in subsection (c)(3)B.1. hereof if the person with supervision and control over the performance grants permission for the possession and consumption of beer or intoxicating liquor in certain predesignated areas of that outdoor location.
(5) A person may have in the person’s possession on an F-9 liquor permit premises an opened or unopened container of beer or intoxicating liquor that was not purchased from the holder of the F-9 permit if the person is attending an orchestral performance and the holder the F-9 permit grants permission for the possession and consumption of beer or intoxicating liquor in certain predesignated areas of the premises during the period for which the F-9 permit is issued. As used in subsection (c)(5) hereof, “orchestral performance” has the same meaning as in subsection (c)(3)B. of this section.

(6) A. A person may have in the person’s possession on the property of an outdoor motorsports facility an opened or unopened container of beer or intoxicating liquor that was not purchased from the owner of the facility if both of the following apply:

The person is attending a racing event at the facility; and
The owner of the facility grants permission for the possession and consumption of beer or intoxicating liquor on the property of the facility;

B. As used in subsection (c)(6)A. of this section:

“Racing event” means a motor vehicle racing event sanctioned by one or more motor racing sanctioning organizations.
“Outdoor motorsports facility” means an outdoor racetrack to which all of the following apply:

a. It is two and four-tenths miles or more in length.
b. It is located on two hundred acres or more of land.
c. The primary business of the owner of the facility is the hosting and promoting of racing events.
d. The holder of a D-1, D-2 or D-3 permit is located on the property of the facility.

(7) A. A person may have in the person’s possession an opened container of beer or intoxicating liquor at an outdoor location within an outdoor refreshment area created under Ohio R.C. 4301.82, if the opened container of beer or intoxicating liquor was purchased from a qualified permit holder to which both of the following apply:

The permit holder’s premises is located within the outdoor refreshment area.
The permit held by the permit holder has an outdoor refreshment area designation.

B. Subsection (c)(7) of this section does not authorize a person to do either of the following:

Enter the premises of an establishment within an outdoor refreshment area while possessing an opened container of beer or intoxicating liquor acquired elsewhere;
Possess an opened container of beer or intoxicating liquor while being in or on a motor vehicle within an outdoor refreshment area, unless the motor vehicle is stationary and is not being operated in a lane of vehicular travel or unless the possession is otherwise authorized under subsection (d) or (e) of this section.

(d) This section does not apply to a person who pays all or a portion of the fee imposed for the use of a chauffeured limousine pursuant to a prearranged contract, or the guest of such a person, when all of the following apply:

(1) The person or guest is a passenger in the limousine;
(2) The person or guest is located in the limousine, but is not occupying a seat in the front compartment of the limousine where the operator of the limousine is located;
(3) The limousine is located on any street, highway, or other public or private property open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking.

(e) An opened bottle of wine that was purchased from the holder of a permit that authorizes the sale of wine for consumption on the premises where sold is not an opened container for the purposes of this section if both of the following apply:

(1) The opened bottle of wine is securely resealed by the permit holder or an employee of the permit holder before the bottle is removed from the premises. The bottle shall be secured in such a manner that it is visibly apparent if the bottle has been subsequently opened or tampered with.
(2) The opened bottle of wine that is resealed in accordance with subsection (e)(1) of this section is stored in the trunk of a motor vehicle or, if the motor vehicle does not have a trunk, behind the last upright seat or in an area not normally occupied by the driver or passengers and not easily accessible by the driver.

(f) (1) Except if an ordinance or resolution is enacted or adopted under subsection (f)(2) of this section, this section does not apply to a person who, pursuant to a prearranged contract, is a passenger riding on a commercial quadricycle when all of the following apply:

A. The person is not occupying a seat in the front of the commercial quadricycle where the operator is steering or braking.
B. The commercial quadricycle is being operated on a street, highway or other public or private property open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel or parking.
C. The person has in their possession on the commercial quadricycle as opened container of beer or wine.
D. The person has in their possession on the commercial quadricycle not more than either thirty-six ounces of beer or eighteen ounces of wine.

(2) The legislative authority of a municipal corporation or township may enact an ordinance or adopt a resolution, as applicable, that prohibits a passenger riding on a commercial quadricycle from possessing an opened container or beer or wine.
(3) As used in this section, “commercial quadricycle” means a vehicle that has fully-operative pedals for propulsion entirely by human power and that meets all of the following requirements:

A. It has four wheels and is operated in a manner similar to a bicycle.
B. It has at least five seats for passengers.
C. It is designed to be powered by the pedaling of the operator and the passengers.
D. It is used for commercial purposes.
E. It is operated by the vehicle owner or an employee of the owner.
(ORC 4301.62)

(g) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(ORC 4301.99(A))

529.08 HOURS OF SALE OR CONSUMPTION.

(a) This rule shall apply to the retail sale of beer, wine, mixed beverages, or spirituous liquor.

(b) No beer, wine, mixed beverages, or spirituous liquor shall be sold or delivered by an A-1, A-2, B-1, B-2, B-4, B-5, C-1, C-2, C-2X, D-1, D-2, D-2X, D-3 when issued without a D-3A, D-3X, D-4, D-5G, D-5H, D-5K, D-8, F, F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4, F-5, F-6, G or I permit holder:

(1) From Monday to Saturday between the hours of one a.m. and five thirty a.m.
(2) On Sunday between the hours of one a.m. and Sunday midnight, unless statutorily authorized otherwise.
(3) Consumption of beer, wine, mixed beverages, or spirituous liquor is also prohibited during the above hours upon the premises of the above permit holders who are authorized by their permit to sell beer, wine, mixed beverages, or spirituous liquor for on-premises consumption.

(c) No beer, wine, mixed beverages, or spirituous liquid shall be sold or delivered by an A-1A, D-3 when issued with a D-3A, D-4A, D-5, D-5A, D-5B, D-5C, D-5D, D-5E, D-5F, D-5I, D-5J, or D-7 permit holder:

(1) From Monday to Saturday between the hours of two thirty a.m. and five thirty a.m.
(2) On Sunday between the hours of two thirty a.m. and Sunday midnight, unless statutorily authorized otherwise.
(3) Consumption of beer, wine, mixed beverages, or spirituous liquor is also prohibited during the above hours upon the premises of the above permit holders who are authorized by their permit to sell beer, wine, mixed beverages or spirituous liquor for on-premises consumption.

(d) Permit holders authorized to sell beer, wine, mixed beverages, or spirituous liquor at retail who are not specifically identified in subsection (b) or (c) above shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (b), unless statutorily authorized otherwise.

(e) The hours on Sunday during which sales, delivery, or consumption of alcoholic beverages may take place are established by statute, but in no event shall they begin prior to five thirty a.m. (OAC 4301:1-1-49)

(f) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

529.09 SALES ON MUNICIPAL PROPERTY.

(a) No person shall sell intoxicating liquor, as defined in Ohio R.C. 4301.01, on or in municipal property owned by the Municipality.
(Ord. 520. Passed 2-5-70.)

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.

529.99 PENALTY.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor classification.)

CHAPTER 533
Obscenity and Sex Offenses

533.01 Definitions.
533.02 Presumption of knowledge; actual notice and defense.
533.03 Unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
533.04 Sexual imposition.
533.05 Importuning.
533.06 Voyeurism.
533.07 Public indecency.
533.08 Procuring.
533.09 Soliciting.
533.091 Loitering to engage in solicitation.
533.10 Prostitution.
533.11 Disseminating matter harmful to juveniles.
533.12 Deception to obtain matter harmful to juveniles.
533.13 Displaying matter harmful to juveniles.
533.14 Unlawful advertising of massage.
533.15 Obscene or profane language.
533.99 Penalty.

CROSS REFERENCES

See sectional histories for similar State law
Complicity – see GEN. OFF. 501.10
Offensive conduct – see GEN. OFF. 509.03
Criminal conduct in sexually oriented business – see GEN. OFF. Ch. 535
Telephone harassment – see GEN. OFF. 537.10
Criminal trespass – see GEN. OFF. 541.05
Sexually oriented business – see BUS. REG. Ch. 785

533.01 DEFINITIONS.

As used in this chapter:

(a) “Sexual conduct” means vaginal intercourse between a male and female; anal intercourse, fellatio and cunnilingus between persons regardless of sex; and, without privilege to do so, the insertion, however slight, of any part of the body or any instrument, apparatus or other object into the vaginal or anal opening of another. Penetration, however slight, is sufficient to complete vaginal or anal intercourse.

(b) “Sexual contact” means any touching of an erogenous zone of another, including without limitation the thigh, genitals, buttock, pubic region, or, if such person is a female, a breast, for the purpose of sexually arousing or gratifying either person.

(d) “Prostitute” means a male or female who promiscuously engages in sexual activity for hire, regardless of whether the hire is paid to the prostitute or to another.

(e) “Harmful to juveniles” means that quality of any material or performance describing or representing nudity, sexual conduct, sexual excitement, or sadomasochistic abuse in any form to which all of the following apply:

(1) The material or performance, when considered as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest of juveniles in sex.
(2) The material or performance is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole with respect to what is suitable for juveniles.
(3) The material or performance, when considered as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political and scientific value for juveniles.

(f) When considered as a whole, and judged with reference to ordinary adults, or, if it is designed for sexual deviates or other specially susceptible group, judged with reference to such group, any material or performance is “obscene” if any of the following apply:

(1) Its dominant appeal is to prurient interest;
(2) Its dominant tendency is to arouse lust by displaying or depicting sexual activity, masturbation, sexual excitement or nudity in a way which tends to represent human beings as mere objects of sexual appetite;
(3) Its dominant tendency is to arouse lust by displaying or depicting bestiality or extreme or bizarre violence, cruelty or brutality;
(4) Its dominant tendency is to appeal to scatological interest by displaying or depicting human bodily functions of elimination in a way which inspires disgust or revulsion in persons with ordinary sensibilities, without serving any genuine scientific, educational, sociological, moral or artistic purpose;
(5) It contains a series of displays or descriptions of sexual activity, masturbation, sexual excitement, nudity, bestiality, extreme or bizarre violence, cruelty or brutality, or human bodily functions of elimination, the cumulative effect of which is a dominant tendency to appeal to prurient or scatological interest, when the appeal to such interest is primarily for its own sake or for commercial exploitation, rather than primarily for a genuine scientific, educational, sociological, moral or artistic purpose.

(g) “Sexual excitement” means the condition of human male or female genitals when in a state of sexual stimulation or arousal.

(h) “Nudity” means the showing, representation or depiction of human male or female genitals, pubic area or buttocks with less than a full, opaque covering, or of a female breast with less than a full, opaque covering of any portion thereof below the top of the nipple, or of covered male genitals in a discernibly turgid state.

(i) “Juvenile” means an unmarried person under the age of eighteen.

(j) “Material” means any book, magazine, newspaper, pamphlet, poster, print, picture, figure, image, description, motion picture film, phonographic record, or tape, or other tangible thing capable of arousing interest through sight, sound, or touch and includes an image or text appearing on a computer monitor, television screen, liquid crystal display, or similar display device or an image or text recorded on a computer hard disk, computer floppy disk, compact disk, magnetic tape or similar data storage device.

(k) “Performance” means any motion picture, preview, trailer, play, show, skit, dance or other exhibition performed before an audience.

(l) “Spouse” means a person married to an offender at the time of an alleged offense, except that such person shall not be considered the spouse when any of the following apply:

(1) When the parties have entered into a written separation agreement authorized by Ohio R.C. 3103.06;
(2) During the pendency of an action between the parties for annulment, divorce, dissolution of marriage or legal separation;
(3) In the case of an action for legal separation, after the effective date of the judgment for legal separation.

(m) “Minor” means a person under the age of eighteen years.

(n) “Mental health client or patient” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2305.51.

(o) “Mental health professional” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2305.115.

(p) “Sado-masochistic abuse” means flagellation or torture by or upon a person or the condition of being fettered, bound, or otherwise physically restrained.
(ORC 2907.01)

533.02 PRESUMPTION OF KNOWLEDGE; ACTUAL NOTICE AND DEFENSE.

(a) An owner or manager, or agent or employee of an owner or manager, of a bookstore, newsstand, theater, or other commercial establishment engaged in selling materials or exhibiting performances, who, in the course of business does any of the acts prohibited by Section 533.11, is presumed to have knowledge of the character of the material or performance involved, if the owner, manager, or agent or employee of the owner or manager has actual notice of the nature of such material or performance, whether or not the owner, manager, or agent or employee of the owner or manager has precise knowledge of its contents.

(b) Without limitation on the manner in which such notice may be given, actual notice of the character of material or a performance may be given in writing by the chief legal officer of the jurisdiction in which the person to whom the notice is directed does business. Such notice, regardless of the manner in which it is given, shall identify the sender, identify the material or performance involved, state whether it is obscene or harmful to juveniles and bear the date of such notice.

(c) Section 533.11 does not apply to a motion picture operator or projectionist acting within the scope of employment as an employee of the owner or manager of a theater or other place for the showing of motion pictures to the general public, and having no managerial responsibility or financial interest in the operator’s or projectionist’s place of employment, other than wages.

(d) (1) Sections 533.11, 533.12(a) and 533.13 do not apply to a person solely because the person provided access or connection to or from an electronic method of remotely transferring information not under that person’s control, including having provided capabilities that are incidental to providing access or connection to or from the electronic method of remotely transferring the information, and that do not include the creation of the content of the material that is the subject of the access or connection.
(2) Subsection (d)(1) of this section does not apply to a person who conspires with an entity actively involved in the creation or knowing distribution of material in violation of Section 533.11, 533.12 or 533.13, or who knowingly advertises the availability of material of that nature.
(3) Subsection (d)(1) of this section does not apply to a person who provides access or connection to an electronic method of remotely transferring information that is engaged in the violation of Section 533.11, 533.12 or 533.13, and that contains content that person has selected and introduced into the electronic method of remotely transferring information or content over which that person exercises editorial control.

(e) An employer is not guilty of a violation of Section 533.11, 533.12, or 533.13 based on the actions of an employee or agent of the employer unless the employee’s or agent’s conduct is within the scope of employee’s or agent’s employment or agency, and the employer does either of the following:

(1) With knowledge of the employee’s or agent’s conduct, the employer authorizes or ratifies the conduct.
(2) The employer recklessly disregards the employee’s or agent’s conduct.

(f) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under Section 533.11 or 533.13 as the section applies to an image transmitted through the internet or another electronic method of remotely transmitting information that the person charged with violating the section has taken, in good faith, reasonable, effective, and appropriate actions under the circumstances to restrict or prevent access by juveniles to material that is harmful to juveniles, including any method that is feasible under available technology.

(g) If any provision of this section, or the application of any provision of this section to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this section or related sections that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To this end, the provisions are severable.
(ORC 2907.35)

533.03 UNLAWFUL SEXUAL CONDUCT WITH A MINOR.

(a) No person, who is eighteen years of age or older, shall engage in sexual conduct with another, who is not the spouse of the offender, when the offender knows the other person is thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age, or the offender is reckless in that regard.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender is four years older or more than the other person, or if the offender has previously been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of Ohio R.C. 2907.02, 2907.03 or 2907.04, or former Ohio R.C. 2907.12, unlawful sexual conduct with a minor is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2907.04)

533.04 SEXUAL IMPOSITION.

(a) No person shall have sexual contact with another, not the spouse of the offender; cause another, not the spouse of the offender, to have sexual contact with the offender; or cause two or more persons to have sexual contact when any of the following applies:

(1) The offender knows that the sexual contact is offensive to the other person, or one of the other persons, or is reckless in that regard.
(2) The offender knows that the other person’s or one of the other person’s ability to appraise the nature of or control the offender’s or touching person’s conduct is substantially impaired.
(3) The offender knows that the other person or one of the other persons submits because of being unaware of the sexual contact.
(4) The other person or one of the other persons is thirteen years of age or older but less than sixteen years of age, whether or not the offender knows the age of such person, and the offender is at least eighteen years of age and four or more years older than such other person.
(5) The offender is a mental health professional, the other person or one of the other persons is a mental health client or patient of the offender, and the offender induces the other person who is the client or patient to submit by falsely representing to the other person who is the client or patient that the sexual contact is necessary for mental health treatment purposes.

(b) No person shall be convicted of a violation of this section solely upon the victim’s testimony unsupported by other evidence.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of sexual imposition, a misdemeanor of the third degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of Ohio R.C. 2907.02, 2907.03, 2907.04, 2907.05, 2907.06 or 2907.12, or a substantially similar municipal ordinance, a violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 2907.06)

533.05 IMPORTUNING.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Former Section 533.05 has been deleted from the Codified Ordinances. Section 533.05 was identical to Ohio R.C. 2907.07(B) which the Ohio Supreme Court held to be unconstitutional in State v. Thompson, 95 Ohio St. 3rd 264 (2002).)

533.06 VOYEURISM.

(a) No person, for the purpose of sexually arousing or gratifying the person’s self, shall commit trespass or otherwise surreptitiously invade the privacy of another, to spy or eavesdrop upon another.

(b) No person, for the purpose of sexually arousing or gratifying the person’s self, shall commit trespass or otherwise surreptitiously invade the privacy of another to videotape, film, photograph, or otherwise record the other person in a state of nudity.

(c) No person shall secretly or surreptitiously videotape, film, photograph, or otherwise record another person under or through the clothing being worn by that other person for the purpose of viewing the body of, or the undergarments worn by, that other person.

(d) (1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of voyeurism.
(2) A violation of subsection (a) hereof is a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(3) A violation of subsection (b) hereof is a misdemeanor of the second degree.
(4) A violation of subsection (c) hereof is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(ORC 2907.08)

533.07 PUBLIC INDECENCY.

(a) No person shall recklessly do any of the following, under circumstances in which the person’s conduct is likely to be viewed by and affront others, who are in the person’s physical proximity and who are not members of the person’s household:

(1) Expose the person’s private parts;
(2) Engage in sexual conduct or masturbation;
(3) Engage in conduct that to an ordinary observer would appear to be sexual conduct or masturbation.

(b) No person shall knowingly do any of the following, under circumstances in which the person’s conduct is likely to be viewed by and affront another person who is a minor, who is not the spouse of the offender, and who resides in the person’s household:

(1) Engage in masturbation;
(2) Engage in sexual conduct;
(3) Engage in conduct that to an ordinary observer would appear to be sexual conduct or masturbation;
(4) Expose the person’s private parts with the purpose of personal sexual arousal or gratification or to lure the minor into sexual activity.

(c) (1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of public indecency and shall be punished as provided in subsections (c)(2), (3), (4) and (5) of this section.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c)(2) of this section, a violation of subsection (a)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one violation of this section, a violation of subsection (a)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor of the third degree or, if any person who was likely to view and be affronted by the offender’s conduct was a minor, a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two violations of this section, a violation of subsection (a)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree or, if any person who was likely to view and be affronted by the offender’s conduct was a minor, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or more violations of this section, a violation of subsection (a)(1) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree or, if any person who was likely to view and be affronted by the offender’s conduct was a minor, a felony which shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c)(3) of this section, a violation of subsection (a)(2) or (3) of this section is a misdemeanor of the third degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one violation of this section, a violation of subsection (a)(2) or (3) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree or, if any person who was likely to view and be affronted by the offender’s conduct was a minor, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two or more violations of this section, a violation of subsection (a)(2) or (3) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree or, if any person who was likely to view and be affronted by the offender’s conduct was a minor, a felony which shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c)(4) of this section, a violation of subsection (b)(1), (2) or (3) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one violation of this section, a violation of subsection (b)(1), (2) or (3) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two or more violations of this section, a violation of subsection (b)(1), (2) or (3) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(5) A violation of subsection (b)(4) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree unless the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to any violation of this section in which case the violation is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law. (ORC 2907.09)

533.08 PROCURING.

(a) No person, knowingly and for gain, shall do either of the following:

(1) Entice or solicit another to patronize a prostitute or brothel;
(2) Procure a prostitute for another to patronize, or take or direct another at his or her request to any place for the purpose of patronizing a prostitute.

(b) No person, having authority or responsibility over the use of premises, shall knowingly permit such premises to be used for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity for hire.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of procuring. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (c), procuring is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the prostitute who is procured, patronized or otherwise involved in a violation of subsection (a)(2) of this section is under sixteen years of age at the time of the violation, regardless of whether the offender who violates subsection (a)(2) of this section knows the prostitute’s age, or if a prostitute who engages in sexual activity for hire in premises used in violation of subsection (b) of this section is under sixteen years of age at the time of the violation, regardless of whether the offender who violates subsection (b) of this section knows the prostitute’s age, procuring is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law. If the prostitute who is procured, patronized or otherwise involved in a violation of subsection (a)(2) of this section is sixteen or seventeen years of age at the time of the violation or if a prostitute who engages in sexual activity for hire in premises used in violation of subsection (b) of this section is sixteen or seventeen years of age at the time of the violation, procuring is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(ORC 2907.23)

533.09 SOLICITING.

(a) No person shall solicit another who is eighteen years of age or older to engage with such other person in sexual activity for hire.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of soliciting, a misdemeanor of the third degree.

(c) If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of any provision of this section or an attempt to commit a violation of any provision of this section, and if the person, in committing or attempting to commit the violation, was in, was on, or used a motor vehicle, the court, in addition to or independent of all other penalties imposed for the violation, shall impose upon the offender a class six suspension of the person’s driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(6) of Ohio R.C. 4510.02. In lieu of imposing upon the offender the class six suspension, the court instead may require the offender to perform community service for a number of hours determined by the court.

(d) As used in this section, “sexual activity for hire” means an implicit or explicit agreement to provide sexual activity in exchange for anything of value paid to the person engaging in such sexual activity, to any person trafficking that person, or to any person associated with either such person. (ORC 2907.24)

533.091 LOITERING TO ENGAGE IN SOLICITATION.

(a) No person, with purpose to solicit another to engage in sexual activity for hire and while in or near a public place, shall do any of the following:

(1) Beckon to, stop or attempt to stop another;
(2) Engage or attempt to engage another in conversation;
(3) Stop or attempt to stop the operator of a vehicle or approach a stationary vehicle;
(4) If the offender is the operator of or a passenger in a vehicle, stop, attempt to stop, beckon to, attempt to beckon to, or entice another to approach or enter the vehicle of which the offender is the operator or in which the offender is the passenger;
(5) Interfere with the free passage of another.

(b) As used in this section:

(1) “Vehicle” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4501.01.
(2) “Public place” means any of the following:

A. A street, road, highway, thoroughfare, bikeway, walkway, sidewalk, bridge, alley, alleyway, plaza, park, driveway, parking lot, or transportation facility;
B. A doorway or entrance way to a building that fronts on a place described in subsection (b)(2)A. hereof;
C. A place not described in subsection (b)(2)A. or B. hereof that is open to the public.

(c) Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of loitering to engage in solicitation, a misdemeanor of the third degree. (ORC 2907.241)

533.10 PROSTITUTION.

(a) No person shall engage in sexual activity for hire.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of prostitution, a misdemeanor of the third degree. (ORC 2907.25)

533.11 DISSEMINATING MATTER HARMFUL TO JUVENILES.

(a) No person, with knowledge of its character or content, shall recklessly do any of the following:

(1) Directly sell, deliver, furnish, disseminate, provide, exhibit, rent or present to a juvenile, a group of juveniles, a law enforcement officer posing as a juvenile, or a group of law enforcement officers posing as juveniles any material or performance that is obscene or harmful to juveniles;
(2) Directly offer or agree to sell, deliver, furnish, disseminate, provide, exhibit, rent or present to a juvenile, a group of juveniles, a law enforcement officer posing as a juvenile, or a group of law enforcement officers posing as juveniles any material or performance that is obscene or harmful to juveniles;
(3) While in the physical proximity of the juvenile or law enforcement officer posing as a juvenile, allow any juvenile or law enforcement officer posing as a juvenile to review or peruse any material or view any live performance that is harmful to juveniles.

(b) The following are affirmative defenses to a charge under this section, that involves material or a performance that is harmful to juveniles but not obscene:

(1) The defendant is the parent, guardian or spouse of the juvenile involved.
(2) The juvenile involved, at the time of the conduct in question, was accompanied by the juvenile’s parent or guardian who, with knowledge of its character, consented to the material or performance being furnished or presented to the juvenile.
(3) The juvenile exhibited to the defendant or the defendant’s agent or employee a draft card, driver’s license, birth certificate, marriage license, or other official or apparently official document purporting to show that the juvenile was eighteen years of age or over or married, and the person to whom that document was exhibited did not otherwise have reasonable cause to believe that the juvenile was under the age of eighteen and unmarried.

(c) (1) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section, involving material or a performance that is obscene or harmful to juveniles, that the material or performance was furnished or presented for a bona fide medical, scientific, educational, governmental, judicial or other proper purpose, by a physician, psychologist, sociologist, scientist, teacher, librarian, clergyman, prosecutor, judge or other proper person.
(2) Except as provided in subsection (b)(3) hereof, mistake of age is not a defense to a charge under this section.

(d) (1) A person directly sells, delivers, furnishes, disseminates, provides, exhibits, rents, or presents or directly offers or agrees to sell, deliver, furnish, disseminate, provide, exhibit, rent, or present material or a performance to a juvenile, a group of juveniles, a law enforcement officer posing as a juvenile, or a group of law enforcement officers posing as juveniles in violation of this section by means of an electronic method of remotely transmitting information if the person knows or has reason to believe that the person receiving the information is a juvenile or the group of persons receiving the information are juveniles.
(2) A person remotely transmitting information by means of a method of mass distribution does not directly sell, deliver, furnish, disseminate, provide, exhibit, rent, or present or directly offer or agree to sell, deliver, furnish, disseminate, provide, exhibit, rent, or present the material or performance in question to a juvenile, a group of juveniles, a law enforcement officer posing as a juvenile, or a group of law enforcement officers posing as juveniles in violation of this section if either of the following applies:

A. The person has inadequate information to know or have reason to believe that a particular recipient of the information or offer is a juvenile.
B. The method of mass distribution does not provide the person the ability to prevent a particular recipient from receiving the information.

(e) If any provision of this section, or the application of any provision of this section to any person or circumstance, is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this section or related sections that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application. To this end, the provisions are severable.

(f) Whoever violates this section is guilty of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. If the material or performance involved is harmful to juveniles, except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a violation of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the material or performance involved is obscene, a violation of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. (ORC 2907.31)

533.12 DECEPTION TO OBTAIN MATTER HARMFUL TO JUVENILES.

(a) No person, for the purpose of enabling a juvenile to obtain any material or gain admission to any performance which is harmful to juveniles shall do either of the following:

(1) Falsely represent that he is the parent, guardian or spouse of such juvenile;
(2) Furnish such juvenile with any identification or document purporting to show that such juvenile is eighteen years of age or over or married.

(b) No juvenile, for the purpose of obtaining any material or gaining admission to any performance which is harmful to juveniles, shall do either of the following:

(1) Falsely represent that he is eighteen years of age or over or married;
(2) Exhibit any identification or document purporting to show that he is eighteen years of age or over or married.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of deception to obtain matter harmful to juveniles, a misdemeanor of the second degree. A juvenile who violates subsection (b) hereof shall be adjudged an unruly child, with such disposition of the case as may be appropriate under Ohio R.C. Chapter 2151.
(ORC 2907.33)

533.13 DISPLAYING MATTER HARMFUL TO JUVENILES.

(a) No person who has custody, control or supervision of a commercial establishment, with knowledge of the character or content of the material involved, shall display at the establishment any material that is harmful to juveniles and that is open to view by juveniles as part of the invited general public.

(b) It is not a violation of subsection (a) hereof if the material in question is displayed by placing it behind “blinder racks” or similar devices that cover at least the lower two-thirds of the material, if the material in question is wrapped or placed behind the counter, or if the material in question otherwise is covered or located so that the portion that is harmful to juveniles is not open to the view of juveniles.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of displaying matter harmful to juveniles, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Each day during which the offender is in violation of this section constitutes a separate offense.
(ORC 2907.311)

533.14 UNLAWFUL ADVERTISING OF MASSAGE.

(a) No person, by means of a statement, solicitation, or offer in a print or electronic publication, sign, placard, storefront display, or other medium, shall advertise massage, relaxation massage, any other massage technique or method, or any related service, with the suggestion or promise of sexual activity.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unlawful advertising of massage, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(c) Nothing in this section prevents the legislative authority of a municipal corporation or township from enacting any regulation of the advertising of massage further than and in addition to the provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of this section.
(ORC 2927.17)

533.15 OBSCENE OR PROFANE LANGUAGE.

(a) No person shall utter obscene or licentious language, or profanely curse or swear.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

533.99 PENALTY.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor classification.)

CHAPTER 535
Criminal Conduct in Sexually Oriented Business

535.01 Purpose and intent.
535.02 Definitions.
535.03 Unlawful activities.
535.04 Scienter required to prove violation or business liability.
535.99 Penalty; equitable remedies.

CROSS REFERENCES

Obscenity and sex offenses – see GEN. OFF. Ch. 533
Sexually oriented business – see BUS. REG. Ch. 785

535.01 PURPOSE AND INTENT.

(a) In enacting this chapter, pursuant to Ohio R.C. 715.55, the legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire makes the following statement of intent and findings:

(1) Adult entertainment establishments require special supervision from the public safety agencies of the Village of Bellaire in order to protect and preserve the health, safety, morals, and welfare of the patrons and employees of the businesses as well as the citizens of the Village of Bellaire.
(2) The legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire finds that adult entertainment establishments are frequently used for unlawful sexual activities, including prostitution and sexual liaisons of a casual nature.
(3) The concern over sexually transmitted diseases is a legitimate health concern of the Village of Bellaire that demands reasonable regulation of adult entertainment establishments by the Village of Bellaire in the specified manner, and expanded authority for reasonable regulation of adult entertainment establishments by local governments, in order to protect the health and well-being of the citizens.
(4) Minimal regulations enacted by the Village of Bellaire are legitimate and reasonable means of accountability to ensure that operators of adult entertainment establishments comply with reasonable regulations and to ensure that operators do not knowingly allow their establishments to be used as places of illegal sexual activity or solicitation.
(5) There is convincing documented evidence that adult entertainment establishments, because of their very nature, have a deleterious effect on both the existing businesses around them and the surrounding residential areas adjacent to them, cause increased crime, particularly in the overnight hours, and downgrade property values.
(6) The legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire desires to minimize and control these adverse effects by regulating adult entertainment establishments in the specified manner. And by minimizing and controlling these adverse effects, the legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire seeks to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizenry; protect the citizens from increased crime preserve the quality of life; preserve the property values and character of surrounding neighborhoods; and deter the spread of urban blight.
(7) The legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire has determined that current local zoning and other locational criteria do not adequately protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the people of the Village of Bellaire and that expanded regulation of adult entertainment establishments is necessary.
(8) It is not the intent of the legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire in enacting this act to suppress or authorize the suppression of any speech activities protected by the First Amendment, but to enact content-neutral statutes that address the secondary effects of adult entertainment establishments.
(9) It is not the intent of the legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire to condone or legitimize the distribution of obscene material, and the legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire recognizes that state and federal law prohibits the distribution of obscene materials and expects and encourages state law enforcement official to enforce state obscenity statutes against any such illegal activities in this State.

(b) It is the intent of the legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire in enacting this chapter to regulate in the specified manner adult entertainment establishments in order to promote the health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the citizens of the Village of Bellaire and establish reasonable regulations to prevent the deleterious secondary effects of adult entertainment establishments within the Village of Bellaire. The provisions of this chapter have neither the purpose nor effect of imposing a limitation or restriction on the content of any communicative materials, including sexually oriented materials. Similarly, it is not the intent of the legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire in enacting this chapter to restrict or deny, or authorize the restriction or denial of, access by adults to sexually oriented materials protected by the First Amendment, or to deny, or authorize the denial of, access by the distributors and exhibitors of adult entertainment and adult materials to their intended market. Neither is it the intent nor effect of the legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire in enacting this chapter to condone or legitimize the distribution or exhibition of obscene materials.

(c) Based on evidence concerning the adverse secondary effects of adult uses on communities presented in hearings and in reports made available to the legislature and subsequently adopted by the Ohio General Assembly as findings under Section 3 of House Bill 23 ( and on findings incorporated in the cases of Township of Littleton, Colorado v. Z.J. Gifts D-4, L.L.C. (2004), 541 U.S. 774; Township of Erie v. Pap’s A.M. (2000), 529 U.S. 277; Barnes v. Glen Theatre, Inc (1991), 501 U.S. 560; Township of Renton v. Playtime Theatres, Inc. (1986), 475 U.S. 41; Young v. American Mini Theatres (1976), 426 U.S. 50; California v. LaRue (1972), 409 U.S. 109; DLS Inc. v. Township of Chattanooga (6th Cir. 1997), 107 F. 3d 403; East Brooks Books, Inc. v Township of Memphis (6th Cir. 1995), 48 F.3d 220; Harris v. Fitchville Township Trustees (N.D. 2000), 99 F. Supp.2d 837; Bamon Corp. v. Township of Dayton (S.D. Ohio 1990), 730 F. Supp. 90, aff’d (6th Cir. 1991), 923 F.2d 470; Broadway Books v. Roberts (E.D. Tenn. 1986), 642 F. Supp. 486; Bright Lights, Inc. v. Township of Newport (E.D. Ky. 1993), 830 F. Supp. 378; Richland Bookmart v. Nichols (6th Cir. 1998), 137 F.3d 435; Deja Vu v. Metro Government (6th Cir. 1999), 1999 U.S. App. LEXIS 535; Threesome Entertainment v. Strittmather (N.D. Ohio 1998), 4 F. Supp. 2d 710; J.L. Spoons, Inc. v. Township of Brunswick (N.D. Ohio 1999), 49 F. Supp.2d 1032; Triplett Grille, Inc. v. Township of Akron (6th Cir. 1994), 40 F.3d 129; Nightclubs, Inc. v. Townshp of Paducah (6th Cir. 2000), 202 F. 3d 884; O’Connor v. Township and County of Denver (10th Cir. 1990), 894 F. 2d 1210; Deja Vu of Nashville, Inc., et al. v. Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County (6th Cir. 2001), 2001 U.S. App. LEXIS 26007; State of Ohio ex rel. Rothal v. Smith (Ohio C.P. 2002), Summit C.P. No. CV 01094594; Z.J. Gifts D-2, L.L.C. v. Township of Aurora (10th Cir. 1998), 136 F. 3d 683; Connection Distrib. Co. v. Reno (6th Cir. 1998), 154 F.3d 281; Sundance Assocs. v. Reno (10th Cir. 1998), 139 F. 3d 804; American Library Association v. Reno (D.C. Cir. 1994), 33 F. 3d 78; American Target Advertising, Inc. v. Giani (10th Cir. 2000), 199 F.3d 1241; and other cases and on reports of secondary effects occurring in and around adult entertainment establishments in Phoenix, Arizona (1984); Minneapolis, Minnesota (1980); Houston, Texas (1983); Indianapolis, Indiana (1984); Amarillo, Texas (1977); Garden Grove, California (1991); Los Angeles, California (1977); Whittier, California (1978); Austin, Texas (1986); Seattle, Washington (1989); Oklahoma Township, Oklahoma (1986); Cleveland, Ohio (1977); Dallas, Texas (1997); St. Croix County, Wisconsin (1993); Bellevue, Washington (1998); Newport News, Virginia (1996); Tucson, Arizona (1990); St. Paul, Minnesota (1988); Oklahoma Township, Oklahoma (1986 and 1992); Beaumont, Texas (1982); New York, New York (1994); Ellicottville, New York (1998); Des Moines, Iowa (1984); Islip, New York (1980); Adams County, Colorado (1987); Manatee County, Florida (1987); New Hanover County, North Carolina (1989); Las Vegas, Nevada (1978); Cattaraugas County, New York (1998); Cleburne, Texas (1997); Dallas, Texas (1997); El Paso, Texas (1986); New York Times Square study (1994); Report to ACLJ on the Seocndary Impacts of Sex Oriented Businesses (1996); findings from the Report of the Attorney General’s Working Group on the Regulation of Sexually Oriented Businesses (June 6, 1989, State of Minnesota); and on testimony to Congress in 136 Cong. Rec. S. 8987; 135 Cong. Rec. S. 14519; 135 Cong. Rec. S. 5636, 134 Cong. Rec. E. 3750; and also on findings from the paper entitled “Stripclubs According to Strippers: Exposing Workplace Sexual Violence,” by Kelly Holsopple, Program Director, Freedom and Justice Center for Prostitution Resources, Minneapolis, Minnesota; and from “Sexually Oriented Businesses: An Insider’s View,” by David Sherman, presented to the Michigan House Committee on Ethics and Constitutional Law, Jan. 12, 2000; and from various other police reports, testimony, newspaper reports, and other documentary evidence), and subsequent findings in Sensations, Inc. v. City of Grand Rapids, Michigan Decency Action Council (6th Cir. 2008), 526 F. 3d 291; 729, Inc. V. Kenton County Fiscal Court (6th Cir. 2008), 515 F. 3d 485; and Andy’s Rest. & Lounge, Inc. V. City of Gary (7th Cir. 2006), 466 F. 3d 550, and the legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire’s independent review of the same) the legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire finds:

(1) Sexually oriented businesses, as a category of commercial uses, are often associated with a wide variety of adverse secondary effects including, but not limited to, personal and property crimes, prostitution, potential spread of disease, lewdness, public indecency, illicit drug use and drug trafficking, negative impacts on surrounding properties, urban blight, litter, and sexual assault and exploitation.
(2) Illegal and unsanitary acts involving nudity, including lewd conduct, masturbation, oral and anal sex, occur at unregulated sexually oriented businesses, including those businesses which provide private or semi-private rooms, booths, or cubicles for viewing films, videos, or live performances.
(3) Each of the foregoing negative secondary effects constitutes a harm which the Village of Bellaire has a substantial government interest in preventing and/or abating. This substantial government interest in preventing secondary effects, which is the Village of Bellaire’s rationale for this chapter, exists independent of any comparative analysis between sexually oriented and non-sexually oriented businesses. Additionally, the Village of Bellaire’s interest in regulating sexually oriented businesses extends to preventing future secondary effects of either current or future sexually oriented businesses that may locate in the Village of Bellaire. The Village finds that the cases and documentation relied on in this chapter are reasonably believed to be relevant to said secondary effects.
(4) The enactment of this chapter will promote the general welfare, health, morals, and safety of the citizens of the Village of Bellaire.
(Ord. 2012-09. Passed 11-1-12.)

535.02 DEFINITIONS.

(a) As used in this chapter:

(1) “Adult bookstore,” “adult cabaret,” “adult motion picture theater,” “adult video store”, “characterized by, ” nude,” “nudity,” “state of nudity,” “seminude,” “state of seminudity,” “sexual device,” “sexual device shop,” “sexual encounter center,” and “specified anatomical areas” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2907.40; and
(2) “Adult arcade,” “adult entertainment,” “adult entertainment establishment,” “adult novelty store,” “adult theatre,” “distinguished or characterized by their emphasis upon,” “nude or seminude model studio,” “regularly features,” “regularly shown,” and “sexual encounter establishment” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2907.39.

(b) “Employee” mean any individual on a full-time, part-time, or contract basis, regardless of whether the individual is denominated an employee, independent contractor, agent, or otherwise, but does not include an individual exclusively on the premises for repair or maintenance of the premises or for the delivery of goods to the premises.

(c) “Immediate family” means a person’s spouse residing in the person’s household, parents, siblings of the whole or the half blood, and children, including adopted children.

(d) “License” means a license to act or operate a sexually oriented business, issued pursuant to this chapter.

(e) “Licensee” means a person in whose name a license to operate has been issued, as well as the individual(s) designated on the license application as principally responsible for the operation of the sexually oriented business. With respect to an Employee license issued under this chapter, licensee means an employee as defined by subsection (b) above in whose name a license has been issued authorizing employment at a sexually oriented business.

(f) “Operate” means to control or hold primary responsibility for the operation of a sexually oriented business, either as a business entity, as an individual, or as part of a group of individuals with shared responsibility. “Operate” or “Cause to be Operated” shall mean to cause to function or ot put or keep in operation.

(g) “Operator” means any individual on the premises of a sexually oriented business who causes the business to function or who puts or keeps in operation the business or who is authorized to manage the business or exercise overall operational control of the business premises. A person may be found to be operating or causing to be operated a sexually oriented business whether or not that person is an owner, part owner, or licensee of the business.

(h) “Patron” means an individual on the premises of a sexually oriented business, except for any of the following:

(1) An operator or an employee of the sexually oriented business;
(2) An individual who is on the premises exclusively for repair or maintenance of the premises or for the delivery of goods to the premises;
(3) A public employee or a volunteer firefighter emergency medical services worker acting within the scope of the public employee’s or volunteer’s duties as a public employee or volunteer.

(i) “Person” means an individual, proprietorship, partnership, firm, association, joint stock company, corporation or combination of individuals of whatever form or character.

(j) “Premises” means the real property on which the sexually oriented business is located and all appurtenances to the real property, including, but not limited, to the sexually oriented business, the grounds, private walkways, and parking lots or parking garages adjacent to the real property under the ownership, control, or supervision of the owner or operator of the sexually oriented business.

(k) “Sexually Oriented Business” means an adult arcade, adult bookstore, adult cabaret, adult entertainment establishment, adult motion picture theater, adult novelty store, adult theater, adult video store, sexual device shop, sexual encounter center, and sexual encounter establishment as defined by subsection (a) hereof, but does not include a business solely by reason of its showing, selling, or renting materials that may depict sex.
(Ord. 2012-09. Passed 11-1-12.)

535.03 UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES.

(a) Nothing contained in this chapter is intended, or shall be construed, to permit or authorize activities which are unlawful under State law or legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire’s ordinance. It is unlawful and a violation of this chapter for an operator to knowingly or intentionally violate the provisions of this chapter or to allow, either knowingly or intentionally, an employee or a patron to violate the provisions of this chapter. It shall be a defense to prosecution that the person prosecuted was powerless to prevent the violation.

(b) No person shall knowingly or intentionally, in a sexually oriented business, appear before a patron or patrons in a state of nudity, regardless of whether such public nudity is expressive in nature.

(c) No employee shall knowingly or intentionally, in a sexually oriented business, appear within view of any patron in a semi-nude condition unless the employee, while semi-nude, shall be and remain at least six (6) feet from all patrons and on a fixed stage at least twenty-four (24) inches from the floor and at least thirty-six (36) inches from all parts of a clearly designated area in which patrons will be present.

(d) The interior of the premises shall be configured in such a manner that there is an unobstructed view from an operator’s station of every area of the premises, including the interior of each viewing room but excluding restrooms, to which any patron is permitted access for any purpose. If the premises has two (2) or more operator’s stations designated, then the interior of the premises shall be configured in such a manner that there is an unobstructed view of each area of the premises to which any patron is permitted access for any purpose from at least one (1) of the operator’s stations. The view required in this paragraph must be by direct line of sight from the operator’s station. It is the duty of the operator to ensure that at least one (1) employee is on duty and situated in an operator’s station at all times that any patron is on the portion of the premises monitored by that operator station. It shall be the duty of the operator, and it shall also be the duty of any employees present on the premises, to ensure that the view area specified in this paragraph remains unobstructed by any doors, curtains, walls, merchandise, display racks or other materials or enclosures at all times that any patron is present on the premises.

(e) Sexually oriented businesses that do not have stages or interior configurations which meet at least the minimum requirements of this section shall be given one hundred eighty (180) days from the effective date of this chapter to comply with the stage and building requirements of this section. During said one hundred eighty (180) days, any employee who appears within view of any patron in a semi-nude condition shall nevertheless remain, while semi-nude, at least six (6) feet from all patrons.

(f) No patron who is not a member of the employee’s immediate family shall knowingly touch an employee while that employee is nude or seminude or touch the clothing of any employee while that employee is nude or semi-nude.

(g) No employee who regularly appears nude or seminude on the premises of a sexually oriented business and while nude or seminude, shall knowingly touch a patron who is not a member of the employee’s immediate family or another employee who is not a member of the employee’s immediate family or the clothing of a patron who is not a member of the employee’s immediate family or another employee who is not a member of the employee’s immediate family or allow the patron who is not a member of the employee’s immediate family or another employee who is not a member of the employee’s immediate family to touch the employee or the clothing of the employee.

(h) Minors Prohibited. No person under the age of 18 years shall be permitted on the premises of a sexually oriented business.

(i) Hours of Operation. No sexually oriented business shall be or remain open for business between 12:00 midnight and 6:00 a.m. on any day, except that a sexually oriented business that holds a liquor permit pursuant to Chapter 4303 of the Ohio Revised Code may remain open until the hour specified in that permit if it does not conduct, offer, or allow sexually oriented business activity in which the performers appear nude.

(j) The provisions of this section shall not apply to an employee’s use of any restroom or any single-sex dressing room that is accessible only to employees, and live performances in which the patron and employee are separated by an impenetrable barrier such as, but not limited to, glass or Plexiglas.
(Ord. 2012-09. Passed 11-1-12.)

535.04 SCIENTER REQUIRED TO PROVE VIOLATION OR BUSINESS LIABILITY.

This chapter does not impose strict liability. Unless a culpable mental state is otherwise specified herein, a showing of a knowing or reckless mental state is necessary to establish a violation of a provision of Section 535.03. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, for the purposes of Section 535.03, an act by an employee shall be imputed to the sexually oriented business for purposes of finding a violation of this Section 535.03 only if an officer, director, general partner or licensee, or a person who managed, supervised, or controlled the operation of the business premises, knowingly or recklessly allowed such act to occur on the premises. It shall be a defense to liability that the person to whom liability is imputed was powerless to prevent the
act. (Ord. 2012-09. Passed 11-1-12.)

535.99 PENALTY; EQUITABLE REMEDIES.

(a) Any person, business, or entity violating or refusing to comply with any provisions of this chapter, (except for violations of Section 535.03(f), (g) or (i)), shall, upon conviction, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree and shall be punished by up to six (6) months in jail and up to a one thousand dollar ($1,000.00) fine. Each day that a violation is permitted to exist or occur, and each separate occurrence, shall constitute a separate offense. Further, any premises in which a sexually oriented business, as defined in Section 535.02(k), is repeatedly operated or maintained in violation of the provisions of this chapter shall constitute a public nuisance and shall be subject to civil abatement proceedings initiated by the legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire in a court of competent jurisdiction. Each day that a violation is permitted to exist or occur shall constitute a separate operation or maintenance of the violation.

(b) Whoever violates Section 535.03(f) or (g) shall be guilty of illegal sexually oriented activity in a sexually oriented business. If the offender touches a specified anatomical area of the patron or employee, or the clothing covering a specified anatomical area, a violation of Section 535.03(f) or (g) is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender does not touch a specified anatomical area of the patron or employee, or the clothing covering a specified anatomical area, a violation of Section 535.03 (f) or (g) is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(c) Whoever violates Section 535.03(i) is guilty of illegally operating a sexually oriented business, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(d) Notwithstanding subsection (a) hereof, the legislative authority of the Village of Bellaire may employ any remedy available at law or in equity to prevent or remedy a violation of any provision of this chapter. (Ord. 2012-09. Passed 11-1-12.)

CHAPTER 537
Offenses Against Persons

537.01 Negligent homicide.
537.02 Vehicular homicide and manslaughter.
537.021 Vehicular assault in a construction zone.
537.03 Assault.
537.04 Negligent assault.
537.05 Aggravated menacing.
537.051 Menacing by stalking.
537.06 Menacing.
537.07 Endangering children.
537.08 Unlawful restraint.
537.09 Coercion.
537.10 Telecommunication harassment.
537.11 Threatening or harassing telephone calls.
537.12 Misuse of 9-1-1 system.
537.13 Adulterating of or furnishing adulterated food or confection.
537.14 Domestic violence.
537.15 Temporary protection order.
537.16 Illegal distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products or alternate nicotine products.
537.17 Criminal child enticement.
537.18 Contributing to unruliness or delinquency of a child.
537.19 Unauthorized workers.
537.99 Penalty.

CROSS REFERENCES

See sectional histories for similar State law
Physical harm to persons defined – see GEN. OFF. 501.01 (c), (e)
Fighting; provoking violent response – see GEN. OFF. 509.03

537.01 NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE.

(a) No person shall negligently cause the death of another or the unlawful termination of another’s pregnancy by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance as defined in Section 549.01.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 2903.05)

537.02 VEHICULAR HOMICIDE AND MANSLAUGHTER.

(a) No person, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle, motorcycle, snowmobile, locomotive, watercraft, or aircraft, shall cause the death of another or the unlawful termination of another’s pregnancy in any of the following ways:

(1) A. Negligently;
B. As the proximate result of committing, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle or motorcycle in a construction zone, a speeding offense, provided that this subsection applies only if the person whose death is caused or whose pregnancy is unlawfully terminated is in the construction zone at the time of the offender’s commission of the speeding offense in the construction zone and does not apply as described in subsection (d) of this section.

(2) As the proximate result of committing a violation of any provision of any section contained in Title XLV of the Ohio Revised Code that is a minor misdemeanor or of a municipal ordinance that, regardless of the penalty set by ordinance for the violation, is substantially equivalent to any provision of any section contained in Title XLV of the Ohio Revised Code that is a minor misdemeanor.

(b) (1) Whoever violates subsection (a)(1) of this section is guilty of vehicular homicide. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, vehicular homicide is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Vehicular homicide is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law if, at the time of the offense, the offender was driving under a suspension or cancellation imposed under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4510 or any other provision of the Ohio Revised Code or was operating a motor vehicle or motorcycle, did not have a valid driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege, and was not eligible for renewal of the offender’s driver’s license or commercial driver’s license without examination under Ohio R.C. 4507.10 or if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter or assault offense. The court shall impose a mandatory jail term on the offender when required by Ohio R.C. 2903.06(E).
(2) Whoever violates subsection (a)(2) of this section is guilty of vehicular manslaughter. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, vehicular manslaughter is a misdemeanor of the second degree. Vehicular manslaughter is a misdemeanor of the first degree if, at the time of the offense, the offender was driving under a suspension or cancellation imposed under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4510 or any other provision of the Ohio Revised Code or was operating a motor vehicle or motorcycle, did not have a valid driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege, and was not eligible for renewal of the offender’s driver’s license or commercial driver’s license without examination under Ohio R.C. 4507.10 or if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or any traffic-related homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense.

(c) The court shall impose a mandatory jail term of at least fifteen days on an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of subsection (a)(1)B. of this section and may impose upon the offender a longer jail term as authorized pursuant to Section 501.99. The court shall impose a mandatory prison term on an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of subsection (a)(1)A. hereof if either of the following applies:

(1) The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or Ohio R.C. 2903.06 or 2903.08.
(2) At the time of the offense, the offender was driving under suspension or cancellation under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4510 or any other provision of the Ohio Revised Code or was operating a motor vehicle or motorcycle, did not have a valid driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege, and was not eligible for renewal of the offender’s driver’s license or commercial driver’s license without examination under Ohio R.C. 4507.10.

(d) Subsection (a)(1)B. does not apply in a particular construction zone unless signs of the type described in Ohio R.C. 2903.081 are erected in that construction zone in accordance with the guidelines and design specifications established by the Director of Transportation under Ohio R.C. 5501.27. The failure to erect signs of the type described in Ohio R.C. 2903.081 in a particular construction zone in accordance with those guidelines and design specifications does not limit or affect the application of subsections (a)(1)A. or (a)(2) of this section in that construction zone or the prosecution of any person who violates any of those subsections in that construction zone.

(e) As used in this section:

(1) “Mandatory prison term” and “mandatory jail term” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2929.01.
(2) “Traffic-related homicide, manslaughter or assault offense” means a violation of Ohio R.C. 2903.04 in circumstances in which division (D) of that section applies, a violation of Ohio R.C. 2903.06 or 2903.08, or a violation of Ohio R.C. 2903.06, 2903.07 or 2903.08 as they existed prior to March 23, 2000.
(3) “Construction zone” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 5501.27.
(4) “Speeding offense” means a violation of Ohio R.C. 4511.21 or a municipal ordinance pertaining to speed.

(f) For the purposes of this section, when a penalty or suspension is enhanced because of a prior or current violation of a specified law or a prior or current specified offense, the reference to the violation of the specified law or the specified offense includes any violation of any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, former law of this State, or current or former law of another state or the United States. (ORC 2903.06)

(g) The court imposing a sentence upon an offender for any violation of this section also shall impose a 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 division (B) of Ohio R.C. 4510.02 that is equivalent in length to the suspension required for a violation of Ohio R.C. 2903.06 under similar circumstances. (ORC 4510.07)

537.021 VEHICULAR ASSAULT IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE.

(a) No person, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle, motorcycle, snowmobile, locomotive, watercraft, or aircraft, shall cause serious physical harm to another person or another’s unborn as the proximate result of committing, while operating or participating in the operation of a motor vehicle or motorcycle in a construction zone, a speeding offense. This subsection applies only if the person to whom the serious physical harm is caused or to whose unborn the serious physical harm is caused is in the construction zone at the time of the offender’s commission of the speeding offense in the construction zone and does not apply as described in subsection (d) hereof.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of vehicular assault. Except as provided in this subsection, vehicular assault is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Vehicular assault is a felony if, at the time of the offense, the offender was driving under a suspension imposed under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4510, or any other provision of the Ohio Revised Code or if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or any trafficrelated homicide, manslaughter, or assault offense, and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law.

In addition to any other sanctions imposed, the court shall impose upon the offender a class four 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 division (A)(4) of Ohio R.C. 4510.02.

(c) The court shall impose a mandatory jail term of at least seven days on an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section and may impose upon the offender a longer jail term as authorized pursuant to Section 501.99.

(d) This section does not apply in a particular construction zone unless signs of the type described in Ohio R.C. 2903.081 are erected in that construction zone in accordance with the guidelines and design specifications established by the Director of Transportation under Ohio R.C. 5501.27.

(e) As used in this section:

(1) “Mandatory jail term” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2929.01.
(2) “Traffic-related homicide, manslaughter or assault offense” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2903.06.
(3) “Construction zone” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 5501.27.
(4) “Speeding offense” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2903.06.

537.03 ASSAULT.

(a) No person shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to another or to another’s unborn.

(b) No person shall recklessly cause serious physical harm to another or to another’s unborn.

(c) (1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of assault, a misdemeanor of the first degree, and the court shall sentence the offender as provided in subsection (c) hereof. If the assault was committed under the circumstances provided in subsection (c)(2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8) or (9) hereof, assault is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, if the offense is committed by a caretaker against a functionally impaired person under the caretaker’s care.
(3) If the offense occurs in or on the grounds of a State correctional institution or an institution of the Department of Youth Services, the victim of the offense is an employee of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction or the Department of Youth Services, and the offense is committed by a person incarcerated in the State correctional institution or by a person institutionalized in the Department of Youth Services Institution pursuant to a commitment to the Department of Youth Services.
(4) If the offense is committed in any of the following circumstances:

A. The offense occurs in or on the grounds of a local correctional facility, the victim of the offense is an employee of the local correctional facility or a probation department or is on the premises of the facility for business purposes or as a visitor, and the offense is committed by a person who is under custody in the facility subsequent to the person’s arrest for any crime or delinquent act, subsequent to the person’s being charged with or convicted of any crime, or subsequent to the person’s being alleged to be or adjudicated a delinquent child.
B. The offense occurs off the grounds of a State correctional institution and off the grounds of an institution of the Department of Youth Services, the victim of the offense is an employee of the Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, the Department of Youth Services, or a probation department, the offense occurs during the employee’s official work hours and while the employee is engaged in official work responsibilities, and the offense is committed by a person incarcerated in a State correctional institution or institutionalized in the Department of Youth Services who temporarily is outside of the institution for any purpose, by a parolee, by an offender under transitional control, under a community control sanction, or on an escorted visit, by a person under post-release control, or by an offender under any other type of supervision by a government agency.
C. The offense occurs off the grounds of a local correctional facility, the victim of the offense is an employee of the local correctional facility or a probation department, the offense occurs during the employee’s official work hours and while the employee is engaged in official work responsibilities, and the offense is committed by a person who is under custody in the facility subsequent to the person’s arrest for any crime or delinquent act, subsequent to the person being charged with or convicted of any crime, or subsequent to the person being alleged to be or adjudicated a delinquent child and who temporarily is outside of the facility for any purpose or by a parolee, by an offender under transitional control, under a community control sanction, or on an escorted visit, by a person under post-release control, or by an offender under any other type of supervision by a government agency.
D. The victim of the offense is a school teacher or administrator or a school bus operator, and the offense occurs in a school, on school premises, in a school building, on a school bus or while the victim is outside of school premises or a school bus and is engaged in duties or official responsibilities associated with the victim’s employment or position as a school teacher or administrator or a school bus operator, including, but not limited to, driving, accompanying, or chaperoning students at or on class or field trips, athletic events, or other school extracurricular activities or functions outside of school premises.

(5) If the victim of the offense is a peace officer or an investigator of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation, a firefighter, or a person performing emergency medical service, while in the performance of their official duties.
(6) If the victim of the offense is a peace officer or an investigator of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation and if the victim suffered serious physical harm as a result of the commission of the offense.
(7) If the victim of the offense is an officer or employee of a public children services agency or a private child placing agency and the offense relates to the officer’s or employee’s performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties.
(8) If the victim of the offense is a health care professional of a hospital, a health care worker of a hospital, or a security officer of a hospital whom the offender knows or has reasonable cause to know is a health care professional of a hospital; a health care worker of a hospital, or a security officer of a hospital, if the victim is engaged in the performance of the victim’s duties, and if the hospital offers de-escalation or crisis intervention training for such professionals, workers or officers, assault is one of the following:

A. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c)(8)B. of this section, assault committed in the specified circumstances is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Notwithstanding the fine specified in division (A)(2)(b) of Ohio R.C. 2929.28 for a misdemeanor of the first degree, in sentencing the offender under this subsection and if the court decides to impose a fine, the court may impose upon the offender a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
B. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more assault or homicide offenses committed against hospital personnel, assault committed in the specified circumstances is a felony.

(9) If the victim of the offense is a judge, magistrate, prosecutor or court official or employee whom the offender knows or has reasonable cause to know is a judge, magistrate, prosecutor or court official or employee, and if the victim is engaged in the performance of the victim’s duties, assault is one of the following:

A. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c)(9)B. of this section, assault committed in the specified circumstances is a misdemeanor of the first degree. In sentencing the offender under this subsection, if the court decides to impose a fine, notwithstanding the fine specified in division (A)(2)(b) of Ohio R.C. 2929.28 for a misdemeanor of the first degree, the court may impose upon the offender a fine of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
B. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more assault or homicide offenses committed against justice system personnel, assault committed in the specified circumstances is a felony.

(10) If an offender who is convicted of or pleads guilty to assault when it is a misdemeanor also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a specification as described in Ohio R.C. 2941.1423 that was included in the indictment, count in the indictment or information charging the offense, the court shall sentence the offender to a mandatory jail term as provided in division (G) of Ohio R.C. 2929.24.

(d) As used in this section:

(1) “Peace officer” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2935.01.
(2) “Firefighter” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 3937.41.
(3) “Emergency medical service” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4765.01.
(4) “Local correctional facility” means a county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county or multicounty-municipal jail or workhouse. A minimum security jail established under Ohio R.C. 341.23 or 753.21, or another county, multicounty, municipal, municipal-county, or multicountymunicipal facility used for the custody of persons arrested for any crime or delinquent act, persons charged with or convicted of any crime, or persons alleged to be or adjudicated a delinquent child.
(5) “Employee of a local correctional facility” means a person who is an employee of the political subdivision or of one or more of the affiliated political subdivisions that operates the local correctional facility and who operates or assists in the operation of the facility.
(6) “School teacher or administrator” means either of the following:

A. A person who is employed in the public schools of the State under a contract described in Ohio R.C. 3311.77 or 3319.08 in a position in which the person is required to have a certificate issued pursuant to Ohio R.C. 3319.22 to 3319.311.
B. A person who is employed by a nonpublic school for which the State Board of Education prescribes minimum standards under Ohio R.C. 3301.07 and who is certified in accordance with Ohio R.C. 3301.071.

(7) “Community control sanction” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2929.01.
(8) “Escorted visit” means an escorted visit granted under Ohio R.C. 2967.27.
(9) “Post-release control” and “transitional control” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2967.01.
(10) “Investigator of the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2903.11.
(11) “Health care professional” and “health care worker” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2305.234.
(12) “Assault or homicide offense committed against hospital personnel” means a violation of this section or Ohio R.C. 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.041, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13 or 2903.14 committed in circumstances in which all of the following apply:

A. The victim of the offense was a health care professional of a hospital, a health care worker of a hospital or a security officer of a hospital.
B. The offender knew or had reasonable cause to know that the victim was a health care professional of a hospital, a health care worker of a hospital, or a security officer of a hospital;
C. The victim was engaged in the performance of the victim’s duties.
D. The hospital offered de-escalation or crisis intervention training for such professionals, workers or officers.

(13) “De-escalation or crisis intervention training” means de-escalation or crisis intervention training for health care professionals of a hospital, health care workers of a hospital, and security officers of a hospital to facilitate interaction with patients, members of a patient’s family, and visitors, including those with mental impairments.
(14) “Assault or homicide offense committed against justice system personnel” means a violation of this section or of Ohio R.C. 2903.01, 2903.02, 2903.03, 2903.04, 2903.041, 2903.11, 2903.12, 2903.13 or 2903.14 committed in circumstances in which the victim of the offense was a judge, magistrate, prosecutor, or court official or employee whom the offender knew or had reasonable cause to know was a judge, magistrate, prosecutor, or court official or employee, and the victim was engaged in the performance of the victim’s duties.
(15) “Court official or employee” means any official or employee of a court created under the constitution or statutes of this State or of a United States court located in this State.
(16) “Judge” means a judge of a court created under the constitution or statutes of this State or of a United States court located in this State.
(17) “Magistrate” means an individual who is appointed by a court of record of this State and who has the powers and may perform the functions specified in Civil Rule 53, Criminal Rule 19, or Juvenile Rule 40, or an individual who is appointed by a United States court located in this State who has similar powers and functions.
(18) “Prosecutor” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2935.01.

(19) A. “Hospital” means, subject to subsection (d)(19)B. of this section, an institution classified as a hospital under Ohio R.C. 3701.01 in which are provided to patients diagnostic, medical, surgical, obstetrical, psychiatric, or rehabilitation care or a hospital operated by a health maintenance organization.
B. “Hospital” does not include any of the following:

A facility licensed under Ohio R.C. Chapter 3721, a health care facility operated by the Department of Mental Health or the Department of Developmental Disabilities, a health maintenance organization that does not operate a hospital, or the office of any private, licensed health care professional, whether organized for individual or group practice;
An institution for the sick that is operated exclusively for patients who use spiritual means for healing and for whom the acceptance of medical care is inconsistent with their religious beliefs, accredited by a national accrediting organization, exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501 of the “Internal Revenue Code of 1986”, 100 Stat. 2085, 26 U.S.C. 1, as amended, and providing twenty-four-hour nursing care pursuant to the exemption in division (E) of Ohio R.C. 4723.32 from the licensing requirements of Ohio R.C. Chapter 4723.

(20) “Health maintenance organization” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 3727.01. (ORC 2903.13)

537.04 NEGLIGENT ASSAULT.

(a) No person shall negligently, by means of a deadly weapon or dangerous ordnance as defined in Section 549.01 cause physical harm to another or to another’s unborn.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of negligent assault, a misdemeanor of the third degree. (ORC 2903.14)

537.05 AGGRAVATED MENACING.

(a) No person shall knowingly cause another to believe that the offender will cause serious physical harm to the person or property of the other person, the other person’s unborn, or a member of the other person’s immediate family. In addition to any other basis for the other person’s belief that the offender will cause serious physical harm to the person or property of the other person, the other person’s unborn, or a member of the other person’s immediate family, the other person’s belief may be based on words or conduct of the offender that are directed at or identify a corporation, association or other organization that employs the other person or to which the other person belongs.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of aggravated menacing. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (b), aggravated menacing is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the victim of the offense is an officer or employee of a public children services agency or a private child placing agency and the offense relates to the officer’s or employee’s performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties, or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense of violence, the victim of that prior offense was an officer or employee of a public children services agency or private child placing agency, and that prior offense related to the officer’s or employee’s performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties, aggravated menacing is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

537.051 MENACING BY STALKING.

(a) (1) No person by engaging in a pattern of conduct shall knowingly cause another person to believe that the offender will cause physical harm to the other person or cause mental distress to the other person. In addition to any other basis for the other person’s belief that the offender will cause physical harm to the other person or the other person’s mental distress, the other person’s belief or mental distress may be based on words or conduct of the offender that are directed at or identify a corporation, association or other organization that employs the other person or to which the other person belongs.
(2) No person, through the use of any electronic method of remotely transferring information, including, but not limited to, any computer, computer network, computer program, or computer system, shall post a message with purpose to urge or incite another to commit a violation of subsection (a)(1) of this section.
(3) No person, with sexual motivation, shall violate subsection (a)(1) or (2) of this section.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of menacing by stalking.

(1) Except as otherwise provided in subsections (b)(2) and (3) of this section, menacing by stalking is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(2) Menacing by stalking is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law if any of the following applies:

A. The offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of this section or a violation of Section 541.051.
B. In committing the offense under subsection (a)(1), (2), or (3) of this section, the offender made a threat of physical harm to or against the victim, or as a result of an offense committed under subsection (a)(2) or (3) of this section, a third person induced by the offender’s posted message made a threat of physical harm to or against the victim.
C. In committing the offense under subsection (a)(1), (2), or (3) of this section, the offender trespassed on the land or premises where the victim lives, is employed, or attends school, or as a result of an offense committed under subsection (a)(2) or (3) of this section, a third person induced by the offender’s posted message trespassed on the land or premises where the victim lives, is employed, or attends school.
D. The victim of the offense is a minor.
E. The offender has a history of violence toward the victim or any other person or a history of other violent acts toward the victim or any other person.
F. While committing the offense under subsection (a)(1) of this section or a violation of subsection (a)(3) of this section is based on conduct in violation of subsection (a)(1) of this section, the offender had a deadly weapon on or about the offender’s person or under the offender’s control. Subsection (b)(2)F. of this section does not apply in determining the penalty for a violation of subsection (a)(2) of this section or a violation of subsection (a)(3) of this section based on conduct in violation of subsection (a)(1) of this section.
G. At the time of the commission of the offense, the offender was the subject of a protection order issued under Ohio R.C. 2903.213 or 2903.214, regardless of whether the person to be protected under the order is the victim of the offense or another person.
H. In committing the offense under subsection (a)(1), (2), or (3) of this section, the offender caused serious physical harm to the premises at which the victim resides, to the real property on which that premises is located, or to any personal property located on that premises, or as a result of an offense committed under subsection (a)(2) of this section, or an offense committed under subsection (a)(3) of this section based on a violation of subsection (a)(2) of this section, a third person induced by the offender’s posted message caused serious physical harm to that premises, that real property, or any personal property on that premises.
I. Prior to committing the offense, the offender had been determined to represent a substantial risk of physical harm to others as manifested by evidence of then-recent homicidal or other violent behavior, evidence of then-recent threats that placed another in reasonable fear of violent behavior and serious physical harm, or other evidence of then-present dangerousness.

(3) If the victim of the offense is an officer or employee of a public children services agency or a private child placing agency and the offense relates to the officer’s or employee’s performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties, or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense of violence, the victim of that prior offense was an officer or employee of a public children services agency or private child placing agency, and that prior offense related to the officer’s or employee’s performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities, or duties, menacing by stalking is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

(d) As used in this section:

(1) “Pattern of conduct” means two or more actions or incidents closely related in time, whether or not there has been a prior conviction based on any of those actions or incidents, or two or more actions or incidents closely related in time, whether or not there has been a prior conviction based on any of those actions or incidents, directed at one or more persons employed by or belonging to the same corporation, association, or other organization. Actions or incidents that prevent, obstruct, or delay the performance by a public official, firefighter, rescuer, emergency medical services person, or emergency facility person of any authorized act within the public official’s, firefighter’s, rescuer’s, emergency medical services person’s, or emergency facility person’s official capacity, or the posting of messages or receipts of information or data through the use of an electronic method of remotely transferring information, including, but not limited to, a computer, computer network, computer program, computer system, or telecommunications device, may constitute a “pattern of conduct”.
(2) “Mental distress” means any of the following:

A. Any mental illness or condition that involves some temporary substantial incapacity;
B. Any mental illness or condition that would normally require psychiatric treatment, psychological treatment, or other mental health services, whether or not any person requested or received psychiatric treatment, psychological treatment, or other mental health services.

(3) “Emergency medical services person” is the singular of “emergency medical services personnel” as defined in Ohio R.C. 2133.21.
(4) “Emergency facility person” is the singular of “emergency facility personnel” as defined in Ohio R.C. 2909.04.
(5) “Public official” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2921.01.
(6) “Computer”, “computer network”, “computer program”, “computer system” and “telecommunications device” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2913.01.
(7) “Post a message” means transferring, sending, posting, publishing, disseminating or otherwise communicating, or attempting to transfer, send, post, publish, disseminate or otherwise communication, any message or information, whether truthful or untruthful, about an individual, and whether done under one’s own name, under the name of another, or while impersonating another.
(8) “Third person” means, in relation to conduct as described in subsection (a)(2) of this section, an individual who is neither the offender nor the victim of the conduct.
(9) “Sexual motivation” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2971.01.
(10) “Organization” includes an entity that is a governmental employer.

(e) The Municipality does not need to prove in a prosecution under this section that a person requested or received psychiatric treatment, psychological treatment, or other mental health services in order to show that the person was caused mental distress as described in subsection (d)(2)B. of this section.

(f) (1) This section does not apply to a person solely because the person provided access or connection to or from an electronic method of remotely transferring information not under that person’s control, including having provided capabilities that are incidental to providing access or connection to or from the electronic method of remotely transferring the information, and that do not include the creation of the content of the material that is the subject of the access or connection. In addition, any person providing access or connection to or from an electronic method of remotely transferring information not under that person’s control shall not be liable for any action voluntarily taken in good faith to block the receipt or transmission through its service of any information that it believes is, or will be sent, in violation of this section.
(2) Subsection (f)(1) of this section does not create an affirmative duty for any person providing access or connection to or from an electronic method of remotely transferring information not under that person’s control to block the receipt or transmission through its service of any information that it believes is, or will be sent, in violation of this section except as otherwise provided by law.
(3) Subsection (f)(1) of this section does not apply to a person who conspires with a person actively involved in the creation or knowing distribution of material in violation of this section or who knowingly advertises the availability of material of that nature. (ORC 2903.211)

537.06 MENACING.

(a) No person shall knowingly cause another to believe that the offender will cause physical harm to the person or property of the other person, the other person’s unborn, or a member of the other person’s immediate family. In addition to any other basis for the other person’s belief that the offender will cause physical harm to the person or property of the other person, the other person’s unborn, or a member of the other person’s immediately family, the other person’s belief may be based on words or conduct of the offender that are directed at or identify a corporation, association or other organization that employs the other person or to which the other person belongs.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of menacing. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (b), menacing is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If the victim of the offense is an officer or employee of a public children services agency or a private child placing agency and the offense relates to the officer’s or employee’s performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties, or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to an offense of violence, the victim of that prior offense was an officer or employee of a public children services agency or private child placing agency, and that prior offense related to the officer’s or employee’s performance or anticipated performance of official responsibilities or duties, menacing is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

537.07 ENDANGERING CHILDREN.

(a) No person, who is the parent, guardian, custodian, person having custody or control, or person in loco parentis of a child under eighteen years of age or a mentally or physically handicapped child under twenty-one years of age, shall create a substantial risk to the health or safety of the child, by violating a duty of care, protection or support. It is not a violation of a duty of care, protection or support under this subsection when the parent, guardian, custodian or person having custody or control of a child treats the physical or mental illness or defect of the child by spiritual means through prayer alone, in accordance with the tenets of a recognized religious body.

(b) No person shall abuse a child under eighteen years of age or a mentally or physically handicapped child under twenty-one years of age.

(c) (1) No person shall operate a vehicle in violation of Section 333.01(a) of the Traffic Code when one or more children under eighteen years of age are in the vehicle. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person may be convicted at the same trial or proceeding of a violation of subsection (c) hereof and a violation of Section 333.01(a) of the Traffic Code that constitutes the basis of the charge of the violation of subsection (c) hereof. For purposes of Ohio R.C. 4511.191 to 4511.197 and all related provisions of law, a person arrested for a violation of subsection (c) hereof shall be considered to be under arrest for operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them or for operating a vehicle with a prohibited concentration of alcohol, a controlled substance, or a metabolite of a controlled substance in the whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine.
(2) As used in subsection (c) hereof:

A. “Controlled substance” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 3719.01.
B. “Vehicle” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4511.01.

(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of endangering children.

(1) Whoever violates subsection (a) or (b) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the violation results in serious physical harm to the child involved, or if the offender previously has been convicted of an offense under this section, Ohio R.C. 2919.22 or of any offense involving neglect, abandonment, contributing to the delinquency of or physical abuse of a child, endangering children is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(2) Whoever violates subsection (c) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. Endangering children is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law if either of the following applies:

A. The violation results in serious physical harm to the child involved or the offender previously has been convicted of an offense under Ohio R.C. 2919.22 or any offense involving neglect, abandonment, contributing to the delinquency of, or physical abuse of a child.
B. The violation results in serious physical harm to the child involved and the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of Ohio R.C. 2919.22(C) or subsection (c) hereof, Ohio R.C. 2903.06, or 2903.08, Section 2903.07 as it existed prior to March 23, 2000, or Ohio R.C. 2903.04 in a case in which the offender was subject to the sanctions described in division (D) of that section.

(3) In addition to any term of imprisonment, fine, or other sentence, penalty, or sanction it imposes upon the offender pursuant to subsection (d)(2) hereof, or pursuant to any other provision of law, the court also may impose upon the offender any of the sanctions provided under Ohio R.C. 2919.22(E)(5)(d).

(e) (1) If a person violates subsection (c) hereof and if, at the time of the violation, there were two or more children under eighteen years of age in the motor vehicle involved in the violation, the offender may be convicted of a violation of subsection (c) hereof for each of the children, but the court may sentence the offender for only one of the violations.

(2) A. If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of subsection (c) hereof but the person is not also convicted of and does not also plead guilty to a separate charge charging the violation of Section 333.01(a) of the Traffic Code that was the basis of the charge of the violation of subsection (c) hereof, both of the following apply:

For purposes of the provisions of the Traffic Code penalty that set forth the penalties and sanctions for a violation of Section 333.01(a) of the Traffic Code, the conviction of or plea of guilty to the violation of subsection (c) hereof shall not constitute a violation of Section 333.01(a) of the Traffic Code.
For purposes of any provision of law that refers to a conviction of or plea of guilty to a violation of Section 333.01(a) of the Traffic Code and that is not described in subsection (e)(2)A.1. hereof, the conviction of or plea of guilty to the violation of subsection (c) hereof shall constitute a conviction of or plea of guilty to a violation of Section 333.01(a) of the Traffic Code.

B. If a person is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of subsection (c) hereof and the person also is convicted of or pleads guilty to a separate charge charging the violation of Section 333.01(a) of the Traffic Code that was the basis of the charge of the violation of subsection (c) hereof, the conviction of or plea of guilty to the violation of subsection (c) hereof shall not constitute, for purposes of any provision of law that refers to a conviction of or plea of guilty to a violation of Section 333.01(a) of the Traffic Code, a conviction of or plea of guilty to a violation of Section 333.01(a) of the Traffic Code. (ORC 2919.22)

537.08 UNLAWFUL RESTRAINT.

(a) No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly restrain another of the other person’s liberty.

(b) No person, without privilege to do so and with a sexual motivation, shall knowingly restrain another of the other person’s liberty.

(d) As used in this section, “sexual motivation” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2971.01. (ORC 2905.03)

537.09 COERCION.

(a) No person, with purpose to coerce another into taking or refraining from action concerning which the other person has a legal freedom of choice, shall do any of the following:

(1) Threaten to commit any offense;
(2) Utter or threaten any calumny against any person;
(3) Expose or threaten to expose any matter tending to subject any person to hatred, contempt or ridicule, to damage any person’s personal or business repute, or to impair any person’s credit;
(4) Institute or threaten criminal proceedings against any person;
(5) Take or withhold, or threaten to take or withhold official action, or cause or threaten to cause official action to be taken or withheld.

(b) Subsections (a)(4) and (5) hereof shall not be construed to prohibit a prosecutor or court from doing any of the following in good faith and in the interest of justice:

(1) Offering or agreeing to grant, or granting immunity from prosecution pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2945.44;
(2) In return for a plea of guilty to one or more offenses charged or to one or more other or lesser offenses, or in return for the testimony of the accused in a case to which the accused is not a party, offering or agreeing to dismiss, or dismissing one or more charges pending against an accused, or offering or agreeing to impose, or imposing a certain sentence or modification of sentence;
(3) Imposing community control sanction on certain conditions, including without limitation requiring the offender to make restitution or redress to the victim of the offense.

(c) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under subsection (a)(3), (4) or (5) hereof that the actor’s conduct was a reasonable response to the circumstances that occasioned it, and that the actor’s purpose was limited to any of the following:

(1) Compelling another to refrain from misconduct or to desist from further misconduct;
(2) Preventing or redressing a wrong or injustice;
(3) Preventing another from taking action for which the actor reasonably believed the other person to be disqualified;
(4) Compelling another to take action that the actor reasonably believed the other person to be under a duty to take.

(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of coercion, a misdemeanor of the second degree.

(e) As used in this section:

(1) “Threat” includes a direct threat and a threat by innuendo.
(2) “Community control sanction” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2929.01. (ORC 2905.12)

537.10 TELECOMMUNICATION HARASSMENT.

(a) No person shall knowingly make or cause to be made a telecommunication, or knowingly permit telecommunication to be made from a telecommunications device under the person’s control, to another, if the caller does any of the following:

(1) Fails to identify the caller to the recipient of the telecommunication and makes the telecommunication with purpose to harass, or abuse, any person at the premises to which the telecommunication is made, whether or not actual communication takes place between the caller and a recipient;
(2) Describes, suggests, requests, or proposes that the caller, the recipient of the telecommunication, or any other person engage in sexual activity, and the recipient or another person at the premises to which the telecommunication is made has requested, in a previous telecommunication or in the immediate telecommunication, that the caller not make a telecommunication to the recipient or to the premises to which the telecommunication is made;
(3) During the telecommunication, violates Ohio R.C. 2903.21;
(4) Knowingly states to the recipient of the telecommunication that the caller intends to cause damage to or destroy public or private property, and the recipient, any member of the recipient’s family, or any other person who resides at the premises to which the telecommunication is made owns, leases, resides, or works in, will at the time of the destruction or damaging be near or in, has the responsibility of protecting, or insures the property that will be destroyed or damaged;
(5) Knowingly makes the telecommunication to the recipient of the telecommunication, to another person at the premises to which the telecommunication is made, or to those premises, and the recipient or another person at those premises previously has told the caller not to make a telecommunication to those premises or to any person at those premises.

(b) No person shall make or cause to be made a telecommunication, or permit a telecommunication to be made from a telecommunications device under the person’s control, with purpose to abuse, threaten, or harass another person.

(c) (1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of telecommunication harassment.
(2) A violation of subsections (a)(1), (2), (3) or (5) or (b) hereof is a misdemeanor of the first degree on a first offense. Each subsequent offense is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(3) Whoever violates subsection (a)(4) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree for a first offense. For each subsequent offense or if a violation of subsection (a)(4) hereof results in economic harm of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, a violation of subsection (a)(4) hereof is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

(d) No cause of action may be asserted in any court of this State against any provider of a telecommunications service or information service, or against any officer, employee, or agent of a telecommunication service or information service, for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that allegedly arises out of the provider’s, officer’s, employee’s, or agent’s provision of information, facilities, or assistance in accordance with the terms of a court order that is issued in relation to the investigation or prosecution of an alleged violation of this section. A provider of a telecommunications service or information service, or an officer, employee, or agent of a telecommunications service or information service, is immune from any civil or criminal liability for injury, death, or loss to person or property that allegedly arises out of the provider’s, officer’s, employee’s, or agent’s provision of information, facilities or assistance in accordance with the terms of a court order that is issued in relation to the investigation or prosecution of an alleged violation of this section.

(e) As used in this section:

(1) “Economic harm” means all direct, incidental, and consequential pecuniary harm suffered by a victim as a result of criminal conduct. “Economic harm” includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

A. All wages, salaries, or other compensation lost as a result of the criminal conduct;
B. The cost of all wages, salaries or other compensation paid to employees for time those employees are prevented from working as a result of the criminal conduct;
C. The overhead costs incurred for the time that a business is shut down as a result of the criminal conduct;
D. The loss of value to tangible or intangible property that was damaged as a result of the criminal conduct.

(2) “Caller” means the person described in subsection (a) hereof who makes or causes to be made a telecommunication or who permits a telecommunication to be made from a telecommunications device under that person’s control.
(3) “Telecommunication” and “telecommunications device” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2913.01.
(4) “Sexual activity” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2907.01.

(f) Nothing in this section prohibits a person from making a telecommunication call to a debtor that is in compliance with the “Fair Debt Collection Practices Act”, 91 Stat. 874 (1977), 15 U.S.C. 1692, as amended, or the “Telephone Consumer Protection Act”, 105 Stat. 2395 (1991), 47 U.S.C. 227, as amended. (ORC 2917.21)

537.11 THREATENING OR HARASSING TELEPHONE CALLS.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Former Ohio R.C. 4931.31 from which Section 537.11 was derived was repealed by Senate Bill 162, effective September 13, 2010. See now Section 537.10 “Telecommunication Harassment”.)

537.12 MISUSE OF 9-1-1 SYSTEM.

(a) “9-1-1 system” means a system through which individuals can request emergency service using the telephone number 9-1-1. (ORC 128.01)

(b) No person shall knowingly use the telephone number of the 9-1-1 system established under Ohio R.C. Chapter 128 to report an emergency if he knows that no emergency exists.

(d) No person shall disclose or use any information concerning telephone numbers, addresses, or names obtained from the data base that serves the public safety answering point of a 9-1-1 system established under Ohio R.C. Chapter 128, except for any of the following purposes or under any of the following circumstances:

(1) For the purpose of the 9-1-1 system;
(2) For the purpose of responding to an emergency call to an emergency service provider;
(3) In the circumstance of the inadvertent disclosure of such information due solely to technology of the wireline telephone network portion of the 9-1-1 system not allowing access to the data base to be restricted to 9-1-1 specific answering lines at a public safety answering point;
(4) In the circumstance of access to a data base being given by a telephone company that is a wireline service provider to a public utility or municipal utility in handling customer calls in times of public emergency or service outages. The charge, terms, and conditions for the disclosure or use of such information for the purpose of such access to a data base shall be subject to the jurisdiction of the steering committee.
(5) In the circumstance of access to a data base given by a telephone company that is a wireline service provider to a state and local government in warning of a public emergency, as determined by the steering committee. The charge, terms, and conditions for the disclosure or use of that information for the purpose of access to a data base is subject to the jurisdiction of the steering committee.
(ORC 128.32)

(e) (1) Whoever violates subsection (b) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(2) Whoever violates subsection (c) or (d) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on a first offense. For each subsequent offense such person is guilty of a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. (ORC 128.99)

537.13 ADULTERATING OF OR FURNISHING ADULTERATED FOOD OR CONFECTION.

(a) No person shall do either of the following, knowingly or having reasonable cause to believe that any person may suffer physical harm or be seriously inconvenienced or annoyed thereby:

(1) Place a pin, needle, 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 subsection (a)(1) hereof. (ORC 3716.11)

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(ORC 3716.99(C))

537.14 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

(a) No person shall knowingly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to a family or household member.

(b) No person shall recklessly cause serious physical harm to a family or household member.

(c) No person, by threat of force, shall knowingly cause a family or household member to believe that the offender will cause imminent physical harm to the family or household member.

(d) (1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of domestic violence.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d)(3) to (5) of this section, a violation of subsection (c) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree, and a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d)(4) of this section, if the offender previously has pleaded guilty to or been convicted of domestic violence, a violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States that is substantially similar to domestic violence, a violation of Ohio R.C. 2903.14, 2909.06, 2909.07, 2911.12, 2911.211, or 2919.22 if the victim of the violation was a family or household member at the time of the violation, a violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States that is substantially similar to any of those sections if the victim of the violation was a family or household member at the time of the commission of the violation, or any offense of violence if the victim of the offense was a family or household member at the time of the commission of the offense, a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law, and a violation of subsection (c) of this section is a misdemeanor of the second degree.
(4) If the offender previously has pleaded guilty to or been convicted of two or more offenses of domestic violence or two or more violations or offenses of the type described in subsection (d)(3) of this section involving a person who was a family or household member at the time of the violations or offenses, a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law, and a violation of subsection (c) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(5) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (d)(3) or (4) of this section, if the offender knew that the victim of the violation was pregnant at the time of the violation, a violation of subsection (a) or (b) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law, and a violation of subsection (c) of this section is a misdemeanor of the third degree.

(e) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no court or unit of local government shall charge any fee, cost, deposit, or money in connection with the filing of charges against a person alleging that the person violated this section or in connection with the prosecution of any charges so filed.

(f) As used in this section:

(1) “Family or household member” means any of the following:

A. Any of the following who is residing or has resided with the offender:

A spouse, a person living as a spouse or a former spouse of the offender;
A parent, a foster parent or a child of the offender, or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to the offender;
A parent, or a child of a spouse, person living as a spouse, or former spouse of the offender; or another person related by consanguinity or affinity to a spouse, person living as a spouse or former spouse of the offender.

B. The natural parent of any child of whom the offender is the other natural parent or is the putative other natural parent.

(2) “Person living as a spouse” means a person who is living or has lived with the offender in a common law marital relationship, who otherwise is cohabiting with the offender, or who otherwise has cohabited with the offender within five years prior to the date of the alleged commission of the act in question. (ORC 2919.25)

(g) The same relief available under the Ohio Revised Code for filing a complaint for violation of Ohio R.C. 2919.25 shall be available for filing a complaint for violation of this section.

537.15 TEMPORARY PROTECTION ORDER.

(a) No person shall recklessly violate the terms of any of the following:

(1) A protection order issued or consent agreement approved pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2919.26 or 3113.31;
(2) A protection order issued pursuant to Ohio 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 subsection (b)(3) of this section, violating a protection order is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(3) If the offender previously has been convicted of, pleaded guilty to or been adjudicated a delinquent child for a violation of a protection order issued pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2151.34, 2903.213 or 2903.214, two or more violations of Ohio R.C. 2903.21, 2903.211, 2903.22, or 2911.211 that involved the same person who is the subject of the protection order or consent agreement, or one or more violations of this section, violating a protection order is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(4) If the offender violates a protection order or consent agreement while committing a felony offense, violating a protection order is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(5) If the protection order violated by the offender was an order issued pursuant to Ohio 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 five years by a law enforcement agency designated by the court. If the court requires under this subsection 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. If the court determines that the offender is indigent and subject to the maximum amount allowable and the rules promulgated by the Attorney General under Ohio R.C. 2903.214, the costs of the installation of the electronic monitoring device and the cost of monitoring the electronic monitoring device may be paid out of funds from the reparations fund created pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2743.191. The total amount paid from the reparations fund created pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2743.191 for electronic monitoring under this section and Ohio R.C. 2151.34 and 2903.214 shall not exceed three hundred thousand dollars per year.

(c) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under subsection (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) 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. “Protection order issued by a court of another state” does not include an order for support or for custody of a child. (ORC 2919.27)

537.16 ILLEGAL DISTRIBUTION OF CIGARETTES, OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS, OR ALTERNATE NICOTINE PRODUCTS.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Age verification” means 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 eighteen years of age or older.

(2) A. “Alternative nicotine product” means, subject to subsection (a)(2)B. of this section, an electronic cigarette 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.
B. “Alternative nicotine product” does not include any of the following:

Any cigarette or other tobacco product;
Any product that is a “drug” as that term is defined in 21 U.S.C. 321(g)(1);
Any product that is a “device” as that term is defined in 21 U.S.C. 321(h);
Any product that is a “combination product” as described in 21 U.S.C. 353(g).

(3) “Child” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2151.011.
(4) “Cigarette” includes clove cigarettes and hand-rolled cigarettes.
(5) “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.

(6) A. “Electronic cigarette” means, subject to subsection (a)(6)B. of this section, any electronic product or device that produces a vapor that delivers nicotine or any other substance to the person inhaling from the device to simulate smoking and that is likely to be offered to or purchased by consumers as an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo or electronic pipe.
B. “Electronic cigarette” does not include any item, product or device described in subsections (a)(2)B.1. to 4. of this section.

(7) “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 Ohio R.C. 4507.50 to 4507.52 that shows that a person is eighteen years of age or older.
(8) “Tobacco product” means any product that is made from tobacco, including, but not limited to, a cigarette, a cigar, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco or snuff.
(9) “Vending machine” has the same meaning as “coin machine” in Ohio R.C. 2913.01.

(b) 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:

(1) Give, sell or otherwise distribute cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes to any child;
(2) 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 sign stating that giving, selling or otherwise distributing cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes to a person under eighteen years of age is prohibited by law;
(3) Knowingly furnish any false information regarding the name, age or other identification of any child with purpose to obtain cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes for that child;
(4) Manufacture, sell or distribute in this state any pack or other container of cigarettes containing fewer than twenty cigarettes or any package of rollyour- own tobacco containing less than six-tenths of one ounce of tobacco;
(5) Sell cigarettes or alternative nicotine products in a smaller quantity than that placed in the pack or other container by the manufacturer;
(6) 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.

(c) 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:

(1) An area within a factory, business, office, or other place not open to the general public;
(2) An area to which children are not generally permitted access;
(3) Any other place not identified in subsection (c)(1) or (2) of this section, upon all of the following conditions:

A. 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 outerwaiting 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.
B. The vending machine is inaccessible to the public when the place is closed.

(d) The following are affirmative defenses to a charge under subsection (b)(1) of this section:

(1) The child was accompanied by a parent, spouse who is eighteen years of age or older, or legal guardian of the child.
(2) The person who gave, sold or distributed cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes to a child under subsection (b)(1) of this section is a parent, spouse who is eighteen years of age or older, or legal guardian of the child.

(e) It is not a violation of subsection (b)(1) or (2) of this section for a person to give or otherwise distribute to a child cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products or papers used to roll cigarettes while the child is participating in a research protocol if all of the following apply:

(1) The parent, guardian or legal custodian of the child has consented in writing to the child participating in the research protocol;
(2) An institutional human subjects protection review board, or an equivalent entity, has approved the research protocol;
(3) The child is participating in the research protocol at the facility or location specified in the research protocol.

(f) (1) Whoever violates subsection (b)(1), (2), (4), (5) or (6) or (c) of this section is guilty of illegal distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, 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 a violation of subsection (b)(1), (2), (4), (5) or (6) or (c) of this section, illegal distribution of cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(2) Whoever violates subsection (b)(3) of this section is guilty of permitting children to use cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, permitting children 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 subsection (b)(3) of this section, permitting children to use cigarettes, other tobacco products, or alternative nicotine products is a misdemeanor of the third degree.

(g) Any cigarettes, other tobacco products, alternative nicotine products, or papers used to roll cigarettes that are given, sold or otherwise distributed to a child in violation of this section and that are used, possessed, purchased or received by a child in violation of Ohio R.C. 2151.87 are subject to seizure and forfeiture as contraband under Ohio R.C. Chapter 2981.
(ORC 2927.02)

537.17 CRIMINAL CHILD ENTICEMENT.

(a) No person, by any means and without privilege to do so, shall knowingly solicit, coax, entice or lure any child under fourteen years of age to accompany the person in any manner, including entering into any vehicle, or onto any vessel, whether or not the offender knows the age of the child, if both of the following apply:

(1) The actor does not have the express or implied permission of the parent, guardian or other legal custodian of the child in undertaking the activity;
(2) The actor is not a law enforcement officer, medic, firefighter, or other person who regularly provides emergency services, and is not an employee or agent of, or a volunteer acting under the direction of any Board of Education, or the actor is any of such persons, but, at the time the actor undertakes the activity, the actor is not acting within the scope of the actor’s lawful duties in that capacity.

(b) No person, with a sexual motivation, shall violate subsection (a) of this section.

(c) No person, for any unlawful purpose other than, or in addition to, that proscribed by subsection (a) of this section, shall engage in any activity described in subsection (a) of this section.

(d) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under subsection (a) hereof that the actor undertook the activity in response to a bona fide emergency situation or that the actor undertook the activity in a reasonable belief that it was necessary to preserve the health, safety or welfare of the child.

(e) Whoever violates this section is guilty of criminal child enticement, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender has previously been convicted of a violation of this section or Ohio R.C. 2905.05, 2907.02, or 2907.03, or former Section 2907.12, or Ohio R.C. 2905.01 or 2907.05 when the victim of that prior offense was under seventeen years of age at the time of the offense, criminal child enticement is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

(f) As used in this section:

(1) “Sexual motivation” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2971.01.
(2) “Vehicle” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4501.01.
(3) “Vessel” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 1547.01. (ORC 2905.05)

537.18 CONTRIBUTING TO UNRULINESS OR DELINQUENCY OF A CHILD.

(a) No person, including a parent, guardian or other custodian of a child, shall do any of the following:

(1) Aid, abet, induce, cause, encourage or contribute to a child or a ward of the juvenile court becoming an unruly child as defined in Ohio R.C. 2151.022, or a delinquent child as defined in Ohio R.C. 2152.02.
(2) Act in a way tending to cause a child or a ward of the juvenile court to become an unruly child as defined in Ohio R.C. 2151.022 or a delinquent child as defined in Ohio R.C. 2152.02.
(3) If the person is the parent, guardian, or custodian of a child who has the duties under Ohio R.C. Chapters 2152 and 2950 to register, register a new residence address, and periodically verify a residence address and, if applicable, to send a notice of intent to reside, and if the child is not emancipated, as defined in Ohio R.C. 2919.121, fail to ensure that the child complies with those duties under Ohio R.C. Chapters 2152 and 2950.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of contributing to the unruliness or delinquency of a child, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Each day of violation of this section is a separate offense. (ORC 2919.24)

537.19 UNAUTHORIZED WORKERS.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any employer to knowingly employ, hire, recruit or refer, either for himself or herself, or on behalf of another, for private or public employment within the Village of Bellaire, an unauthorized worker who is not duly authorized to be employed by law.

(b) Employers shall, and are, required to verify a prospective employee’s legal status or authorization to work prior to employing the individual, or contracting with the individual, for employment services, and at all other times while said individual is working in the employment of the employer within the Village of Bellaire, Ohio.

(c) For purposes of this section, proof of legal status or authorization to work includes, but is not limited to a valid social security card, a valid immigration or nonimmigration visa, including photo identification, a valid birth certificate, a valid passport, a valid photo identification card issued by a governmental agency, a valid work permit or supervision permit authorized by the United States Department of Labor, a valid permit issued by the Department of Justice or other valid document providing evidence of legal residence or authorization to work in the United States.

(d) “Employer” means any individual, person, corporation, company, firm, partnership, independent contractor or other business entity which employs or seeks to employ an individual or individuals for employment within the Village of Bellaire.

(e) “Unauthorized worker” means a person who does not have the legal right to be employed, or is employed in violation of any laws of the United States, State of Ohio and/or the Village of Bellaire.

(f) “Knowingly” means with respect to conduct or to a circumstance described by a statute defining an offense that a person is aware by documentation or action that the person’s conduct is of that nature or that the circumstance exists. Failure to request or review documentation of an employee’s legal status or authorization to work is deemed to be “knowingly”.

(g) (1) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable, for each offense, by a mandatory fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00), imprisonment of not more than six (6) months, or both.
(2) The employment of unauthorized worker(s) for more than one (1) day shall be deemed a separate offense for each day of the prohibited employment.
(3) The employment of more than one (1) unauthorized worker by said employer, on any given day, within the Village of Bellaire, shall be deemed a separate offense for each unauthorized worker so employed.
(Ord. 2007-17. Passed 6-7-07.)

537.99 PENALTY.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor classification.)

CHAPTER 541
Property Offenses

541.01 Determining property value in arson.
541.02 Arson.
541.03 Criminal damaging or endangering.
541.04 Criminal mischief.
541.05 Criminal trespass.
541.051 Aggravated trespass.
541.06 Destruction of shrubs, trees or crops.
541.07 Desecration.
541.08 Ethnic intimidation.
541.09 Vehicular vandalism.
541.10 Trespass on a place of public amusement.
541.11 Posting signs without consent of owner.
541.99 Penalty.

CROSS REFERENCES

See sectional histories for similar State law
Parents’ liability for destructive acts of their children – see Ohio R.C. 3109.09
Physical harm to property defined – see GEN. OFF. 501.01(d), (f)
Reimbursement for investigation or prosecution costs – see GEN. OFF. 501.99(a)
Damage to sidewalks – see GEN. OFF. 521.04
Vehicle trespass – see GEN. OFF. 545.06

541.01 DETERMINING PROPERTY VALUE IN ARSON.

(a) The following criteria shall be used in determining the value of property or amount of physical harm involved in a violation of Section 541.02.

(1) If the property is an heirloom, memento, collector’s item, antique, museum piece, manuscript, document, record or other thing that is either irreplaceable or is replaceable only on the expenditure of substantial time, effort or money, the value of the property or the amount of physical harm involved is the amount that would compensate the owner for its loss.
(2) If the property is not covered under subsection (a)(1) hereof, and the physical harm is such that the property can be restored substantially to its former condition, the amount of physical harm involved is the reasonable cost of restoring the property.
(3) If the property is not covered under subsection (a)(1) hereof, and the physical harm is such that the property cannot be restored substantially to its former condition, the value of the property, in the case of personal property, is the cost of replacing the property with new property of like kind and quality, and in the case of real property or real property fixtures, is the difference in the fair market value of the property immediately before and immediately after the offense.

(b) As used in this section, “fair market value” has the same meaning as in Section 545.02(c)(3).

(c) Prima-facie evidence of the value of property, as provided in Section 545.02(d) may be used to establish the value of property pursuant to this section. (ORC 2909.11)

541.02 ARSON.

(a) No person, by means of fire or explosion, shall knowingly cause or create a substantial risk of physical harm to any property of another without the other person’s consent.

(b) This section does not apply if the violation is done with purpose to defraud or the property involved is a statehouse or a courthouse, school building or other building or structure that is owned or controlled by the State, any political subdivision, or any department, agency or instrumentality of the State or a political subdivision, and that is used for public purposes.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of arson, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the value of the property or the amount of physical harm involved is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, arson is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2909.03)

541.03 CRIMINAL DAMAGING OR ENDANGERING.

(a) No person shall cause, or create a substantial risk of physical harm to any property of another without the other person’s consent:

(1) Knowingly, by any means;
(2) Recklessly, by means of fire, explosion, flood, poison gas, poison, radioactive material, caustic or corrosive material, or other inherently dangerous agency or substance.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of criminal damaging or endangering, a misdemeanor of the second degree. If violation of this section creates a risk of physical harm to any person, criminal damaging or endangering is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the property involved in a violation is an aircraft, an aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, spare part, or any other equipment or implement used or intended to be used in the operation of an aircraft and if the violation creates a risk of physical harm to any person or if the property involved in a violation is an occupied aircraft, criminal damaging or endangering is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. (ORC 2909.06)

541.04 CRIMINAL MISCHIEF.

(a) No person shall:

(1) Without privilege to do so, knowingly move, deface, damage, destroy or otherwise improperly tamper with the property of another;
(2) With purpose to interfere with the use or enjoyment of property of another employ a tear gas device, stink bomb, smoke generator or other device releasing a substance that is harmful or offensive to persons exposed, or that tends to cause public alarm;
(3) Without privilege to do so, knowingly move, deface, damage, destroy or otherwise improperly tamper with a bench mark, triangulation station, boundary marker or other survey station, monument or marker.
(4) Without privilege to do so, knowingly move, deface, damage, destroy or otherwise improperly tamper with any safety device, the property of another or the property of the offender when required or placed for the safety of others, so as to destroy or diminish its effectiveness or availability for its intended purpose;
(5) With purpose to interfere with the use or enjoyment of the property of another, set a fire on the land of another or place personal property that has been set on fire on the land of another, which fire or personal property is outside and apart from any building, other structure or personal property that is on that land.
(6) Without privilege to do so, and with intent to impair the functioning of any computer, computer system, computer network, computer software, or computer program, all as defined in Ohio R.C. 2909.01, knowingly do any of the following:

A. In any manner or by any means, including, but not limited to, computer hacking, alter, damage, destroy, or modify a computer, computer system, computer network, computer software, or computer program or data contained in a computer, computer system, computer network, computer software, or computer program;
B. Introduce a computer contaminant into a computer, computer system, computer network, computer software or computer program.

(b) As used in this section, “safety device” means any fire extinguisher, fire hose or fire axe, or any fire escape, emergency exit or emergency escape equipment, or any life line, life-saving ring, life preserver or life boat or raft, or any alarm, light, flare, signal, sign or notice intended to warn of danger, or emergency, or intended for other safety purposes, or any guard railing or safety barricade, or any traffic sign or signal, or any railroad grade crossing sign, signal or gate, or any first aid or survival equipment, or any other device, apparatus, or equipment intended for protecting or preserving the safety of persons or property.

(c) (1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of criminal mischief, and shall be punished as provided in subsection (c)(2) or (3) of this section.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, criminal mischief committed in violation of subsection (a)(1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this section is a misdemeanor of the third degree. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, if the violation of subsection (a)(1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this section creates a risk of physical harm to any person, criminal mischief committed in violation of subsection (a)(1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the property involved in the violation of subsection (a)(1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this section is an aircraft, an aircraft engine, propeller, appliance, spare part, fuel, lubricant, hydraulic fluid, any other equipment, implement, or material used or intended to be used in the operation of an aircraft, or any cargo carried or intended to be carried in an aircraft, criminal mischief committed in violation of subsection (a)(1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, criminal mischief committed in violation of subsection (a)(6) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the value of the computer, computer system, computer network, computer software, computer program or data involved in the violation of subsection (a)(6) of this section or the loss to the victim resulting from the violation is one thousand dollars or more, or if the computer, computer system, computer network, computer software, computer program or data involved in the violation of subsection (a)(6) of this section is used or intended to be used in the operation of an aircraft and the violation creates a risk of physical harm to any person, criminal mischief committed in violation of subsection (a)(6) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2909.07)

541.05 CRIMINAL TRESPASS.

(a) No person, without privilege to do so, shall do any of the following:

(1) Knowingly enter or remain on the land or premises of another;
(2) Knowingly enter or remain on the land or premises of another, the use of which is lawfully restricted to certain persons, purposes, modes or hours, when the offender knows the offender is in violation of any such restriction or is reckless in that regard;
(3) Recklessly enter or remain on the land or premises of another, as to which notice against unauthorized access or presence is given by actual communication to the offender, or in a manner prescribed by law, or by posting in a manner reasonably calculated to come to the attention of potential intruders, or by fencing or other enclosure manifestly designed to restrict access;
(4) Being on the land or premises of another, negligently fail or refuse to leave upon being notified by signage posted in a conspicuous place or otherwise being notified to do so by the owner or occupant, or the agent or servant of either.

(b) It is no defense to a charge under this section that the land or premises involved was owned, controlled or in custody of a public agency.

(c) It is no defense to a charge under this section that the offender was authorized to enter or remain on the land or premises involved when such authorization was secured by deception.

(d) (1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of criminal trespass, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(2) Notwithstanding Section 501.99, if the person, in committing the violation of this section, used a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle, the court shall impose a fine of two times the usual amount imposed for the violation.
(3) If an offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two or more violations of this section or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, or state law, and the offender, in committing each violation, used a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle, the court, in addition to or independent of all other penalties imposed for the violation, may impound the certificate of registration of that snowmobile or off-highway motorcycle or the certificate of registration and license plate of that all-purpose vehicle for not less than sixty days. In such a case, Ohio R.C. 4519.47 applies.

(e) As used in this section:

(1) “All-purpose vehicle,” “off-highway motorcycle” and “snowmobile” have the same meaning as in Section 375.01 of the Traffic Code.
(2) “Land or premises” includes any land, building, structure, or place belonging to, controlled by, or in custody of another, and any separate enclosure or room, or portion thereof.
(ORC 2911.21)

541.051 AGGRAVATED TRESPASS.

(a) No person shall enter or remain on the land or premises of another with purpose to commit on that land or those premises a misdemeanor, the elements of which involve causing physical harm to another person or causing another person to believe that the offender will cause physical harm to him.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of aggravated trespass, a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 2911.211)

541.06 DESTRUCTION OF SHRUBS, TREES OR CROPS.

(a) No person, without privilege to do so, shall recklessly cut down, destroy, girdle or otherwise injure a vine, bush, shrub, sapling, tree or crop standing or growing on the land of another or upon public land.

(b) In addition to any penalty provided, whoever violates this section is liable in treble damages for the injury caused. (ORC 901.51)

541.07 DESECRATION.

(a) No person, without privilege to do so, shall purposely deface, damage, pollute or otherwise physically mistreat any of the following:

(1) The flag of the United States or of this State;
(2) Any public monument;
(3) Any historical or commemorative marker, or any structure, Indian mound or earthwork, cemetery, thing or site of great historical or archeological interest;
(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 misdemeanor of the second degree.

(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. (ORC 2927.11)

541.08 ETHNIC INTIMIDATION.

(a) No person shall violate Ohio R.C. 2903.21, 2903.22, 2909.06, 2909.07 or 2917.21(A)(3) to (5) or Sections 537.05, 537.06, 537.10(a)(3) to (5), 541.03 or 541.04 of the General Offenses Code by reason of the race, color, religion or national origin of another person or group of persons.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of ethnic intimidation. Ethnic intimidation is an offense of the next higher degree than the offense the commission of which is a necessary element of ethnic intimidation. (ORC 2927.12)

541.09 VEHICULAR VANDALISM.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Highway” means any highway as defined in Section 301.42 of the Traffic Code or any lane, road, street, alley, bridge, or overpass.
(2) “Alley”, “street”, and “vehicle” have the same meanings as in Chapter 301 of the Traffic Code.
(3) “Vessel” and “waters in this State” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 1547.01.

(b) No person shall knowingly, and by any means, drop or throw any object at, onto, or in the path of any of the following:

(1) Any vehicle on a highway;
(2) Any boat or vessel on any of the waters in this State that are located in the Municipality.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of vehicular vandalism. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, vehicular vandalism is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the violation of this section creates a substantial risk of physical harm to any person, serious physical harm to property, physical harm to any person or serious physical harm to any person, vehicular vandalism is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2909.09)

541.10 TRESPASS ON A PLACE OF PUBLIC AMUSEMENT.

(a) As used in this section, “place of public amusement” means a stadium, theater or other facility, whether licensed or not, at which a live performance, sporting event, or other activity takes place for entertainment of the public and to which access is made available to the public, regardless of whether admission is charged.

(b) No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly enter or remain on any restricted portion of a place of public amusement and, as a result of that conduct, interrupt or cause the delay of the live performance, sporting event, or other activity taking place at the place of public amusement after a printed written notice has been given as provided in subsection (d)(1) of this section that the general public is restricted from access to that restricted portion of the place of public amusement. A restricted portion of a place of public amusement may include, but is not limited to, a playing field, an athletic surface, or a stage located at the place of public amusement.

(c) An owner or lessee of a place of public amusement, an agent of the owner or lessee, or a performer or participant at a place of public amusement may use reasonable force to restrain and remove a person from a restricted portion of the place of public amusement if the person enters or remains on the restricted portion of the place of public amusement and, as a result of that conduct, interrupts or causes the delay of the live performance, sporting event, or other activity taking place at the place of public amusement. This subsection does not provide immunity from criminal liability for any use of force beyond reasonable force by an owner or lessee of a place of public amusement, an agent of either the owner or lessee, or a performer or participant at a place of public amusement.

(d) (1) Notice has been given that the general public is restricted from access to a portion of a place of public amusement if a printed written notice of the restricted access has been conspicuously posted or exhibited at the entrance to that portion of the place of public amusement. If a printed written notice is posted or exhibited as described in this subsection, regarding a portion of a place of public amusement, in addition to that posting or exhibition, notice that the general public is restricted from access to that portion of the place of public amusement also may be given, but is not required to be given, by either of the following means:

A. By notifying the person personally, either orally or in writing, that access to that portion of the place of public amusement is restricted;
B. By broadcasting over the public address system of the place of public amusement an oral warning that access to that portion of the public place of amusement is restricted.

(2) If notice that the general public is restricted from access to a portion of a place of public amusement is provided by the posting or exhibition of a printed written notice as described in subsection (d)(1) of this section, the Municipality, in a criminal prosecution for a violation of subsection (b) of this section, is not required to prove that the defendant received actual notice that the general public is restricted from access to a portion of a place of public amusement.

(e) (1) Whoever violates subsection (b) of this section is guilty of criminal trespass on a place of public amusement, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(2) In addition to any jail term, fine or other sentence, penalty, or sanction it imposes upon the offender pursuant to subsection (e)(1) of this section, a court may require an offender who violates this section to perform not less than thirty and not more than one hundred twenty hours of supervised community service work. (ORC 2911.23)

541.11 POSTING SIGNS WITHOUT CONSENT OF OWNER.

(a) No person shall paint, print, paste, stencil or otherwise mark, place upon or affix to a building, fence, wall, vehicle, post, pole, tree, billboard, sidewalk or street, or other similar structure, whether public or private, without the consent of the owner, lessee or agent in charge, a word, letter, character, figure, sentence or device or a handbill, notice, advertisement, sign or poster.

(b) This section does not apply to the posting of a handbill or notice of public sale by a sheriff, administrator, executor or licensed auctioneer or a notice required by law to be posted.
(Ord. 1077. Passed 7-7-83.)

541.99 PENALTY.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor classification.)

CHAPTER 543
Trees, Weeds and Grass

543.01 Trimming of trees and shrubbery.
543.02 Removal of weeds by owner or occupant; notice.
543.03 Removal of trees, weeds and grasses by Municipality.
543.04 Assessment of costs by Municipality.
543.99 Penalty.

CROSS REFERENCES

Power to regulate shade trees and shrubbery – see Ohio R.C. 715.20
Assessments for tree planting or maintenance – see Ohio R.C. 727.011
Notice to cut noxious weeds – see Ohio R.C. 731.51 et seq.
Injury or destruction of trees and growing products – see GEN. OFF. 541.06

543.01 TRIMMING OF TREES AND SHRUBBERY.

The owner of every lot or parcel of land within the corporate limits upon which a tree, plant or shrubbery stands with any part thereof upon or overhanging a public street or sidewalk shall conform to the regulations herein provided; otherwise, the Municipality shall cause such trees to be trimmed or cut down and removed in accordance with such regulations and assess the cost thereof against the owner of such lot or parcel of land.

(a) The owner shall trim or cause to be trimmed such tree, plant or shrubbery so that a clear height of eight feet between the lowest branches of the same and the street or sidewalk is maintained.

(b) The owner shall trim or remove, as the case may require, every dead, decayed or broken tree, plant or shrubbery, or part thereof, so that the same shall not fall to the street or sidewalk.

(c) The owner shall cut down and remove any tree, plant or shrubbery, or any part thereof, as may be necessary to provide a clear and unobstructed view of traffic from all directions at any street intersection, or to abate any nuisance necessary to protect life, limb or property of persons, drivers of any vehicles or pedestrians using the street or sidewalk.
(Ord. 2398. Passed 10-19-57.)

543.02 REMOVAL OF WEEDS BY OWNER OR OCCUPANT; NOTICE.

The owner, occupant or person having the charge or management of any lot or parcel of land situated within the corporate limits, whether the same is improved or unimproved, vacant or occupied, within five days after written notice to do so has been served upon him in conformity with Ohio R.C. 731.52, shall cut weeds or vines growing upon any such lot or parcel of land, and prevent the same from blooming, going to seed or exceeding a height of six inches.
(Ord. 1165. Passed 2-20-86.)

543.03 REMOVAL OF TREES, WEEDS AND GRASSES BY MUNICIPALITY.

In the event the owner does not trim or remove any tree, plant or shrubbery, or any part thereof, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, then the Local Law Enforcement and/or Code Enforcer (Director of Public Service) is hereby authorized and it is hereby declared to be his duty to have enforced the provisions of this chapter, and to cause to be trimmed or removed such tree, planting or shrubbery, or part thereof, and cut and remove all grass and weeds, after an inspection of the property has been made.
(Ord. 2006-14. Passed 6-1-06.)

543.04 ASSESSMENT OF COSTS BY MUNICIPALITY.

Whenever any tree, plant or shrubbery, or part thereof, or weeds and grass are growing in any street, public place or upon private property contiguous to a street or sidewalk or public place, and is trimmed or removed by the Municipality, then, after the work is done, the Municipality shall give five days notice, by regular mail, to the owner of such lot or parcel of land, at his last known address, to pay the sum of fifty dollars ($50.00) per lot for any high weeds/grass deemed a public nuisance or safety concern, the trimming or removal of trees, billed at a rate of no less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) per tree deemed such nuisance or safety concern shall also be thereof, which notice shall be accompanied by a statement of the amount of cost incurred, and in the event the same is not paid within thirty days after the mailing of the notice, then such amount shall be certified to the County Auditor for collection the same as other taxes and assessments are collected.
(Ord. 2013-16. Passed 9-5-13.)

543.99 PENALTY.

Whoever violates any provision of this chapter is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. Each day’s violation or repeated violation by the same person shall constitute a separate offense, punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00).

(EDITOR’S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor classification.)

CHAPTER 545
Theft and Fraud

545.01 Definitions.
545.02 Determining property value in theft offense.
545.03 Property exceptions as felony offense.
545.04 Detention of shoplifters; rights of museums and libraries.
545.05 Petty theft.
545.06 Unauthorized use of a vehicle; vehicle trespass.
545.07 Insurance fraud.
545.08 Unauthorized use of property.
545.09 Passing bad checks.
545.10 Misuse of credit cards.
545.11 Making or using slugs.
545.12 Tampering with coin machines.
545.13 Criminal simulation.
545.14 Tampering with records.
545.15 Securing writings by deception.
545.16 Personating an officer.
545.17 Defrauding creditors.
545.18 Receiving stolen property.
545.19 Possession of criminal tools.
545.20 Forgery of identification cards.
545.99 Penalty.

CROSS REFERENCES

See sectional histories for similar State law
Property defined – see GEN. OFF. 501.01(j)
Cheating – see GEN. OFF. 517.05
Falsification – see GEN. OFF. 525.02
Impersonating a public servant – see GEN. OFF. 525.03

545.01 DEFINITIONS.

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires that a term be given a different meaning:

(a) “Deception” means knowingly deceiving another or causing another to be deceived, by any false or misleading representation, by withholding information, by preventing another from acquiring information, or by any other conduct, act or omission that creates, confirms or perpetuates a false impression in another, including a false impression as to law, value, state of mind, or other objective or subjective fact.

(b) “Defraud” means to knowingly obtain, by deception, some benefit for oneself or another, or to knowingly cause, by deception, some detriment to another.

(1) Withhold property of another permanently, or for such period that appropriates a substantial portion of its value or use, or with purpose to restore it only upon payment of a reward or other consideration;
(2) Dispose of property so as to make it unlikely that the owner will recover it;
(3) Accept, use or appropriate money, property or services, with purpose not to give proper consideration in return for the money, property or services, and without reasonable justification or excuse for not giving proper consideration.

(d) “Owner” means, unless the context requires a different meaning, any person, other than the actor, who is the owner of, who has possession or control of, or who has any license or interest in property or services, even though the ownership, possession, control, license or interest is unlawful.

(e) “Services” include labor, personal services, professional services, rental services, public utility services, including wireless service as defined in Ohio R.C. 5507.01(F)(1), common carrier services, and food, drink, transportation, entertainment and cable television services.

(f) “Writing” means any computer software, document, letter, memorandum, note, paper, plate, data, film or other thing having in or upon it any written, typewritten or printed matter, and any token, stamp, seal, credit card, badge, trademark, label or other symbol of value, right, privilege, license or identification.

(g) “Forge” means to fabricate or create, in whole or in part and by any means any spurious writing, or to make, execute, alter, complete, reproduce or otherwise purport to authenticate any writing, when the writing in fact is not authenticated by that conduct.

(h) “Utter” means to issue, publish, transfer, use, put or send into circulation, deliver or display.

(i) “Coin machine” means any mechanical or electronic device designed to do both of the following:

(1) Receive a coin, bill, or token made for that purpose;
(2) In return for the insertion or deposit of a coin, bill or token, automatically dispense property, provide a service or grant a license.

(j) “Slug” means an object that, by virtue of its size, shape, composition or other quality, is capable of being inserted or deposited in a coin machine as an improper substitute for a genuine coin, bill or token made for that purpose.

(k) “Theft offense” means any of the following:

(1) A violation of Ohio R.C. 2911.01, 2911.02, 2911.11, 2911.12, 2911.13, 2911.31, 2911.32, 2913.02, 2913.03, 2913.04, 2913.041, 2913.11, 2913.21, 2913.31, 2913.32, 2913.33, 2913.34, 2913.40, 2913.42 to 2913.45, 2913.47, 2913.48, 2913.51, 2915.05, 2915.06, or 2921.41.
(2) A violation of an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States substantially equivalent to any section listed in subsection (k)(1) hereof or a violation of Ohio R.C. 2913.41, 2913.81 or 2915.06 as it existed prior to July 1, 1996;
(3) An offense under an existing or former municipal ordinance or law of this or any other state or the United States involving robbery, burglary, breaking and entering, theft, embezzlement, wrongful conversion, forgery, counterfeiting, deceit or fraud;
(4) A conspiracy or attempt to commit, or complicity in committing any offense under subsection (k)(1), (2) or (3) hereof.

(l) “Computer services” includes, but is not limited to, the use of a computer system, computer network, computer program, data that is prepared for computer use or data that is contained within a computer system or computer network.

(m) “Computer” means an electronic device that performs logical, arithmetic and memory functions by the manipulation of electronic or magnetic impulses. “Computer” includes, but is not limited to, all input, output, processing, storage, computer program or communication facilities that are connected or related, in a computer system or network to an electronic device of that nature.

(n) “Computer system” means a computer and related devices, whether connected or unconnected, including, but not limited to, data input, output and storage devices, data communications links, and computer programs and data that make the system capable of performing specified special purpose data processing tasks.

(o) “Computer network” means a set of related and remotely connected computers and communication facilities that includes more than one computer system that has the capability to transmit among the connected computers and communication facilities through the use of computer facilities.

(p) “Computer program” means an ordered set of data representing coded instructions or statements that when executed by a computer cause the computer to process data.

(q) “Computer software” means computer programs, procedures and other documentation associated with the operation of a computer system.

(r) “Data” means a representation of information, knowledge, facts, concepts or instructions that are being or have been prepared in a formalized manner and that are intended for use in a computer, computer system or computer network. For purposes of Section 545.07, “data” has the additional meaning set forth in subsection (a) of that section.

(s) “Cable television service” means any services provided by or through the facilities of any cable television system or other similar closed circuit coaxial cable communications system, or any microwave or similar transmission service used in connection with any cable television system or other similar closed circuit coaxial cable communications system.

(t) “Gain access” means to approach, instruct, communicate with, store data in, retrieve data from or otherwise make use of any resources of a computer, computer system or computer network.

(u) “Credit card” includes, but is not limited to, a card, code, device or other means of access to a customer’s account for the purpose of obtaining money, property, labor or services on credit, or for initiating an electronic fund transfer at a point-of-sale terminal, an automated teller machine or a cash dispensing machine.

(v) “Electronic fund transfer” has the same meaning as in 92 Stat. 3728, 15 U.S.C.A. 1693a, as amended.

(w) “Rented property” means personal property in which the right of possession and use of the property is for a short and possibly indeterminate term in return for consideration; the rentee generally controls the duration of possession of the property, within any applicable minimum or maximum term; and the amount of consideration generally is determined by the duration of possession of the property.

(x) “Telecommunication” means the origination, emission, dissemination, transmission, or reception of data, images, signals, sounds, or other intelligence or equivalence of intelligence or any nature over any communications system by any method, including, but not limited to, a fiber optic, electronic, magnetic, optical, digital, or analog method.

(y) “Telecommunications device” means any instrument, equipment, machine, or other device that facilitates telecommunication, including, but not limited to, a computer, computer network, computer chip, computer circuit, scanner, telephone, cellular telephone, pager, personal communications device, transponder, receiver, radio, modem, or device that enables the use of a modem.

(z) “Telecommunications service” means the providing, allowing, facilitating, or generating of any form of telecommunication through the use of a telecommunications device over a telecommunications system.

(aa) “Counterfeit telecommunications device” means a telecommunications device that, alone or with another telecommunications device, has been altered, constructed, manufactured, or programmed to acquire, intercept, receive, or otherwise facilitate the use of a telecommunications service or information service without the authority or consent of the provider of the telecommunications service or information service. “Counterfeit telecommunications device” includes, but is not limited to, a clone telephone, clone microchip, tumbler telephone, or tumbler microchip; a wireless scanning device capable of acquiring, intercepting, receiving, or otherwise facilitating the use of telecommunications service or information service without immediate detection; or a device, equipment, hardware, or software designed for, or capable of, altering or changing the electronic serial number in a wireless telephone.

(bb) (1) “Information service” means, subject to subsection (bb)(2) hereof, the offering of a capability for generating, acquiring, storing, transforming, processing, retrieving, utilizing, or making available information via telecommunications, including, but not limited to, electronic publishing.
(2) “Information service” does not include any use of a capability of a type described in subsection (bb)(1) hereof for the management, control, or operation of a telecommunications system or the management of a telecommunications service.

(cc) “Elderly person” means a person who is sixty-five years of age or older.

(dd) “Disabled adult” means a person who is eighteen years of age or older and has some impairment of body or mind that makes the person unfit to work at any substantially remunerative employment that the person otherwise would be able to perform and that will, with reasonable probability, continue for a period of at least twelve months without any present indication of recovery from the impairment, or who is eighteen years of age or older and has been certified as permanently and totally disabled by an agency of this State or the United States that has the function of so classifying persons.

(ee) “Firearm” and “dangerous ordnance” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 2923.11.

(ff) “Motor vehicle” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4501.01.

(gg) “Dangerous drug” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4729.01.

(hh) “Drug abuse offense” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2925.01.

(ii) “Police dog or horse” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2921.321.

(jj) “Anhydrous ammonia” is a compound formed by the combination of two gaseous elements, nitrogen and hydrogen, in the manner described in this subsection. Anhydrous ammonia is one part nitrogen to three parts hydrogen (NH3). Anhydrous ammonia by weight is fourteen parts nitrogen to three parts hydrogen, which is approximately eighty-two per cent nitrogen to eighteen per cent hydrogen.

(kk) “Assistance dog” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 955.011.

(ll) “Active duty service member” means any member of the armed forces of the United States performing active duty under Title 10 of the United States Code.
(ORC 2913.01)

545.02 DETERMINING PROPERTY VALUE IN THEFT OFFENSE.

(a) If more than one item of property or service is involved in a theft offense, the value of the property or services involved for the purpose of determining the value is the aggregate value of all property or services involved in the offense.

(b) (1) When a series of offenses under Section 545.05, or a series of violations of, attempts to commit a violation of, conspiracies to violate, or complicity in violations of Section 545.05, 545.06, or 545.08, 545.10(b)(1) or (2), or Section 545.15 or 545.20 involving a victim who is an elderly person or disabled adult, is committed by the offender in the offender’s same employment, capacity, or relationship to another, all of those offenses shall be tried as a single offense. When a series of offenses under Section 545.05, or a series of violations of, attempts to commit a violation of, conspiracies to violate, or complicity in violations of Sections 545.05 or 545.15 involving a victim who is an active duty service member or spouse of an active duty service member is committed by the offender in the offender’s same employment, capacity or relationship to another, all of those offenses shall be tried as a single offense. The value of the property or services involved in the series of offenses for the purpose of determining the value is the aggregate value of all property and services involved in all offenses in the series.
(2) If an offender commits a series of offenses under Section 545.05 that involves a common course of conduct to defraud multiple victims, all of the offenses may be tried as a single offense. If an offender is being tried for the commission of a series of violations of, attempts to commit a violation of, conspiracies to violate, or complicity in violations of Section 545.05, 545.06 or 545.08, Section 545.10(b)(1) or (2), or Section 545.15 or 545.20, whether committed against one victim or more than one victim, involving a victim who is an elderly person or disabled adult, pursuant to a scheme or course of conduct, all of those offenses may be tried as a single offense. If the offender is being tried for the commission of a series of violations of, attempts to commit a violation of, conspiracies to violate, or complicity in violations of Section 545.05 or 545.15, whether committed against one victim or more than one victim, involving a victim who is an active duty service member or spouse of an active duty service member pursuant to a scheme or course of conduct, all of those offenses may be tried as a single offense. If the offenses are tried as a single offense, the value of the property or services involved for the purpose of determining the value is the aggregate value of all property and services involved in all of the offenses in the course of conduct.
(3) In prosecuting a single offense under subsection (b)(1) or (2), it is not necessary to separately allege and prove each offense in the series. Rather, it is sufficient to allege and prove that the offender, within a given span of time, committed one or more theft offenses in the offender’s same employment, capacity, or relationship to another as described in subsection (b)(1) of this section or that involve a common course of conduct to defraud multiple victims or a scheme or course of conduct as described in subsection (b)(2) of this section. While it is not necessary to separately allege and prove each offense in the series in order to prosecute a single offense under subsection (b)(1) or (2) hereof, it remains necessary in prosecuting them as a single offense to prove the aggregate value of the property or services in order to meet the requisite statutory offense level sought by the prosecution.

(1) The value of an heirloom, memento, collector’s item, antique, museum piece, manuscript, document, record or other thing that has intrinsic worth to its owner and that is either irreplaceable or is replaceable only on the expenditure of substantial time, effort or money, is the amount that would compensate the owner for its loss.
(2) The value of personal effects and household goods, and of materials, supplies, equipment and fixtures used in the profession, business, trade, occupation or avocation of its owner, which property is not covered under subsection (c)(1) hereof, and which retains substantial utility for its purpose regardless of its age or condition, is the cost of replacing the property with new property of like kind and quality.
(3) The value of any real or personal property that is not covered under subsections (c)(1) or (2) hereof, and the value of services, is the fair market value of the property or services. As used in this section, “fair market value” is the money consideration that a buyer would give and a seller would accept for property or services, assuming that the buyer is willing to buy and the seller is willing to sell, that both are fully informed as to all facts material to the transaction, and that neither is under any compulsion to act.

(d) Without limitation on the evidence that may be used to establish the value of property or services involved in a theft offense:

(1) When the property involved is personal property held for sale at wholesale or retail, the price at which the property was held for sale is prima-facie evidence of its value.
(2) When the property involved is a security or commodity traded on an exchange, the closing price or, if there is no closing price, the asked price, given in the latest market quotation prior to the offense, is prima-facie evidence of the value of the security or commodity.
(3) When the property involved is livestock, poultry or raw agricultural products for which a local market price is available, the latest local market price prior to the offense is prima-facie evidence of the value of the livestock, poultry or products.
(4) When the property involved is a negotiable instrument, the face value is prima-facie evidence of the value of the instrument.
(5) When the property involved is a warehouse receipt, bill of lading, pawn ticket, claim check or other instrument entitling the holder or bearer to receive property, the face value or, if there is no face value, the value of the property covered by the instrument less any payment necessary to receive the property, is prima-facie evidence of the value of the instrument.
(6) When the property involved is a ticket of admission, ticket for transportation, coupon, token or other instrument entitling the holder or bearer to receive property or services, the face value or, if there is no face value, the value of the property or services that may be received by the instrument, is prima-facie evidence of the value of the instrument.
(7) When the services involved are gas, electricity, water, telephone, transportation, shipping or other services for which the rate is established by law, the duly established rate is prima-facie evidence of the value of the services.
(8) When the services involved are services for which the rate is not established by law, and the offender has been notified prior to the offense of the rate for the services, either in writing or orally, or by posting in a manner reasonably calculated to come to the attention of potential offenders, the rate contained in the notice is prima-facie evidence of the value of the services. (ORC 2913.61)

545.03 PROPERTY EXCEPTIONS AS FELONY OFFENSE.

Regardless of the value of the property involved, and regardless of whether the offender has previously been convicted of a theft offense, the provisions of Section 545.05 or 545.18 do not apply if the property involved is any of the following:

(a) A credit card;

(b) A printed form for a check or other negotiable instrument, that on its face identifies the drawer or maker for whose use it is designed or identifies the account on which it is to be drawn, and that has not been executed by the drawer or maker or on which the amount is blank;

(d) A motor vehicle identification license plate as prescribed by Ohio R.C. 4503.22, a temporary license placard or windshield sticker as prescribed by Ohio R.C. 4503.182, or any comparable license plate, placard or sticker as prescribed by the applicable law of another state or the United States;

(e) A blank form for a certificate of title or a manufacturer’s or importer’s certificate to a motor vehicle, as prescribed by Ohio R.C. 4505.07;

(f) A blank form for any license listed in Ohio R.C. 4507.01(A).
(ORC 2913.71)

545.04 DETENTION OF SHOPLIFTERS; RIGHTS OF MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES.

(a) A merchant, or his employee or agent, who has probable cause to believe that items offered for sale by a mercantile establishment have been unlawfully taken by a person, may, for the purposes set forth in subsection (c) hereof, detain the person in a reasonable manner for a reasonable length of time within the mercantile establishment or its immediate vicinity.

(b) Any officer, employee or agent of a library, museum or archival institution may, for the purposes set forth in subsection (c) hereof or for the purpose of conducting a reasonable investigation of a belief that the person has acted in a manner described in subsections (b)(1) and (2) hereof, detain a person in a reasonable manner for a reasonable length of time within, or in the immediate vicinity of the library, museum or archival institution, if the officer, employee or agent has probable cause to believe that the person has either:

(1) Without privilege to do so, knowingly moved, defaced, damaged, destroyed or otherwise improperly tampered with property owned by or in the custody of the library, museum or archival institution; or
(2) With purpose to deprive the library, museum or archival institution of property owned by it or in its custody, knowingly obtained or exerted control over the property without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent, beyond the scope of the express or implied consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent, by deception, or by threat.

(c) An officer, agent or employee of a library, museum or archival institution pursuant to subsection (b) hereof or a merchant or his employee or agent pursuant to subsection (a) hereof may detain another person for any of the following purposes:

(1) To recover the property that is the subject of the unlawful taking, criminal mischief or theft;
(2) To cause an arrest to be made by a peace officer;
(3) To obtain a warrant of arrest.
(4) To offer the person, if the person is suspected of the unlawful taking, criminal mischief, or theft and notwithstanding any other provision of this General Offenses or the Ohio Revised Code, an opportunity to complete a pretrial diversion program and to inform the person of the other legal remedies available to the library, museum, archival institution or merchant.

(d) The officer, agent or employee of the library, museum or archival institution, or the merchant or his employee or agent acting under subsection (a) or (b) hereof shall not search the person, search or seize any property belonging to the person detained without the person’s consent, or use undue restraint upon the person detained.

(e) Any peace officer may arrest without a warrant any person that he has probable cause to believe has committed any act described in subsection (b)(1) or (2) hereof or that he has probable cause to believe has committed an unlawful taking in a mercantile establishment. An arrest under this subsection shall be made within a reasonable time after the commission of the act or unlawful taking.

(f) As used in this section:

(1) “Archival institution” means any public or private building, structure or shelter in which are stored historical documents, devices, records, manuscripts or items of public interest, which historical materials are stored to preserve the materials or the information in the materials, to disseminate the information contained in the materials, or to make the materials available for public inspection or for inspection by certain persons who have a particular interest in, use for or knowledge concerning the materials.
(2) “Museum” means any public or private nonprofit institution that is permanently organized for primarily educational or aesthetic purposes, owns or borrows objects or items of public interest, and cares for and exhibits to the public the objects or items.
(3) “Pretrial diversion program” means a rehabilitative, educational program designed to reduce recidivism and promote personal responsibility that is at least four hours in length and that has been approved by any court in this State. (ORC 2935.041)

545.05 PETTY THEFT.

(a) No person, with purpose to deprive the owner of property or services, shall knowingly obtain or exert control over either the property or services in any of the following ways:

(1) Without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent;
(2) Beyond the scope of the express or implied consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent;
(3) By deception;
(4) By threat;
(5) By intimidation.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of petty theft, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Petty theft is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law if:

(1) The value of the property or services stolen is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more; or
(2) The victim of the offense is an elderly person, disabled adult, active duty service member, or spouse of an active duty service member, or
(3) The property stolen is a firearm or dangerous ordnance, or
(4) The property stolen is a motor vehicle, or
(5) The property stolen is any dangerous drug, or
(6) The property stolen is a police dog or horse or an assistance dog and the offender knows or should know that the property stolen is a police dog or horse or an assistance dog, or
(7) The property stolen is anhydrous ammonia, or
(8) The property stolen is a special purpose article as defined in Ohio R.C. 4737.04 or a bulk merchandise container as defined in Ohio R.C. 4737.012.

(c) In addition to the penalties described in subsection (b) of this section, if the offender committed the violation by causing a motor vehicle to leave the premises of an establishment at which gasoline is offered for retail sale without the offender making full payment for gasoline that was dispensed into the fuel tank of the motor vehicle or into another container, the court may do one of the following:

(1) Unless subsection (c)(2) of this section applies, suspend for not more than six months the offender’s driver’s license, probationary driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, or nonresident operating privilege;
(2) If the offender’s driver’s license, probationary driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, or nonresident operating privilege has previously been suspended pursuant to subsection (c)(1) of this section, impose a class seven suspension of the offender’s license, permit, or privilege from the range specified in Ohio R.C. 4510.02(A)(7), provided that the suspension shall be for at least six months.
(3) The court, in lieu of suspending the offender’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license, probationary driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, or nonresident operating privilege pursuant to subsections (c)(1) or (2) of this section, instead may require the offender to perform community service for a number of hours determined by the court.

(d) In addition to the penalties described in subsection (b) hereof, if the offender committed the violation by stealing rented property or rental services, the court may order that the offender make restitution pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2929.18 or 2929.28. Restitution may include, but is not limited to, the cost of repairing or replacing the stolen property, or the cost of repairing the stolen property and any loss of revenue resulting from deprivation of the property due to theft of rental services that is less than or equal to the actual value of the property at the time it was rented. Evidence of intent to commit theft of rented property or rental services shall be determined pursuant to the provisions of Ohio R.C. 2913.72.

(e) The sentencing court that suspends an offender’s license, permit, or nonresident operating privilege under subsection (c) of this section may grant the offender limited driving privileges during the period of the suspension in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapter 4510.
(ORC 2913.02)

545.06 UNAUTHORIZED USE OF A VEHICLE; VEHICLE TRESPASS.

(a) No person shall knowingly use or operate an aircraft, motor vehicle, motorcycle, motorboat or other motor-propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent.

(b) This section does not apply to property removed from the State or if possession is kept for more than forty-eight hours.

(1) At the time of the alleged offense, the actor, though mistaken, reasonably believed that the actor was authorized to use or operate the property.
(2) At the time of the alleged offense, the actor reasonably believed that the owner or person empowered to give consent would authorize the actor to use or operate the property.

(d) No person shall knowingly enter into or upon a motor vehicle, motorcycle or other motor-propelled vehicle without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent.

(e) Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of unauthorized use of a vehicle, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the victim of the offense is an elderly person or disabled adult and if the victim incurs a loss as a result of the violation, a violation of subsection (a) hereof is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. (ORC 2913.03)

(f) Whoever violates subsection (d) hereof is guilty of vehicle trespass, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

545.07 INSURANCE FRAUD.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Data” has the same meaning as in Section 545.01 and additionally includes any other representation of information, knowledge, facts, concepts or instructions that are being or have been prepared in a formalized manner.
(2) “Deceptive” means that a statement, in whole or in part, would cause another to be deceived because it contains a misleading representation, withholds information, prevents the acquisition of information or by any other conduct, act or omission creates, confirms or perpetuates a false impression, including, but not limited to, a false impression as to law, value, state of mind or other objective or subjective fact.
(3) “Insurer” means any person that is authorized to engage in the business of insurance in this State under Title XXXIX of the Ohio Revised Code; The Ohio Fair Plan Underwriting Association created under Ohio R.C. 3929.43; any health insuring corporation; and any legal entity that is self-insured and provides benefits to its employees or members.
(4) “Policy” means a policy, certificate, contract or plan that is issued by an insurer.
(5) “Statement” includes, but is not limited to, any notice, letter or memorandum; proof of loss; bill of lading; receipt for payment; invoice, account or other financial statement; estimate of property damage; bill for services; diagnosis or prognosis; prescription; hospital, medical or dental chart or other record; X-Ray, photograph, videotape or movie film; test result; other evidence of loss, injury or expense; computer-generated document; and data in any form.

(b) No person, with purpose to defraud or knowing that the person is facilitating a fraud, shall do either of the following:

(1) Present to, or cause to be presented to, an insurer any written or oral statement that is part of, or in support of, an application for insurance, a claim for payment pursuant to a policy or a claim for any other benefit pursuant to a policy, knowing that the statement, or any part of the statement, is false or deceptive;
(2) Assist, aid, abet, solicit, procure or conspire with another to prepare or make any written or oral statement that is intended to be presented to an insurer as part of, or in support of, an application for insurance, a claim for payment pursuant to a policy, or a claim for any other benefit pursuant to a policy, knowing that the statement, or any part of the statement, is false or deceptive.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of insurance fraud a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the amount of the claim that is false or deceptive is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, insurance fraud is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

(d) This section shall not be construed to abrogate, waive or modify Ohio R.C. 2317.02(A). (ORC 2913.47)

545.08 UNAUTHORIZED USE OF PROPERTY.

(a) No person shall knowingly use or operate the property of another without the consent of the owner or person authorized to give consent.

(b) The affirmative defenses contained in Section 545.06(c) are affirmative defenses to a charge under this section.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unauthorized use of property. Except as provided in subsection (d) hereof, unauthorized use of property is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(d) If unauthorized use of property is committed for the purpose of devising or executing a scheme to defraud or to obtain property or services, unauthorized use of property is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Unauthorized use of property is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law if:

(1) Unauthorized use of property is committed for the purpose of devising or executing a scheme to defraud or to obtain property or services, and if the value of the property is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more; or
(2) If the victim of the offense is an elderly person or disabled adult.
(ORC 2913.04)

545.09 PASSING BAD CHECKS.

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Check” includes any form of debit from a demand deposit account, including, but not limited to any of the following:

A. A check, bill of exchange, draft, order of withdrawal, or similar negotiable or nonnegotiable instrument;
B. An electronic check, electronic transaction, debit card transaction, check card transaction, substitute check, web check, or any form of automated clearing house transaction. (2) “Issue a check” means causing any form of debit from a demand deposit account.

(b) No person, with purpose to defraud, shall issue or transfer or cause to be issued or transferred a check or other negotiable instrument, knowing that it will be dishonored or knowing that a person has ordered or will order stop payment on the check or other negotiable instrument.

(c) For purposes of this section, a person who issues or transfers a check or other negotiable instrument is presumed to know that it will be dishonored, if either of the following occurs:

(1) The drawer had no account with the drawee at the time of issue or the stated date, whichever is later.
(2) The check or other negotiable instrument was properly refused payment for insufficient funds upon presentment within thirty days after issue or the stated date, whichever is later, and the liability of the drawer, indorser or any party who may be liable thereon is not discharged by payment or satisfaction within ten days after receiving notice of dishonor.

(d) For purposes of this section, a person who issues or transfers a check, bill of exchange or other draft is presumed to have the purpose to defraud if the drawer fails to comply with Ohio R.C. 1349.16 by doing any of the following when opening a checking account intended for personal, family or household purposes at a financial institution:

(1) Falsely stating that the drawer has not been issued a valid driver’s or commercial driver’s license or identification card issued under Ohio R.C. 4507.50;
(2) Furnishing such license or card, or another identification document that contains false information;
(3) Making a false statement with respect to the drawer’s current address or any additional relevant information reasonably required by the financial institution.

(e) In determining the value of the payment for purposes of subsection (f) of this section, the court may aggregate all checks and other negotiable instruments that the offender issued or transferred or caused to be issued or transferred in violation of subsection (a) of this section within a period of one hundred eighty consecutive days.

(f) Whoever violates this section is guilty of passing bad checks. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, passing bad checks is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the check or checks or other negotiable instrument or instruments are issued or transferred to a single vendor or single other person for the payment of one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more or if the check or checks or other negotiable instrument or instruments are issued or transferred to multiple vendors or persons for the payment of one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) or more, passing bad checks is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2913.11)

545.10 MISUSE OF CREDIT CARDS.

(a) No person shall do any of the following:

(1) Practice deception for the purpose of procuring the issuance of a credit card, when a credit card is issued in actual reliance thereon;
(2) Knowingly buy or sell a credit card from or to a person other than the issuer.

(b) No person, with purpose to defraud, shall do any of the following:

(1) Obtain control over a credit card as security for a debt;
(2) Obtain property or services by the use of a credit card, in one or more transactions, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the card has expired or been revoked, or was obtained, is retained or is being used in violation of law;
(3) Furnish property or services upon presentation of a credit card, knowing that the card is being used in violation of law;
(4) Represent or cause to be represented to the issuer of a credit card that property or services have been furnished, knowing that the representation is false.

(d) Whoever violates this section is guilty of misuse of credit cards, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Misuse of credit cards is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law if:

(1) The cumulative retail value of the property and services involved in one or more violations of subsection (b)(2), (3) or (4) hereof, which violations involve one or more credit card accounts and occur within a period of ninety consecutive days commencing on the date of the first violation, is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more; or
(2) The victim of the offense is an elderly person or disabled adult and the offense involves a violation of subsection (b)(1) or (2) hereof.
(ORC 2913.21)

545.11 MAKING OR USING SLUGS.

(a) No person shall do any of the following:

(1) Insert or deposit a slug in a coin machine, with purpose to defraud;
(2) Make, possess or dispose of a slug, with purpose of enabling another to defraud by inserting or depositing it in a coin machine.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of making or using slugs, a misdemeanor of the second degree. (ORC 2913.33)

545.12 TAMPERING WITH COIN MACHINES.

(a) No person, with purpose to commit theft or to defraud, shall knowingly enter, force an entrance into, tamper with or insert any part of an instrument into any coin machine.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of tampering with coin machines, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender has previously been convicted of a violation of Ohio R.C. 2911.32 or of any theft offense, tampering with coin machines is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. (ORC 2911.32)

545.13 CRIMINAL SIMULATION.

(a) No person, with purpose to defraud, or knowing that the person is facilitating a fraud, shall do any of the following:

(1) Make or alter any object so that it appears to have value because of antiquity, rarity, curiosity, source, or authorship, which it does not in fact possess;
(2) Practice deception in making, retouching, editing, or reproducing any photograph, movie film, video tape, phonograph record, or recording tape;
(3) Falsely or fraudulently make, simulate, forge, alter, or counterfeit any wrapper, label, stamp, cork, or cap prescribed by the Liquor Control Commission under Ohio R.C. Chapters 4301 and 4303, falsely or fraudulently cause to be made, simulated, forged, altered, or counterfeited any wrapper, label, stamp, cork, or cap prescribed by the Liquor Control Commission under Ohio R.C. Chapters 4301 and 4303, or use more than once any wrapper, label, stamp, cork, or cap prescribed by the Liquor Control Commission under Ohio R.C. Chapters 4301 and 4303.
(4) Utter, or possess with purpose to utter, any object that the person knows to have been simulated as provided in subsection (a)(1), (2) or (3) of this section.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of criminal simulation, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the loss to the victim is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, criminal simulation is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2913.32)

545.14 TAMPERING WITH RECORDS.

(a) No person, knowing the person has no privilege to do so, and with purpose to defraud or knowing that the person is facilitating a fraud, shall do any of the following:

(1) Falsify, destroy, remove, conceal, alter, deface or mutilate any writing, computer software, data, or record;
(2) Utter any writing or record, knowing it to have been tampered with as provided in subsection (a)(1) hereof.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of tampering with records, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the violation involves data or computer software the value of which or loss to the victim is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, or if the writing or record is a will unrevoked at the time of the offense, tampering with records is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. (ORC 2913.42)

545.15 SECURING WRITINGS BY DECEPTION.

(a) No person, by deception, shall cause another to execute any writing that disposes of or encumbers property, or by which a pecuniary obligation is incurred.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of securing writings by deception, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Securing writings by deception is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law if:

(1) The value of the property or obligation involved is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more; or
(2) The victim of the offense is an elderly person, disabled adult, active duty service member or spouse of an active duty service member.
(ORC 2913.43)

545.16 PERSONATING AN OFFICER.

(a) No person, with purpose to defraud or knowing that he is facilitating a fraud, or with purpose to induce another to purchase property or services, shall personate a law enforcement officer, or an inspector, investigator or agent of any governmental agency.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of personating an officer, a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 2913.44)

545.17 DEFRAUDING CREDITORS.

(a) No person, with purpose to defraud one or more of the person’s creditors, shall do any of the following:

(1) Remove, conceal, destroy, encumber, convey or otherwise deal with any of the person’s property.
(2) Misrepresent or refuse to disclose to a fiduciary appointed to administer or manage the person’s affairs or estate, the existence, amount or location of any of the person’s property, or any other information regarding such property that the person is legally required to furnish to the fiduciary.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of defrauding creditors, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the value of the property involved is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more, defrauding creditors is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2913.45)

545.18 RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY.

(a) No person shall receive, retain or dispose of property of another, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the property has been obtained through commission of a theft offense.

(b) It is not a defense to a charge of receiving stolen property in violation of this section that the property was obtained by means other than through the commission of a theft offense if the property was explicitly represented to the accused person as being obtained through the commission of a theft offense.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of receiving stolen property, a misdemeanor of the first degree. Receiving stolen property is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law if:

(1) The value of the property involved is one thousand dollars ($1,000) or more; or
(2) The property involved is:

A. Listed in Section 545.03; or
B. A motor vehicle as defined in Ohio R.C. 4501.01; or
C. A dangerous drug as defined in Ohio R.C. 4729.01.
D. A special purchase article as defined in Ohio R.C. 4737.04 or a bulk merchandise container as defined in Ohio R.C. 4737.012.
(ORC 2913.51)

545.19 POSSESSION OF CRIMINAL TOOLS.

(a) No person shall possess or have under the person’s control any substance, device, instrument, or article, with purpose to use it criminally.

(b) Each of the following constitutes prima-facie evidence of criminal purpose:

(1) Possession or control of any dangerous ordnance, or the materials or parts for making dangerous ordnance, in the absence of circumstances indicating the dangerous ordnance, materials, or parts are intended for legitimate use;
(2) Possession or control of any substance, device, instrument, or article designed or specially adapted for criminal use;
(3) Possession or control of any substance, device, instrument, or article commonly used for criminal purposes, under circumstances indicating the item is intended for criminal use.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of possessing criminal tools, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the circumstances indicate that the substance, device, instrument, or article involved in the offense was intended for use in the commission of a felony, possessing criminal tools is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. (ORC 2923.24)

545.20 FORGERY OF IDENTIFICATION CARDS.

(a) No person shall knowingly do either of the following:

(1) Forge an identification card;
(2) Sell or otherwise distribute a card that purports to be an identification card, knowing it to have been forged.
(3) As used in this section, “identification card” means a card that includes personal information or characteristics of an individual, a purpose of which is to establish the identity of the bearer described on the card, whether the words “identity,” “identification,” “identification card” or other similar words appear on the card.

(b) Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of forging identification cards or selling or distributing forged identification cards. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, forging or selling or distributing forged identification cards is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of this section or Ohio R.C. 2913.31 (B), forging identification cards or selling or distributing forged identification cards is a misdemeanor of the first degree and, in addition, the court shall impose upon the offender a fine of not less than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). (ORC 2913.31)

545.99 PENALTY.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor classification.)

CHAPTER 549
Weapons and Explosives

549.01 Definitions.
549.02 Carrying concealed weapons.
549.03 Using weapons while intoxicated.
549.04 Improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle.
549.05 Failure to secure dangerous ordnance.
549.06 Unlawful transactions in weapons.
549.07 Underage purchase of firearm.
549.08 Discharging firearms.
549.09 Throwing or shooting missiles.
549.10 Possessing replica firearm in school.
549.11 Defacing identification marks of a firearm; possessing a defaced firearm.
549.99 Penalty.

CROSS REFERENCES

See sectional histories for similar State law
License or permit to possess dangerous ordnance – see Ohio R.C. 2923.18
Hunting prohibited – see GEN. OFF. 505.11
Reporting gunshot and stab wounds – see GEN. OFF. 525.05(b)
Property destruction by tear gas device, etc. – see GEN. OFF. 541.04

549.01 DEFINITIONS.

As used in this chapter:

(a) “Deadly weapon” means any instrument, device or thing capable of inflicting death, and designed or specially adapted for use as a weapon, or possessed, carried or used as a weapon.

(b) (1) “Firearm” means any deadly weapon capable of expelling or propelling one or more projectiles by the action of an explosive or combustible propellant. “Firearm” includes an unloaded firearm, and any firearm that is inoperable but that can readily be rendered operable.
(2) When determining whether a firearm is capable of expelling or propelling one or more projectiles by the action of an explosive or combustible propellant, the trier of fact may rely upon circumstantial evidence, including, but not limited to, the representations and actions of the individual exercising control over the firearm.

(1) Any firearm that has a short stock and is designed to be held and fired by the use of a single hand;
(2) Any combination of parts from which a firearm of a type described in subsection (c)(1) of this section can be assembled.

(d) “Semi-automatic firearm” means any firearm designed or specially adapted to fire a single cartridge and automatically chamber a succeeding cartridge ready to fire, with a single function of the trigger.

(e) “Automatic firearm” means any firearm designed or specially adapted to fire a succession of cartridges with a single function of the trigger.

(f) “Sawed-off firearm” means a shotgun with a barrel less than eighteen inches long, or a rifle with a barrel less than sixteen inches long, or a shotgun or rifle less than twenty-six inches long overall.

(g) “Zip-gun” means any of the following:

(1) Any firearm of crude and extemporized manufacture;
(2) Any device, including without limitation a starter’s pistol, that is not designed as a firearm, but that is specially adapted for use as a firearm;
(3) Any industrial tool, signalling device or safety device, that is not designed as a firearm, but that as designed is capable of use as such, when possessed, carried or used as a firearm.

(h) “Explosive device” means any device designed or specially adapted to cause physical harm to persons or property by means of an explosion, and consisting of an explosive substance or agency and a means to detonate it. “Explosive device” includes without limitation any bomb, any explosive demolition device, any blasting cap or detonator containing an explosive charge, and any pressure vessel that has been knowingly tampered with or arranged so as to explode.

(i) “Incendiary device” means any firebomb, and any device designed or specially adapted to cause physical harm to persons or property by means of fire, and consisting of an incendiary substance or agency and a means to ignite it.

(j) “Ballistic knife” means a knife with a detachable blade that is propelled by a spring-operated mechanism.

(k) “Dangerous ordnance” means any of the following, except as provided in subsection (l) hereof:

(1) Any automatic or sawed-off firearm, zip-gun or ballistic knife;
(2) Any explosive device or incendiary device;
(3) Nitroglycerin, nitrocellulose, nitrostarch, PETN, cyclonite, TNT, picric acid and other high explosives; amatol, tritonal, tetrytol, pentolite, pecretol, cyclotol and other high explosive compositions; plastic explosives; dynamite, blasting gelatin, gelatin dynamite, sensitized ammonium nitrate, liquid-oxygen blasting explosives, blasting powder and other blasting agents; and any other explosive substance having sufficient brisance or power to be particularly suitable for use as a military explosive, or for use in mining, quarrying, excavating or demolitions;
(4) Any firearm, rocket launcher, mortar, artillery piece, grenade, mine, bomb, torpedo or similar weapon, designed and manufactured for military purposes, and the ammunition for that weapon;
(5) Any firearm muffler or suppressor;
(6) Any combination of parts that is intended by the owner for use in converting any firearm or other device into a dangerous ordnance.

(l) “Dangerous ordnance” does not include any of the following:

(1) Any firearm, including a military weapon and the ammunition for that weapon, and regardless of its actual age, that employs a percussion cap or other obsolete ignition system, or that is designed and safe for use only with black powder;
(2) Any pistol, rifle or shotgun, designed or suitable for sporting purposes, including a military weapon as issued or as modified, and the ammunition for that weapon unless the firearm is an automatic or sawed-off firearm;
(3) Any cannon or other artillery piece that, regardless of its actual age, is of a type in accepted use prior to 1887, has no mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic or other system for absorbing recoil and returning the tube into battery without displacing the carriage, and is designed and safe for use only with black powder;
(4) Black powder, priming quills and percussion caps possessed and lawfully used to fire a cannon of a type defined in subsection (l)(3) hereof during displays, celebrations, organized matches or shoots, and target practice, and smokeless and black powder, primers and percussion caps possessed and lawfully used as a propellant or ignition device in small-arms or small-arms ammunition;
(5) Dangerous ordnance that is inoperable or inert and cannot readily be rendered operable or activated, and that is kept as a trophy, souvenir, curio or museum piece.
(6) Any device that is expressly excepted from the definition of a destructive device pursuant to the “Gun Control Act of 1968,” 82 Stat. 1213, 18 U.S.C.921(a)(4), as amended, and regulations issued under that Act.

(m) “Explosive” means any chemical compound, mixture, or device, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by explosion. “Explosive” includes all materials that have been classified as division 1.1, division 1.2, division 1.3, or division 1.4 explosives by the United States Department of Transportation in its regulations and includes, but is not limited to, dynamite, black powder, pellet powders, initiating explosives, blasting caps, electric blasting caps, safety fuses, fuse igniters, squibs, cordeau detonant fuses, instantaneous fuses, and igniter cords and igniters. “Explosive” does not include “fireworks”, as defined in Ohio R.C. 3743.01, or any substance or material otherwise meeting the definition of explosive set forth in this section that is manufactured, sold, possessed, transported, stored or used in any activity described in Ohio R.C. 3743.80, provided the activity is conducted in accordance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including, but not limited to, the provisions of Ohio R.C. 3743.80, and the rules of the Fire Marshal adopted pursuant to Ohio R.C. 3737.82.

(n) (1) “Concealed handgun license” or “license to carry a concealed handgun” means, subject to subsection (n)(2) of this section, a license or temporary emergency license to carry a concealed handgun issued under Ohio R.C. 2923.125 or 2923.1213 or a license to carry a concealed handgun issued by another state with which the Attorney General has entered into a reciprocity agreement under Ohio R.C. 109.69.
(2) A reference in any provision of the Ohio Revised Code to a concealed handgun license issued under Ohio R.C. 2923.125 or a license to carry a concealed handgun issued under Ohio R.C. 2923.125 means only a license of the type that is specified in that section. A reference in any provision of the Ohio Revised Code to a concealed handgun license issued under Ohio R.C. 2923.1213, a licence to carry a concealed handgun issued under Ohio R.C. 2923.1213, or a license to carry a concealed handgun on a temporary emergency basis means only a license of the type that is specified in Ohio R.C. 2923.1213. A reference in any provision of the Ohio Revised Code to a concealed handgun license issued by another state or a license to carry a concealed handgun issued by another state means only a license issued by another state with which the Attorney General has entered into a reciprocity agreement under Ohio R.C. 109.69.

(o) “Valid concealed handgun license” or “valid license to carry a concealed handgun” means a concealed handgun license that is currently valid, that is not under a suspension under division (A)(1) of Ohio R.C. 2923.128, under Ohio R.C. 2923.1213, or under a suspension provision of the state other than this State in which the license was issued, and that has not been revoked under division (B)(1) of Ohio R.C. 2923.128, under Ohio R.C. 2923.1213 or under a revocation provision of the state other than this State in which the license was issued.

(p) “Misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year” does not include any of the following:

(1) Any federal or state offense pertaining to antitrust violations, unfair trade practices, restraints of trade or other similar offenses relating to the regulation of business practices;
(2) Any misdemeanor offense punishable by a term of imprisonment of two years or less.

(q) “Alien registration number” means the number issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Agency that is located on the alien’s permanent resident card and may also be commonly referred to as the “USCIS number” or the “alien number”.
(ORC 2923.11)

549.02 CARRYING CONCEALED WEAPONS.

(a) No person shall knowingly carry or have, concealed on the person’s person or concealed ready at hand, any of the following:

(1) A deadly weapon other than a handgun;
(2) A handgun other than a dangerous ordnance;
(3) A dangerous ordnance.

(b) No person who has been issued a concealed handgun license, shall do any of the following:

(1) If the person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose, and is carrying a concealed handgun, fail to promptly inform any law enforcement officer who approaches the person after the person has been stopped that the person has been issued a concealed handgun license and that the person then is carrying a concealed handgun;
(2) If the person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose and is carrying a concealed handgun, knowingly fail to keep the person’s hands in plain sight at any time after any law enforcement officer begins approaching the person while stopped and before the law enforcement officer leaves, unless the failure is pursuant to and in accordance with directions given by a law enforcement officer;
(3) If the person is stopped for a law enforcement purpose and is carrying a concealed handgun, knowingly disregard or fail to comply with any lawful order of any law enforcement officer given while the person is stopped, including, but not limited to, a specific order to the person to keep the person’s hands in plain sight.

A. An officer, agent or employee or this or any other state or the United States, or to a law enforcement officer, who is authorized to carry concealed weapons or dangerous ordnance, or is authorized to carry handguns and is acting within the scope of the officer’s, agent’s or employee’s duties;
B. Any person who is employed in this State, who is authorized to carry concealed weapons or dangerous ordnance or is authorized to carry handguns, and who is subject to and in compliance with the requirements of Ohio R.C. 109.801 unless the appointing authority of the person has expressly specified that the exemption provided in subsection (c)(1)B. hereof does not apply to the person.
C. A person’s transportation or storage of a firearm, other than a firearm described in divisions (G) to (M) of Ohio R.C. 2923.11 in a motor vehicle for any lawful purpose if the firearm is not on the actor’s person;
D. A person’s storage or possession of a firearm, other than a firearm described in divisions (G) to (M) of Ohio R.C. 2923.11 in the actor’s own home for any lawful purpose.

(2) Subsection (a)(2) of this section does not apply to any person who, at the time of the alleged carrying or possession of a handgun, is carrying a valid concealed handgun license, unless the person knowingly is in a place described in division (B) of Ohio R.C. 2923.126.

(d) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under subsection (a)(1) of this section of carrying or having control of a weapon other than a handgun and other than a dangerous ordnance, that the actor was not otherwise prohibited by law from having the weapon, and that any of the following applies:

(1) The weapon was carried or kept ready at hand by the actor for defensive purposes, while the actor was engaged in or was going to or from the actor’s lawful business or occupation, which business or occupation was of a character or was necessarily carried on in a manner or at a time or place as to render the actor particularly susceptible to criminal attack, such as would justify a prudent person in going armed.
(2) The weapon was carried or kept ready at hand by the actor for defensive purposes, while the actor was engaged in a lawful activity and had reasonable cause to fear a criminal attack upon the actor, a member of the actor’s family, or the actor’s home, such as would justify a prudent person in going armed.
(3) The weapon was carried or kept ready at hand by the actor for any lawful purpose and while in the actor’s own home.

(e) No person who is charged with a violation of this section shall be required to obtain a concealed handgun license as a condition for the dismissal of the charge.

(f) (1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of carrying concealed weapons. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection or subsection (f)(2) of this section, carrying concealed weapons in violation of subsection (a) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection or subsection (f)(2) of this section, if the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of this section or of any offense of violence, if the weapon involved is a firearm that is either loaded or for which the offender has ammunition ready at hand, or if the weapon involved is dangerous ordnance, carrying concealed weapons in violation of subsection (a) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. Except as otherwise provided in subsection (f)(2) of this section, if the weapon involved is a firearm and the violation of this section is committed at premises for which a D permit has been issued under Chapter 4303, of the Revised Code or if the offense is committed aboard an aircraft, or with purpose to carry a concealed weapon aboard an aircraft, regardless of the weapon involved, carrying concealed weapons in violation of subsection (a) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(2) If a person being arrested for a violation of subsection (a)(2) of this section promptly produces a valid concealed handgun license, and if at the time of the violation the person was not knowingly in a place described in division (B) of Ohio R.C. 2923.126, the officer shall not arrest the person for a violation of that subsection. If the person is not able to promptly produce any concealed handgun license and if the person is not in a place described in that section, the officer may arrest the person for a violation of that subsection, and the offender shall be punished as follows:

A. The offender shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor if both of the following apply:

Within ten days after the arrest, the offender presents a concealed handgun license, which license was valid at the time of the arrest to the law enforcement agency that employs the arresting officer.
At the time of the arrest, the offender was not knowingly in a place described in division (B) of Ohio R.C. 2923.126.

B. The offender shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined five hundred dollars ($500.00) if all of the following apply:

The offender previously had been issued a concealed handgun license and that license expired within the two years immediately preceding the arrest.
Within forty-five days after the arrest, the offender presents any type of concealed handgun license to the law enforcement agency that employed the arresting officer, and the offender waives in writing the offender’s right to a speedy trial on the charge of the violation that is provided in Ohio R.C. 2945.71.
At the time of the commission of the offense, the offender was not knowingly in a place described in division (B) of Ohio R.C. 2923.126.

C. If neither subsection (f)(2)A. nor B. of this section applies, the offender shall be punished under subsection (f)(1) of this section.

(3) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, carrying concealed weapons in violation of subsection (b)(1) hereof is a misdemeanor of the first degree, and, in addition to any other penalty or sanction imposed for a violation of subsection (b)(1) hereof, the offender’s concealed handgun license shall be suspended pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2923.128(A)(2). If, at the time of the stop of the offender for a law enforcement purpose that was the basis of the violation, any law enforcement officer involved with the stop had actual knowledge that the offender has been issued a concealed handgun license, carrying concealed weapons in violation of division (b)(1) of this section is a minor misdemeanor, and the offender’s concealed handgun license shall not be suspended pursuant to division (A)(2) of Ohio R.C. 2923.128.
(4) Except as otherwise provided herein, carrying concealed weapons in violation of subsection (b)(2) or (b)(3) hereof is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender has previously been convicted or pleaded guilty to a violation of Ohio R.C. 2923.12(B)(2) or (B)(4) or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, carrying concealed weapons is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law. In addition to any other penalty or sanction imposed for a violation of subsection (b)(2) or (b)(3) hereof, the offender’s concealed handgun license shall be suspended pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2923.128(A)(2).

(g) If a law enforcement officer stops a person to question the person regarding a possible violation of this section, for a traffic stop, or for any other law enforcement purpose, if the person surrenders a firearm to the officer, either voluntarily or pursuant to a request or demand of the officer, and if the officer does not charge the person with a violation of this section or arrest the person for any offense, the person is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm, and the firearm is not contraband, the officer shall return the firearm to the person at the termination of the stop. If a court orders a law enforcement officer to return a firearm to a person pursuant to the requirement set forth in this subsection, division (B) of Ohio R.C. 2923.163 applies. (ORC 2923.12)

549.03 USING WEAPONS WHILE INTOXICATED.

(a) No person, while under the influence of alcohol or any drug of abuse, shall carry or use any firearm or dangerous ordnance.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of using weapons while intoxicated, a misdemeanor of the first degree. (ORC 2923.15)

549.04 IMPROPERLY HANDLING FIREARMS IN A MOTOR VEHICLE.

(a) No person shall knowingly transport or have a firearm in a motor vehicle, unless the person may lawfully possess that firearm under applicable law of this state or the United States, the firearm is unloaded, and the firearm is carried in one of the following ways:

(1) In a closed package, box or case;
(2) In a compartment which can be reached only by leaving the vehicle;
(3) In plain sight and secured in a rack or holder made for the purpose;
(4) If the firearm is at least twenty-four inches in overall length as measured from the muzzle to the part of the stock furthest from the muzzle and if the barrel is at least eighteen inches in length, either in plain sight with the action open or the weapon stripped, or, if the firearm is of a type on which the action will not stay open or which cannot easily be stripped, in plain sight.

(b) No person who has been issued a concealed handgun license, who is the driver or an occupant of a motor vehicle that is stopped as a result of a traffic stop or a stop for another law enforcement purpose or is the driver or an occupant of a commercial motor vehicle that is stopped by an employee of the motor carrier enforcement unit for the purposes defined in Ohio R.C. 5503.34, and who is transporting or has a loaded handgun in the motor vehicle or commercial motor vehicle in any manner, shall do any of the following:

(1) Fail to promptly inform any law enforcement officer who approaches the vehicle while stopped that the person has been issued a concealed handgun license and that the person then possesses or has a loaded handgun in the motor vehicle;
(2) Fail to promptly inform the employee of the unit who approaches the vehicle while stopped that the person has been issued a concealed handgun license and that the person then possesses or has a loaded handgun in the commercial motor vehicle.
(3) Knowingly fail to remain in the motor vehicle while stopped, or knowingly fail to keep the person’s hands in plain sight at any time after any law enforcement officer begins approaching the person while stopped and before the law enforcement officer leaves, unless the failure is pursuant to and in accordance with directions given by a law enforcement officer.
(4) Knowingly disregard or fail to comply with any lawful order of any law enforcement officer given while the motor vehicle is stopped, including, but not limited to, a specific order to the person to keep the person’s hands in plain sight.

A. An officer, agent or employee of this or any other state or the United States, or a law enforcement officer, when authorized to carry or have loaded or accessible firearms in motor vehicles and acting within the scope of the officer’s, agent’s or employee’s duties;
B. Any person who is employed in this State, who is authorized to carry or have loaded or accessible firearms in motor vehicles, and who is subject to and in compliance with the requirements of Ohio R.C. 109.801, unless the appointing authority of the person has expressly specified that the exemption provided in subsection (c)(1)B. does not apply to the person.

(2) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a person who transports or possesses a handgun in a motor vehicle if, at the time of that transportation or possession, both of the following apply:

A. The person transporting or possessing the handgun is carrying a valid concealed handgun license.
B. The person transporting or possessing the handgun is not knowingly in a place described in division (B) of Ohio R.C. 2923.126.

(3) Subsection (a) of this section does not apply to a person if all of the following apply:

A. The person possesses a valid electric-powered all-purpose vehicle permit issued under Ohio R.C. 1533.103 by the Chief of the Division of Wildlife.
B. The person is on or in an electric-powered all-purpose vehicle as defined in Ohio R.C. 1531.01 or a motor vehicle during the open hunting season for a wild quadruped or game bird.
C. The person is on or in an electric-powered all-purpose vehicle as defined in Ohio R.C. 1531.01 or a motor vehicle that is parked on a road that is owned or administered by the Division of Wildlife, provided that the road is identified by an electric-powered allpurpose vehicle sign.

(d) (1) The affirmative defenses authorized in Section 549.02(d)(1) and (2) are affirmative defenses to a charge under subsection (a) that involves a firearm other than a handgun.
(2) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under subsection (a) of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle that the actor transported or had the firearm in the motor vehicle for any lawful purpose and while the motor vehicle was on the actor’s own property, provided that the affirmative defense is not available unless the person, immediately prior to arriving at the actor’s own property, did not transport or possess the firearm in a motor vehicle in a manner prohibited by subsection (a) while the motor vehicle was being operated on a street, highway, or other public or private property used by the public for vehicular traffic.

(e) (1) No person who is charged with a violation of subsection (a) shall be required to obtain a concealed handgun license as a condition for the dismissal of the charge.
(2) If a person is convicted of, was convicted of, pleads guilty to, or has pleaded guilty to a violation of subsection (b) of this section as it existed prior to September 30, 2011, and if the conduct that was the basis of the violation no longer would be a violation of subsection (b) of this section on or after September 30, 2011, the person may file an application under Ohio R.C. 2953.37 requesting the expungement of the record of conviction. If a person is convicted of, was convicted of, pleads guilty to, or has pleaded guilty to a violation of subsection (a) of this section as the subsection existed prior to September 30, 2011, and if the conduct that was the basis of the violation no longer would be a violation of subsection (a) of this section on or after September 30, 2011, due to the application of subsection (b)(4) of this section as it exists on and after September 30, 2011, the person may file an application under Ohio R.C. 2953.37 requesting the expungement of the record of conviction.

(f) Whoever violates this section is guilty of improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle. Violation of subsection (a) of this section is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a violation of subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree, and, in addition to any other penalty or sanction imposed for the violation, the offender’s concealed handgun license shall be suspended pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2923.128(A)(2). If at the time of the stop of the offender for a traffic stop, for another law enforcement purpose, or for a purpose defined in Ohio R.C. 5503.34 that was the basis of the violation any law enforcement officer involved with the stop or the employee of the motor carrier enforcement unit who made the stop had actual knowledge of the offender’s status as a licensee, a violation of subsection (b)(1) or (b)(2) of this section is a minor misdemeanor, and the offender’s concealed handgun license shall not be suspended pursuant to division (A)(2) of Ohio R.C. 2923.128. A violation of subsection (b)(3) or (4) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree or, if the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of subsection (b)(3) or (4) of this section, a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. In addition to any other penalty or sanction imposed for a misdemeanor violation of subsection (b)(3) or (4) of this section, the offender’s concealed handgun license shall be suspended pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2923.128(A)(2).

(g) If a law enforcement officer stops a motor vehicle for a traffic stop or any other purpose, if any person in the motor vehicle surrenders a firearm to the officer, either voluntarily or pursuant to a request or demand of the officer, and if the officer does not charge the person with a violation of this section or arrest the person for any offense, the person is not otherwise prohibited by law from possessing the firearm, and the firearm is not contraband, the officer shall return the firearm to the person at the termination of the stop. If a court orders a law enforcement officer to return a firearm to a person pursuant to the requirement set forth in this subsection, division (B) of Ohio R.C. 2923.163 applies.

(h) As used in this section:

(1) “Motor vehicle”, “street” and “highway” have the same meanings as in Ohio R.C. 4511.01.
(2) A. “Unloaded” means:

With respect to a firearm other than a firearm described in subsection (h)(2)B. of this section, that no ammunition is in the firearm in question, no magazine or speed loader containing ammunition is inserted into the firearm in question and one of the following applies:

a. There is no ammunition in a magazine or speed loader that is in the vehicle in question and that may be used with the firearm in question.
b. Any magazine or speed loader that contains ammunition and that may be used with the firearm in question is stored in a compartment within the vehicle in question that cannot be accessed without leaving the vehicle or is stored in a container that provides complete and separate enclosure.

For the purposes of subsection (h)(2)A.1.b. of this section, a “container that provides complete and separate enclosure” includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

a. A package, box or case with multiple compartments, as long as the loaded magazine or speed loader and the firearm in question either are in separate compartments within the package, box, or case, or, if they are in the same compartment, the magazine or speed loader is contained within a separate enclosure in that compartment that does not contain the firearm and that closes using a snap, button, buckle, zipper, hook and loop closing mechanism, or other fastener that must be opened to access the contents or the firearm is contained within a separate enclosure of that nature in that compartment that does not contain the magazine or speed loader;
b. A pocket or other enclosure on the person of the person in question that closes using a snap, button, buckle, zipper, hook and loop closing mechanism, or other fastener that must be opened to access the contents.

For the purposes of subsection (h)(2)A. of this section, ammunition held in stripper-clips or in en-bloc clips is not considered ammunition that is loaded into a magazine or speed loader.

B. “Unloaded” means, with respect to a firearm employing a percussion cap, flintlock, or other obsolete ignition system, when the weapon is uncapped or when the priming charge is removed from the pan.

(3) “Commercial motor vehicle” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4506.25(A).
(4) “Motor carrier enforcement unit” means the motor carrier enforcement unit in the Department of Public Safety, Division of State Highway Patrol, that is created by Ohio R.C. 5503.34.

(i) Subsection (h)(2) of this section does not affect the authority of a person who is carrying a valid concealed handgun license to have one or more magazines or speed loaders containing ammunition anywhere in a vehicle, without being transported as described in that subsection, as long as no ammunition is in a firearm, other than a handgun, in the vehicle other than as permitted under any other provision of this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 2923. A person who is carrying a valid concealed handgun license may have one or more magazines or speed loaders containing ammunition anywhere in a vehicle without further restriction, as long as no ammunition is in a firearm, other than a handgun, in the vehicle other than as permitted under any provision of this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 2923. (ORC 2923.16)

549.05 FAILURE TO SECURE DANGEROUS ORDNANCE.

(a) No person, in acquiring, possessing, carrying or using any dangerous ordnance shall negligently fail to take proper precautions:

(1) To secure the dangerous ordnance against theft, or against its acquisition or use by any unauthorized or incompetent person;
(2) To insure the safety of persons and property.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to secure dangerous ordnance, a misdemeanor of the second degree. (ORC 2923.19)

549.06 UNLAWFUL TRANSACTIONS IN WEAPONS.

(a) No person shall:

(1) Manufacture, possess for sale, sell or furnish to any person other than a law enforcement agency for authorized use in police work, any brass knuckles, cestus, billy, blackjack, sandbag, switchblade knife, springblade knife, gravity knife or similar weapon;
(2) When transferring any dangerous ordnance to another, negligently fail to require the transferee to exhibit such identification, license or permit showing him to be authorized to acquire dangerous ordnance pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2923.17, or negligently fail to take a complete record of the transaction and forthwith forward a copy of such record to the sheriff of the county or safety director or police chief of the municipality where the transaction takes place;
(3) Knowingly fail to report to law enforcement authorities forthwith the loss or theft of any firearm or dangerous ordnance in the person’s possession or under the person’s control.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unlawful transactions in weapons. Violation of subsections (a)(1) or (2) hereof is a misdemeanor of the second degree. Violation of subsection (a)(3) hereof is a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. (ORC 2923.20)

549.07 UNDERAGE PURCHASE OF FIREARM.

(a) No person under eighteen years of age shall purchase or attempt to purchase a firearm.

(b) No person under twenty-one years of age shall purchase or attempt to purchase a handgun, provided that this subsection does not apply to the purchase or attempted purchase of a handgun by a person eighteen years of age or older and under twenty-one years of age if either of the following apply:

(1) The person is a law enforcement officer who is properly appointed or employed as a law enforcement officer and has received firearms training approved by the Ohio Peace Officer Training Council or equivalent firearms training.
(2) The person is an active or reserve member of the armed services of the United States or the Ohio national guard, or was honorably discharged from military service in the active or reserve armed services of the United States or the Ohio national guard, and the person has received firearms training from the armed services or the national guard or equivalent firearms training.

(c) Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of underage purchase of a firearm, a delinquent act that would be a felony of the fourth degree if it could be committed by an adult. Whoever violates subsection (b) hereof is guilty of underage purchase of a handgun, a misdemeanor of the second degree. (ORC 2923.211)

549.08 DISCHARGING FIREARMS.

(a) No person shall discharge any air gun, rifle, shotgun, revolver, pistol or other firearm within the corporate limits of the Municipality.

(b) This section does not apply when firearms are used in self defense, in the discharge of official duty or when otherwise lawfully authorized.

549.09 THROWING OR SHOOTING MISSILES.

(a) No person shall throw, shoot or propel an arrow, missile, pellet, stone, metal or other similar substance capable of causing physical harm to persons or property, in or on any public place, in or on the property of another, or from any private property into or onto any public place or the property of another. This section does not apply to supervised archery ranges or instruction nor when otherwise lawfully authorized.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

549.10 POSSESSING REPLICA FIREARM IN SCHOOL.

(a) No person shall knowingly possess an object in a school safety zone if both of the following apply:

(1) The object is indistinguishable from a firearm, whether or not the object is capable of being fired.
(2) The person indicates that the person possesses the object and that it is a firearm, or the person knowingly displays or brandishes the object and indicates that it is a firearm.

(b) Subsection (a) hereof does not apply to premises upon which home schooling is conducted. Subsection (a) hereof also does not apply to a school administrator, teacher, or employee who possesses an object that is indistinguishable from a firearm for legitimate school purposes during the course of employment, a student who uses an object that is indistinguishable from a firearm under the direction of a school administrator, teacher, or employee, or any other person who with the express prior approval of a school administrator possesses an object that is indistinguishable from a firearm for a legitimate purpose, including the use of the object in a ceremonial activity, a play, reenactment, or other dramatic presentation, or a ROTC activity or another similar use of the object.

(c) Whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of illegal possession of an object indistinguishable from a firearm in a school safety zone. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, illegal possession of an object indistinguishable from a firearm in a school safety zone is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of a violation of Ohio R.C. 2923.122, illegal possession of an object indistinguishable from a firearm in a school safety zone is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

(d) (1) In addition to any other penalty imposed upon a person who is convicted of or pleads guilty to a violation of this section and subject to subsection (d)(2) of this section, if the offender has not attained nineteen years of age, regardless of whether the offender is attending or is enrolled in a school operated by a board of education or for which the State Board of Education prescribes minimum standards under Ohio R.C. 3301.07, the court shall impose upon the offender a class four suspension of the offender’s probationary driver’s license, restricted license, driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, or probationary commercial driver’s license that then is in effect from the range specified in division (A)(4) of Ohio R.C. 4510.02 and shall deny the offender the issuance of any permit or license of that type during the period of the suspension.
If the offender is not a resident of this State, the court shall impose a class four suspension of the nonresident operating privilege of the offender from the range specified in division (A)(4) of Ohio R.C. 4510.02.
(2) If the offender shows good cause why the court should not suspend one of the types of licenses, permits, or privileges specified in subsection (d)(1) of this section or deny the issuance of one of the temporary instruction permits specified in that subsection, the court in its discretion may choose not to impose the suspension, revocation, or denial required in that subsection, but the court, in its discretion, instead may require the offender to perform community service for a number of hours determined by the court.

(e) As used in this section, “object that is indistinguishable from a firearm” means an object made, constructed, or altered so that, to a reasonable person without specialized training in firearms, the object appears to be a firearm. (ORC 2923.122)

549.11 DEFACING IDENTIFICATION MARKS OF A FIREARM; POSSESSING A DEFACED FIREARM.

(a) No person shall do either of the following:

(1) Change, alter, remove, or obliterate the name of the manufacturer, model, manufacturer’s serial number, or other mark or identification on a firearm.
(2) Possess a firearm knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the name of the manufacturer, model, manufacturer’s serial number, or other mark of identification on the firearm has been changed, altered, removed, or obliterated.

(b) (1) Whoever violates subsection (a)(1) of this section is guilty of defacing identification marks of a firearm. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, defacing identification marks of a firearm is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of subsection (a)(1) of this section, defacing identification marks of a firearm is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(2) Whoever violates subsection (a)(2) of this section is guilty of possessing a defaced firearm. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, possessing a defaced firearm is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of subsection (a)(2) of this section, possessing a defaced firearm is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law. (ORC 2923.201)

549.99 PENALTY.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor classification.)

CHAPTER 553
Railroads

553.01 Obstructing streets by railroad companies.
553.011 Obstructing streets by abandoning the locomotive.
553.02 Climbing upon railroad cars.
553.03 Duties of locomotive engineer.
553.04 Railroad vandalism.
553.05 Grade crossing device vandalism.
553.99 Penalty.

CROSS REFERENCES

See sectional histories for similar State law
Lighting railroads – see Ohio R.C. 723.33 et seq.
Power to regulate train speed – see Ohio R.C. 723.48
Vehicular homicide – see GEN. OFF. 537.02
Criminal mischief – see GEN. OFF. 541.04

553.01 OBSTRUCTING STREETS BY RAILROAD COMPANIES.

(a) (1) No railroad company shall obstruct or permit or cause to be obstructed a public street, road or highway by permitting a railroad car, locomotive or other obstruction to remain upon or across it for longer than five minutes to the hindrance or inconvenience of travelers or a person passing along or upon such street, road or highway.
(2) At the end of each five minute period of obstruction of a public street, road or highway, each railroad company shall cause such railroad car, locomotive or other obstruction to be removed for sufficient time, not less than three minutes, to allow the passage of persons and vehicles waiting to cross.
(3) This section does not apply to obstruction of a public street, road or highway by a continuously moving through train or caused by circumstances wholly beyond the control of the railroad company, but does apply to other obstructions, including without limitation those caused by stopped trains and trains engaged in switching, loading or unloading operations.
(4) If a railroad car, locomotive, or other obstruction is obstructing a public street, road, or highway in violation of subsection (a)(1) hereof and the violation occurs in the unincorporated area of one or more counties, or in one or more municipal corporations, the officers and employees of each affected county or municipal corporation may charge the railroad company with only one violation of the law arising from the same facts and circumstances and the same act.
(5) Upon the filing of an affidavit or complaint for violation of this subsection (a)(1) hereof, summons shall be issued to the railroad company pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2935.10(B), which summons shall be served on the regular ticket or freight agent of the company in the county where the offense occurred. (ORC 5589.21)

(b) For purposes of this section, “railroad company” includes the officers, employees and agents of such company.

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree and shall be fined one thousand dollars ($1,000).

553.011 OBSTRUCTING STREETS BY ABANDONING THE LOCOMOTIVE.

(a) No railroad company shall obstruct, or permit or cause to be obstructed, a public street, road, or highway, by permitting any part of a train whose crew has abandoned the locomotive to remain across it for longer than five minutes to the hindrance or inconvenience of travelers or a person passing along or upon the street, road, or highway, unless the safety of the train crew requires them to abandon the locomotive.

(b) Upon the filing of an affidavit or complaint for violation of this section, summons shall be issued to the railroad company pursuant to Ohio R.C. 2935.10(B), which summons shall be served on the regular ticket or freight agent of the company in the county where the offense occurred. (ORC 5589.211)

(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree and shall be fined five thousand dollars ($5,000).
(ORC 5589.99)

553.02 CLIMBING UPON RAILROAD CARS.

(a) No person shall climb, jump, step or stand upon or cling or attach himself to a locomotive, engine or car upon the track of a railroad, unless in compliance with law or by permission under the rules of the corporation managing such railroad.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(ORC 4999.02)

553.03 DUTIES OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER.

(a) No person in charge of a locomotive shall fail to bring the locomotive to a full stop at least 200 feet before arriving at a crossing with another track, or proceed through the crossing before signaled to do so or before the way is clear.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If violation of this misdemeanor causes physical harm to any person, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. (ORC 4999.04)

553.04 RAILROAD VANDALISM.

(a) No person shall knowingly, and by any means, drop or throw any object at, onto, or in the path of, any railroad rail, railroad track, locomotive, engine, railroad car, or other vehicle of a railroad company while such vehicle is on a railroad track.

(b) No person, without privilege to do so, shall climb upon or into any locomotive, engine, railroad car, or other vehicle of a railroad company when it is on a railroad track.

(c) No person, without privilege to do so, shall disrupt, delay, or prevent the operation of any train or other vehicle of a railroad company while such vehicle is on a railroad track.

(d) No person, without privilege to do so, shall knowingly enter or remain on the land or premises of a railroad company.

(e) Whoever violates subsection (a) of this section is guilty of railroad vandalism. Whoever violates subsection (b) of this section is guilty of criminal trespass on a locomotive, engine, railroad car or other railroad vehicle. Whoever violates subsection (c) of this section is guilty of interference with the operation of a train.

Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, railroad vandalism; criminal trespass on a locomotive, engine, railroad car, or other railroad vehicle; and interference with the operation of a train each is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the violation of subsection (a), (b) or (c) of this section causes serious physical harm to property, creates a substantial risk of physical harm to any person, causes physical harm to any person, or serious physical harm to any person, the violation is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.

(f) Whoever violates subsection (d) of this section is guilty of criminal trespass on the land or premises of a railroad company, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(ORC 2909.10)

553.05 GRADE CROSSING DEVICE VANDALISM.

(a) No person shall knowingly deface, damage, obstruct, remove or otherwise impair the operation of any railroad grade crossing warning signal or other protective device, including any gate, bell, light, crossbuck, stop sign, yield sign, advance warning sign, or advance pavement marking.

(b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of railroad grade crossing device vandalism. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, railroad grade crossing device vandalism is a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the violation of this section causes serious physical harm to property, creates a substantial risk of physical harm to any person, causes physical harm to any person, or causes serious physical harm to any person, railroad grade crossing device vandalism is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate State law.
(ORC 2909.101)

553.99 PENALTY.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: See Section 501.99 for penalties applicable to any misdemeanor classification.)

CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF BELLAIRE – PART FIVE

PART FIVE – GENERAL OFFENSES CODE

CHAPTER 501General Provisions and Penalty

CHAPTER 505Animals and Fowl

CHAPTER 509Disorderly Conduct and Peace Disturbance

CHAPTER 513Drug Abuse Control

CHAPTER 517Gambling

CHAPTER 521Health, Safety and Sanitation

CHAPTER 525Law Enforcement and Public Office

CHAPTER 529Liquor Control

CHAPTER 533Obscenity and Sex Offenses

CHAPTER 535Criminal Conduct in Sexually Oriented Business

CHAPTER 537Offenses Against Persons

CHAPTER 541Property Offenses

CHAPTER 543Trees, Weeds and Grass

CHAPTER 545Theft and Fraud

CHAPTER 549Weapons and Explosives

CHAPTER 553Railroads

CHAPTER 501
General Provisions and Penalty

CHAPTER 505
Animals and Fowl

CHAPTER 509
Disorderly Conduct and Peace Disturbance

CHAPTER 513
Drug Abuse Control

CHAPTER 517
Gambling

CHAPTER 521
Health, Safety and Sanitation

CHAPTER 525
Law Enforcement and Public Office

CHAPTER 529
Liquor Control

CHAPTER 533
Obscenity and Sex Offenses

CHAPTER 535
Criminal Conduct in Sexually Oriented Business

CHAPTER 537
Offenses Against Persons

CHAPTER 541
Property Offenses

CHAPTER 543
Trees, Weeds and Grass

CHAPTER 545
Theft and Fraud

CHAPTER 549
Weapons and Explosives

CHAPTER 553
Railroads