Latest news with #OhioRevisedCode
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Ohio updates law on golf carts and slow-moving vehicles
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Golf carts and other slow-moving vehicles have become a frequent sight in central Ohio communities since a 2017 law allowed them on public roads; however, a recent update to the law has tweaked its details. Section 4511.214 of the Ohio Revised Code took effect at the end of June, adding new restrictions and clarifying rules for low-speed vehicles, under-speed vehicles, utility vehicles, mini-trucks and motor-driven cycles or scooters. While low-speed vehicles, which can be driven at speeds of 20-25 mph, are still permitted on roads with a speed limit of 35 mph or less, the state has added specifications for under-speed vehicles. Previously, the rules for USVs, or those capable of traveling at 20 mph or less, were only loosely defined. USVs, such as utility vehicles and mini-trucks, are now not allowed on public roads unless a local city, village, or township explicitly passes an ordinance authorizing them on streets with speed limits of 35 mph or under. Drivers must also have their vehicles inspected, titled, and registered, and the local government must notify the state. State lawmakers also included an exception for park employees and volunteers to use utility vehicles within park boundaries. The 2025 law also addresses another growing trend, motor-driven scooters and small cycles. These are now restricted from operating on roads where the speed limit exceeds 45 mph, although crossing those roads at intersections is still allowed. The 2025 version still allows local governments to create stricter ordinances, resolutions, or regulations for operating a low-speed vehicle, a mini-truck, a motor-driven cycle, or a motor scooter. Many central municipalities have detailed online guidelines that operators should follow. 4511.214-6-30-2025Download Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Is it legal to drive barefoot in Ohio? What to know before getting behind the wheel
After a long day outside in the muggy Ohio summer heat, people may decide to drive barefoot. But is it legal? The answer, at least when it comes to the law? Yes, free those feet! Drivers can legally drive barefoot in Ohio, as there is no Ohio Revised Code statute about it, said Sgt. Brice Nihiser, a public information officer with the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Beyond Ohio, driving barefoot is also legal in all 50 states, according to a USA TODAY report. But just because it's legal doesn't mean it's the safest choice, Nihiser said. "At the end of the day, your connection with the pedals and the other controls in the vehicle is what is guiding you down the road," he said. "What we would recommend is just wearing the appropriate footwear, the appropriate garments to make sure you're doing that safely." That appropriate footwear would preferably be closed-toe shoes, he said. Nihiser said drivers should think about the kind of footwear they'd want to have on in case their caught in inclement weather, mud or some other hazardous condition. "We're always going to recommend something that can obviously deal with those conditions," he said. But at the end of the day, it's up to the individual driver's choice whether to drive in closed-toe shoes, flip-flops, their socks or barefoot, he said. Can motorcyclists ride barefoot? Motorcyclists are also not required to wear shoes, but Nihiser said the patrol recommends riders wear whatever gear they feel necessary to stay safe, including close-toed shoes, additional padding like jackets and helmets, which are proven to prevent injury and death. "You're not necessarily dressing for the ride. You're dressing in the event that something goes wrong," he said. "At the end of the day, if you're involved in a crash on a motorcycle, you're less protected than you are in a vehicle, so taking the appropriate steps to ensure you have abrasion resistance, close-toed shoes and wearing a helmet is always going to make you safer than if you don't have those items." Eastern Columbus suburbs reporter Maria DeVito can be reached at mdevito@ and @ on Bluesky and @MariaDeVito13 on X. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Driving laws in Ohio: Can you drive barefoot? What to know Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How a typo could mean Ohio's state tree isn't the buckeye
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Officially, Ohio's state tree may not exist. In 1953, the 100th General Assembly decreed that 'the tree, Aesculus globra, commonly known as the 'Buckeye' is hereby adopted as the official tree of the state.' Unfortunately for Ohio, the buckeye is the Aesculus glabra; the Aesculus globra does not exist. The 'globra' spelling is repeated throughout many official legislative sources, including the current online version of the Ohio Revised Code. Ohio Senate Democrats Communications Director Casey Rife shared a photo of a Senate hard copy of the code, which reads 'Aesculus globra [glabra],' but the clarifying text is not repeated online. Rife said she did not know why the online version doesn't offer both spellings. 40+ cars in Columbus for car show broken into The Ohio Legislative Service Commission is tasked with approving and digitizing the Ohio Revised Code. Wendy Zhan, director of the Ohio Legislative Service Commission, said the error is likely a typo, but they are still looking into it. The genus Aesculus refers to nut-bearing trees and shrubs. Glabra is a Latin term that means 'smooth' or 'hairless,' referring to the buckeye's smooth stems and leaves. Globra is not a Latin word and does not exist. Theoretically, it could combine 'glabra' with the Latin 'globus,' meaning round, to describe a smooth sphere like the buckeye. However, it would seemingly be the only use of that Latin combination and is still not the scientific term for the nut. Rife said the error could be fixed by legislators, probably through a technical amendment rather than a bill. However, as both spellings are in the physical copy, she said a change in the official spelling may not fix the issue. The buckeye officially became the state tree in 1953, but its connection to the state predates Ohio itself. The term comes from the Indigenous term 'Hetuck,' referring to the eye of a male deer — a buck's eye — which Indigenous Ohioans felt resembled the nut. Accounts from early Marietta residents claim Indigenous Ohioans also referred to central Ohio settler Colonel Ebeneezer Sproat as 'Hetuck' in 1788 because he was tall and confident like a big buckeye tree. According to a 1968 account by the Ohio Historical Society, the term evolved from a favorable title to a derogatory term for people living in Ohio, similar to 'hick' or 'hillbilly.' Many Ohioans disliked the title until Cincinnati herbologist and doctor Daniel Drake threw a Christmas 'Buckeye Dinner' in 1833. The Ohio Historical Society said Drake only invited people born in Ohio, only drank Ohio wine and gave an impassioned speech about the buckeye for his dinner guests. Central Ohio organization on edge after 'big, beautiful bill' passes '(It) is the only tree of our whole forest that does not grow elsewhere,' Drake said, according to copies of his speech published around Ohio. 'What other tree could be so fit an emblem of our native population?' Ohioans were quick to embrace the buckeye, and with William Henry Harrison's 1840 presidential campaign, the rest of the U.S. adopted it as a term for Ohioans, too. Harrison, Ohio's first president, embraced the term to appear relatable to voters. According to the Ohio Historical Society, Harrison even built log cabins out of buckeye wood and carted them by ox from town to town as a portable campaign headquarters. Ohio State University sports teams became 'the Buckeyes' in 1950, three years before Ohio selected its state tree. Rife and other General Assembly spokespeople said they've passed along the discrepancy to legislators, and the Ohio Legislative Service Commission continues its 'globra' or 'glabra' investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Is driving slow in left lane illegal in Ohio? Here's what the law says
We've all been there: late to work, foot on the gas, and up ahead, a left-lane lingerer coasting five under the speed limit like they're on a scenic tour of Interstate 270. Nothing brings drivers together quite like shared rage at some slowpoke who just won't leave the left lane. For Ohioans, not only are they infuriating, but they could also be breaking the law. Much to the chagrin of those Ohioan loiterers, the left lane on multi-lane roads like the I-270 outerbelt can — for the most part — only be used for passing, according to Ohio Revised Code § 4511.25 Exceptions apply if you're avoiding an obstruction, preparing to turn left, or if you need to be in the left lane to follow your planned route. Ohio also has a "slow speed" law, per Ohio Revised Code § 4511.22, which prohibits driving at "an unreasonably slow speed" that affects normal traffic flow, unless it is necessary for safety or compliance with the law. A first-time violation of either law is a minor misdemeanor. Repeat offenders are susceptible to steeper penalties, like fourth- or third-degree misdemeanors. No, you are not legally allowed to exceed the posted speed limit, even in the left lane passing a slower vehicle. Dozens of other states have similar laws that require slower drivers to stay out of the left lane. Though all 50 states have some form of "Keep Right" law, what they actually mandate differs from state to state. Michigan's law is somewhat similar to Ohio's, encouraging right-lane travel except when passing or avoiding an obstruction. The penalty for violating this law is slightly more lax, however, with an offender responsible only for a civil infraction. Some states take it a step further than Ohio. Indiana law, for example, says if a driver is being overtaken from behind by another vehicle, they must move out of the left lane. A person who violates this law commits a Class C infraction. Reporter Emma Wozniak can be reached at ewozniak@ or @emma_wozniak_ on X, formerly known as Twitter. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Is driving slow in the left lane illegal in Ohio? Learn the state law
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Some local police departments opt to charge for body camera video in light of new law
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – The Whitehall and Grove City police departments have opted to charge for body camera video in light of a recently implemented law, as multiple other central Ohio agencies consider doing the same. In January, Gov. Mike DeWine signed House Bill 315 into law, which permits government agencies to charge the public and news media the 'estimated cost' of processing videos for public records requests before releasing them. This could include video from body cameras, dash cameras and surveillance footage from jails. Abstinence, patriotism and monogamy all required curriculum under new Ohio bill The statute officially took effect in April, allowing departments to charge up to $75 per hour of video, with fees capped at $750 per request. Before the law went into effect, the Ohio Revised Code allowed agencies to charge for public records, but only nominal fees associated with copying the content onto items such as paper or a flash drive, not labor costs. NBC4 reached out to central Ohio law enforcement agencies, asking if they have changed their public records request policies given the law's implementation. Whitehall has opted to charge the full amount as allowed by the law for body camera video – $75 per hour, or $1.25 per minute, with a cap of $750. The policy states that certain requests by victims or their representatives may be exempt from fees. 'Fees are necessary to cover the costs associated with reviewing, redacting, processing, storing, and distributing public record requests,' the policy states. Site of chemical leak offering compensation, set to reopen The Grove City Police Department has also chosen to charge for police video, with its policy asserting the amount charged will be based on the hourly rates of employees involved in producing the record, but costs will not exceed $75 per hour of footage or $750 overall. For records of certain 'critical incidents,' the police chief may choose to produce the video at no cost to the requester to ensure public transparency, the policy states. The chief of the Blendon Township Police Department, John Belford, said his agency has submitted a draft of a policy to its township attorney for review. Belford said he is recommending the department charge for body camera video, as the footage often requires 'extensive review and redaction.' 'The time that is spent by our administrative staff redacting and producing copies of releasable video has a substantial impact on our staff workload and time management,' he said. The Columbus Division of Police said it has not completed its policy and declined to share if the department plans to charge for video or not. The Hilliard Division of Police stated it is continuing to review the new law. The Pickerington Police Department said it had not yet changed its policy but will consider charging for body camera video under the new law during its budgeting process for 2026, which will likely begin in September. Both the Gahanna and Dublin police departments said they have not made any changes to their policies at this time. Progress made one year since SAFER program launched in Worthington The Delaware County Sheriff's Office stated it is still working on determining its policy. A spokesperson said the department is currently working on a 'significant backlog' of requests, and that it will not charge for those since they were received prior to the new law taking effect. Since the statute says law enforcement agencies may adopt a change to their policy, there is no deadline for them to make a decision, Capital University law professor Susan Gilles previously told NBC4. Multiple departments said they have become overwhelmed with video requests, specifically from people who request body camera content to post online, and that charging will help them manage their records department. DeWine previously stated the intention of the law is to help law enforcement officials cover the administrative costs associated with editing video. Police departments often have to redact the voices or faces of uncharged suspects or victims whose identities are protected under the law. Five-story apartment building nears construction in Franklinton However, the new statute has drawn criticism and concerns about police transparency. Families with loved ones who were killed by police held a news conference shortly after the bill was signed into law. Shawna Barnett, the sister of Andre Hill, who was fatally shot by a former Columbus police officer in 2020, said that the law damages public trust. Gilles also told NBC4 earlier this year that the legislation was not 'well thought through' and would make public records less accessible. DeWine said in a January news release that if the policy has 'unforeseen consequences,' he will work with the legislature to amend the language. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
