Signed by Governor Mike DeWine

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that prohibits various forms of stunt driving and enforces stricter penalties from law enforcement for reckless driving in Ohio.

Highlights:

• Requires fees received by the clerk of courts to be paid to the county’s treasury (Sec. 1).

• Requires each law enforcement entity in Ohio to write up policy for motor vehicle pursuits and decide what practices are to be used in these cases (Sec. 1).

• Requires law enforcement to train staff members with the authority to make arrests on pursuit policy for their division (Sec. 1).

• Defines street racing as two vehicles being side by side using their accelerator to outspeed the other vehicle from a start point to an endpoint (Sec. 1).

• Defines stunt driving as a driver doing doughnuts, burnout maneuvers, wheelies, or drifting in the public domain (Sec.1).

• Specifies that stunt driving also includes driving maneuvers where a passenger is fully or partially out of the vehicle (Sec. 1).

• Defines street takeover as vehicles blocking regular flows of traffic on public roads for street racing and stunt driving (Sec. 1).

• Requires a first-degree misdemeanor charge to be administered for anyone participating in street racing, stunt driving, or street takeovers (Sec. 1).

• Requires anyone operating a motor vehicle or other mode of transportation to be charged with aggravated vehicular homicide if an individual's death is caused as a result of reckless driving (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this also applies in the instance that the individual who dies happens to be pregnant and the pregnancy is terminated as a result of death (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits aggravated vehicular homicide from being charged when the crime is committed in a construction zone with the appropriate signage (Sec.1)

• Defines motor vehicles, mini trucks, and utility trucks as having the same meanings in the amended codes (Sec. 1).

• Requires individuals who fail to comply with the direction of a police officer to be charged with a misdemeanor in the first degree (Sec. 1).

• Requires individuals behind the wheel who do not comply with visible hand signals from an officer to be charged with a felony in the fourth degree (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits the court from imposing more than one added prison term to the initial charge and sentence given to the individual (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the director of public safety to use a third-party agency to administer road skills tests on designated routes and determine whether the individual passed or failed (Sec. 1).

• Requires vehicle owners in Ohio to provide proof of financial responsibility to ensure they comply with vehicle standards (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that if proof is not given, whether the person receives a traffic violation or not, they can have their vehicle impounded and the license plates suspended until proof is given or after 15 days (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits street racing, street takeovers, and stunt driving, with these violations being 6 points on an individual's record (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes an increase in the severity of penalties for other driving violations related to speeding, driving under the influence, and driving a vehicle without the consent of the original owner (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that prohibits various forms of stunt driving and enforces stricter penalties from law enforcement for reckless driving in Ohio.

Highlights:

• Requires fees received by the clerk of courts to be paid to the county’s treasury (Sec. 1).

• Requires each law enforcement entity in Ohio to write up policy for motor vehicle pursuits and decide what practices are to be used in these cases (Sec. 1).

• Requires law enforcement to train staff members with the authority to make arrests on pursuit policy for their division (Sec. 1).

• Defines street racing as two vehicles being side by side using their accelerator to outspeed the other vehicle from a start point to an endpoint (Sec. 1).

• Defines stunt driving as a driver doing doughnuts, burnout maneuvers, wheelies, or drifting in the public domain (Sec.1).

• Specifies that stunt driving also includes driving maneuvers where a passenger is fully or partially out of the vehicle (Sec. 1).

• Defines street takeover as vehicles blocking regular flows of traffic on public roads for street racing and stunt driving (Sec. 1).

• Requires a first-degree misdemeanor charge to be administered for anyone participating in street racing, stunt driving, or street takeovers (Sec. 1).

• Requires anyone operating a motor vehicle or other mode of transportation to be charged with aggravated vehicular homicide if an individual's death is caused as a result of reckless driving (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that this also applies in the instance that the individual who dies happens to be pregnant and the pregnancy is terminated as a result of death (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits aggravated vehicular homicide from being charged when the crime is committed in a construction zone with the appropriate signage (Sec.1)

• Defines motor vehicles, mini trucks, and utility trucks as having the same meanings in the amended codes (Sec. 1).

• Requires individuals who fail to comply with the direction of a police officer to be charged with a misdemeanor in the first degree (Sec. 1).

• Requires individuals behind the wheel who do not comply with visible hand signals from an officer to be charged with a felony in the fourth degree (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits the court from imposing more than one added prison term to the initial charge and sentence given to the individual (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes the director of public safety to use a third-party agency to administer road skills tests on designated routes and determine whether the individual passed or failed (Sec. 1).

• Requires vehicle owners in Ohio to provide proof of financial responsibility to ensure they comply with vehicle standards (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that if proof is not given, whether the person receives a traffic violation or not, they can have their vehicle impounded and the license plates suspended until proof is given or after 15 days (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits street racing, street takeovers, and stunt driving, with these violations being 6 points on an individual's record (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes an increase in the severity of penalties for other driving violations related to speeding, driving under the influence, and driving a vehicle without the consent of the original owner (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text