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Ohio Cell Phone Laws
Ohio - 2010 Text Messaging Bill Passes House
March 24th, 2010
Ohio House Bill 415 - House Bill 415 has passed in the Ohio House.
If the bill were to become law, it would create the offense of text messaging while driving and drivers would be banned from reading, writing and sending of text messages while driving.
Text messaging while driving would become a primary offense subject to a $150 (maximum) fine.
The bill now moves on to the Senate for further consideration.
To read the bill please click on the link above.
Current Ohio Legislation
The bills listed below have not been passed into law (January 2010) and may fail or undergo amendment.
Would Prohibits person who is less than 17 years of age from talking or text messaging on a mobile communication device while driving.
Prohibits driving a vehicle while text messaging or typing on a mobile communication device, establishes the violation as a secondary traffic offense.
Prohibits driving a vehicle while text messaging or typing on a mobile communication device, establishes the violation as a secondary traffic offense.
Prohibits driving a vehicle while talking, text messaging, or typing on a mobile communication device, establishes the violation as a secondary traffic offense.
Prohibits driving a vehicle while text messaging or typing on a mobile communication device.
Ohio Driving Laws and Cell-Phone Legislation
The State of Ohio does not have a statewide cell-phone or hands-free driving law. However, Ohio does allow localities to create their own laws regarding driving and cell-phone use.
Three localities in the State of Ohio have created their own laws dealing with cellular phone use and driving. Brooklyn, North Olmstead and Walton Hills Ohio all have specific ordinances in place that make it illegal to talk on a cell-phone while driving.
In Brooklyn, Ohio you can be fined from $35-$100 for violating their cell-phone ordinance .
The Brooklyn law stipulates that you cannot use a mobile telephone unless the driver maintains both hands on the steering wheel.
This driving law implies that hands-free devices such as a bluetooth headset or wired headset could be used while driving.
More on the Brooklyn, Ohio driving law can be found on the State of Ohio's ordinance website located at:
Cleveland Ohio Text Messaging Ban
The City of Cleveland voted in a text messaging ban in April of 2009. When the new law goes into effect a first time offender will receive a $100 fine. The second offense will be $250 and any offense after that will cost $500.
In North Olmstead Ohio you can be fined up to $75 for violating their cellular phone ordinance. Unlike the Brooklyn, Ohio law the North Olmstead cell-phone law does not have an allowance for hands-free devices. The law does allow for emergency calls and using a cell-phone if the vehicle is in the "Park" position.
More on the North Olmstead Ohio driving law can be found on the following government website:
North Olmstead Ohio Cell-Phone Law
In Walton Hills Ohio you can be fined up to $100 for using a cellular phone while driving. I was unable to locate the legislation on the Walton Hills driving law, and do not have specifics on the possible allowance of hands-free devices. I will post more on this when I can contact their ordinance website.
