130th Ohio General Assembly
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H. B. No. 415  As Introduced
As Introduced

128th General Assembly
Regular Session
2009-2010
H. B. No. 415


Representatives DeBose, Garland 

Cosponsors: Representatives Ujvagi, Domenick, Williams, B., Pillich, Celeste, Boyd 



A BILL
To enact section 4511.204 of the Revised Code to prohibit driving a vehicle while text messaging on a mobile communication device.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 4511.204 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 4511.204.  (A) No person shall drive a motor vehicle, trackless trolley, or streetcar on any street, highway, or property open to the public for vehicular traffic while text messaging on a mobile communication device.
(B) Division (A) of this section does not apply to any of the following:
(1) A person using a mobile communication device in that manner for emergency purposes, including an emergency contact with a law enforcement agency, hospital or health care provider, fire department, or other similar emergency agency or entity;
(2) A person operating a public safety vehicle who uses a mobile communication device in that manner in the course of the person's duties;
(3) A person using a mobile communication device in that manner whose motor vehicle is in a stationary position, with the transmission in the park or neutral setting or with the engine or power to the motor off, and who is outside a lane of travel.
(C) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(D) As used in this section:
(1) "Mobile communication device" includes any of the following:
(a) A wireless telephone;
(b) A text-messaging device;
(c) A personal digital assistant;
(d) A computer;
(e) Any other substantially similar wireless device that is designed or used to communicate text or data.
(2) "Text messaging" means manually using a mobile communication device to write or send a text-based communication.
Section 2.  For the six-month period commencing on the effective date of this act, no law enforcement officer shall issue to the operator of any motor vehicle being operated upon a street or highway within this state a ticket, citation, or summons for a violation of division (A) of section 4511.204 of the Revised Code, or cause the arrest of or commence a prosecution of a person for a violation of that division. Instead, during that period of time the law enforcement officer shall issue to such an operator a written warning, informing the operator of the existence of division (A) of section 4511.204 of the Revised Code and that after the date that is six months after the effective date of this act, a law enforcement officer who observes that the operator of a motor vehicle has committed or is committing a violation of division (A) of section 4511.204 of the Revised Code will be authorized to issue a ticket, citation, or summons to that operator for that violation or to cause the arrest of or commence a prosecution of such an operator for a violation of that division.
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