§ 2331.09 — Access and/or disclosure of financial information

2331.09 - Access and/or disclosure of financial information.

(A) No employee of the city of Columbus or a law enforcement officer assigned to the Columbus division of police, shall purposely request or receive financial information from a financial institution without the consent of the account holder, a search warrant, subpoena, or other process specifically authorized by federal, state or local law. Employees of the city of Columbus and law enforcement officers assigned to the division of police will maintain a record of such transactions with financial institutions. (B) No employee of a financial institution shall purposely disclose financial information to an employee of the city of Columbus or a law enforcement officer assigned to the Columbus division of police unless pursuant to the consent of the account holder, search warrant, subpoena, or other process specifically authorized by federal, state or local law. (C) As used in this section: (1) "Financial information" means charges, deposits, withdrawals or balances of an account of any person or business entity in a bank, savings and loan or credit union. (2) "Financial institution" means a bank, savings and loan, or credit union. (D) This section does not apply when: (1) The financial institution or their account holder is, or may be, the victim of a crime or theft offense and the disclosure of financial information is necessary to investigate that crime or theft offense. (2) The request or release of financial information concerning the existence of an amount of the lien on any property which has been impounded and/or which is subject to state or federal forfeiture laws. (E) Whoever violates this section is guilty of prohibited access and/or disclosure of financial information, a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(Ord. 2535-94; Ord. 1865-2008 § 2 (part).)