ENFORCEMENT AND GENERAL CODE PENALTY

Columbus City Codes tit. 21, ch. 2109

in effect

Columbus City Codes § 2109.01 Failure to comply with order or signal of police officer.

2109.01 - Failure to comply with order or signal of police officer. (A) No person shall fail to comply with any lawful order or direction of any police officer invested with authority to direct, control, or regulate traffic. (B) No person shall operate a motor vehicle so as willfully to elude or flee a police officer after receiving a visible or audible signal from a police officer to bring the person's motor vehicle to a stop. (C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer, a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender previously has been found guilty of an offense under division (B) of this section, division (B) of former section 4511.02 of the Ohio Revised Code, or division (B) of Section 2921.331 of the Ohio Revised Code, or a substantially similar municipal ordinance, then the court shall impose at least thirty (30) mandatory days imprisonment for violation of this section. (D) This section shall not apply if: (1) In committing the offense, the offender was fleeing immediately after the commission of a felony; (2) The operation of the motor vehicle by the offender was a proximate cause of serious physical harm to persons or property; (3) The operation of the motor vehicle by the offender caused a substantial risk of serious physical harm to persons or property, as set forth in Section 2921.331 of the Ohio Revised Code. (E) (1) In addition to any other sanction imposed for a violation of division (A) of this section, the court shall impose a class six suspension from the range specified in division (A)(6) of Section 4510.02 of the Ohio Revised Code. (2) In addition to any other sanction imposed for a violation of division (B) of this section, the court shall impose a class two suspension from the range specified in division (A)(2) of Section 4510.02 of the Ohio Revised Code. If the offender previously has been found guilty of an offense under this section, former Section 4511.02 of the Ohio Revised Code, or Section 2921.331 of the Ohio Revised Code, or a substantially similar municipal ordinance, the court shall impose a class one suspension as described in division (A)(1) of Section 4510.02 of the Ohio Revised Code. The court shall not grant limited driving privileges to the offender. No judge shall suspend the first three years of suspension under a class two suspension of an offender's license, permit, or privilege required by this division on any portion of the suspension under a class one suspension of an offender's license, permit, or privilege required by this division. (F) As used in this section: (1) "Moving violation" has the same meaning as in section 2743.70 of the Ohio Revised Code. (2) "Police officer" has the same meaning as in Section 2101.25. (Ord. 53-90: Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 2109.02 Traffic direction in emergencies—Obedience to school crossing guards.

2109.02 - Traffic direction in emergencies—Obedience to school crossing guards. (a) It shall be the duty of the police department to enforce the provisions of this Traffic Code. Police officers are authorized to direct all traffic, either in person or by means of visible or audible signal in conformance with the provisions of this Traffic Code, provided that in the event of a fire or other emergency or to expedite traffic or safeguard pedestrians, officers of the police or fire departments may direct traffic as conditions may require, notwithstanding the provisions of this Traffic Code. Police officers when directing traffic, either on foot or from any vehicle, shall station themselves wherever necessary to effectively regulate traffic upon the streets. (b) The Director of Public Safety or designated representative is authorized to make temporary regulations because of emergencies, special conditions or special events which temporarily restrict access to certain designated sidewalks and streets or portions thereof, and which provide that the designated restricted area is to be conspicuously posted notifying the public that only authorized persons are permitted in the restricted area. (c) No person shall fail to stop at a marked crosswalk in use by school children under the supervision of a trained crossing guard. As used in this section, "trained crossing guard" is any person trained and certified by a school board of education in accordance with State regulations. (d) Whoever violates division (c) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one (1) predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates division (c) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one (1) year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two (2) or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates division (c) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. (Ord. 1901-89: Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)

Columbus City Codes § 2109.03 Resisting an enforcing official.

2109.03 - Resisting an enforcing official. (a) No person shall resist, hinder, obstruct or abuse any official while such official is attempting to arrest offenders under this Traffic Code. No person shall interfere with any person charged under such sections with the enforcement of the law relative to public streets or highways. (b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. (ORC 4513.36; Ord. 1579-72: Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 2109.04 Road workers, motor vehicles and equipment excepted.

2109.04 - Road workers, motor vehicles and equipment excepted. The provisions of this Traffic Code do not apply to persons, teams, motor vehicles and other equipment while actually engaged in work upon the surface of a street or highway within area designated by traffic control devices, but apply to such persons and vehicles when traveling to or from such work. The drivers of snow plows, traffic line stripers, road sweepers, mowing machines, tar distributing vehicles and other vehicles utilized in snow and ice removal or road surface maintenance, while engaged in work upon a street or highway, provided such vehicles are equipped with flashing lights and such other markings as are required by law, and such lights are in operation when the vehicles are so engaged shall be exempt from criminal prosecution for violations of Sections 2131.01 to 2131.04, inclusive, 2131.06 to 2131.08, inclusive, 2131.31 and 2133.04. Such exemption shall not apply to such drivers when their vehicles are not so engaged. This section shall not exempt a driver of such equipment from civil liability arising from the violation of the sections referred to herein. (ORC 4511.04; Ord. 1579-72.)

Columbus City Codes § 2109.05 Application to persons riding, driving animals upon roadway.

2109.05 - Application to persons riding, driving animals upon roadway. Every person riding, driving or leading an animal upon a roadway shall be subject to the provisions of this Traffic Code applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except those provisions of such sections which by their nature are inapplicable. (ORC 4511.05; Ord. 1579-72.)

Columbus City Codes § 2109.06 Freeway use prohibited by pedestrians, bicycles, mobility device and animals.

2109.06 - Freeway use prohibited by pedestrians, bicycles, mobility device and animals. (a) No person, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall: (1) As a pedestrian, occupy any space within the limits of the right-of-way of a freeway, except: in a rest area, on a facility that is separated from the roadway and shoulders of the freeway and is designed and appropriately marked for pedestrian use, in the performance of public works or official duties, as a result of an emergency caused by an accident or breakdown of a motor vehicle, or to obtain assistance; (2) Except in the performance of public works or official duty, occupy any space within the limits of the right-of-way of a freeway, with an animal-drawn vehicle; a ridden or led animal; herded animals; a pushcart; a bicycle or mobility device, except on a facility that is separated from the roadway and shoulders of the freeway and is designed and appropriately marked for bicycle or mobility device use; a bicycle with motor attached; a motor driven cycle with a motor which produces not to exceed five brake horsepower; an agricultural tractor; or farm machinery; (b) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one (1) year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one (1) predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one (1) year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two (2) or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. (ORC 4511.051; Ord. 787-90: Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2539-2018, § 2, 9-24-2018)

Columbus City Codes § 2109.07 Application to drivers of government vehicles.

2109.07 - Application to drivers of government vehicles. The provisions of this Traffic Code applicable to the drivers of vehicles shall apply to the drivers of all vehicles owned by or used in the service of the United States, any state or any political subdivision thereof, including this City, except as may be otherwise provided by law and subject to such specific exceptions as are set forth with reference to authorized emergency and public safety vehicles. (Ord. 1579-72.)

Columbus City Codes § 2109.08 Placing injurious material or obstruction in street.

2109.08 - Placing injurious material or obstruction in street. (a) No person shall place or knowingly drop upon any part of a street, highway, road, lane, or alley any tacks, bottles, wire, glass, nails, or other articles which may damage or injure any person, vehicle, or animal traveling along or upon such street, highway, road, lane, or alley, except such substances that may be placed upon the roadway by proper authority for the repair or construction thereof. Any person who drops or permits to be dropped or thrown upon any street any noxious, destructive or injurious material shall immediately remove the same. Any person authorized to remove a wrecked or damaged vehicle from a street or highway shall remove any glass or other injurious substance dropped upon the street or highway from such vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley. No person shall place any obstruction in or upon a roadway without proper authority. (b) No person, with intent to cause physical harm to a person or vehicle, shall place or knowingly drop upon any part of a street, highway, road, lane, or alley any tacks, bottles, wire, glass, nails, or other articles which may damage or injure any person, vehicle, or animal traveling car along or upon such street, highway, road, lane, or alley except such substances that may be placed upon the roadway by proper authority for the repair or construction thereof. (c) No person shall recklessly drop or throw any object which may induce an operator of a vehicle on any part of any street, highway, road, lane, or alley to take evasive action to avoid striking such object whether or not such object is actually capable of causing damage or injury. (d) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one (1) year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one (1) predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one (1) year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two (2) or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. (2) Whoever violates division (b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. (3) Whoever violates division (c) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree. (ORC 4511.74; Ord. 1160-84: Ord. 1160-84: Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part).)

Columbus City Codes § 2109.031 Providing false information during issuance of traffic citation.

2109.031 - Providing false information during issuance of traffic citation. (a) No person shall knowingly present, display, or orally communicate a false name, social security number, or date of birth to a law enforcement officer who is in the process of issuing the person a traffic ticket or complaint. (b) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. (ORC 4513.361; Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part).)

Source: City of Columbus, City Codes and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/oh/columbus/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIT21TRCO_CH2109ENGECOPEFetched: 10/27/2026