Ohio 2025-2026 Regular Session

Ohio House Bill HB111 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version

                            As Introduced
136th General Assembly
Regular Session	H. B. No. 111
2025-2026
Representatives Miller, K., Creech
Cosponsors: Representatives Brennan, Deeter, Hiner, Bird
A B I L L
To amend section 4511.21 of the Revised Code to 
impose an additional fine on drivers who exceed 
the speed limit by 30 miles per hour.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That section 4511.21 of the Revised Code be 
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 4511.21. (A) No person shall operate a motor vehicle, 
trackless trolley, or streetcar at a speed greater or less than 
is reasonable or proper, having due regard to the traffic, 
surface, and width of the street or highway and any other 
conditions, and no person shall drive any motor vehicle, 
trackless trolley, or streetcar in and upon any street or 
highway at a greater speed than will permit the person to bring 
it to a stop within the assured clear distance ahead. 
(B) It is prima-facie lawful, in the absence of a lower 
limit declared or established pursuant to this section by the 
director of transportation or local authorities, for the 
operator of a motor vehicle, trackless trolley, or streetcar to 
operate the same at a speed not exceeding the following: 
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(1)(a) Twenty miles per hour in school zones during school 
recess and while children are going to or leaving school during 
the opening or closing hours, and when twenty miles per hour 
school speed limit signs are erected; except that, on 
controlled-access highways and expressways, if the right-of-way 
line fence has been erected without pedestrian opening, the 
speed shall be governed by division (B)(4) of this section and 
on freeways, if the right-of-way line fence has been erected 
without pedestrian opening, the speed shall be governed by 
divisions (B)(10) and (11) of this section. The end of every 
school zone may be marked by a sign indicating the end of the 
zone. Nothing in this section or in the manual and 
specifications for a uniform system of traffic control devices 
shall be construed to require school zones to be indicated by 
signs equipped with flashing or other lights, or giving other 
special notice of the hours in which the school zone speed limit 
is in effect. 
(b) As used in this section and in section 4511.212 of the 
Revised Code, "school" means all of the following: 
(i) Any school chartered under section 3301.16 of the 
Revised Code; 
(ii) Any nonchartered school that during the preceding 
year filed with the department of education and workforce in 
compliance with rule 3301-35-08 of the Ohio Administrative Code, 
a copy of the school's report for the parents of the school's 
pupils certifying that the school meets Ohio minimum standards 
for nonchartered, nontax-supported schools and presents evidence 
of this filing to the jurisdiction from which it is requesting 
the establishment of a school zone; 
(iii) Any special elementary school that in writing 
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requests the county engineer of the county in which the special 
elementary school is located to create a school zone at the 
location of that school. Upon receipt of such a written request, 
the county engineer shall create a school zone at that location 
by erecting the appropriate signs. 
(iv) Any preschool education program operated by an 
educational service center that is located on a street or 
highway with a speed limit of forty-five miles per hour or more, 
when the educational service center in writing requests that the 
county engineer of the county in which the program is located 
create a school zone at the location of that program. Upon 
receipt of such a written request, the county engineer shall 
create a school zone at that location by erecting the 
appropriate signs. 
(c) As used in this section, "school zone" means that 
portion of a street or highway passing a school fronting upon 
the street or highway that is encompassed by projecting the 
school property lines to the fronting street or highway, and 
also includes that portion of a state highway. Upon request from 
local authorities for streets and highways under their 
jurisdiction and that portion of a state highway under the 
jurisdiction of the director of transportation or a request from 
a county engineer in the case of a school zone for a special 
elementary school, the director may extend the traditional 
school zone boundaries. The distances in divisions (B)(1)(c)(i), 
(ii), and (iii) of this section shall not exceed three hundred 
feet per approach per direction and are bounded by whichever of 
the following distances or combinations thereof the director 
approves as most appropriate: 
(i) The distance encompassed by projecting the school 
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building lines normal to the fronting highway and extending a 
distance of three hundred feet on each approach direction; 
(ii) The distance encompassed by projecting the school 
property lines intersecting the fronting highway and extending a 
distance of three hundred feet on each approach direction; 
(iii) The distance encompassed by the special marking of 
the pavement for a principal school pupil crosswalk plus a 
distance of three hundred feet on each approach direction of the 
highway. 
Nothing in this section shall be construed to invalidate 
the director's initial action on August 9, 1976, establishing 
all school zones at the traditional school zone boundaries 
defined by projecting school property lines, except when those 
boundaries are extended as provided in divisions (B)(1)(a) and 
(c) of this section. 
(d) As used in this division, "crosswalk" has the meaning 
given that term in division (LL)(2) of section 4511.01 of the 
Revised Code. 
The director may, upon request by resolution of the 
legislative authority of a municipal corporation, the board of 
trustees of a township, or a county board of developmental 
disabilities created pursuant to Chapter 5126. of the Revised 
Code, and upon submission by the municipal corporation, 
township, or county board of such engineering, traffic, and 
other information as the director considers necessary, designate 
a school zone on any portion of a state route lying within the 
municipal corporation, lying within the unincorporated territory 
of the township, or lying adjacent to the property of a school 
that is operated by such county board, that includes a crosswalk 
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customarily used by children going to or leaving a school during 
recess and opening and closing hours, whenever the distance, as 
measured in a straight line, from the school property line 
nearest the crosswalk to the nearest point of the crosswalk is 
no more than one thousand three hundred twenty feet. Such a 
school zone shall include the distance encompassed by the 
crosswalk and extending three hundred feet on each approach 
direction of the state route. 
(e) As used in this section, "special elementary school" 
means a school that meets all of the following criteria: 
(i) It is not chartered and does not receive tax revenue 
from any source. 
(ii) It does not educate children beyond the eighth grade. 
(iii) It is located outside the limits of a municipal 
corporation. 
(iv) A majority of the total number of students enrolled 
at the school are not related by blood. 
(v) The principal or other person in charge of the special 
elementary school annually sends a report to the superintendent 
of the school district in which the special elementary school is 
located indicating the total number of students enrolled at the 
school, but otherwise the principal or other person in charge 
does not report any other information or data to the 
superintendent. 
(2) Twenty-five miles per hour in all other portions of a 
municipal corporation, except on state routes outside business 
districts, through highways outside business districts, and 
alleys; 
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(3) Thirty-five miles per hour on all state routes or 
through highways within municipal corporations outside business 
districts, except as provided in divisions (B)(4) and (6) of 
this section; 
(4) Fifty miles per hour on controlled-access highways and 
expressways within municipal corporations, except as provided in 
divisions (B)(12), (13), (14), (15), and (16) of this section; 
(5) Fifty-five miles per hour on highways outside 
municipal corporations, other than highways within island 
jurisdictions as provided in division (B)(8) of this section, 
highways as provided in divisions (B)(9) and (10) of this 
section, and highways, expressways, and freeways as provided in 
divisions (B)(12), (13), (14), and (16) of this section; 
(6) Fifty miles per hour on state routes within municipal 
corporations outside urban districts unless a lower prima-facie 
speed is established as further provided in this section; 
(7) Fifteen miles per hour on all alleys within the 
municipal corporation; 
(8) Thirty-five miles per hour on highways outside 
municipal corporations that are within an island jurisdiction; 
(9) Thirty-five miles per hour on through highways, except 
state routes, that are outside municipal corporations and that 
are within a national park with boundaries extending through two 
or more counties; 
(10) Sixty miles per hour on two-lane state routes outside 
municipal corporations as established by the director under 
division (H)(2) of this section; 
(11) Fifty-five miles per hour on freeways with paved 
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shoulders inside municipal corporations, other than freeways as 
provided in divisions (B)(14) and (16) of this section; 
(12) Sixty miles per hour on rural expressways with 
traffic control signals and on all portions of rural divided 
highways, except as provided in divisions (B)(13) and (14) of 
this section; 
(13) Sixty-five miles per hour on all rural expressways 
without traffic control signals; 
(14) Seventy miles per hour on all rural freeways; 
(15) Fifty-five miles per hour on all portions of freeways 
or expressways in congested areas as determined by the director 
and that are located within a municipal corporation or within an 
interstate freeway outerbelt, except as provided in division (B)
(16) of this section; 
(16) Sixty-five miles per hour on all portions of freeways 
or expressways without traffic control signals in urbanized 
areas. 
(C) It is prima-facie unlawful for any person to exceed 
any of the speed limitations in divisions (B)(1)(a), (2), (3), 
(4), (6), (7), (8), and (9) of this section, or any declared or 
established pursuant to this section by the director or local 
authorities and it is unlawful for any person to exceed any of 
the speed limitations in division (D) of this section. No person 
shall be convicted of more than one violation of this section 
for the same conduct, although violations of more than one 
provision of this section may be charged in the alternative in a 
single affidavit. 
(D) No person shall operate a motor vehicle, trackless 
trolley, or streetcar upon a street or highway as follows: 
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(1) At a speed exceeding fifty-five miles per hour, except 
upon a two-lane state route as provided in division (B)(10) of 
this section and upon a highway, expressway, or freeway as 
provided in divisions (B)(12), (13), (14), and (16) of this 
section; 
(2) At a speed exceeding sixty miles per hour upon a two-
lane state route as provided in division (B)(10) of this section 
and upon a highway as provided in division (B)(12) of this 
section; 
(3) At a speed exceeding sixty-five miles per hour upon an 
expressway as provided in division (B)(13) or upon a freeway as 
provided in division (B)(16) of this section, except upon a 
freeway as provided in division (B)(14) of this section; 
(4) At a speed exceeding seventy miles per hour upon a 
freeway as provided in division (B)(14) of this section; 
(5) At a speed exceeding the posted speed limit upon a 
highway, expressway, or freeway for which the director has 
determined and declared a speed limit pursuant to division (I)
(2) or (L)(2) of this section. 
(E) In every charge of violation of this section the 
affidavit and warrant shall specify the time, place, and speed 
at which the defendant is alleged to have driven, and in charges 
made in reliance upon division (C) of this section also the 
speed which division (B)(1)(a), (2), (3), (4), (6), (7), (8), or 
(9) of, or a limit declared or established pursuant to, this 
section declares is prima-facie lawful at the time and place of 
such alleged violation, except that in affidavits where a person 
is alleged to have driven at a greater speed than will permit 
the person to bring the vehicle to a stop within the assured 
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clear distance ahead the affidavit and warrant need not specify 
the speed at which the defendant is alleged to have driven. 
(F) When a speed in excess of both a prima-facie 
limitation and a limitation in division (D) of this section is 
alleged, the defendant shall be charged in a single affidavit, 
alleging a single act, with a violation indicated of both 
division (B)(1)(a), (2), (3), (4), (6), (7), (8), or (9) of this 
section, or of a limit declared or established pursuant to this 
section by the director or local authorities, and of the 
limitation in division (D) of this section. If the court finds a 
violation of division (B)(1)(a), (2), (3), (4), (6), (7), (8), 
or (9) of, or a limit declared or established pursuant to, this 
section has occurred, it shall enter a judgment of conviction 
under such division and dismiss the charge under division (D) of 
this section. If it finds no violation of division (B)(1)(a), 
(2), (3), (4), (6), (7), (8), or (9) of, or a limit declared or 
established pursuant to, this section, it shall then consider 
whether the evidence supports a conviction under division (D) of 
this section. 
(G) Points shall be assessed for violation of a limitation 
under division (D) of this section in accordance with section 
4510.036 of the Revised Code. 
(H)(1) Whenever the director determines upon the basis of 
criteria established by an engineering study, as defined by the 
director, that any speed limit set forth in divisions (B)(1)(a) 
to (D) of this section is greater or less than is reasonable or 
safe under the conditions found to exist at any portion of a 
street or highway under the jurisdiction of the director, the 
director shall determine and declare a reasonable and safe 
prima-facie speed limit, which shall be effective when 
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appropriate signs giving notice of it are erected at the 
location. 
(2) Whenever the director determines upon the basis of 
criteria established by an engineering study, as defined by the 
director, that the speed limit of fifty-five miles per hour on a 
two-lane state route outside a municipal corporation is less 
than is reasonable or safe under the conditions found to exist 
at that portion of the state route, the director may determine 
and declare a speed limit of sixty miles per hour for that 
portion of the state route, which shall be effective when 
appropriate signs giving notice of it are erected at the 
location. 
(3)(a) For purposes of the safe and orderly movement of 
traffic upon any portion of a street or highway under the 
jurisdiction of the director, the director may establish a 
variable speed limit that is different than the speed limit 
established by or under this section on all or portions of 
interstate six hundred seventy, interstate two hundred seventy-
five, and interstate ninety commencing at the intersection of 
that interstate with interstate seventy-one and continuing to 
the border of the state of Ohio with the state of Pennsylvania. 
The director shall establish criteria for determining the 
appropriate use of variable speed limits and shall establish 
variable speed limits in accordance with the criteria. The 
director may establish variable speed limits based upon the time 
of day, weather conditions, traffic incidents, or other factors 
that affect the safe speed on a street or highway. The director 
shall not establish a variable speed limit that is based on a 
particular type or class of vehicle. A variable speed limit 
established by the director under this section is effective when 
appropriate signs giving notice of the speed limit are displayed 
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at the location. 
(b) Except for variable speed limits established under 
division (H)(3)(a) of this section, the director shall establish 
a variable speed limit under the authority granted to the 
director by this section on not more than two additional 
highways and only pursuant to criteria established in rules 
adopted in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code. The 
rules shall be based on the criteria described in division (H)
(3)(a) of this section. The rules also shall establish the 
parameters of any engineering study necessary for determining 
when variable speed limits are appropriate. 
(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit 
the authority of the director to establish speed limits within a 
construction zone as authorized under section 4511.98 of the 
Revised Code. 
(I)(1) Except as provided in divisions (I)(2), (J), (K), 
and (N) of this section, whenever local authorities determine 
upon the basis of criteria established by an engineering study, 
as defined by the director, that the speed permitted by 
divisions (B)(1)(a) to (D) of this section, on any part of a 
highway under their jurisdiction, is greater than is reasonable 
and safe under the conditions found to exist at such location, 
the local authorities may by resolution request the director to 
determine and declare a reasonable and safe prima-facie speed 
limit. Upon receipt of such request the director may determine 
and declare a reasonable and safe prima-facie speed limit at 
such location, and if the director does so, then such declared 
speed limit shall become effective only when appropriate signs 
giving notice thereof are erected at such location by the local 
authorities. The director may withdraw the declaration of a 
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prima-facie speed limit whenever in the director's opinion the 
altered prima-facie speed limit becomes unreasonable. Upon such 
withdrawal, the declared prima-facie speed limit shall become 
ineffective and the signs relating thereto shall be immediately 
removed by the local authorities. 
(2) A local authority may determine on the basis of 
criteria established by an engineering study, as defined by the 
director, that the speed limit of sixty-five or seventy miles 
per hour on a portion of a freeway under its jurisdiction is 
greater than is reasonable or safe under the conditions found to 
exist at that portion of the freeway. If the local authority 
makes such a determination, the local authority by resolution 
may request the director to determine and declare a reasonable 
and safe speed limit of not less than fifty-five miles per hour 
for that portion of the freeway. If the director takes such 
action, the declared speed limit becomes effective only when 
appropriate signs giving notice of it are erected at such 
location by the local authority. 
(J) Local authorities in their respective jurisdictions 
may authorize by ordinance higher prima-facie speeds than those 
stated in this section upon through highways, or upon highways 
or portions thereof where there are no intersections, or between 
widely spaced intersections, provided signs are erected giving 
notice of the authorized speed, but local authorities shall not 
modify or alter the basic rule set forth in division (A) of this 
section or in any event authorize by ordinance a speed in excess 
of the maximum speed permitted by division (D) of this section 
for the specified type of highway. 
Alteration of prima-facie limits on state routes by local 
authorities shall not be effective until the alteration has been 
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approved by the director. The director may withdraw approval of 
any altered prima-facie speed limits whenever in the director's 
opinion any altered prima-facie speed becomes unreasonable, and 
upon such withdrawal, the altered prima-facie speed shall become 
ineffective and the signs relating thereto shall be immediately 
removed by the local authorities. 
(K)(1) As used in divisions (K)(1), (2), (3), and (4) of 
this section, "unimproved highway" means a highway consisting of 
any of the following: 
(a) Unimproved earth; 
(b) Unimproved graded and drained earth; 
(c) Gravel. 
(2) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (K)(4) and 
(5) of this section, whenever a board of township trustees 
determines upon the basis of criteria established by an 
engineering study, as defined by the director, that the speed 
permitted by division (B)(5) of this section on any part of an 
unimproved highway under its jurisdiction and in the 
unincorporated territory of the township is greater than is 
reasonable or safe under the conditions found to exist at the 
location, the board may by resolution declare a reasonable and 
safe prima-facie speed limit of fifty-five but not less than 
twenty-five miles per hour. An altered speed limit adopted by a 
board of township trustees under this division becomes effective 
when appropriate traffic control devices, as prescribed in 
section 4511.11 of the Revised Code, giving notice thereof are 
erected at the location, which shall be no sooner than sixty 
days after adoption of the resolution. 
(3)(a) Whenever, in the opinion of a board of township 
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trustees, any altered prima-facie speed limit established by the 
board under this division becomes unreasonable, the board may 
adopt a resolution withdrawing the altered prima-facie speed 
limit. Upon the adoption of such a resolution, the altered 
prima-facie speed limit becomes ineffective and the traffic 
control devices relating thereto shall be immediately removed. 
(b) Whenever a highway ceases to be an unimproved highway 
and the board has adopted an altered prima-facie speed limit 
pursuant to division (K)(2) of this section, the board shall, by 
resolution, withdraw the altered prima-facie speed limit as soon 
as the highway ceases to be unimproved. Upon the adoption of 
such a resolution, the altered prima-facie speed limit becomes 
ineffective and the traffic control devices relating thereto 
shall be immediately removed. 
(4)(a) If the boundary of two townships rests on the 
centerline of an unimproved highway in unincorporated territory 
and both townships have jurisdiction over the highway, neither 
of the boards of township trustees of such townships may declare 
an altered prima-facie speed limit pursuant to division (K)(2) 
of this section on the part of the highway under their joint 
jurisdiction unless the boards of township trustees of both of 
the townships determine, upon the basis of criteria established 
by an engineering study, as defined by the director, that the 
speed permitted by division (B)(5) of this section is greater 
than is reasonable or safe under the conditions found to exist 
at the location and both boards agree upon a reasonable and safe 
prima-facie speed limit of less than fifty-five but not less 
than twenty-five miles per hour for that location. If both 
boards so agree, each shall follow the procedure specified in 
division (K)(2) of this section for altering the prima-facie 
speed limit on the highway. Except as otherwise provided in 
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division (K)(4)(b) of this section, no speed limit altered 
pursuant to division (K)(4)(a) of this section may be withdrawn 
unless the boards of township trustees of both townships 
determine that the altered prima-facie speed limit previously 
adopted becomes unreasonable and each board adopts a resolution 
withdrawing the altered prima-facie speed limit pursuant to the 
procedure specified in division (K)(3)(a) of this section. 
(b) Whenever a highway described in division (K)(4)(a) of 
this section ceases to be an unimproved highway and two boards 
of township trustees have adopted an altered prima-facie speed 
limit pursuant to division (K)(4)(a) of this section, both 
boards shall, by resolution, withdraw the altered prima-facie 
speed limit as soon as the highway ceases to be unimproved. Upon 
the adoption of the resolution, the altered prima-facie speed 
limit becomes ineffective and the traffic control devices 
relating thereto shall be immediately removed. 
(5) As used in division (K)(5) of this section: 
(a) "Commercial subdivision" means any platted territory 
outside the limits of a municipal corporation and fronting a 
highway where, for a distance of three hundred feet or more, the 
frontage is improved with buildings in use for commercial 
purposes, or where the entire length of the highway is less than 
three hundred feet long and the frontage is improved with 
buildings in use for commercial purposes. 
(b) "Residential subdivision" means any platted territory 
outside the limits of a municipal corporation and fronting a 
highway, where, for a distance of three hundred feet or more, 
the frontage is improved with residences or residences and 
buildings in use for business, or where the entire length of the 
highway is less than three hundred feet long and the frontage is 
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As Introduced
improved with residences or residences and buildings in use for 
business. 
Whenever a board of township trustees finds upon the basis 
of criteria established by an engineering study, as defined by 
the director, that the prima-facie speed permitted by division 
(B)(5) of this section on any part of a highway under its 
jurisdiction that is located in a commercial or residential 
subdivision, except on highways or portions thereof at the 
entrances to which vehicular traffic from the majority of 
intersecting highways is required to yield the right-of-way to 
vehicles on such highways in obedience to stop or yield signs or 
traffic control signals, is greater than is reasonable and safe 
under the conditions found to exist at the location, the board 
may by resolution declare a reasonable and safe prima-facie 
speed limit of less than fifty-five but not less than twenty-
five miles per hour at the location. An altered speed limit 
adopted by a board of township trustees under this division 
shall become effective when appropriate signs giving notice 
thereof are erected at the location by the township. Whenever, 
in the opinion of a board of township trustees, any altered 
prima-facie speed limit established by it under this division 
becomes unreasonable, it may adopt a resolution withdrawing the 
altered prima-facie speed, and upon such withdrawal, the altered 
prima-facie speed shall become ineffective, and the signs 
relating thereto shall be immediately removed by the township. 
(L)(1) The director of transportation, based upon an 
engineering study, as defined by the director, of a highway, 
expressway, or freeway described in division (B)(12), (13), 
(14), (15), or (16) of this section, in consultation with the 
director of public safety and, if applicable, the local 
authority having jurisdiction over the studied highway, 
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expressway, or freeway, may determine and declare that the speed 
limit established on such highway, expressway, or freeway under 
division (B)(12), (13), (14), (15), or (16) of this section 
either is reasonable and safe or is more or less than that which 
is reasonable and safe. 
(2) If the established speed limit for a highway, 
expressway, or freeway studied pursuant to division (L)(1) of 
this section is determined to be more or less than that which is 
reasonable and safe, the director of transportation, in 
consultation with the director of public safety and, if 
applicable, the local authority having jurisdiction over the 
studied highway, expressway, or freeway, shall determine and 
declare a reasonable and safe speed limit for that highway, 
expressway, or freeway. 
(M)(1)(a) If the boundary of two local authorities rests 
on the centerline of a highway and both authorities have 
jurisdiction over the highway, the speed limit for the part of 
the highway within their joint jurisdiction shall be either one 
of the following as agreed to by both authorities: 
(i) Either prima-facie speed limit permitted by division 
(B) of this section; 
(ii) An altered speed limit determined and posted in 
accordance with this section. 
(b) If the local authorities are unable to reach an 
agreement, the speed limit shall remain as established and 
posted under this section. 
(2) Neither local authority may declare an altered prima-
facie speed limit pursuant to this section on the part of the 
highway under their joint jurisdiction unless both of the local 
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492 H. B. No. 111 Page 18
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authorities determine, upon the basis of criteria established by 
an engineering study, as defined by the director, that the speed 
permitted by this section is greater than is reasonable or safe 
under the conditions found to exist at the location and both 
authorities agree upon a uniform reasonable and safe prima-facie 
speed limit of less than fifty-five but not less than twenty-
five miles per hour for that location. If both authorities so 
agree, each shall follow the procedure specified in this section 
for altering the prima-facie speed limit on the highway, and the 
speed limit for the part of the highway within their joint 
jurisdiction shall be uniformly altered. No altered speed limit 
may be withdrawn unless both local authorities determine that 
the altered prima-facie speed limit previously adopted becomes 
unreasonable and each adopts a resolution withdrawing the 
altered prima-facie speed limit pursuant to the procedure 
specified in this section. 
(N) The legislative authority of a municipal corporation 
or township in which a boarding school is located, by resolution 
or ordinance, may establish a boarding school zone. The 
legislative authority may alter the speed limit on any street or 
highway within the boarding school zone and shall specify the 
hours during which the altered speed limit is in effect. For 
purposes of determining the boundaries of the boarding school 
zone, the altered speed limit within the boarding school zone, 
and the hours the altered speed limit is in effect, the 
legislative authority shall consult with the administration of 
the boarding school and with the county engineer or other 
appropriate engineer, as applicable. A boarding school zone 
speed limit becomes effective only when appropriate signs giving 
notice thereof are erected at the appropriate locations. 
(O) As used in this section: 
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523 H. B. No. 111 Page 19
As Introduced
(1) "Interstate system" has the same meaning as in 23 
U.S.C. 101. 
(2) "Commercial bus" means a motor vehicle designed for 
carrying more than nine passengers and used for the 
transportation of persons for compensation. 
(3) "Noncommercial bus" includes but is not limited to a 
school bus or a motor vehicle operated solely for the 
transportation of persons associated with a charitable or 
nonprofit organization. 
(4) "Outerbelt" means a portion of a freeway that is part 
of the interstate system and is located in the outer vicinity of 
a major municipal corporation or group of municipal 
corporations, as designated by the director. 
(5) "Rural" means an area outside urbanized areas and 
outside of a business or urban district, and areas that extend 
within urbanized areas where the roadway characteristics remain 
mostly unchanged from those outside the urbanized areas. 
(6) "Urbanized area" has the same meaning as in 23 U.S.C. 
101. 
(7) "Divided" means a roadway having two or more travel 
lanes for vehicles moving in opposite directions and that is 
separated by a median of more than four feet, excluding turn 
lanes. 
(P)(1) A violation of any provision of this section is one 
of the following: 
(a) Except as otherwise provided in divisions (P)(1)(b), 
(1)(c), (2), and (3), and (4) of this section, a minor 
misdemeanor; 
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551 H. B. No. 111 Page 20
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(b) If, within one year of the offense, the offender 
previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to two 
violations of any provision of this section or of any provision 
of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to any 
provision of this section, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree; 
(c) If, within one year of the offense, the offender 
previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to three or 
more violations of any provision of this section or of any 
provision of a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar 
to any provision of this section, a misdemeanor of the third 
degree. 
(2) If the offender operated a motor vehicle faster than 
thirty-five miles an hour in a business district of a municipal 
corporation, faster than fifty miles an hour in other portions 
of a municipal corporation, or faster than thirty-five miles an 
hour in a school zone during recess or while children are going 
to or leaving school during the school's opening or closing 
hours, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Division (P)(2) of 
this section does not apply if penalties may be imposed under 
division (P)(1)(b) or (c) of this section. 
(3) Notwithstanding division (P)(1) of this section, if 
the offender operated a motor vehicle in a construction zone 
where a sign was then posted in accordance with section 4511.98 
of the Revised Code, the court, in addition to all other 
penalties provided by law, shall impose upon the offender a fine 
of two times the usual amount imposed for the violation. No 
court shall impose a fine of two times the usual amount imposed 
for the violation upon an offender if the offender alleges, in 
an affidavit filed with the court prior to the offender's 
sentencing, that the offender is indigent and is unable to pay 
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581 H. B. No. 111 Page 21
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the fine imposed pursuant to this division and if the court 
determines that the offender is an indigent person and unable to 
pay the fine. 
(4) Notwithstanding division (P)(1) of this section, if 
the offender operated a motor vehicle at a speed exceeding 
thirty miles per hour over the statutory or posted speed limit, 
the court, in addition to all other penalties provided by law, 
shall impose upon the offender a fine that is two hundred 
dollars more than the usual amount imposed for the violation. No 
court shall impose the additional fine specified in this 
division upon an offender if the offender alleges, in an 
affidavit filed with the court prior to the offender's 
sentencing, that the offender is indigent and unable to pay the 
fine imposed pursuant to this division and if the court 
determines that the offender is an indigent person and unable to 
pay the fine.
(5) If the offender commits the offense while distracted 
and the distracting activity is a contributing factor to the 
commission of the offense, the offender is subject to the 
additional fine established under section 4511.991 of the 
Revised Code.
Section 2. That existing section 4511.21 of the Revised 
Code is hereby repealed.
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