Section 2917.14 | Unlawfully impeding public passage of an emergency service responder.
(A) No person, without privilege to do so, shall recklessly obstruct any highway, street, sidewalk, or any other public passage in such a manner as to render the highway, street, sidewalk, or passage impassable without unreasonable inconvenience or hazard if both of the following apply:
(1) The obstruction prevents an emergency vehicle from accessing a highway or street, prevents an emergency service responder from responding to an emergency, or prevents an emergency vehicle or an emergency service responder from having access to an exit from an emergency.
(2) Upon receipt of a request or order from an emergency service responder to remove or cease the obstruction, the person refuses to remove or cease the obstruction.
(B) Division (A) of this section does not limit or affect the application of section 2921.31 of the Revised Code or any other section of the Revised Code. Any conduct that is a violation of division (A) of this section and that also is a violation of section 2921.31 of the Revised Code or any other section of the Revised Code may be prosecuted under this section, the other section, or both sections.
(C) Whoever violates this section is guilty of unlawfully impeding public passage of an emergency service responder, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(D) As used in this section, "emergency service responder" has the same meaning as in section 2921.01 of the Revised Code.
Last updated February 27, 2023 at 10:55 AM
Available Versions of this Section
- April 4, 2023 – Enacted by Senate Bill 16 - 134th General Assembly [ View April 4, 2023 Version ]
- October 3, 2023 – Amended by House Bill 33 - 135th General Assembly [ View October 3, 2023 Version ]