Police

This is one of many Law Enforcement Memorial sites. This particular site is dedicated to officers who have fallen in the line of duty.

The purpose of the outing is to raise funds and award scholarships to children of Mahoning Valley police officers to attend Youngstown State University.

The mission of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund is to generate increased public support for the law enforcement profession by permanently recording and appropriately commemorating the service and sacrifice of law enforcement officers; and to provide information that will help promote law enforcement safety.

The State of Ohio ranks fifth in our Nation for the amount of Officers killed in the line of duty.

Crime Stoppers offer cash rewards of up to $2,000 to anyone furnishing anonymous information that leads to the arrest of criminals, including those committing serious felony crimes, and fugitives. Information comes through anonymous tips that are received through a secure tips line or through a secure web connection manned by a professional program coordinator. Each caller is assigned a code number for the purpose of insuring anonymity.

Yes, in Ohio it is illegal to drive any motor vehicle without insurance or other financial responsibility proof (FR Proof). It is also illegal for any motor vehicle owner to allow anyone else to drive the owner's vehicle without FR Proof.

Ohio Law states that no person shall operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse or both. The state of Ohio has set a per se level of 0.08 BAC (blood-alcohol content) as the presumptive level at which an adult is considered to be an impaired driver of a passenger car. However, being under the presumptive 0.08BAC level does not mean you are not impaired and , depending upon roadside sobriety checks, you may be charged with DUI with a BAC which measures below 0.08.

In other words, the presumptive BAC level is the level at which you are automatically considered to be “legally” impaired – it does not mean that you are not illegal if you are not at the 0.08 BAC level. As such, there is no absolute “legal limit” except “zero.”

Other presumptive BAC levels in Ohio are: .04 BAC for commercial vehicle drivers and .02 BAC for drivers under the age of 21.

To obtain a driver’s license in Mahoning County you must contact the Highway Patrol Station located at 490 South Broad Street in Canfield, phone 330.702.0948. All licensing is conducted through Ohio's Deputy Registrar locations. To renew a driver’s license you can go to any of the area registrar locations listed here:

YOUNGSTOWN

• 3623 Market Street, Southside Merchants, 330.783.3223
  Monday 8:00-6:30, Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri 8:00-5:30, Saturday 8:00-1:00
• 667 Gypsy Lane, Northside Merchants, 330.746.4621
  Monday 8:00-7:00, Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri 8:00-5:00, Saturday 8:00-12:00
• 2950 Mahoning Avenue, Westside Merchants, 330.799.9747
  Monday 8:00-6:30, Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri 8:00-5:00, Saturday 8:00-1:00

BOARDMAN

• 229 Boardman-Canfield Road, 330.758.1988
  Monday 8:00-6:30, Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri 8:00-5:00, Saturday 8:00-12:00

STRUTHERS

• 1020 Fifth Street, 330.750.1001
  Monday 8:00-6:30, Tue/Wed/Thu/Fri 8:00-5:00, Saturday 8:00-12:00

Information about your driver license, suspension, and reinstatement can be obtained by calling the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles' telephone information center at 614.752.7500.

The teen driving law allows teen driver to get temporary licensing at age 15 1/2. During this temporary permit period, the teen driver law mandates 50 hours of actual driving experience with a licensed parent, guardian, or certified driving instructor.

There is no reliable means to predict how many alcoholic beverages an individual can consume before becoming impaired.

In past years, various entities have published charts which outline the blood-alcohol content (BAC) you will attain if you weigh X pounds and consume X drinks. However, these charts only consider two variables – number of drinks and body weight. Actually, there are many more variables which must be considered, so a generalized estimate as to level of intoxication or potential BAC would be very unreliable.

When a trooper observes a suspected impaired driver, s/he will stop the car for observed traffic offenses and make personal contact with the driver. If the officer detects possible impairment once contacting the driver, divided-attention sobriety tests will be conducted. Among these are:

• the finger-to-nose touch;
• the heel-toe walk;
• the one-leg stand;
• and the "Gaze Test" which traces involuntary eye movements.

In addition, the trooper will observe how well the driver can understand and respond to questions and follow instructions.

If, after conducting these tests, the officer detects impairment, an arrest is made and the suspect is taken into custody for a formal BAC test.

Administrative license suspension for a refusal of the BAC test will last from one to five years, depending on the number of prior refusals. For a failure, the administrative license suspension will last from 90 days to three years, depending on the number of prior drunk driving convictions.

Those convicted of the offense are subject to the mandatory penalties of time in jail, a court-imposed driver license suspension, and a minimum of $200 to a maximum of $10,000 fine. Penalties are based upon the number of previous DUI convictions over a five-year period.

• FIRST OFFENSE – at least 72 consecutive hours in jail, court license suspension from six months to three years.
• SECOND OFFENSE – at least 10 consecutive days in jail, court license suspension from one to five years.
• THIRD OFFENSE – at least 30 consecutive days in jail, court license suspension from one to ten years.
• FOURTH OFFENSE – at least 60 consecutive days in jail, court license suspension from three years to permanent revocation. All offenders must pay a $250 reinstatement fee for ALS.

To regain a suspended license, all DUI offenders must pay a $250 reinstatement fee and show proof of a policy for liability insurance or bond. Repeat offenders will be required to file proof of liability coverage and maintain that coverage for three years.

Third and fourth time impaired driving offenders are also subject to having their vehicle immobilized or forfeited. A vehicle owner who knowingly allows someone whose license is suspended to operate their vehicle may also be subject to these penalties.

Motorists who are convicted of vehicular homicide or aggravated vehicular homicide and are judged to have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of the offense will, in addition to other penalties, suffer permanent loss of driving privileges.

Yes. Failure to display a front license plate on an Ohio-registered car is a registration violation.

Yes. Carrying a concealed handgun is a privilege in Ohio, and with this privilege comes a responsibility to be aware, not only of the common sense rules of safe firearm handling, but the laws that affect how, when and where you can carry your firearm, and how to properly use the handgun to defend yourself or another person. For more information on the new CCW law, which went into effect on April 8, 2004, please visit the Ohio Attorney General's Website.

A motor vehicle inspection is a very brief check. The inspector checks to assure all lights, signals, and safety equipment is installed and in working order. Some of these items include: Turn signals, stop lights, head lights, horn, safety belts, emergency brake, and mirrors. In addition, equipment violations such as missing bumpers, cracked windshields, and poor tires will result in failing an inspection.

Yes, there is a search-based, electronic version of the Ohio Revised Code at LAW Writer® Ohio Laws and Rules.

The term Road Rage was created in the popular media to describe emotion-based reckless, aggressive, and intimidating driving. There is no specific offense in Ohio Law entitled "Road Rage," but the actions which are labeled "Road Rage" are specific offenses. Among these are: menacing; reckless operation, impeding, and assault, to name a few.

There are several strategies you can use to minimize the potential dangers of Road Rage, including:

• Do not react to provocation;
• Stay way from erratic drivers;
• Avoid eye contact with aggressive drivers;
• Use your horn sparingly;
• Do not make obscene gestures;
• Do not switch lanes without signaling;
• Do not tailgate;
• Do not block the passing lane;
• When parking, do not take more than one parking space;
• Be polite and courteous even if other drivers are not; and
• Avoid all conflict, and allow plenty of time for your trip.

Sobriety checkpoints are designed to be a deterrent, not a trap. The Supreme Court has ruled that before conducting a sobriety checkpoint, several criteria must be met. First, the location of the checkpoint must have a historically high rate of alcohol-related crashes. Second, the agency must follow specific guideline for notification that the checkpoint is to be conducted. Also, if traffic is too heavy to stop each car passing through the checkpoint, cars must be stopped according to a predetermined formula (i.e.: every other car, every fourth car, etc.).

Prior to obtaining a title, the vehicle must be inspected by the Ohio State Highway Patrol. These inspections are conducted at selected locations throughout the state. Call your local Patrol post to determine the best inspection site for you.

To find information regarding titles, license, donor registry and more, visit the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle website.

In the Mahoning County, there are two title offices located at the addresses below:

• The Youngstown branch office is located at 2801 Market Street – Phone: 330.740.2111 or FAX 330.782.6295 and hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.
• The Sebring branch office is located at 605 East Ohio Avenue – Phone: 330.938.9873 or FAX 330.938. 6518 and hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Lights must not rotate, oscillate, or flash, but state law does not prohibit the use of colored neon lights under your car as long as they do not interfere or blind other drivers.

Ohio Revised Code, section 4513.17 prohibits flashing lights on motor vehicles with the exception of emergency vehicles, turn signals, and hazard flashers.

As long as the neon lights are less than 300 candle power they are not in violation of any State law. If the lights are more than 300 candle power they must be directed to strike the pavement the vehicle sets upon at a distance of no more than 75 feet. The lights can not exceed 500 candle power. Colored lights, such as neon lights around a license plate, could be illegal if the light illuminates the plate and changes the colors of the plate. State law requires a white light to illuminate the rear license plate.

On Ohio registered vehicles, window tint must allow 50 percent light transmittance on the rear and side windows, and 70 percent transmittance on the windshield. In other words, the tint can not be darker than 50 percent on the side and back, and 30 percent on the windshield.

Light transmittance of 50 percent does not apply on the windows behind the driver if there are outside left and right side mirrors. Remember, auto glass is slightly tinted from the factory and will make the tint you apply to your windows darker than advertised by the tint manufacturer.

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles for Ohio has a detailed summary of the law on their Web site – click here to go to BMV's website.