Ohio Code 4549.021 – Stopping after accident on other than public roads or highways
(A)(1) In the case of a motor vehicle accident or collision resulting in injury or damage to persons or property on any public or private property other than a public road or highway, the operator of the motor vehicle, having knowledge of the accident or collision, shall stop at the scene of the accident or collision. Upon request of any person who is injured or damaged, or any other person, the operator shall give that person the operator’s name and address, and, if the operator is not the owner, the name and address of the owner of that motor vehicle, together with the registered number of that motor vehicle, and, if available, exhibit the operator’s driver’s or commercial driver’s license.
Attorney's Note
Under the Ohio Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Felony of the second degree | 2 years or more | up to $15,000 |
| Felony of the third degree | 9 months to 5 years | up to $10,000 |
| Felony of the fourth degree | 6 to 18 months | up to $5,000 |
| Felony of the fifth degree | 6 to 12 months | up to $2,500 |
| Misdemeanor of the first degree | up to 180 days | up to $1,000 |
Terms Used In Ohio Code 4549.021
- in writing: includes any representation of words, letters, symbols, or figures; this provision does not affect any law relating to signatures. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Property: means real and personal property. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
- suspension: means the permanent or temporary withdrawal, by action of a court or the bureau of motor vehicles, of a driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege for the period of the suspension or the permanent or temporary withdrawal of the privilege to obtain a license, permit, or privilege of that type for the period of the suspension. See Ohio Code 4510.01
- Whoever: includes all persons, natural and artificial; partners; principals, agents, and employees; and all officials, public or private. See Ohio Code 1.02
(2) If the operator of the motor vehicle involved in the accident or collision does not provide the information specified in division (A)(1) of this section, the operator shall give that information, within twenty-four hours after the accident or collision, to the police department of the city or village in which the accident or collision occurred, or if it occurred outside the corporate limits of a city or village, to the sheriff of the county in which the accident or collision occurred.
(3) If the accident or collision is with an unoccupied or unattended motor vehicle, the operator who collides with the motor vehicle shall securely attach the information required under division (A)(1) of this section, in writing, to a conspicuous place in or on the unoccupied or unattended motor vehicle.
(B)(1) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of failure to stop after a nonpublic road accident. Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2) or (3) of this section, failure to stop after a nonpublic road accident is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(2) If the accident or collision results in serious physical harm to a person, failure to stop after a nonpublic road accident is whichever of the following is applicable:
(a) Except as otherwise provided in division (B)(2)(b) of this section, a felony of the fifth degree;
(b) If the offender knew that the accident or collision resulted in serious physical harm to a person, a felony of the fourth degree.
(3) If the accident or collision results in the death of a person, failure to stop after a nonpublic road accident is whichever of the following is applicable:
(a) Except as provided in division (B)(3)(b) of this section, a felony of the third degree;
(b) If the offender knew that the accident or collision resulted in the death of a person, a felony of the second degree.
(4) In all cases, the court, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, shall impose upon the offender a class five suspension of the offender’s driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(5) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code. No judge shall suspend the first six months of suspension of an offender’s license, permit, or privilege required by this division.
The offender shall provide the court with proof of financial responsibility as defined in section 4509.01 of the Revised Code. If the offender fails to provide that proof of financial responsibility, then, in addition to any other penalties provided by law, the court may order restitution pursuant to section 2929.18 or 2929.28 of the Revised Code in an amount not exceeding five thousand dollars for any economic loss arising from an accident or collision that was the direct and proximate result of the offender’s operation of the motor vehicle before, during, or after committing the offense charged under this section.