Chapter 4973 | Employees; Police Officers

Section 4973.01 | Relief association prohibited.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No company created under and by virtue of the laws of this state or of any other state or country, having and operating a railroad in this state, shall establish, maintain, or assist in establishing or maintaining a relief association or society, the rules or bylaws of which require a person or employee becoming a member of such association or society to enter into an agreement or stipulation, directly or indirectly, whereby he stipulates or agrees to surrender or waive a right of damages against any railroad company for personal injuries or death, or to surrender or waive any right in case he asserts such claim for damages.

Section 4973.02 | Unlawful for railroad to limit liability as employer.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No railroad company owning and operating, or operating, a railroad shall adopt or promulgate a rule or regulation for the government of its servants or employees, or make or enter into an agreement with a person engaged in or about to engage in its service, in which such employee in any manner promises or agrees to hold such company harmless on account of an injury he may receive by reason of accident to, breakage, defect, or insufficiency in the cars or machinery and attachments thereto belonging on cars owned, operated, or run by such company being defective.

Section 4973.03 | Unlawful for company to compel employee to join any company or association.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No railroad company shall, directly or indirectly, compel or require an employee to join any company or association, withhold any part of an employee's wages or salary for the payment of dues or assessments in any society or organization, or demand or require either as a condition precedent to securing employment or being employed. Such railroad company shall not discharge an employee because he refuses or neglects to become a member of any society or organization. If an employee is discharged, at any time within ten days after receiving a notice of such discharge he may demand the reason of such discharge, and the railroad company thereupon must give the reason to him in writing.

Section 4973.04 | Companies prohibited from demanding or receiving waivers.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No railroad company, insurance society or association, or other person shall demand, accept, or enter into an agreement or stipulation with a person in or about to enter the employ of a railroad company whereby he stipulates or agrees to surrender or waive any right to damages against a railroad company thereafter arising for personal injury or death, or whereby he agrees to surrender or waive, in case he asserts such right, any other right.

Section 4973.05 | Agreements void.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

All rules, regulations, stipulations, and agreements, declared unlawful by sections 4973.02 to 4973.04, inclusive, of the Revised Code, are void. A corporation, association, or person violating, or aiding or abetting the violation of such sections shall forfeit to the person thus wronged or deprived of his rights, not less than fifty nor over five hundred dollars for each offense, to be recovered by a civil action.

Section 4973.06 | Defective machinery prima-facie evidence of negligence.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No railroad company knowingly or negligently shall use or operate a car or locomotive that is defective, or upon which the machinery or attachments belonging to such car or locomotive are in any manner defective. If an employee of such company receives injury by reason of a defect in a car or locomotive, or the machinery or attachments belonging to such car or locomotive, owned and operated or being operated by such company, it shall be deemed to have had knowledge of such defect before and at the time such injury is so sustained. When such defect is made to appear in the trial of any action brought by such employee, or his legal representative, against a railroad company for damages on account of injuries so received, that fact shall be prima-facie evidence of negligence on the part of such company.

Section 4973.07 | Employee definitions.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In actions against a railroad company for personal injury to a person while in its employ, or for death resulting from such injury, arising from the negligence of such company or any of its officers or employees, in addition to other liability, it shall be held that every person in the employ of such company, with actual power or authority to direct or control another employee is not the fellow servant, but superior of such other employee. Every person in the employ of such company who has charge or control of employees in a separate branch or department is to be held to be the superior and not fellow servant of employees in another branch or department who have no power to direct or control in the branch or department in which they are employed.

Section 4973.08 | Presumptive evidence.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Every railroad company operating a railroad in whole or part within this state is liable for all damages sustained by any of its employees by reason of personal injury or death of such employee:

(A) When such injury or death is caused by a defect in any locomotive, engine, car, handcar, rail, track, machinery, or appliance required by such company to be used by its employees in and about the business of their employment, if such defect could have been discovered by reasonable and proper care, tests, or inspection. Proof of such defect shall be presumptive evidence of knowledge of it on the part of such company. An employee of such railroad company who is injured or killed as a result of such a defect shall not be deemed to have assumed the risk occasioned thereby, although continuing in the employment of the company after knowledge of the defect, nor shall continuance in employment after such knowledge by an employee be deemed an act of contributory negligence.

(B) While such employee is engaged in operating, running, riding upon, or switching passenger, freight, or other trains, engines, or cars, and in the performance of his duties, and when such injury was caused by the carelessness or negligence of any other employee, officer, or agent of such company, in the discharge of or for failure to discharge his duties as such.

Section 4973.09 | Slight contributory negligence no bar to recovery.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

In all actions against a railroad company, operating a railroad in whole or part within this state, for personal injury to an employee or where such injuries have resulted in his death, the fact that he was guilty of contributory negligence shall not bar a recovery when such negligence was slight and that of the employer greater in comparison. But the damages must be diminished by the jury in proportion to the amount of negligence attributable to such employee. All questions of negligence and contributory negligence are for the jury.

Section 4973.10 | Engineers addicted to drink not to be employed.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No person or company operating a railroad in whole or in part in this state, directly or by or through a representative, shall knowingly suffer or permit a person to run or in any capacity to operate a railroad locomotive on any part of its railroad in this state who is intoxicated or in the habit of becoming intoxicated, or knowingly continue the employment of a person in such capacity after he becomes or is intoxicated while in charge of such locomotive.

For every violation of this section, the person or company operating such railroad shall forfeit to the state two hundred dollars to be recovered in its name in an action to be prosecuted in any county through which the railroad runs, by the prosecuting attorney of such county, who shall be entitled to twenty-five per cent of the recovery. The balance shall be paid into the county treasury.

Section 4973.11 | Hours of service of certain railroad employees.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No company operating a railroad over thirty miles in length or an interurban railroad or street railway over four miles in length shall permit a conductor, engineer, fireman, brakeman, or trainman on a train, a telegraph operator, or a conductor or motorman on a street railway, who has worked as such for fifteen consecutive hours, again to go on duty or perform work until he has had at least eight hours' rest, except in cases of detention of trains or cars caused by accident, unavoidable or otherwise. Such companies shall so regulate the hours of employment of their employees that each employee shall have at least eight consecutive hours of rest in each period of twenty-four hours.

A railroad company which knowingly violates this section shall forfeit not less than five hundred nor more than one thousand dollars for the first offense, and for any subsequent offense, not less than one thousand nor more than fifteen hundred dollars, to be recovered by civil action in the name of the state.

Section 4973.12 | Seats for conductor and motorman.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No person or company shall operate in this state any electric or street railway car or interurban railroad car unless it is provided at all times during operation with seats for the motorman and conductor.

A violation of this section constitutes a violation of it by the president, general manager, general superintendent, or other officer in charge of operation. An offense on any calendar day and as to any car is a separate and distinct offense from a violation on any other such day.

The prosecuting attorneys of the various counties shall prosecute violations of this section.

Section 4973.13 | Sale of railroad scrap metal.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No officer, agent, or employee of a company operating a railroad, except the superintendent, general managing agent, or a receiver of the company, may sell or dispose of worn or scrap metal, iron, brass, or other metal owned by such company. All sales and barter of such scraps or other metals made by any other officer, agent, or employee are void. No such superintendent, managing agent, or receiver shall sell or dispose of such scrap or other metals in quantities less than one ton, nor without delivering to the purchaser a bill of sale of such metal, a copy of which shall be retained and filed in the office of such superintendent, agent, or receiver.

If a superintendent, managing agent, or receiver of a railroad company sells or disposes of railroad scrap metal in quantities less than one ton, or without delivering a bill of sale of such metal to the purchaser, the company which he represents shall not thereafter be entitled to the benefit of sections 4973.14 and 4973.15 of the Revised Code.

Section 4973.14 | Evidence of title of scrap.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The person, company, or firm to whom is offered for sale, pledge, or trade, worn or used links, pins, journal bearings, or other worn, used, or detached appendages of railroad equipment, or scrap metal of iron, brass, or steel appertaining to such equipment or to a railroad track, before purchasing or dealing in it, shall ascertain whether the ownership thereof is lawfully derived, by bill of sale or otherwise, from a company, or the superintendent, managing agent, or receiver of the company. When the right or title to such article of metal is drawn in question in any suit, the person, company, or firm dealing in such metal, or its assignee, party thereto, must make prime-facie proof of title and ownership so derived.

If it appears, prima facie, from the evidence on the trial that any of the articles or metals in controversy were unlawfully obtained, and mixed or confused with other scrap metal, it shall be deemed a confusion of goods unless the party claiming against the title of the company establishes, prima facie, a lawful title from or through a railroad company to the residue.

Section 4973.15 | Company may replevy scrap.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

By its proper officer or agent, or by the receiver of such company, a railroad company may claim to be the general owner of and replevy any of the metals or articles mentioned in section 4973.14 of the Revised Code, and metals with which they may have been confused, found in the possession of a person, firm, or company, when there is good reason to believe that such metals or articles were unlawfully taken from such company or its receiver. Instead of the usual averment as to ownership in the affidavit for a writ of replevin, it is sufficient for the officer, agent, or receiver of such company to aver that he believes such metals or articles were unlawfully taken from such company or some other company. The person, firm, or company claiming the right or title to such metals or articles in such action, prima facie shall prove a right or title to them, lawfully derived. In the absence of such proof, the company or receiver claiming such metals or articles shall be held to be the general owner of them, but any other company or receiver, upon showing that part of such metals or articles unlawfully were taken from it or him, shall be entitled to such part upon payment of a proper share of the cost and expenses of replevying it.

Section 4973.16 | Liability of company or receiver.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

If a railroad company or its receiver replevies property under section 4973.15 of the Revised Code without reasonable cause to believe that it was unlawfully taken from some company or its receiver, such company or receiver shall be liable to the party entitled to such property in any sum not exceeding double the value of the property so replevied, in addition to such damages as such party sustains thereby.

Section 4973.17 | Commissions for special police officers - term of office - training.

• Effective: October 24, 2024
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 158 - 135th General Assembly

(A)(1) Upon the application of any bank; savings and loan association; savings bank; credit union; or association of banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks, or credit unions in this state, the secretary of state may appoint and commission any persons that the bank; savings and loan association; savings bank; credit union; or association of banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks, or credit unions designates, or as many of those persons as the secretary of state considers proper, to act as police officers for and on the premises of that bank; savings and loan association; savings bank; credit union; or association of banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks, or credit unions; or elsewhere, when directly in the discharge of their duties. Police officers so appointed shall be citizens of this state and of good character. Police officers so appointed who start to perform their duties on or after April 14, 2006, shall successfully complete a training program approved by the Ohio peace officer training commission described in section 109.71 of the Revised Code and be certified by the commission within six months after starting to perform their duties. Police officers so appointed shall hold office for three years, unless, for good cause shown, their commission is revoked by the secretary of state, or by the bank; savings and loan association; savings bank; credit union; or association of banks, savings and loan associations, savings banks, or credit unions, as provided by law.

(2) Persons commissioned as police officers pursuant to division (A) of this section prior to April 14, 2006, who have not successfully completed a training program approved by the Ohio peace officer training commission, and who have not been certified by the commission, may be reappointed and re-commissioned by the secretary of state only during the person's continuous employment as a police officer by the institution for which the person was employed on April 14, 2006, or by a successor institution to the institution for which the person was employed on April 14, 2006. The secretary of state shall note on such appointments and commissions that the person is not a peace officer as defined in section 109.71 of the Revised Code.

(3) For the exclusive purpose of assigning break in service update training as prescribed in rule 109:2-1-12 (D) of the Administrative Code, a police officer appointed under division (A) of this section, who began performing police officer duties on or before April 14, 2006, shall be credited as holding a valid peace officer appointment retroactive to the date on which the officer began performing these duties.

(B) Upon the application of a company owning or using a railroad in this state and subject to section 4973.171 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state may appoint and commission any persons that the railroad company designates, or as many of those persons as the secretary of state considers proper, to act as police officers for and on the premises of the railroad company, its affiliates or subsidiaries, or elsewhere, when directly in the discharge of their duties. Police officers so appointed, within the time set by the Ohio peace officer training commission, shall successfully complete a commission approved training program and be certified by the commission. They shall hold office for three years, unless, for good cause shown, their commission is revoked by the secretary of state, or railroad company, as provided by law.

Any person holding a similar commission in another state may be commissioned and may hold office in this state without completing the approved training program required by this division provided that the person has completed a substantially equivalent training program in the other state. The Ohio peace officer training commission shall determine whether a training program in another state meets the requirements of this division.

(C) Upon the application of any company under contract with the United States atomic energy commission for the construction or operation of a plant at a site owned by the commission, the secretary of state may appoint and commission persons the company designates, not to exceed one hundred fifty, to act as police officers for the company at the plant or site owned by the commission. Police officers so appointed shall be citizens of this state and of good character. They shall hold office for three years, unless, for good cause shown, their commission is revoked by the secretary of state or by the company, as provided by law.

(D)(1) Upon the application of any hospital that employs and maintains its own proprietary police department or security department and that satisfies division (D)(1)(a) or (b) of this section and subject to section 4973.171 of the Revised Code, the secretary of state may appoint and commission any persons that the hospital designates, or as many of those persons as the secretary of state considers proper, to act as police officers for the hospital.

A hospital described in this division must satisfy either of the following conditions:

(a) Be operated by a public hospital agency or nonprofit hospital agency;

(b) Be a for-profit hospital that, before converting to for-profit status, was operated by a nonprofit hospital agency employing police officers appointed under this division.

(2) No person who is appointed as a police officer under division (D)(1) of this section shall engage in any duties or activities as a police officer for the hospital or any affiliate or subsidiary of the hospital unless all of the following apply:

(a) The chief of police of the municipal corporation in which the hospital is located or, if the hospital is located in the unincorporated area of a county, the sheriff of that county has granted approval to the hospital to permit persons appointed as police officers under division (D)(1) of this section to engage in those duties and activities. The approval required by this division is general in nature and is intended to cover in the aggregate all persons appointed as police officers for the hospital under division (D)(1) of this section; a separate approval is not required for each appointee on an individual basis.

(b) Subsequent to the grant of approval described in division (D)(2)(a) of this section, the hospital has entered into a written agreement with the chief of police of the municipal corporation in which the hospital is located or, if the hospital is located in the unincorporated area of a county, with the sheriff of that county, that sets forth the standards and criteria to govern the interaction and cooperation between persons appointed as police officers for the hospital under division (D)(1) of this section and law enforcement officers serving the agency represented by the chief of police or sheriff who signed the agreement in areas of their concurrent jurisdiction. The written agreement shall be signed by the appointing authority of the hospital and by the chief of police or sheriff. The standards and criteria may include, but are not limited to, provisions governing the reporting of offenses discovered by hospital police officers to the agency represented by the chief of police or sheriff, provisions governing investigatory responsibilities relative to offenses committed on hospital property, and provisions governing the processing and confinement of persons arrested for offenses committed on hospital property. The agreement required by this division is intended to apply in the aggregate to all persons appointed as police officers for the hospital under this division; a separate agreement is not required for each appointee on an individual basis.

(c) The person has successfully completed a training program approved by the Ohio peace officer training commission and has been certified by the commission. A person appointed as a police officer under division (D)(1) of this section may attend a training program approved by the commission and be certified by the commission regardless of whether the appropriate chief of police or sheriff has granted the approval described in division (D)(2)(a) of this section and regardless of whether the hospital has entered into the written agreement described in division (D)(2)(b) of this section with the appropriate chief of police or sheriff.

(3)(a) A person who is appointed as a police officer under division (D)(1) of this section is entitled, upon the grant of approval described in division (D)(2)(a) of this section and upon the person's and the hospital's compliance with the requirements of divisions (D)(2)(b) and (c) of this section, to act as a police officer for the hospital on the premises of the hospital and of its affiliates and subsidiaries that are within the territory of the municipal corporation served by the chief of police or the unincorporated area of the county served by the sheriff who signed the written agreement described in division (D)(2)(b) of this section, whichever is applicable, and anywhere else within the territory of that municipal corporation or within the unincorporated area of that county. The authority to act as a police officer as described in this division is granted only if the person, when engaging in that activity, is directly in the discharge of the person's duties as a police officer for the hospital. The authority to act as a police officer as described in this division shall be exercised in accordance with the standards and criteria set forth in the written agreement described in division (D)(2)(b) of this section.

(b) Additionally, a person appointed as a police officer under division (D)(1) of this section is entitled, upon the grant of approval described in division (D)(2)(a) of this section and upon the person's and the hospital's compliance with the requirements of divisions (D)(2)(b) and (c) of this section, to act as a police officer elsewhere, within the territory of a municipal corporation or within the unincorporated area of a county, if the chief of police of that municipal corporation or the sheriff of that county, respectively, has granted approval for that activity to the hospital, police department, or security department served by the person as a police officer and if the person, when engaging in that activity, is directly in the discharge of the person's duties as a police officer for the hospital. The approval described in this division may be general in nature or may be limited in scope, duration, or applicability, as determined by the chief of police or sheriff granting the approval.

(4) Police officers appointed under division (D)(1) of this section shall hold office for three years, unless, for good cause shown, their commission is revoked by the secretary of state or by the hospital, as provided by law.

(5) Notwithstanding section 2744.02 of the Revised Code, the municipal corporation in which the hospital is located or, if the hospital is located in the unincorporated area of a county, the county is immune from civil or criminal liability in any action brought under the laws of this state if all of the following apply:

(a) The action arises out of the actions of a police officer appointed under division (D)(1) of this section.

(b) The actions of the police officer are directly in the discharge of the person's duties as a police officer for the hospital.

(c) The actions of the police officer occur on the premises of the hospital or its affiliates or subsidiaries that are within the territory of the municipal corporation served by the chief of police or the unincorporated area of the county served by the sheriff who signed the agreement described in division (D)(2)(b) of this section, whichever is applicable, or anywhere else within the territory of that municipal corporation or within the unincorporated area of that county.

(6) A court's finding of tort liability of any public hospital agency, nonprofit hospital agency, or for-profit hospital for any actions of a police officer appointed for the applicable hospital agency or for-profit hospital under division (D)(1) of this section is not subject to apportionment of tort liability under sections 2307.22 and 2307.23 of the Revised Code with the municipal corporation or the county in which a written agreement as described in division (D)(2)(b) of this section is in effect.

(7) Nothing in division (D)(5) of this section shall be construed as granting immunity from civil or criminal liability for any actions occurring on the premises of any hospital operated by a public hospital agency or nonprofit hospital agency, on the premises of any for-profit hospital, or on the premises of that hospital's affiliate or subsidiary to any of the following:

(a) Any police officer appointed under division (D)(1) of this section;

(b) Any hospital that applied for the appointment of any police officer under division (D)(1) of this section, or any affiliate or subsidiary of the hospital;

(c) Any other police or security officer who is employed by, or whose services are utilized by, any hospital operated by a public hospital agency or a nonprofit hospital agency, any for-profit hospital, or any affiliate or subsidiary of the hospital;

(d) Any entity that supplies the services of police or security officers to any hospital operated by a public hospital agency or a nonprofit hospital agency, any for-profit hospital, or any affiliate or subsidiary of the hospital.

(8) As used in division (D) of this section:

(a) "Public hospital agency" and "nonprofit hospital agency" have the same meanings as in section 140.01 of the Revised Code.

(b) "Tort liability" means the liability of a party as determined by a court in a tort action as defined in section 2307.011 of the Revised Code.

(E)(1) Upon the application of any owner or operator of an amusement park that has an average yearly attendance in excess of six hundred thousand guests and that employs and maintains its own proprietary police department or security department and subject to section 4973.171 of the Revised Code, any judge of the municipal court or county court that has territorial jurisdiction over the amusement park may appoint and commission any persons that the owner or operator designates, or as many of those persons as the judge considers proper, to act as police officers for the amusement park. If the amusement park is located in more than one county, any judge of the municipal court or county court of any of those counties may make the appointments and commissions as described in this division. No person who is appointed as a police officer under this division shall engage in any duties or activities as a police officer for the amusement park or any affiliate or subsidiary of the owner or operator of the amusement park unless all of the following apply:

(a) The appropriate chief or chiefs of police of the political subdivision or subdivisions in which the amusement park is located as specified in this division have granted approval to the owner or operator of the amusement park to permit persons appointed as police officers under this division to engage in those duties and activities. If the amusement park is located in a single municipal corporation or a single township, the chief of police of that municipal corporation or township is the appropriate chief of police for the grant of approval under this division. If the amusement park is located in two or more townships, two or more municipal corporations, or one or more townships and one or more municipal corporations, the chiefs of police of all of the affected townships and municipal corporations are the appropriate chiefs of police for the grant of approval under this division, and the approval must be jointly granted by all of those chiefs of police. The approval required by this division is general in nature and is intended to cover in the aggregate all persons appointed as police officers for the amusement park under this division. A separate approval is not required for each appointee on an individual basis.

(b) Subsequent to the grant of approval described in division (E)(1)(a) of this section, the owner or operator has entered into a written agreement with the appropriate chief or chiefs of police of the political subdivision or subdivisions in which the amusement park is located as specified in this division and has provided the sheriff of the county in which the political subdivision or subdivisions are located with a copy of the agreement. If the amusement park is located in a single municipal corporation or a single township, the chief of police of that municipal corporation or township is the appropriate chief of police for entering into the written agreement under this division. If the amusement park is located in two or more townships, two or more municipal corporations, or one or more townships and one or more municipal corporations, the chiefs of police of all of the affected townships and municipal corporations are the appropriate chiefs of police for entering into the written agreement under this division, and the written agreement must be jointly entered into by all of those chiefs of police. The written agreement between the owner or operator and the chief or chiefs of police shall address the scope of activities, the duration of the agreement, and mutual aid arrangements and shall set forth the standards and criteria to govern the interaction and cooperation between persons appointed as police officers for the amusement park under this division and law enforcement officers serving the agency represented by the chief of police who signed the agreement. The written agreement shall be signed by the owner or operator and by the chief or chiefs of police who enter into it. The standards and criteria may include, but are not limited to, provisions governing the reporting of offenses discovered by the amusement park's police officers to the agency represented by the chief of police of the municipal corporation or township in which the offense occurred, provisions governing investigatory responsibilities relative to offenses committed on amusement park property, and provisions governing the processing and confinement of persons arrested for offenses committed on amusement park property. The agreement required by this division is intended to apply in the aggregate to all persons appointed as police officers for the amusement park under this division. A separate agreement is not required for each appointee on an individual basis.

(c) The person has successfully completed a training program approved by the Ohio peace officer training commission and has been certified by the commission. A person appointed as a police officer under this division may attend a training program approved by the commission and be certified by the commission regardless of whether the appropriate chief of police has granted the approval described in division (E)(1)(a) of this section and regardless of whether the owner or operator of the amusement park has entered into the written agreement described in division (E)(1)(b) of this section with the appropriate chief of police.

(2)(a) A person who is appointed as a police officer under division (E)(1) of this section is entitled, upon the grant of approval described in section (E)(1)(a) of this section and upon the person's and the owner or operator's compliance with the requirements of division (E)(1)(b) and (c) of this section, to act as a police officer for the amusement park and its affiliates and subsidiaries that are within the territory of the political subdivision or subdivisions served by the chief of police, or respective chiefs of police, who signed the written agreement described in division (E)(1)(b) of this section, and upon any contiguous real property of the amusement park that is covered by the written agreement, whether within or adjacent to the political subdivision or subdivisions. The authority to act as a police officer as described in this division is granted only if the person, when engaging in that activity, is directly in the discharge of the person's duties as a police officer for the amusement park. The authority to act as a police officer as described in this division shall be exercised in accordance with the standards and criteria set forth in the written agreement described in division (E)(1)(b) of this section.

(b) In addition to the authority granted under division (E)(2)(a) of this section, a person appointed as a police officer under division (E)(1) of this section is entitled, upon the grant of approval described in division (E)(1)(a) of this section and upon the person's and the owner or operator's compliance with the requirements of divisions (E)(1)(b) and (c) of this section, to act as a police officer elsewhere within the territory of a municipal corporation or township if the chief of police of that municipal corporation or township has granted approval for that activity to the owner or operator served by the person as a police officer and if the person, when engaging in that activity, is directly in the discharge of the person's duties as a police officer for the amusement park. The approval described in this division may be general in nature or may be limited in scope, duration, or applicability, as determined by the chief of police granting the approval.

(3) Police officers appointed under division (E)(1) of this section shall hold office for five years, unless, for good cause shown, their commission is revoked by the appointing judge or the judge's successor or by the owner or operator, as provided by law.

(F) A fee of fifteen dollars for each commission applied for under this section shall be paid at the time the application is made, and this amount shall be returned if for any reason a commission is not issued.

Last updated August 27, 2024 at 10:35 AM

Section 4973.171 | Felony conviction precludes or terminates employment.

• Effective: April 14, 2006
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 81 - 126th General Assembly

(A) As used in this section, "felony" has the same meaning as in section 109.511 of the Revised Code.

(B)(1) The secretary of state shall not appoint or commission a person as a police officer for a bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or association of banks, savings and loan associations, or credit unions under division (A) of section 4973.17 of the Revised Code; for a railroad company under division (B) of section 4973.17 of the Revised Code; or for a hospital under division (D) of section 4973.17 of the Revised Code on a permanent basis, on a temporary basis, for a probationary term, or on other than a permanent basis if the person previously has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty to a felony.

(2)(a) The secretary of state shall revoke the appointment or commission of a person appointed or commissioned as a police officer for a bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or association of banks, savings and loan associations, or credit unions; for a railroad company; or for a hospital under division (A), (B), or (D) of section 4973.17 of the Revised Code if that person does either of the following:

(i) Pleads guilty to a felony;

(ii) Pleads guilty to a misdemeanor pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement as provided in division (D) of section 2929.43 of the Revised Code in which the person agrees to surrender the certificate awarded to that person under section 109.77 of the Revised Code.

(b) The secretary of state shall suspend the appointment or commission of a person appointed or commissioned as a police officer for a bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or association of banks, savings and loan associations, or credit unions; for a railroad company; or for a hospital under division (A), (B), or (D) of section 4973.17 of the Revised Code if that person is convicted, after trial, of a felony. If the person files an appeal from that conviction and the conviction is upheld by the highest court to which the appeal is taken or if the person does not file a timely appeal, the secretary of state shall revoke the appointment or commission of that person as a police officer for a bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or association of banks, savings and loan associations, or credit unions; for a railroad company; or for a hospital. If the person files an appeal that results in that person's acquittal of the felony or conviction of a misdemeanor, or in the dismissal of the felony charge against that person, the secretary of state shall reinstate the appointment or commission of that person as a police officer for a bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or association of banks, savings and loan associations, or credit unions; for a railroad company; or for a hospital. A person whose appointment or commission is reinstated under division (B)(2)(b) of this section shall not receive any back pay unless that person's conviction of the felony was reversed on appeal, or the felony charge was dismissed, because the court found insufficient evidence to convict the person of the felony.

(3) Division (B) of this section does not apply regarding an offense that was committed prior to January 1, 1997.

(4) The suspension or revocation of the appointment or commission of a person as a police officer for a bank, savings and loan association, credit union, or association of banks, savings and loan associations, or credit unions; for a railroad company; or for a hospital under division (B)(2) of this section shall be in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

(C)(1) A judge of a municipal court or county court that has territorial jurisdiction over an amusement park shall not appoint or commission a person as a police officer for the amusement park under division (E) of section 4973.17 of the Revised Code on a permanent basis, on a temporary basis, for a probationary term, or on other than a permanent basis if the person previously has been convicted of or has pleaded guilty to a felony.

(2) The judge shall revoke the appointment or commission of a person appointed or commissioned as a police officer for an amusement park under division (E) of section 4973.17 of the Revised Code if that person does either of the following:

(a) Pleads guilty to a felony;

(b) Pleads guilty to a misdemeanor pursuant to a negotiated plea agreement as provided in division (D) of section 2929.43 of the Revised Code in which the person agrees to surrender the certificate awarded to that person under section 109.77 of the Revised Code.

(3) The judge shall suspend the appointment or commission of a person appointed or commissioned as a police officer for an amusement park under division (E) of section 4973.17 of the Revised Code if that person is convicted, after trial, of a felony. If the person files an appeal from that conviction and that conviction is upheld by the highest court to which the appeal is taken or if the person does not file a timely appeal, the judge shall revoke the appointment or commission of that person as a police officer for an amusement park. If the person files an appeal that results in that person's acquittal of the felony or conviction of a misdemeanor or in the dismissal of the felony charge against that person, the judge shall reinstate the appointment or commission of that person as a police officer for an amusement park. A person whose appointment or commission is reinstated under division (C)(3) of this section shall not receive any back pay unless that person's conviction of the felony was reversed on appeal, or the felony charge was dismissed, because the court found insufficient evidence to convict the person of a felony.

(4) Division (C) of this section does not apply regarding an offense that was committed prior to January 1, 1997.

(5) The suspension or revocation of the appointment or commission of a person as a police officer for an amusement park under division (C)(2) of this section shall be in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Section 4973.18 | Oath of office and commission - powers - liabilities.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Before entering upon the duties of his office, each policeman appointed under section 4973.17 of the Revised Code shall take and subscribe an oath of office which shall be indorsed on his commission, and said commission with the oath shall be recorded in the office of the secretary of state who shall charge and collect a fee of one dollar for such recording. Policemen so appointed and commissioned shall severally possess and exercise the powers of, and be subject to the liabilities of, municipal policemen while discharging the duties for which they are appointed.

Section 4973.19 | Power of police to enforce regulations and make arrests.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

A company which avails itself of sections 4973.17 and 4973.18 of the Revised Code may make needful regulations to promote the public convenience and safety in and about its depots, stations, and grounds, not inconsistent with law, and print and post such regulations conspicuously upon its depots or station buildings. Policemen appointed under such sections shall enforce and compel obedience to such regulations. The keeper of jails, lockups, or station houses in each county shall receive persons arrested for the commission of an offense against such regulations or the laws of the state upon or along the railroad or premises of such company.

Section 4973.20 | When police to wear badges.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

Except while acting in the discharge of duty as a detective for the railroad, every policeman appointed under section 4973.17 of the Revised Code shall, when on duty, wear in plain view a metallic shield with the word "police" and the name of the railroad for which he is appointed inscribed on it.

Section 4973.21 | Compensation.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

The compensation of policemen appointed or commissioned as provided in section 4973.17 of the Revised Code shall be paid by the company for which they respectively are appointed, and at such rates as are agreed upon by the parties.

Section 4973.22 | Notice terminating services filed with secretary of state.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When a company no longer requires the services of a policeman appointed as provided in section 4973.17 of the Revised code, it may file in the office of the secretary of state a notice to that effect signed by its authorized officer, which notice shall be noted by the secretary of state upon the margin of the record where the commission is recorded, and thereupon the power of such policeman shall cease. No charge shall be made by the secretary of state for the filing of such notice.

Section 4973.23 | Detention upon probable cause by conductor or ticket agent.

• Effective: March 23, 2000
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 107 - 123rd General Assembly

(A) A conductor of any train carrying passengers or of the cars of any interurban railroad carrying passengers, and a ticket agent employed in or about a railroad or interurban railroad station, while on duty on the train or cars, or in or about the station, who has probable cause to believe that a person has committed an offense may detain the person in a reasonable manner and for a reasonable length of time within the train, the cars, or the station, for the purpose of recovering any property involved in the offense, causing an arrest to be made by a peace officer, or obtaining a warrant of arrest.

(B) A conductor or ticket agent acting under division (A) of this section shall not search the person detained, search or seize any property belonging to the person detained without the person's consent, or use undue restraint upon the person detained.

(C) Any peace officer, as defined in section 2935.01 of the Revised Code, may arrest without a warrant any person who the officer has probable cause to believe has committed any violation of law and shall make the arrest within a reasonable time after the commission of the violation of law.

Section 4973.24 | Conductor may eject passenger.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

When a passenger is guilty of disorderly conduct, uses obscene language, or plays a game of cards or chance for money or other thing of value on a passenger train or the cars of an interurban railroad carrying passengers, the conductor of such train or cars shall stop his train or cars at the place where such offense is committed, or at the next stopping place for such train or cars and eject such passenger from the train or cars, using only such force as is necessary. The conductor may command the assistance of employees of the company, person, or firm owning or operating such railroad or interurban railroad and of the passengers on such train or cars, to assist in such removal. Before removing such passenger, the conductor shall tender to the passenger such proportion of the fare he paid as the distance he then is from the place to which he paid fare bears to the whole distance for which his fare is paid.

Section 4973.25 | Liability for conductor's conduct.

• Effective: March 23, 2000
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 107 - 123rd General Assembly

In no case shall the liability of a railroad company for damages caused by the conduct of its conductor be affected by section 4973.23 or 4973.24 of the Revised Code.

Section 4973.26 | Negligence of official duty.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

No conductor having charge of a passenger train or of the cars of any interurban railroad carrying passengers within this state shall willfully neglect his duty as required by sections 4973.24 and 4973.25 of the Revised Code, or fail to use all the means in his power to carry out such sections. Whoever violates this section is guilty of negligence of official duty.

Section 4973.99 | Penalty.

• Effective: October 1, 1953
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 1 - 100th General Assembly

(A) Whoever violates section 4973.12 of the Revised Code shall be fined not less than fifty nor more than one hundred dollars or imprisoned not less than ten nor more than thirty days.

(B) Whoever violates section 4973.26 of the Revised Code shall be fined not less than five nor more than twenty-five dollars.