Chapter 5503 | State Highway Patrol

Section 5503.01 | Division of state highway patrol.

• Effective: April 3, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 23 - 134th General Assembly

There is hereby created in the department of public safety a division of state highway patrol which shall be administered by a superintendent of the state highway patrol.

The superintendent shall be appointed by the director of public safety, and shall serve at the director's pleasure. The superintendent shall hold the rank of colonel and be appointed from within the eligible ranks of the patrol. The superintendent shall give bond for the faithful performance of the superintendent's official duties in such amount and with such security as the director approves.

The superintendent, with the approval of the director, may appoint any number of state highway patrol troopers and radio operators as are necessary to carry out sections 5503.01 to 5503.06 of the Revised Code, but the number of troopers shall not be less than eight hundred eighty. The number of radio operators shall not exceed eighty in number. Except as provided in this section, at the time of appointment, troopers shall be not less than twenty-one years of age, nor have reached forty years of age. A person who is attending a training school for prospective state highway patrol troopers established under section 5503.05 of the Revised Code and attains the age of forty years during the person's period of attendance at that training school shall not be disqualified as over age and shall be permitted to continue to attend the training school as long as the person otherwise is eligible to do so. Such a person also remains eligible to be appointed a trooper. Any other person who attains or will attain the age of forty years prior to the time of appointment shall be disqualified as over age.

At the time of appointment, troopers shall have been legal residents of Ohio for at least one year, except that this residence requirement may be waived by the superintendent.

If any state highway patrol troopers become disabled through accident or illness, the superintendent, with the approval of the director, shall fill any vacancies through the appointment of other troopers from a qualified list to serve during the period of the disability.

The superintendent and state highway patrol troopers shall be vested with the authority of peace officers for the purpose of enforcing the laws of the state that it is the duty of the patrol to enforce and may arrest, without warrant, any person who, in the presence of the superintendent or any trooper, is engaged in the violation of any such laws. The state highway patrol troopers shall never be used as peace officers in connection with any strike or labor dispute.

Each state highway patrol trooper and radio operator, upon appointment and before entering upon official duties, shall take an oath of office for faithful performance of the trooper's or radio operator's official duties and execute a bond in the sum of twenty-five hundred dollars, payable to the state and for the use and benefit of any aggrieved party who may have a cause of action against any trooper or radio operator for misconduct while in the performance of official duties. In no event shall the bond include any claim arising out of negligent operation of a motorcycle or motor vehicle used by a trooper or radio operator in the performance of official duties.

The superintendent shall prescribe a distinguishing uniform and badge which shall be worn by each state highway patrol trooper and radio operator while on duty, unless otherwise designated by the superintendent. No person shall wear the distinguishing uniform of the state highway patrol or the badge or any distinctive part of that uniform, except on order of the superintendent.

The superintendent, with the approval of the director, may appoint necessary clerks, stenographers, and employees.

Last updated January 25, 2023 at 5:03 PM

Section 5503.02 | State highway patrol - powers and duties.

• Effective: October 29, 2018
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 66 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) The state highway patrol shall enforce the laws of the state relating to the titling, registration, and licensing of motor vehicles; enforce on all roads and highways, notwithstanding section 4513.39 of the Revised Code, the laws relating to the operation and use of vehicles on the highways; enforce and prevent the violation of the laws relating to the size, weight, and speed of commercial motor vehicles and all laws designed for the protection of the highway pavements and structures on the highways; investigate and enforce rules and laws of the public utilities commission governing the transportation of persons and property by motor carriers and report violations of such rules and laws to the commission; enforce against any motor carrier as defined in section 4923.01 of the Revised Code those rules and laws that, if violated, may result in a forfeiture as provided in section 4923.99 of the Revised Code; investigate and report violations of all laws relating to the collection of excise taxes on motor vehicle fuels; and regulate the movement of traffic on the roads and highways of the state, notwithstanding section 4513.39 of the Revised Code.

The patrol, whenever possible, shall determine the identity of the persons who are causing or who are responsible for the breaking, damaging, or destruction of any improved surfaced roadway, structure, sign, marker, guardrail, or other appurtenance constructed or maintained by the department of transportation and shall arrest the persons who are responsible for the breaking, damaging, or destruction and bring them before the proper officials for prosecution.

State highway patrol troopers shall investigate and report all motor vehicle accidents on all roads and highways outside of municipal corporations. The superintendent of the patrol or any state highway patrol trooper may arrest, without a warrant, any person, who is the driver of or a passenger in any vehicle operated or standing on a state highway, whom the superintendent or trooper has reasonable cause to believe is guilty of a felony, under the same circumstances and with the same power that any peace officer may make such an arrest.

The superintendent or any state highway patrol trooper may enforce the criminal laws on all state properties and state institutions, owned or leased by the state, and, when so ordered by the governor in the event of riot, civil disorder, or insurrection, may, pursuant to sections 2935.03 to 2935.05 of the Revised Code, arrest offenders against the criminal laws wherever they may be found within the state if the violations occurred upon, or resulted in injury to person or property on, state properties or state institutions, or under the conditions described in division (B) of this section. This authority of the superintendent and any state highway patrol trooper to enforce the criminal laws shall extend to the Lake Erie Correctional Institution and the Northeast Ohio Correctional Center, to the same extent as if those prisons were owned by this state.

(B) In the event of riot, civil disorder, or insurrection, or the reasonable threat of riot, civil disorder, or insurrection, and upon request, as provided in this section, of the sheriff of a county or the mayor or other chief executive of a municipal corporation, the governor may order the state highway patrol to enforce the criminal laws within the area threatened by riot, civil disorder, or insurrection, as designated by the governor, upon finding that law enforcement agencies within the counties involved will not be reasonably capable of controlling the riot, civil disorder, or insurrection and that additional assistance is necessary. In cities in which the sheriff is under contract to provide exclusive police services pursuant to section 311.29 of the Revised Code, in villages, and in the unincorporated areas of the county, the sheriff has exclusive authority to request the use of the patrol. In cities in which the sheriff does not exclusively provide police services, the mayor, or other chief executive performing the duties of mayor, has exclusive authority to request the use of the patrol.

The superintendent or any state highway patrol trooper may enforce the criminal laws within the area designated by the governor during the emergency arising out of the riot, civil disorder, or insurrection until released by the governor upon consultation with the requesting authority. State highway patrol troopers shall never be used as peace officers in connection with any strike or labor dispute.

When a request for the use of the patrol is made pursuant to this division, the requesting authority shall notify the law enforcement authorities in contiguous communities and the sheriff of each county within which the threatened area, or any part of the threatened area, lies of the request, but the failure to notify the authorities or a sheriff shall not affect the validity of the request.

(C) Any person who is arrested by the superintendent or a state highway patrol trooper shall be taken before any court or magistrate having jurisdiction of the offense with which the person is charged. Any person who is arrested or apprehended within the limits of a municipal corporation shall be brought before the municipal court or other tribunal of the municipal corporation.

(D)(1) State highway patrol troopers have the same right and power of search and seizure as other peace officers.

No state official shall command, order, or direct any state highway patrol trooper to perform any duty or service that is not authorized by law. The powers and duties conferred on the patrol are supplementary to, and in no way a limitation on, the powers and duties of sheriffs or other peace officers of the state.

(2)(a) A state highway patrol trooper, pursuant to the policy established by the superintendent of the state highway patrol under division (D)(2)(b) of this section, may render emergency assistance to any other peace officer who has arrest authority under section 2935.03 of the Revised Code, if both of the following apply:

(i) There is a threat of imminent physical danger to the peace officer, a threat of physical harm to another person, or any other serious emergency situation;

(ii) Either the peace officer requests emergency assistance, or it appears that the peace officer is unable to request emergency assistance and the circumstances observed by the state highway patrol trooper reasonably indicate that emergency assistance is appropriate, or the peace officer requests emergency assistance and in the request the peace officer specifies a particular location and the state highway patrol trooper arrives at that location prior to the time that the peace officer arrives at that location and the circumstances observed by the state highway patrol trooper reasonably indicate that emergency assistance is appropriate.

(b) The superintendent of the state highway patrol shall establish, within sixty days of August 8, 1991, a policy that sets forth the manner and procedures by which a state highway patrol trooper may render emergency assistance to any other peace officer under division (D)(2)(a) of this section. The policy shall include a provision that a state highway patrol trooper never be used as a peace officer in connection with any strike or labor dispute.

(3)(a) A state highway patrol trooper who renders emergency assistance to any other peace officer under the policy established by the superintendent pursuant to division (D)(2)(b) of this section shall be considered to be performing regular employment for the purposes of compensation, pension, indemnity fund rights, workers' compensation, and other rights or benefits to which the trooper may be entitled as incident to regular employment.

(b) A state highway patrol trooper who renders emergency assistance to any other peace officer under the policy established by the superintendent pursuant to division (D)(2)(b) of this section retains personal immunity from liability as specified in section 9.86 of the Revised Code.

(c) A state highway patrol trooper who renders emergency assistance under the policy established by the superintendent pursuant to division (D)(2)(b) of this section has the same authority as the peace officer for or with whom the state highway patrol trooper is providing emergency assistance.

(E)(1) Subject to the availability of funds specifically appropriated by the general assembly for security detail purposes, the state highway patrol shall provide security as follows:

(a) For the governor;

(b) At the direction of the governor, for other officials of the state government of this state; officials of the state governments of other states who are visiting this state; officials of the United States government who are visiting this state; officials of the governments of foreign countries or their political subdivisions who are visiting this state; or other officials or dignitaries who are visiting this state, including, but not limited to, members of trade missions;

(c) For the capitol square, as defined in section 105.41 of the Revised Code;

(d) For the Vern Riffe center and the James A. Rhodes state office tower, as directed by the department of public safety;

(e) For other state property.

(2) To carry out the security responsibilities of the patrol listed in division (E)(1) of this section, the superintendent may assign state highway patrol troopers to a separate unit that is responsible for security details. The number of troopers assigned to particular security details shall be determined by the superintendent.

(3) The superintendent and any state highway patrol trooper, when providing security pursuant to division (E)(1)(a) or (b) of this section, have the same arrest powers as other peace officers to apprehend offenders against the criminal laws who endanger or threaten the security of any person being protected, no matter where the offense occurs.

The superintendent, any state highway patrol trooper, and any special police officer designated under section 5503.09 of the Revised Code, if providing security pursuant to division (E)(1)(c) of this section, shall enforce any rules governing capitol square adopted by the capitol square review and advisory board.

(F) The governor may order the state highway patrol to undertake major criminal investigations that involve state property interests. If an investigation undertaken pursuant to this division results in either the issuance of a no bill or the filing of an indictment, the superintendent shall file a complete and accurate report of the investigation with the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the minority leader of the senate, and the minority leader of the house of representatives within fifteen days after the issuance of the no bill or the filing of an indictment. If the investigation does not have as its result any prosecutorial action, the superintendent shall, upon reporting this fact to the governor, file a complete and accurate report of the investigation with the president of the senate, the speaker of the house of representatives, the minority leader of the senate, and the minority leader of the house of representatives.

(G) The superintendent may purchase or lease real property and buildings needed by the patrol, negotiate the sale of real property owned by the patrol, rent or lease real property owned or leased by the patrol, and make or cause to be made repairs to all property owned or under the control of the patrol. Any instrument by which real property is acquired pursuant to this division shall identify the agency of the state that has the use and benefit of the real property as specified in section 5301.012 of the Revised Code.

Sections 123.01 and 125.02 of the Revised Code do not limit the powers granted to the superintendent by this division.

Section 5503.03 | Equipment - rules - promotions.

• Effective: July 1, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 51 - 130th General Assembly

The state highway patrol and the superintendent of the state highway patrol shall be furnished by the state with such vehicles, equipment, and supplies as the director of public safety deems necessary, all of which shall remain the property of the state and be strictly accounted for by each member of the patrol.

The patrol may be equipped with standardized and tested devices for weighing vehicles, and may stop and weigh any vehicle which appears to weigh in excess of the amounts permitted by sections 5577.01 to 5577.14 of the Revised Code.

The superintendent, with the approval of the director, shall prescribe rules for instruction and discipline, make all administrative rules, and fix the hours of duty for patrol officers. The superintendent shall divide the state into districts and assign members of the patrol to such districts in a manner that the superintendent deems proper. The superintendent may transfer members of the patrol from one district to another, and rank members of the patrol. All ranks below the level of superintendent shall be classified. All promotions to a higher grade shall be made from the next lower grade. When a patrol officer is promoted by the superintendent, the officer's salary shall be increased to that of the lowest step in the pay range for the new grade which shall increase the officer's salary or wage by at least nine per cent of the base pay wherever possible.

Section 5503.031 | Officer pay ranges.

• Effective: July 1, 2023
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 23 - 135th General Assembly

Beginning July 1, 2023, the following officers of the state highway patrol shall be paid in accordance with the indicated pay ranges from schedule E-1 of division (B) of section 124.152 of the Revised Code:

(A) A sergeant or equivalent officer who is an exempt employee under section 124.152 of the Revised Code shall be paid in accordance with pay range 14.

(B) A lieutenant or equivalent officer shall be paid in accordance with pay range 15.

(C) A staff lieutenant or equivalent officer shall be paid in accordance with pay range 16.

(D) A captain or equivalent officer shall be paid in accordance with pay range 17.

(E) A major or equivalent officer shall be paid in accordance with pay range 18.

(F) A lieutenant colonel or equivalent officer shall be paid in accordance with pay range 19.

Last updated April 27, 2023 at 12:20 PM

Section 5503.04 | Disposition of fines and moneys arising from bail forfeitures.

• Effective: July 1, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 51 - 130th General Assembly

Forty-five per cent of the fines collected from or moneys arising from bail forfeited by persons apprehended or arrested by state highway patrol troopers shall be paid into the state treasury to be credited to the general revenue fund, five per cent shall be paid into the state treasury to be credited to the trauma and emergency medical services fund created by section 4513.263 of the Revised Code, and fifty per cent shall be paid into the treasury of the municipal corporation where the case is prosecuted, if in a mayor's court. If the prosecution is in a trial court outside a municipal corporation, or outside the territorial jurisdiction of a municipal court, the fifty per cent of the fines and moneys that is not paid into the state treasury shall be paid into the treasury of the county where the case is prosecuted. The fines and moneys paid into a county treasury and the fines and moneys paid into the treasury of a municipal corporation shall be deposited one-half to the same fund and expended in the same manner as is the revenue received from the registration of motor vehicles, and one-half to the general fund of such county or municipal corporation.

If the prosecution is in a municipal court, forty-five per cent of the fines and moneys shall be paid into the state treasury to be credited to the general revenue fund, five per cent shall be paid into the state treasury to be credited to the trauma and emergency medical services fund created by division (E) of section 4513.263 of the Revised Code, ten per cent shall be paid into the county treasury to be credited to the general fund of the county, and forty per cent shall be paid into the municipal treasury to be credited to the general fund of the municipal corporation. In the Auglaize county, Clermont county, Crawford county, Hocking county, Jackson county, Lawrence county, Madison county, Miami county, Ottawa county, Portage county, and Wayne county municipal courts, that portion of money otherwise paid into the municipal treasury shall be paid into the county treasury.

The trial court shall make remittance of the fines and moneys as prescribed in this section, and at the same time as the remittance is made of the state's portion to the state treasury, the trial court shall notify the superintendent of the state highway patrol of the case and the amount covered by the remittance.

This section does not apply to fines for violations of division (B) of section 4513.263 of the Revised Code, or for violations of any municipal ordinance that is substantively comparable to that division, all of which shall be delivered to the treasurer of state as provided in division (E) of section 4513.263 of the Revised Code.

Section 5503.05 | Training schools for prospective state highway patrol troopers.

• Effective: November 12, 1992
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 98 - 119th General Assembly

The superintendent of the state highway patrol, with the approval of the director of public safety, may conduct training schools for prospective state highway patrol troopers. The prospective troopers, during the period of their training and as members of the state patrol school, shall be paid a reasonable salary out of highway funds. The superintendent may furnish the necessary supplies and equipment for the use of the prospective troopers during the training period.

The superintendent may establish rules governing the qualifications for admission to training schools for prospective troopers and provide for competitive examinations to determine the fitness of the students and prospective troopers, not inconsistent with the rules of the director of administrative services.

Section 5503.06 | Regulation of motor transportation by public utilities commission not affected.

• Effective: July 1, 1992
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 351 - 119th General Assembly

Sections 5503.01 to 5503.05 of the Revised Code do not supersede, limit, or suspend any law relative to the regulation of motor transportation upon the public highways of the state by the public utilities commission.

In addition to the powers and duties of the state highway patrol set forth in section 5503.02 of the Revised Code, a state highway patrol trooper or other authorized employee may conduct inspections of any motor vehicle subject to inspection by the commission. Such inspections shall be conducted in accordance with rules adopted by the commission and for the purpose of ensuring compliance with such rules.

Section 5503.07 | Misdemeanor arrests.

• Effective: August 8, 1991
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 144 - 119th General Assembly

In addition to the powers and duties of the state highway patrol set forth in section 5503.02 of the Revised Code and subject to the limitations of section 5503.01 of the Revised Code, a state highway patrol trooper shall arrest any person found committing a misdemeanor within the bounds of rest areas or roadside parks within the limits of the right-of-way of interstate highways and other state highways, or in violation of section 5515.07 of the Revised Code in other areas within the limits of the right-of-way of interstate highways.

Section 5503.08 | Occupational injury leave.

• Effective: March 31, 2003
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 245 - 124th General Assembly

Each state highway patrol officer shall, in addition to the sick leave benefits provided in section 124.38 of the Revised Code, be entitled to occupational injury leave. Occupational injury leave of one thousand five hundred hours with pay may, with the approval of the superintendent of the state highway patrol, be used for absence resulting from each independent injury incurred in the line of duty, except that occupational injury leave is not available for injuries incurred during those times when the patrol officer is actually engaged in administrative or clerical duties at a patrol facility, when a patrol officer is on a meal or rest period, or when the patrol officer is engaged in any personal business. The superintendent of the state highway patrol shall, by rule, define those administrative and clerical duties and those situations where the occurrence of an injury does not entitle the patrol officer to occupational injury leave. Each injury incurred in the line of duty which aggravates a previously existing injury, whether the previously existing injury was so incurred or not, shall be considered an independent injury. When its use is authorized under this section, all occupational injury leave shall be exhausted before any credit is deducted from unused sick leave accumulated under section 124.38 of the Revised Code, except that, unless otherwise provided by the superintendent of the state highway patrol, occupational injury leave shall not be used for absence occurring within seven calendar days of the injury. During that seven calendar day period, unused sick leave may be used for such an absence.

When occupational injury leave is used, it shall be deducted from the unused balance of the patrol officer's occupational injury leave for that injury on the basis of one hour for every one hour of absence from previously scheduled work.

Before a patrol officer may use occupational injury leave, the patrol officer shall:

(A) Apply to the superintendent for permission to use occupational injury leave on a form that requires the patrol officer to explain the nature of the patrol officer's independent injury and the circumstances under which it occurred; and

(B) Submit to a medical examination. The individual who conducts the examination shall report to the superintendent the results of the examination and whether or not the independent injury prevents the patrol officer from attending work.

The superintendent shall, by rule, provide for periodic medical examinations of patrol officers who are using occupational injury leave. The individual selected to conduct the medical examinations shall report to the superintendent the results of each such examination, including a description of the progress made by the patrol officer in recovering from the independent injury, and whether or not the independent injury continues to prevent the patrol officer from attending work.

The superintendent shall appoint to conduct medical examinations under this division individuals authorized by the Revised Code to do so, including any physician assistant, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse practitioner, or certified nurse-midwife.

A patrol officer is not entitled to use or continue to use occupational injury leave after refusing to submit to a medical examination or if the individual examining the patrol officer reports that the independent injury does not prevent the patrol officer from attending work.

A patrol officer who falsifies an application for permission to use occupational injury leave or a medical examination report is subject to disciplinary action, including dismissal.

The superintendent shall, by rule, prescribe forms for the application and medical examination report.

Occupational injury leave pay made according to this section is in lieu of such workers' compensation benefits as would have been payable directly to a patrol officer pursuant to sections 4123.56 and 4123.58 of the Revised Code, but all other compensation and benefits pursuant to Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code are payable as in any other case. If at the close of the period, the patrol officer remains disabled, the patrol officer is entitled to all compensation and benefits, without a waiting period pursuant to section 4123.55 of the Revised Code based upon the injury received, for which the patrol officer qualifies pursuant to Chapter 4123. of the Revised Code. Compensation shall be paid from the date that the patrol officer ceases to receive the patrol officer's regular rate of pay pursuant to this section.

Occupational injury leave shall not be credited to or, upon use, deducted from, a patrol officer's sick leave.

Section 5503.09 | Special police officers to serve on state property.

• Effective: October 21, 1997
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 60 - 122nd General Assembly

The superintendent of the state highway patrol, with the approval of the director of public safety, may designate one or more persons to be special police officers to preserve the peace and enforce the laws of this state with respect to persons and property under their jurisdiction and control. The officers are vested with the same powers of arrest as police officers under section 2935.03 of the Revised Code when exercising their responsibilities on lands owned by the Ohio expositions commission and on those state properties and institutions owned or leased by the state where the officers are assigned by the superintendent.

Special police officers shall be required to complete peace officer basic training for the position to which they have been appointed as required by the Ohio peace officer training commission as authorized in section 109.73 of the Revised Code. They also shall take an oath of office, wear the badge of office, and provide bond to the state in the amount of twenty-five hundred dollars for the proper performance of their duties.

Section 5503.10 | Law enforcement automated data system.

• Effective: November 12, 1992
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 98 - 119th General Assembly

There is hereby created in the department of public safety, division of state highway patrol, a program for administering and operating a law enforcement automated data system, to be known as LEADS, providing computerized data and communications to the various criminal justice agencies of the state. The program shall be administered by the superintendent of the state highway patrol, who may employ such persons as are necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. The superintendent shall adopt rules under Chapter 119. of the Revised Code establishing fees and guidelines for the operation of and participation in the LEADS program. These rules shall include criteria for granting and restricting access to information maintained in LEADS.

The superintendent shall appoint a steering committee to advise him in the operation of the law enforcement automated data system, comprised of persons who are representative of the criminal justice agencies in Ohio that use the system. The superintendent or his designee shall be chairman of the committee.

Section 5503.101 | Disclosure of LEADS information to defendant.

• Effective: March 23, 2018
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 33 - 132nd General Assembly

(A) Notwithstanding any section of the Revised Code or rule of procedure to the contrary, a defendant's traffic or criminal record contained in the law enforcement automated data system, also known as LEADS, may be disclosed to the defendant and the defendant's counsel when formally requested pursuant to the rules of discovery in a traffic or criminal case.

(B) Copies of information obtained from the law enforcement automated data system pursuant to division (A) of this section may be provided to the defendant and the defendant's counsel when formally requested pursuant to the rules of discovery in a traffic or criminal case.

(C) Upon a motion made by a prosecutor, the court hearing a traffic or criminal case may order the redaction from information to be disclosed or provided pursuant to division (A) or (B) of this section pursuant to the rules of discovery in the case of the residential address, date of birth, social security number, and photograph of any witness, law enforcement officer, or prosecutor.

(D) Notwithstanding section 2913.04 or 2923.129 of the Revised Code, no prosecutor or person assisting a prosecutor in providing discovery shall be held civilly or criminally liable for disclosing information from the law enforcement automated data system in the manner authorized by this section.

(E) The superintendent of the state highway patrol or any person employed by the superintendent to carry out the purposes of section 5503.10 of the Revised Code shall not sanction or deny access to the law enforcement automated data system to any person or entity because that person or entity provided discovery information in the manner authorized by this section.

(F) The defendant's counsel may disclose, copy, and provide to the defendant any information about the defendant's own traffic or criminal record obtained by discovery from the law enforcement automated data system.

(G) The fact that information sought in discovery is contained in the law enforcement automated data system shall not be cited or accepted as a reason for denying discovery to the defendant of the defendant's own traffic or criminal record.

Section 5503.11 | Auxiliary unit.

• Effective: June 1, 1998
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 599 - 122nd General Assembly

(A) The superintendent of the state highway patrol, with the approval of the director of public safety, may establish an auxiliary unit within the state highway patrol, and provide for the regulation of the auxiliary officers. The superintendent shall be the head of the auxiliary unit, and shall have the sole authority to make all appointments to and dismissals from the auxiliary unit. The superintendent shall prescribe rules for the organization, administration, and control of the auxiliary unit, and the eligibility requirements, training, and conduct of the auxiliary officers. The superintendent also shall have the authority to expend any funds appropriated to the state highway patrol to pay any expenses the state highway patrol incurs in administering the auxiliary unit. Members of the auxiliary unit may be required to pay any portion of their expenses, as determined by the superintendent.

No member of the auxiliary unit shall have any power to arrest any person or to enforce any law of this state.

(B) Each member of the auxiliary unit, in the performance of the member's official duties as determined by the superintendent, possesses personal immunity from civil liability for damages for injury, death, or loss to person or property as specified in section 9.86 of the Revised Code, and is entitled to idemnification and representation as an officer or employee of this state to the extent described in and in accordance with sections 109.361 to 109.366 of the Revised Code.

Section 5503.12 | Registrars to collect inspection and testing fees.

• Effective: March 9, 2004
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 85 - 125th General Assembly

(A) The superintendent of the state highway patrol, with the approval of the director of public safety, may authorize the registrar of motor vehicles and designated deputy registrars to collect inspection and testing fees on behalf of the state highway patrol. The superintendent and the registrar jointly shall determine and designate the deputy registrars who shall collect inspection and testing fees under this section.

(B)(1) In addition to collecting the inspection and testing fees, the registrar and each designated deputy registrar may collect and retain a service fee in the amount specified in division (D) of section 4503.10 of the Revised Code for each inspection and testing fee collected on behalf of the state highway patrol.

(2) Each designated deputy registrar, upon receipt of any inspection and testing fee, shall transmit the fees to the registrar in the manner prescribed by the registrar.

(3) The registrar shall deposit the inspection and testing fees collected by and transmitted to the registrar to the credit of the fund specified by law.

(C) The superintendent, with the approval of the director, shall establish appropriate procedures to be used by the registrar and designated deputy registrars for determining proof of payment of inspection and testing fees.

(D) As used in this section, "inspection and testing fees" includes the following:

(1) Fees for vehicle inspections conducted under sections 4505.11, 4505.111, 4513.52, 4513.53, 4519.56, and 4519.61 of the Revised Code;

(2) Fees for testing of commercial driver's license applicants under section 4506.09 of the Revised Code;

(3) Except as may otherwise be specifically provided by law, any statutory fees for similar vehicle inspections or driver testing conducted by the state highway patrol that the superintendent may specify for collection under this section.

Section 5503.31 | Arrest authority on turnpike projects.

• Effective: July 1, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 51 - 130th General Assembly

The state highway patrol shall have the same authority as is conferred upon it by section 5503.02 of the Revised Code with respect to the enforcement of state laws on other roads and highways and on other state properties, to enforce on all turnpike projects the laws of the state and the bylaws, rules, and regulations of the Ohio turnpike and infrastructure commission. The patrol, the superintendent of the patrol, and all state highway patrol troopers shall have the same authority to make arrests on all turnpike projects for violations of state laws and of bylaws, rules, and regulations of the Ohio turnpike and infrastructure commission as is conferred upon them by section 5503.02 of the Revised Code to make arrests on, and in connection with offenses committed on, other roads and highways and on other state properties.

Section 5503.32 | Contracts for policing of turnpike projects.

• Effective: July 1, 2013
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 51 - 130th General Assembly

The director of public safety may from time to time enter into contracts with the Ohio turnpike and infrastructure commission with respect to the policing of turnpike projects by the state highway patrol. The contracts shall provide for the reimbursement of the state by the commission for the costs incurred by the patrol in policing turnpike projects, including, but not limited to, the salaries of employees of the patrol assigned to the policing, the current costs of funding retirement pensions for the employees of the patrol and of providing workers' compensation for them, the cost of training state highway patrol troopers and radio operators assigned to turnpike projects, and the cost of equipment and supplies used by the patrol in such policing, and of housing for such troopers and radio operators, to the extent that the equipment, supplies, and housing are not directly furnished by the commission. Each contract may provide for the ascertainment of such costs, and shall be of any duration, not in excess of five years, and may contain any other terms, that the director and the commission may agree upon. The patrol shall not be obligated to furnish policing services on any turnpike project beyond the extent required by the contract. All payments pursuant to any contract in reimbursement of the costs of the policing shall be deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the turnpike policing fund, which is hereby created. All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.

Section 5503.33 | Assignment of state highway patrol troopers and radio operators to turnpike project.

• Effective: August 8, 1991
• Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 144 - 119th General Assembly

The superintendent of the state highway patrol shall assign any number of state highway patrol troopers and radio operators to each turnpike project that may be provided for in any contract or contracts made pursuant to section 5503.32 of the Revised Code. The number of troopers and radio operators from time to time regularly assigned to policing turnpike projects shall be in addition to, and an enlargement of, the authorized complement of the patrol as provided in any other law or laws; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall preclude the superintendent from temporarily increasing or decreasing the troopers or radio operators so assigned, as emergencies indicate a need for shifting assignments, to the extent provided by any contracts made pursuant to section 5503.32 of the Revised Code. All such troopers and radio operators shall have the same qualifications and be appointed and paid, and receive the same benefits and provisions, as all other troopers and radio operators.

Section 5503.34 | Commercial motor vehicle safety enforcement unit.

• Effective: June 11, 2012
• Latest Legislation: House Bill 487 - 129th General Assembly

There is hereby created in the department of public safety, division of state highway patrol, a motor carrier enforcement unit, to be administered by the superintendent of the state highway patrol. This unit shall be responsible for enforcement of commercial motor vehicle transportation safety and hazardous materials requirements.

The superintendent, with the approval of the director of public safety, may appoint and maintain necessary staff to carry out the duties assigned under this section.

Employees of the motor carrier enforcement unit shall cooperate with the public utilities commission to enforce compliance with orders and rules of the commission, applicable laws under Chapters 4905., 4921., and 4923. of the Revised Code, and any other applicable laws or rules.

Uniformed employees of the motor carrier enforcement unit may stop commercial motor vehicles for the exclusive purpose of inspecting such vehicles to enforce compliance with orders and rules of the public utilities commission as required by division (F) of section 5502.01 of the Revised Code.