(1) "Emergency service responder" has the same meaning as in section 2903.22 of the Revised Code.
(2) "Warning" means a verbal command made by an emergency service responder through which the emergency service responder does both of the following:
(a) Commands a person to maintain the person's distance, to stay away, to back away, to not interfere, or another similar instruction;
(b) Communicates the verbal command in a manner such that a reasonable person would believe that the person must comply with the verbal command under the circumstances.
(B) No person, without privilege to do so and with purpose to prevent, obstruct, or delay the performance by a public official of any authorized act within the public official's official capacity, shall do any act that hampers or impedes a public official in the performance of the public official's lawful duties.
(C) No person, without privilege to do so, and after receiving a warning, shall knowingly approach or remain within fifteen feet of an emergency service responder engaged in the lawful performance of the responder's legal duty and do either of the following:
(1) Impede or interfere with the emergency service responder's ability to perform the responder's legal duty;
(2) Threaten the emergency service responder with physical harm.
(D)(1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of obstructing official business. Except as otherwise provided in divisions (D)(2), (3), and (4) of this section, obstructing official business is a misdemeanor of the second degree.
(2) If the victim is an emergency service responder engaged in the lawful performance of the responder's legal duty, and the responder issued a warning to the person before the person engaged in or continued to engage in the conduct described in division (B) of this section, obstructing official business is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(3) If a violation of this section creates a risk of physical harm to a person other than an emergency service responder, obstructing official business is a felony of the fifth degree.
(4) If a violation of this section creates a risk of physical harm to an emergency service responder, obstructing official business is a felony of the fourth degree.
Last updated July 16, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 677
cases (284 in the last 5 years), 1978–2026 · leading case: State v. Certain, 905 N.E.2d 1259 (Ohio Ct. App. 4th Dist. 2009).
State v. Certain, 905 N.E.2d 1259 (Ohio Ct. App. 4th Dist. 2009). · cites it 20דCertain with obstructing official business in violation of R.C. 2921.31 after he fled from a police officer attempting to make an investigative stop.”
State v. Puterbaugh, 755 N.E.2d 359 (Ohio Ct. App. 4th Dist. 2001). · cites it 14דThis is an appeal from the judgment of the Hillsboro Municipal Court, which, following a plea of no contest, found defendant-appellant, Clarissa Puterbaugh, guilty of obstructing official business in violation of R.C. 2921.31, a second-degree misdemeanor.”
State v. Wellman, 879 N.E.2d 215 (Ohio Ct. App. 1st Dist. 2007). · cites it 7ד22 {¶ 27} Wellman’s first proposed instruction stated that “Ohio Rev. Code § 2921.31 [requires] an affirmative act in order to trigger culpability.”
State v. Smith, 671 N.E.2d 594 (Ohio Ct. App. 4th Dist. 1996). · cites it 32ד07 is identical to R.C. 2921.31(A). 1 Both state: “No person, without privilege to do so and with purpose to prevent, obstruct, or delay the performance by a public official of any authorized act within his official capacity, shall do any act which hampers or impedes a public…”
State v. Body, 2018-Ohio-3395, 117 N.E.3d 1024. · cites it 8דFacts and Course of Proceedings {¶ 2} On March 20, 2017, the State filed a criminal complaint against Body charging her with obstructing official business in violation of R.C. 2921.31(A), a second-degree misdemeanor.”
State v. Kates, 865 N.E.2d 66 (Ohio Ct. App. 10th Dist. 2006). · cites it 8ד05AP-27, 2005-Ohio-4553 , 2005 WL 2087926 , in which we held that “fleeing from a police officer who is lawfully attempting to detain the suspect under the authority of Terry , is an affirmative act that hinders or impedes the officer in performance of the officer’s duties as a…”
State v. Pierce, 2017-Ohio-4223. · cites it 9דR.C. 2921.31. State v. Dice, 3d Dist. Marion No.”
State v. Gibson, 2019-Ohio-1022. · cites it 9דLaw Regarding Obstruction of Official Business {¶ 17} R.C. 2921.31 provides in pertinent part as follows: (A) No person, without privilege to do so and with purpose to prevent, obstruct, or delay the performance by a public official of any authorized act within the public…”
State v. Henry, 2018-Ohio-1128, 110 N.E.3d 103. · cites it 5ד13, and one count of obstructing official business, in violation of R.C. 2921.31. The matter came for trial before a jury beginning October 4, 2016.”
Cheryl D. Lyons v. City of Xenia, 417 F.3d 565 (6th Cir. 2005). · cites it 3ד06; Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 2921.31 . A conviction under the Ohio provision requires (1) the performance of an unprivileged act (2) with the purpose of preventing, obstructing or delaying the performance by a public official of an authorized act within his official capacity (3)…”
State v. Gordon, 458 N.E.2d 1277 (Ohio Ct. App. 1st Dist. 1983). · cites it 12דThe principal questions raised in this appeal are: whether the crime of obstructing official business in violation of R.C. 2921.31 1 is a lesser included offense of the crime of obstructing justice in violation of R.”
Day v. Delong, 358 F. Supp. 3d 687 (S.D. Ohio 2019). · cites it 6דOhio Rev. Code § 2921.31. Because DeLong had probable cause to arrest Plaintiff for violating Ohio Rev.”
State v. Smith, 671 N.E.2d 594 (Ohio Ct. App. 4th Dist. 1996). “07 is identical to R.C. 2921.31(A). 1 Both state: “No person, without privilege to do so and with purpose to prevent, obstruct, or delay the performance by a public official of any authorized act within his official capacity, shall do any act which hampers or impedes a public…”
State v. Body, 2018-Ohio-3395, 117 N.E.3d 1024. “Facts and Course of Proceedings {¶ 2} On March 20, 2017, the State filed a criminal complaint against Body charging her with obstructing official business in violation of R.C. 2921.31(A), a second-degree misdemeanor.”
State v. Pierce, 2017-Ohio-4223. “R.C. 2921.31. State v. Dice, 3d Dist. Marion No.”
State v. Cooper, 786 N.E.2d 88 (Ohio Ct. App. 2d Dist. 2003).
State v. Kates, 865 N.E.2d 66 (Ohio Ct. App. 10th Dist. 2006). “05AP-27, 2005-Ohio-4553 , 2005 WL 2087926 , in which we held that “fleeing from a police officer who is lawfully attempting to detain the suspect under the authority of Terry , is an affirmative act that hinders or impedes the officer in performance of the officer’s duties as a…”
State v. Henry, 2018-Ohio-1128, 110 N.E.3d 103. “13, and one count of obstructing official business, in violation of R.C. 2921.31. The matter came for trial before a jury beginning October 4, 2016.”
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