Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 4511
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.17 (2026)

Tampering with traffic control device, freshly applied pavement material, manhole covers

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Effective:
January 1, 2004
Latest Legislation:
Senate Bill 123 - 124th General Assembly
PDF:
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(A) No person, without lawful authority, shall do any of the following:

(1) Knowingly move, deface, damage, destroy, or otherwise improperly tamper with any traffic control device, any railroad sign or signal, or any inscription, shield, or insignia on the device, sign, or signal, or any part of the device, sign, or signal;

(2) Knowingly drive upon or over any freshly applied pavement marking material on the surface of a roadway while the marking materiel is in an undried condition and is marked by flags, markers, signs, or other devices intended to protect it;

(3) Knowingly move, damage, destroy, or otherwise improperly tamper with a manhole cover.

(B)(1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates division (A)(1) or (3) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree. If a violation of division (A)(1) or (3) of this section creates a risk of physical harm to any person, the offender is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. If a violation of division (A)(1) or (3) of this section causes serious physical harm to property that is owned, leased, or controlled by a state or local authority, the offender is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates division (A)(2) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates division (A)(2) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates division (A)(2) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2 cases, 2011–2020 · leading case: State v. Turner (Slip Opinion), 2020-Ohio-6773, 170 N.E.3d 842.
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State v. Turner (Slip Opinion), 2020-Ohio-6773, 170 N.E.3d 842. · cites it 4× “R.C. 4511.17(A)(1) forbids “[k]nowingly” defacing, damaging, or improperly tampering with “any traffic control device,” and R.”
In re B.A.H., 2011-Ohio-4157. “02 (theft), and R.C. 4511.17 (tampering with manhole covers) was a victim of criminally injurious conduct.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.17(A)(1): 1 case
State v. Turner (Slip Opinion), 2020-Ohio-6773, 170 N.E.3d 842. “R.C. 4511.17(A)(1) forbids “[k]nowingly” defacing, damaging, or improperly tampering with “any traffic control device,” and R.”
Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.17(A)(2): 1 case
State v. Turner (Slip Opinion), 2020-Ohio-6773, 170 N.E.3d 842. “R.C. 4511.17(A)(1) forbids “[k]nowingly” defacing, damaging, or improperly tampering with “any traffic control device,” and R.”
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