MOTORCYCLE OHIO TRAINING COURSE REGISTRATION OPENS ON JAN. 25TH
Motorcycle Ohio’s training course registration will open on January 25, 2021 at 8:30am. The motorcycle training courses are conducted from April until early November. Approximately 12,000 students register each year in Ohio for a motorcycle training course.
Basic Rider Skills (BRS) The BRS is a 16-hour course recommended for novice riders. BRS students must have a valid Temporary Instruction Permit Identification Card (TIPIC) to participate in the course. Motorcycles and helmets are provided. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will earn the BMV skill-test waiver for a motorcycle license or endorsement.
Basic Rider Skills for Returning Riders (BRS-RR) The BRS-RR is an 8-hour course designed for riders 18 years of age or older who have been riding with a temporary permit for longer than one year (over 1,00 miles of experience), or an experienced rider returning after an extended time away from riding. BRS-RR students must have a valid motorcycle TIPIC, license or endorsement to participate in the course. Motorcycles and helmets are provided. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will earn the BMV skill-test waiver for a motorcycle license or endorsement.
Basic Rider Skills 2 (BRS-2) This 7-hour, one-day, range-only course (no formal classroom session) requires a motorcycle TIPIC, license or endorsement. This class is also suitable for newly endorsed/licensed riders. Students will use their own street legal two-wheeled motorcycle and helmet. Upon successful completion of this course, the student will earn the BMV skill-test waiver for a motorcycle license or endorsement. Passengers are permitted in the BRS-2 course with a licensed or endorsed motorcycle rider.
Please visit www.motorcycle.ohio.gov for more information about Motorcycle Ohio’s training courses and locations.
OHIO SUPREME COURT DECISION ON O.R.C. 4511.13 (A)(1) MARKED LANES
The Ohio Supreme Court has found that a driver who drives on the fog line, but does not cross outside of the line, is not in violation of O.R.C. 4511.13(A)(1) (marked lanes). The decision settles a conflict around the state interpreting marked lanes violations.
In this case, a trooper observed the defendant driving with his tires on the white fog line for a short time on the right side of a two way, two lane highway. The trooper pulled him over for a marked lanes violation, and after investigation, determined he was impaired. The defendant was charged with a marked lanes violation and OVI.
The trial court granted the defendant's motion to suppress finding that because the tires did not cross over the fog line, the trooper did not have reasonable, articulable suspicion to pull him over; the twelfth district Court of Appeals disagreed and reversed. The Supreme Court then certified a conflict between appellate districts around the state that have decided differently. The Court's analysis included a detailed discussion of the requirements of designing and marking highway lanes and interpretation of statutory construction. The Court found that the statute does not prohibit driving on the fog line of a driver's lane as that is not "outside of the lane" (essentially saying that the line is within the lane).
Law enforcement should keep this in mind when forming reasonable and articulable suspicion to pull over a vehicle. Although the act of driving on the fog line may be one of the circumstances in forming reasonable and articulable suspicion, the act alone may be cause for suppression.
FHWA RULING FOR PROPER USE OF CHANGEABLE MESSAGE SIGNS
A message from our partners at the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has issued an official ruling for proper use of Changeable Message Signs (CMS) covering topics such as traffic safety campaigns, AMBER alerts, emergency and homeland security messages, transportation related messages, real time traffic control messages, travel time messages, and inappropriate uses for CMS. To view this ruling click here.
Respectfully,
Duane Soisson
Transportation Engineer 4
Office of Roadway Engineering, Signing & Markings 1980 W. Broad Street, Mailstop 1230, Columbus, Ohio 43223 (p) 614.466.3649 transportation.ohio.gov
IRS STANDARD MILEAGE RATE FOR 2021
IR-2020-279, December 22, 2020
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today issued the 2021 optional standard mileage rates used to calculate the deductible costs of operating an automobile for business, charitable, medical or moving purposes.
Beginning on January 1, 2021, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:
56 cents per mile driven for business use, down 1.5 cents from the rate for 2020,
16 cents per mile driven for medical, or moving purposes for qualified active duty members of the Armed Forces, down 1 cent from the rate for 2020, and
14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations, the rate is set by statute and remains unchanged from 2020.
You can find complete information regarding the IRS standard mileage rates for 2021 by clicking here.
CAREER OPPORTUNITY
IMPAIRED DRIVING DIVISION CHIEF
Submitted by Morgan Drexler - NHTSA Impaired Driving Division
Dear Colleagues,
The NHTSA Office of Impaired Driving and Occupant Protection is seeking a self-motivated and high performing professional to lead an exceptional team of dedicated safety specialists. The Impaired Driving Division Chief serves as principal staff advisor to the Office Director for directing and coordinating the Division’s programmatic activities and policy development associated with impaired driving. The position is located at NHTSA Headquarters in Washington, DC.
NHTSA is dedicated to achieving the highest standards of excellence in motor vehicle and highway safety. The agency strives to exceed the expectations of its customers through its core values of Integrity, Service and Leadership. Save lives, prevent injuries and reduce economic costs due to road traffic crashes, through education, research, safety standards and enforcement activity.
The Impaired Driving Division Chief provides leadership and technical direction within the Office for the planning, development, management and execution of crosscutting program issues and assists the Office Director in the establishment of policy, goals and objectives to prevent or intervene in potential impaired driving situations. This position is also responsible for preparing and presenting annual division budgets and project plans.
Please consider this exciting opportunity and pass it along to others you think may be interested!
The announcement, which closes on Wednesday, February 3rd, is available here.
Best,
Morgan
BREATH PERMIT RENEWAL CONTINGENCY PLAN - COVID-19 UPDATE 11/23/2020
To:
Breath Alcohol Testing Operators and Senior Operators
From:
Jeanna Walock, Program Administrator Alcohol and Drug Testing Program
Date:
November 23, 2020
Breath Permit Renewal Contingency Plan - COVID-19 Updated 11/23/2020
Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Alcohol and Drug Testing Program will temporarily suspend training classes and in-person Breath Test Operator and Senior Operator permit renewal testing.
For Breath Test Operators and Senior Operators who have a permit with an expiration date prior to April 1, 2021 AND who have not completed a renewal test, click here and follow the instructions to apply for renewal.
BAC Datamaster Proficiency Test form can be found by clicking here.
Intoxilyzer 5000 Proficiency Test form can be found by clicking here.
If you have any questions, contact the Alcohol and Drug Testing Program at BADT@odh.ohio.gov or call (614) 644-4609. We will communicate in the future when we are again able to conduct training classes and in-person renewal testing.
If your I-8000 card expired on 12/31/2019 and you have not completed a renewal test, please contact the above email address with your contact info and 'I-8000 renewal request' in the subject line. ADT staff will contact you to determine a time to conduct renewal testing.
Super Bowl
Fans Don't Let Fans Drive Drunk
Super Bowl has become synonymous with drinking and celebrating, making roads on Super Bowl weekend dangerous. Using these materials, you can raise awareness in your community or with your officers to the heightened dangers of drunk driving on Super Bowl weekend.
For marketing materials for the Super Bowl campaign, click here.
These marketing materials should only be used in support of the Super Bowl drunk driving prevention campaign period. Specific requests and questions regarding their use outside of this time period should be directed to Feedback-TSM@dot.gov.
DRUNK DRIVING | BUZZED DRIVING IS DRUNK DRIVING
Saint Patrick's Day
March 17, 2021
Each year, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated with city parades, funny leprechaun hats, and plenty o’ green beer. Unfortunately, it often ends with risky drunk drivers taking to the streets when the parties end. Drunk driving accounts for nearly one-third of vehicle-related fatalities in the United States.
This St. Patrick’s Day, please remember that Buzzed Driving Is Drunk Driving. If you plan to go out and enjoy the evening with alcohol, make sure you refrain from driving. Review these facts and share the word about the dangers of drunk driving so you can continue merry-making for all the St. Paddy’s Days to come.
Use these marketing tools to reach out to your community about the dangers of drinking and driving on this day. These materials will partner your office with other States, communities, and organizations on this drunk driving prevention initiative:
March 22 - April 12, 2021 / Rail Grade Crossing Campaign
Although accidents at railroad crossings are an old problem, the problem is easily avoidable. This campaign is a focused effort to reverse the uptick in railroad crossing fatalities. Its message is simple: Stop. Trains Can’t.
Submitted by: Shelli Stephens-Stidham - Senior Program Consultant, Safe States Alliance and
Sandy Spavone - Executive Director, Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA)
As track leaders for the Lifesavers National Conference on Highway Safety Priorities, we are inviting you to the 2021 conference to be held virtually April 26 – 28. Visit the Lifesavers Conference website at www.lifesaversconference.org to register and view the conference schedule.
Lifesavers is the world’s largest gathering of highway safety leaders and advocates. The 2021 Virtual Conference offers 70 workshops in nine tracks, plenary sessions, peer exchange discussion groups, and an interactive exhibit hall. Critical highway safety topics, including responses to COVID-19 and current social events, will be presented in a virtual environment designed to engage participants in an exchange of ideas, strategies, and solutions.
Vulnerable road users include pedestrians, bicyclists, teens, aging drivers, and motorcyclists. Data for 2018 show that 1,719 young drivers (ages 15-20) were killed in crashes in the U.S. and an estimated 198,000 young drivers were injured in motor vehicle crashes. There was an increase in fatalities of pedestrians (6,283) and bicyclists (857) and an additional 4,985 motorcyclists were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes. That same year, 6,907 people 65 and older were killed in traffic crashes in the U.S., accounting for roughly 19 percent of all traffic fatalities.
Like you, we are committed to improving these numbers. These past months we have had the pleasure of working with experts and advocates who volunteered their time to create a solution-driven program that shares research and initiatives to help protect our most vulnerable populations. Visit the Lifesavers Conference website’s workshops page (https://lifesaversconference.org/workshops-handouts/) to view workshops being offered this year.
For the past 39 years, Lifesavers has offered exceptional networking and learning opportunities. Join with other dedicated highway safety professionals to virtually share information, best practices, and experiences to reduce preventable injuries and deaths on our nation’s highways and create safer communities.
REGISTRATION NOTE from Mary Lofgren - Meetings Management, Inc.
For the 2021 Virtual LifeSavers Conference, you can register at the $275 rate up until the conference in April. We do ask that folks register by Friday, April 23 so we have time to send the link to the online platform before the conference begins on Monday April 26.
To meet the TSRPs and learn what training is available to law enforcement and prosecutors, click here.
NOTE: Corrected link for the video below - Thank you.
TRAFFIC SAFETY CASE LAW UPDATE FOR 2020 - to view this video click here.
Stay tuned to future issues of TrafficWise as new videos are released.
TRAFFIC SAFETY RESOURCE PROSECUTORS WEBINARS
DRUG RECOGNITION EXPERT PROGRAM
and the
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE WEBINAR.
February 16, 2020
This session is intended to provide an update on projects related to and affecting the Drug Recognition Expert program that are underway, as well as new offerings to help further Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement and DRE training.
Approved for of 1.5 general CLE credit hours by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education. To view the compete flyer and registration information, click here.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CANNABIS
FOR PROSECUTORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
March 16, 2021
Pending approval for 1.5 general CLE credit hours by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education. To view the complete flyer with registration information, click here.
DUSTED IN HOUSTON: A SPIKE IN PCI DUI CASES
April 13, 2021
The Houston Forensic Science Center (HFSC) conducted a study based on Houston Police DWI cases and found a large increase in driving cases that involved PCP. This presentation will discuss PCP and its effects on the human body and driving in general, and it will further discuss the HFSC study and its findings so that officers and prosecutors can better understand DWI cases involving PCP. The goal of this session will be to enhance an officer's ability to investigate a PCP related DWI case as well as to enhance a prosecutor's ability to properly and effectively prosecute such a case.
Pending approval for 1.5 general CLE credit hours by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education. To view the complete flyer and registration information, click here.
THE IMPLICATIONS OF FIELD SOBRIETY TEST EVIDENCE
IN DRUG IMPAIRED DRIVING CASES.
May 4, 2021
This session will provide an overview of field sobriety test evidence as it relates to drug impaired driving cases. Presenters Deena Ryerson, Oregon Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, and Ashley Schluck, Wyoming TSRP, will discuss defense challenges in the use of field sobriety test evidence for drug impairment. The session will further cover various court rulings on this issue and how prosecutors and law enforcement officers can prepare to deal with challenges to the admission.
Pending approval for 1.5 general CLE credit hours by the Supreme Court of Ohio Commission on Continuing Legal Education. To view the complete flyer and registration information, click here.
Many training resources are currently available through ODOT’s Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Center, including a variety of free webinars, eLearning courses and publications! Please visit the LTAP Webinars webpage for listings of upcoming sessions.
Click here to visit the LTAP eLearning webpage for details on how to access more than 300 free online courses/modules. Topics include Road Diets, Roadway Departure Countermeasures and many others.
Click here to visit the LTAP Route of Navigation (RON) Educational series, with links to dozens of resource publications for topic categories such as Access Management, Roadway Safety, Signage and Work Zone Safety.
Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement (ARIDE) provides officers with general knowledge related to drug impaired driving and to promote the use of Drug Recognition Experts (DRE). Law enforcement officers will learn to observe, identify and articulate the signs of impairment related to drugs, alcohol, or a combination of both, in order to reduce the number of impaired driving crashes.
The ARIDE program stresses the importance of the signs and symptoms of the seven drug categories. Officers attending this course will receive an update/refresher of Standardized Field Sobriety Testing (SFSTs) and must successfully pass an SFST proficiency evaluation. This training also promotes interaction with representatives from the state's prosecution community who are encouraged to attend. The instructors for this course are all Ohio DRE certified instructors. Prerequisite: Law enforcement officers must have had training in SFST (previously ADAP). This course is funded through an OTSO/NHTSA grant and is free for sworn Ohio law enforcement officers and prosecutors only. Tuition for out-of-state officers is $250.
Instructor: Ryan Born
To view the upcoming classes and to register, click here.
Drug Recognition Expert Program
The Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) Program is a traffic safety program that focuses on the detection, apprehension and adjudication of drug-impaired drivers.
A DRE is a law enforcement officer highly trained to recognize impairment in drivers under the influence of drugs other than or in addition to alcohol.
For more information, upcoming training dates and how to apply for this free training, please view the DRE Application, School Information and upcoming classes by clicking here.
NHTSA JANUARY 2021 IMPAIRED DRIVING UPDATE
Please find the January edition of NHTSA’s Impaired Driving Division Update by clicking here.
In this edition you will find a variety information including; information on an event investigating trends in risky driving during the first nine months of 2020, reports analyzing 2019 motor vehicle fatality data, CDC fact sheets on drug-impaired driving, a report from NLLEA addressing alcohol sales and delivers during the COVID-19 pandemic and much more.
We hope you find the Update helpful.
Happy New Year,
Morgan Drexler, MPH, CPH
E-mail: morgan.drexler.ctr@dot.gov
USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR HOLIDAY TRAFFIC SAFETY MESSAGING
Submitted by Lynette Blaisman - Portage County Safe Communities
In December, coalition members and partners with the Portage County Safe Communities program came together to highlight several social media messages focusing on Traffic Safety. Thirteen partners took part in producing individual traffic safety messages. Highlighted here are two of the video messages that were shared on the Portage County Facebook page.
The first video message is from Trooper Chuck Hoskins of the Ravenna Post and the second is from Officer Rapp with the Brimfield Police Department.
You can view the first video by clicking here and the second one by clicking here.
If you would like more information on how this was accomplished, please contact Lynette at lblasiman@portagehealth.net
REMEMBER the OTSO offers materials for numerous traffic safety campaigns, including impaired driving, restraint usage, distracted driving, and motorcycles. Utilizing the numerous materials found here can make an impact that will reach beyond your community. By raising public awareness YOU can help save lives. The order form can be found by clicking here.
