Cleveland — HEADS UP!
Literally, for any "distracted drivers" out there.
A new law is supposed to make it easier for police to ticket you for things beyond the secondary offense of texting while driving in Ohio.
Now the new law broadens "distracted" to include any activity that's not necessary for driving. It can include eating or adjusting the radio.
Basically, if an officer sees what drivers themselves see next to them all the time. Weaving, head down, even things like grabbing lunch on the fly with a sandwich in your hand.
While officers don't have to prove it on scene, attorney Henry Hilow believes it will be difficult to prove in court.
"As time goes on, we'll learn to define it better as cases start coming forward," says Hilow.
Which got us thinking: What else could get you a ticket for?
For starters, those decorative border placards that tell the world you love pets and everything else need to not be covering up any info on the plate.
Consider the kid who was ticketed and fined $160 bucks because not all of the word Ohio was visible.
“I think what you are going to find out is he was covering the word Ohio with a Michigan placard. He’s lucky he didn't get arrested," Hilow laughs.
But the truth is, Hilow hears it all.
Common red flags include lights on the license plate and anywhere on the back of the car being out.
Other ticketable offenses include no front license plate and stuff hanging from the rearview mirror. All of the misdemeanors Hilow says, are usually precursors to bigger violations.
"Officer approaches the car and smells marijuana, for instance. Maybe the passenger in the car has a warrant for a speeding ticket," Hilow explains.
He says fines are usually about $100-$150 for these non-moving misdemeanor offenses with no jail time and no points.
"It's everyday folk that are law abiding people. But now they are the most angry people you ever met in your life! 'I can't believe of ALL people they stopped ME for not having a tail light. I can't believe that is a crime.' Well, welcome to the real world," Hilow says and adds, “I guess at the end of the day those things that we think aren't important, they really are."