Ohio § 4511.661 Unattended motor vehicles

Ohio Statutes

§ 4511.661 — Unattended motor vehicles

Ohio § 4511.661

Title 45Motor Vehicles-Aeronautics-Watercraft

Ch. 4511Traffic Laws - Operation Of Motor Vehicles

This text of Ohio § 4511.661 (Unattended motor vehicles) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Ohio primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 4511.661 (2026).

Text

(A)No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the ignition, effectively setting the parking brake, and, when the motor vehicle is standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway. The requirements of this section relating to the stopping of the engine, locking of the ignition, and removing the key from the ignition of a motor vehicle do not apply to any of the following:

(1)A motor vehicle that is parked on residential property;

(2)A motor vehicle that is locked, regardless of where it is parked;

(3)An emergency vehicle;

(4)A public safety vehicle.

(B)Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this sec

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(A) No person driving or in charge of a motor vehicle shall permit it to stand unattended without first stopping the engine, locking the ignition, removing the key from the ignition, effectively setting the parking brake, and, when the motor vehicle is standing upon any grade, turning the front wheels to the curb or side of the highway.

The requirements of this section relating to the stopping of the engine, locking of the ignition, and removing the key from the ignition of a motor vehicle do not apply to any of the following:

(1) A motor vehicle that is parked on residential property;

(2) A motor vehicle that is locked, regardless of where it is parked;

(3) An emergency vehicle;

(4) A public safety vehicle.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates 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 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 this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.