Police Department
Patrol

Anonymous Calls
The Police Department routinely receives anonymous calls for suspicious vehicles, activities, and persons. Callers do not have to provide identification information in order for an officer to respond to a potential problem in their neighborhood.

Wipers On, Headlights On
“Wipers on, Headlights on” – is a traffic law that went into effect on July 1, 2009. This law mandates drivers to turn their headlights on when they are using their windshield wipers due to weather conditions. This legislation improves vehicle visibility when the driving conditions are poor. The goal is to reduce and avoid traffic accidents by increasing the visibility between drivers.

Slow Down, Move Over
“Slow Down, Move Over” – This law was enacted in honor to Officer John Kalaman of the Centerville Police Department. It requires drivers to slow down and move over (if possible) when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle. The law was expanded on July 1, 2009 to include stationary road service vehicles, tow trucks, and other vehicles using a yellow or amber light. On a two lane roadway, drivers are only required to slow down when passing a stationary emergency or road / service vehicle.


Ohio's Child Booster Seat Law
Ohio's Booster-Seat Law Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death to children age 2 to 14 and the leading cause of injury-related death to children under 2. Vehicle seat belts are designed for the comfort and protection of an adult-sized body. Child safety seats, when used and installed correctly, can prevent injury and save lives.
Unrestrained or improperly restrained children are more likely to be injured, to suffer more severe injuries, and to die in motor vehicle crashes than children who are restrained. Restrained children have an 80 percent lower risk for injuries or death than children who are unrestrained. Misuse of child safety seats is widespread. It is estimated that nearly 4 out of 5 children who are placed in car seats are improperly restrained.

Who needs to be in a booster seat?
In compliance with Ohio’s new law, children who are 4, 5, 6 and 7 years old, who weigh more than 40 pounds and are less than 4-feet-9-inches tall. Many older children -- up to the age of 12 -- ought to use them too, safety experts say. Bottom line: All children should use a safety seat until a car's seat belt fits them properly. Also - regarding booster seats: Children must be in them no matter who's driving. That means grandparents and caregivers have to make sure they're used, too.

And other children?
Those who are younger than 4 and weigh less than 40 pounds must be in car seats, under Ohio law. Children from 8 to 15 who are not in a booster seat must be in a seat belt – anywhere in the car.

What happens under the law if I don't have a booster seat?
Officers can issue warnings beginning Oct. 7, 2009. But they won't start writing tickets until April 7, 2010. A first offense will cost you $25 to $75, plus court costs. Not having a booster seat is considered a secondary offense in Ohio. That means it works like the seat-belt law for adults -- an officer cannot stop a driver just to see if he's violating the booster-seat law. But if an officer pulls a driver over for something else, he can write him a ticket for not using a booster seat.
The car-seat law for infants and toddlers is different. An officer can pull a driver over on suspicion of not having a child less than 4 years old and 40 pounds in a car seat.

Front seat or back?
Ohio's booster-seat law doesn't require children to be in back seats, but experts say that's the safest place for them. Thomas Vilt, child-passenger safety coordinator says, "We would all be safer if we rode in the back seat."