New distracted driving law became enforceable on Oct. 5
FINDLAY__Troopers from the Ohio State Highway Patrol’s Findlay District will focus efforts on curbing distracted driving this weekend, as Ohio’s new distracted driving law became enforceable on October 5. The northwest Ohio initiative started at 12 a.m. on October 6, and will end at 11:59 p.m. on October 8.
On April 4, Ohio’s distracted driving law became stricter and is now a primary offense. The new law gave law enforcement officers probable cause to pull over motorists if they witness them illegally using a cell phone or other electronic device. Since then, there have been 446 distracted driving-related crashes in the Findlay District, a 10 percent decrease over the same time frame in 2022. While these numbers are encouraging, distracted driving still occurs on a daily basis on our roadways. In an effort to reduce the number of distracted driving-related crashes, northwest Ohio troopers will be out this weekend looking for drivers violating the new law.
On October 2 The Findlay Courier reported that a Bluffton man has been sentenced in Hancock County Common Pleas Court to 16-18 years in prison for rape and sexual assaults of a child.
The man, Jeffery A. Ludwig, 66, of 451 County Road 33, Bluffton, pleaded guilty to the offenses, which occurred between 2010 and 2015, involving a victim less than ten years old.
The offenses occurred between August 2010 and November 2015. Ludwig is now classified as a Tier III sex offender.
The Hardin County Sheriff's office has made the following announcement: A single vehicle crash early Sunday afternoon has claimed the life of an Arlington man.
Hardin County Central Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call at 12:14 p.m. reporting a crash of a vehicle into a tree at 18689 TR 22, Forest.
A Findlay man led law enforcement on a high speed chase and avoided capture in a cornfield on September 18, according to a report from Your Hometown Stations of Lima.
Findlay police attemped to pull over Jaden Thomas, 29, who was driving a stolen car. Thomas was recognized as having a warrant out for his arrest.
The Bluffton Police Department will be holding a dedication ceremony for a new Fallen Officers Memorial at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 23.
The memorial will be located in front of the Bluffton Town Hall, 154 N. Main St. The public is invited to attend this dedication and unveiling of the memorial display.
