Cleveland City Council Passes Emergency Resolution Opposing New State Traffic Law

Cleveland City Council has passed an emergency resolution expressing opposition to Ohio House Bill 492, a new state law that changes how motorists interact with law enforcement during traffic stops. Introduced by Council Member Starr, the measure, identified as Resolution No. 883-2026, responds to concerns regarding how the state law might affect civil liberties, racial equity, and the level of trust between Cleveland residents and police officers.

According to 883-2026-FOR ADOPTION-Starr - Resolution opposing HB 492, Governor Mike DeWine signed HB 492 into law on July 7, 2026 Gov. DeWine signs law requiring anyone pulled over to disclose name, address, date of birth. The law requires drivers, and in certain situations, passengers, to provide their name, address, and date of birth to a peace officer during specific lawful traffic encounters. It also expands penalties for interfering with certain motor vehicle-related arrests. The resolution notes that Cleveland has historically faced racial disparities in traffic enforcement, and the Council expressed concern that this new requirement could lead to increased misunderstandings, escalations, or unnecessary criminal charges, particularly in Black and Brown communities. To mitigate these risks, the Council is urging the Ohio General Assembly to consider amendments for better protection against discriminatory enforcement and is calling on the Ohio Attorney General to issue clear public guidance regarding the rights and responsibilities of motorists and passengers.

The resolution has officially passed. Moving forward, the Council is requesting that the Ohio General Assembly evaluate the impact of the law after one year by issuing a public report that examines the number of citations and arrests made, as well as the demographic and geographic distribution of enforcement actions.

Source record

File
883-2026
Type
Emergency Resolution
Status
Passed
Committee
City Council
Introduced
July 13, 2026

View on Cleveland Legistar

Official documents

Sources