[W]hile recognizing the application of the relaxation on expired tags, stated there was “[n]othing in the governor’s announcement relax[ing] the requirement that a vehicle must display a license plate. [The governor’s] announcement only provided a moratorium in renewing expired licenses, ID cards or vehicle registrations during the pandemic.
State v. Lewis
2021 – Ohio – 3179
Eleventh District Appellate Court
Lake County, Ohio
September 13, 2021
On Saturday July 25, 2020, at 10:44 a.m., Wickliffe Police Officer, James Smith, was patrolling the parking lot, in a marked vehicle, at the Quality Inn located on the corner of East 286th Street and Euclid Avenue in Wickliffe, Ohio.
Mr. Lewis was in the parking lot here at the Quality Inn located at 28611 Euclid Avenue, Wickliffe, Ohio 44092. Mr. Lewis did not display a license plate on his car but did have a pocket full of cocaine. When I took this photograph the car leaving only had one headlight, the driver is fortunate that Wickliffe Police Officer James Smith was not near.
Officer Smith identified the Quality Inn as low quality, as it is a high crime area known for drug transactions, guns, prostitution, and stolen vehicles – but not in that order. In fact, the previous day, Officer Smith was involved in in the arrest of a woman who had purchased drugs from an African American male in the parking lot; the man, who was driving a four-door, silver Honda sedan at the time, fled the scene and was not caught.
On Saturday July 25, 2020, the officer observed two African American males in a four-door, silver Honda sedan with a female standing outside the car and leaning in towards the passenger door. The driver of the Honda noticed Officer Smith and appeared “frightened.” – otherwise known as the deer-in-the-headlights look. The vehicle drove away, exited the parking lot, but then re-entered the parking lot from a different access point. In light of the previous day’s events and what he observed, the officer followed the Honda, which re-exited the lot onto East 286th Street. While following the Honda, the officer observed the vehicle had no rear license plate or temporary tag. This observation was supported by the cruiser’s dash-cam.
The Honda proceeded onto I-90 westbound with Officer Smith following. Officer Smith activated his emergency, overhead lights. The Honda did not stop and, as a result, the officer activated his cruiser’s siren. The vehicle then pulled over. Officer Smith approached the vehicle on the passenger’s side and observed appellant in the driver’s seat, a second individual in the passenger seat, and a third in the back seat. Officer Smith informed the driver, later identified as Mr. Anthony Lewis, the vehicle had no license plate, to which Mr. Smith indicated the plate must have fallen off. Upon obtaining permission to open the rear door, Officer Smith noticed the back-seat passenger was holding a license plate with black tape on it. Officer Smith confirmed the plate was registered to the Honda; he also confirmed that the silver Honda he stopped was different from the vehicle that fled the scene on the previous day, due to
differences in the license-plate letters. Among other behaviors, high crime areas have a lot of fleeing vehicles. Officer Smith also agreed during testimony, that the plate at some point, could have been affixed to the back window with tape and fallen off.
Officer Smith again engaged Mr. Lewis, who had no identification. Mr. Smith lied, and stated his name was “Antoine Lewis” and gave a date of birth. Officer Smith checked the name and determined he was not Antoine Lewis. Mr. Lewis was subsequently arrested for falsification; he later gave his true identity. Upon arrest, a wad of money and a baggie of white powder was found in Mr. Lewis’ pants pocket. The substance was later identified as cocaine.
Mr. Lewis was indicted for one count of falsification, in violation of O.R.C. § 2921.13(A)(3), a misdemeanor of the first degree; one count of obstructing official business, in violation of O.R.C. § 2921.31(A), a misdemeanor of the second degree; and one count of possession of cocaine, in violation of O.R.C. § 2925.11(A), a felony of the fifth degree, with a forfeiture specification for contraband/instrumentalities. Mr. Lewis filed a motion to suppress evidence under his real name and after a hearing, the trial court denied the same. Mr. Lewis eventually pleaded no contest, was convicted and filed an appeal.
Mr. Lewis’ appeal focused on House Bill 197 signed into law on Friday March 20, 2020 which extended all license and registration dates that expired during the state of emergency to 90 days after the emergency was over, or December 1, 2020, whichever came sooner. The Eleventh District Appellate Court denied the Motion to Suppress holding “[W]hile recognizing the application of the relaxation on expired tags, stated there was “[n]othing in the governor’s announcement relax[ing] the requirement that a vehicle must display a license plate. [The governor’s] announcement only provided a moratorium in renewing expired licenses, ID cards or vehicle registrations during the pandemic.””.
Information for this article was obtained from State v. Lewis, 2021 – Ohio – 3179.
The Eleventh District Appellate Court issued this decision and therefore it is binding in the following Ohio Counties: Ashtabula, Geauga, Lake, Portage and Trumbull.
Lessons Learned:
- Lewis and his attorney made a feeble attempt at applying House Bill 197 that stayed license plate and operator’s license renewals. This was a feeble attempt because the legislation had nothing to do with the actual display of a license plate on a motor vehicle. Officer Smith should be commended for stopping the Honda as it quickly led to a successful felony arrest. He should also be applauded for knowing his jurisdiction and the hotel known for criminal activity.
- Though the moratorium on license plate and operator’s license renewal is now over, officers must assure they are aware of the constant changing landscape of laws in the state and specific jurisdiction. Law enforcement is the hardest job in America and staying current on case law and legislation is just one part of being a professional.
Does your agency train on the current Ohio statues?
Don’t fail your training.
Don’t let your training fail you!
Be safe, smart and Objectively Reasonable!