COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio drivers and passengers will soon be required to provide identifying information during traffic stops after Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 492 into law Tuesday.
Beginning Oct. 5, 2026, anyone in a vehicle stopped for a moving violation must provide their name, address and date of birth to a law enforcement officer upon request.
The new law also increases the penalty for refusing to provide that information. Individuals who fail to comply could face a second-degree misdemeanor charge for interfering with an arrest.
House Bill 492 was sponsored by State Reps. Sharon Ray, R-Wadsworth, and Cindy Abrams, R-Harrison.
Supporters of the legislation say it is intended to improve officer safety during traffic stops, which are considered among the most dangerous situations law enforcement officers encounter. They argue the law gives officers another tool to help identify the people they interact with during roadside investigations.
The legislation takes effect 90 days after Gov. DeWine’s signature, making the law effective Oct. 5, 2026.
The new requirement applies only to providing basic identifying information and does not require drivers or passengers to answer additional questions beyond their name, address and date of birth.
