ASPEN'S LAW 

IN SOUTHWEST OHIO, THE DEATH OF A HIGH SCHOOL FRESHMEN BACK IN 2024 HAS PROMPTED LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS TOWARD A STRICT NEW STATE DISTRACTED DRIVING LAW. 
15-YEAR-OLD ASPEN RUNNELS WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY A DISTRACTED DRIVER IN A SCHOOL ZONE CROSSWALK IN MAY OF 2024 NEAR LAKOTA EAST HIGH SCHOOL. THE DISTRICT IS NEAR THE I-75 CORRIDOR BETWEEN CINCINNATI AND DAYTON. YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY), THE OHIO HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE APPROVED HOUSE BILL 203 KNOWN AS ASPEN'S LAW. THE BILL WOULD ALIGN SCHOOL ZONE PENALTIES WITH THOSE OF CONSTRUCTION ZONES TO PROVIDE A STRONGER DETERRENT AGAINST DISTRACTED DRIVING. WHAT IS NOW A FIRST-DEGREE MISDEMEANOR WOULD BECOME A FOURTH DEGREE FELONY WITH SENTENCES OF UP TO 18 MONTHS IN PRISON, FINES AND LICENSE SUSPENSIONS.