"MM54" (mm54mk2)
05/07/2015 at 11:20 • Filed to: None
1
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"MM54" (mm54mk2)
05/07/2015 at 11:20 • Filed to: None | 1
| 13 |
Those of you who keep up with me may remember a similar post looking for thoughts on North Carolina - that job fell through, but now I’m looking at one in Eastern Ohio which I’m pretty sure I’ll be taking.
So - as someone currently living in Erie PA, what should I know about Ohio, in the Kent area? Things in terms of automotive laws, taxes, good/bad areas, things to do (SCCA?), gun laws, etc.
Thanks!
Have a Grifo for your time:
oneavejoe
> MM54
05/07/2015 at 11:51 |
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Don’t know much about the local areas, I’m in Cincinnati.
You’ll be closer than me to Mid-Ohio track.
But, automotive law quirks:
1) Not illegal for trucks to use left lane. they can and will camp out there.
2) Ohio is the top state for speeding tickets (# issued)
http://blog.esurance.com/speeding-ticke…
Gun laws:
We’re getting better. CCW was just amended to be more permissive (3/23/15).
Here’s a good primer:
http://handgunlaw.us/states/ohio.pd…
Roundbadge
> MM54
05/07/2015 at 12:21 |
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Mid-Ohio and Nelson Ledges would be the closest tracks, the latter being significantly more cost-effective.
Kent is in Portage County, which is one of the few counties in Ohio that require E-Check every two years, prior to renewing your registration. The testing is free, it’s just that it has to be done on all vehicles 25 years old or newer.
I work in Kent (sort of) and live nearby.
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MM54
> Roundbadge
05/07/2015 at 12:37 |
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Thanks!
To be specific, it’s in Aurora (so near Kent, but not really in it). I’ll have to keep a check on counties when I’m looking for a place to live, I’d prefer to avoid the emissions checks.
I actually had no idea that there was a track at Nelson Ledges (or where that even is, I just had to google it), that’s not even that far from where I am now!
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MM54
> oneavejoe
05/07/2015 at 12:39 |
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Cool, thanks! Good to know I’ll still be able to carry (I’ll read the linked article in full sometime when I get the chance, obviously before moving though).
The trucks and speeding tickets sound much like PA - although if I remember correctly, you have 70mph speed limits, which is an improvement from 65 here.
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Roundbadge
> MM54
05/07/2015 at 13:00 |
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It’s going to be tough to find a place to live that doesn’t require E Check in NE Ohio. You’re pretty much talking about Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning or Stark counties. Of those 4, Trumbull would be the closest to Aurora...and that’s still a haul.
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MM54
> Roundbadge
05/07/2015 at 14:42 |
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Hmm... I’m not familiar with the counties but does the same apply along I-80?
Shift24
> MM54
05/07/2015 at 15:33 |
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Inner city its 65 mph, out of city its 70 mph. Though we might have the most tickets we do require the cops to have their lights on at night (like when sitting in the median), they have to be in plain sight or its ruled as entrapment, and the Statie cars have been white/silver for awhile now so they are not easily missed. Used to be a weird dark silver/brown until a politician got caught speeding and made them change the color
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MM54
> Shift24
05/07/2015 at 16:49 |
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Sounds much better than the 55/65 here, plus the state cops in unmarked cars parked with their lights off in the median at night waiting to give you your ticket!
Not very enthusiastic about front license plates, though :(
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Shift24
> MM54
05/07/2015 at 17:53 |
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Thats bull, i have heard stories of them sitting way back on on-ramps. Oh also red light cameras are basically a joke now, a cop has to be at one for it to be a valid ticket(which is never) and on non-highways they have to warn you on the Aircraft speed monitoring (might be on freeways too but i dont remember and the signs can be easily missed).
Now the front plate, yeah i agree but i havent run with a front plate on my 98 Camaro for years now and havent gotten anything about it. My dad’s Si same thing and he has never had a plate and its been 6 years now. My recommendation is if you have anything sporty just leave the holder off and DONT put it in the windshield, staties will get pissy about it. Anything else, SUV, sedan, truck, just put it on.
Also i think its where you might be moving but one of those counties requires smog test, the rest of Ohio doesnt... so if it runs, its legal except in 2 counties.....
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Roundbadge
> MM54
05/07/2015 at 18:22 |
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Those are the counties around Youngstown/Warren and Canton (Stark). I-80 goes through Mahoning, Trumbull, Portage, Summit and Cuyahoga counties. The last 3 have E Check, as does Geauga and Lake to the north, and Lorain and Medina counties to the west. The four counties I mentioned are your best bet.
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Roundbadge
> MM54
05/07/2015 at 20:57 |
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Regarding the E Checks, they don’t actually cost anything. Ohio’s tobacco settlement payout is paying for it. If it’s the inconvenience factor, there’s a facility in each town, and they actually have self-service kiosks that almost no one uses (device just plugs into your OBDII port). In the past couple of years, I haven’t waited a minute nor had even a speck of trouble using them, and it updates to the DMV’s database within one day.
If it’s a vehicle issue...well...yeah, that sucks.
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MM54
> Roundbadge
05/07/2015 at 21:25 |
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My current DD has a bad cat that I’d rather not fix (although I would like to “fix” it by just cutting it out, but that won’t cancel the P0420) since the cat genuinely costs more than the car is worth. Good to hear it isn’t a cone and dyno and all that crap though (and the whole “it’s free!” thing). My other ride is 44 years old so it’s not a concern at this point.
Future projects are, of course, unknown :)
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Roundbadge
> MM54
05/07/2015 at 22:48 |
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Fair enough. Good luck!