Ohio § 2907.38
Full text of Ohio Ohio Revised Code § 2907.38, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 2907.38.
(A) As used in this section: (1) “ Commercial establishment ” means an entity that is open to the public and to which either of the following
applies: (a) It has a substantial or significant portion of its stock in trade of the sale, rental,
or viewing of visual materials or performances depicting sexual conduct. (b) It has as a principal business purpose the sale, rental, or viewing of visual materials
or performances depicting sexual conduct. (2) “ Visual materials or performances ” means films, videos, CD-ROM discs, streaming video, or other motion pictures. (B) No person who has custody, control, or supervision of a commercial establishment,
with knowledge of the character of the visual material or performance involved, shall
knowingly permit the use of, or offer the use of, viewing booths, stalls, or partitioned
portions of a room located in the commercial establishment for the purpose of viewing
visual materials or performances depicting sexual conduct unless both of the following
apply: (1) The inside of each booth, stall, or partitioned room is visible from, and at least
one side of each booth, stall, or partitioned room is open to, a continuous and contiguous
main aisle or hallway that is open to the public areas of the commercial establishment
and is not obscured by any curtain, door, or other covering or enclosure. (2) No booth, stall, or partitioned room is designed, constructed, pandered, or allowed
to be used for the purpose of encouraging or facilitating nudity or sexual activity
on the part of or between patrons or members of the public, and no booth, stall, or
partitioned room has any aperture, hole, or opening for the purpose of encouraging
or facilitating nudity or sexual activity. (C) It is an affirmative defense to a charge under this section that either of the following
applies to the involved visual materials or performances: (1) The visual materials or performances depicting sexual conduct are disseminated or
presented for a bona fide medical, scientific, educational, religious, governmental,
judicial, or other proper purpose and by or to a physician, psychologist, sociologist,
scientist, teacher, person pursuing bona fide studies or research, librarian, member
of the clergy, prosecutor, judge, or other person having a proper interest in the
visual materials or performances. (2) The visual materials or performances depicting sexual conduct, taken as a whole,
would be found by a reasonable person to have serious literary, artistic, political,
or scientific value or are presented or disseminated in good faith for a serious literary,
artistic, political, or scientific purpose and are not pandered for their prurient
appeal. (D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of permitting unlawful operation of viewing
booths depicting sexual conduct, a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ohio § 2907.38
What does Ohio Revised Code § 2907.38 cover?
Section 2907.38 is part of the Ohio Revised Code, the codified statutory law of Ohio. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Ohio § 2907.38?
A common citation format is "Ohio Revised Code § 2907.38" (Ohio). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Ohio law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Ohio official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Ohio attorney.
How does Ohio § 2907.38 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Ohio can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Ohio.