Justin W. Cromer

The meeting included reports on core area updates for crash data, vehicle and driver services, roadway project updates, and emergency medical services incident reporting. Discussions covered the implementation of the Skill-2-Drive project, new court conviction letter processes, REAL ID enforcement deadlines, and reinstatement fee amnesty programs. Additionally, the committee reviewed grant funding for the Federal Fiscal Year 2024, criteria for 405(c) grant eligibility, and new court technology upgrade opportunities. The meeting also addressed updates on the distracted driving law, telematics data, and the ongoing partnership between the Bureau of Motor Vehicles and Nationwide Children's Hospital.

The committee discussed several initiatives including the decommissioning of the Ohio Law Enforcement Information System and the subsequent migration of users to the SOLVE platform. Updates were provided on fatal crash statistics for both the July 4th and Labor Day holidays, and goals regarding paper crash report reductions and agency onboarding were reviewed. The session also covered Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicle updates such as the ID R Kids program, the Hard Hitter seatbelt campaign, new driver training requirements, and online service enhancements. Additionally, status reports were presented for various road safety projects, including the No Passing Zone study and MIRE roadway segment data collection, alongside updates on court case management projects.

The committee reviewed core area updates regarding crash statistics, vehicle and driver services including state ID card eligibility, court conviction letters, online BMV services, and the extension of the REAL ID deadline. Discussions covered the progress of the LBRS roadway project, ongoing Highway Safety Program projects, and EMS data collection and reporting. The committee approved the annual update to the strategic plan and discussed a proposed initiative to integrate Motorcycle Ohio training data with crash and EMS records. Funding updates regarding federal grants were also provided.

The meeting commenced with the welcome of members, attendees, and guests, followed by the approval of the minutes from the April 17, 2025 session. Key project proposals were reviewed and approved, including one aimed at Improving Accuracy of Ohio Crash Report Child Restraint System Documentation, which seeks to reduce unverified and inaccurate CRS reporting through improved data collection and training. Another approved proposal focused on funding Electronic Citation Equipment for law enforcement agencies to support the transition to electronic reporting. Core area updates covered Crash data, noting comparisons to previous years and detailing ongoing work related to ECS migration and data quality via the OH-1 form. The Vehicle/Driver section provided updates on the REAL ID Act implementation, warnings about BMV texting scams, details on BMV Express Kiosks, the Reinstatement Fee Amnesty Program, and the availability of free ID cards and online services. Roadway updates detailed progress on TRCC funded projects like the No Passing Zone Project and MIRE Roadway Segment Data Collection. EMS updates provided current transporting agency counts and noted the upcoming switch to NEMSIS Critical Patch 5. Citation/Adjudication focused on the Court Interfaces for Electronic Filing project status. The Open Forum included a discussion regarding issues with private law enforcement agencies submitting crash data and fee disputes related to photo enforcement tickets.

The session reviewed the status and goals of the working group focused on public safety in Ohio State Parks. Key discussion points included reviewing the eight established goals, such as understanding the scope and impact of emergency response issues, assessing current capabilities and funding, studying best practices, and addressing emergency communications weaknesses. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to a presentation on the evolution of Drone First Responder (DFR) technology, specifically regarding drones manufactured by Flock Safety, and how they can improve situational awareness, reduce response times, and support resource-constrained agencies in remote park locations. Participants discussed current drone usage for search and rescue operations and the technical advantages of newer drone models offering extended range and advanced camera capabilities.