Ohio Pepper Spray Law

Pepper Spray

• Pepper spray has a chemical compound, oleoresin capsicum, that comes from cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper is one of the hottest peppers in the world. When sprayed on an attacker, pepper spray can cause pain, respiratory problems, temporary blindnes, and death if used excessively. In most countries, it is considered a weapon.
  
  

Restrictions

• Manufacturers of pepper spray are required to have certain infomation on the canistersnumbers image by Vladislav Gajic from Fotolia.com
  
  In some states pepper spray is illegal when used while committing a crime. Restrictions in some states include the amount of pepper spray a person can have in his possession. Some states also require that labels, manufacturer info and serial numbers be on the aerosol can. Since pepper spray is considered a weapon, some states do not allow persons with criminal records to have the spray in their possession. In addition, some states require that first-aid information be on the label, as well as usage being restricted to persons age 18 and above.
  
  

Pros

• Pepper spray is effective and non-lethal. Because it is a non-lethal weapon (for the most part), a person may not hesitate to use it. It can quickly incapacitate a person when used correctly, and thus it can possibly prevent harm to the victim. It is inexpensive, easy to use and is used by law enforcement agencies worldwide. No permit is needed to carry pepper spray.
  
  

Cons

• An attacker, if quick, can knock the canister out of the victim's hand or turn the canister on the victim; therefore, the victim should not depend on the pepper spray alone. Expired canisters may leak or the spray itself may become weak. Carriers of the spray must be cognizant of the expiration date on the canister. Every 90 days, a test on the propellant should be done. In testing the propellant, the amount of spray in the canister is reduced. Additionally, in windy conditions the spray may be blown away from the perpetrator and the victim may not have enough time to escape.
  
  

Additional information

• Pepper spray cannot be shipped to post office box addresses. The spray can only be shipped by UPS ground shipping. It cannot be carried on commercial airlines and in some places, like federal or state buildings that are subject to security screening, pepper spray is not allowed. For state-specific usage of pepper spray, consult your local police department.