Opinion ID: 2814318
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Crook’s Conviction

Text: ¶29. Crook was convicted of renting property without a rental license in violation of RIPLA. To obtain a rental license, RIPLA required Crook to give advance consent to a warrantless search. This he did not do, and he was convicted of renting his property without a license. Because Crook was convicted of renting property without a license, a license that was unconstitutionally conditioned upon advance consent to a warrantless search, Crook’s conviction must be reversed.2 2 The separate opinion would not reverse Crook’s conviction, reasoning that, because Crook never obtained a rental license, he never gave advance consent to an inspection. We reject this reasoning. If Crook had obtained a rental license, he could not have been convicted of renting property without a rental license. RIPLA unconstitutionally forces landlords like Crook to either consent to a warrantless search or forego a rental license. Crook cannot be penalized for failing to obtain a license that required his consent to an unconstitutional, warrantless search. Wilson v. Cincinnati, 346 N.E.2d 666, 671 (Ohio 1976) (stating that “the Fourth Amendment prohibits placing appellant in a position where she must agree to a warrantless inspection of her property or face a criminal penalty.)” 17