Except as otherwise provided, the definitions set forth in R.C. § 4501.01 shall apply to this Title, Chapter 95, and the penal laws of the municipality. For the purpose of this Title and Chapter 95, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR and TRACTION ENGINE. Every self-propelled vehicle designed or used for drawing other vehicles or wheeled machinery, but having no provision for carrying loads independently of such other vehicles, and used principally for agricultural purposes.
ALLEY. A street or highway intended to provide access to the rear or side of lots or buildings in urban districts, and not intended for the purpose of through vehicular traffic, and any street or highway that has been declared an “alley” by the Legislative Authority of the municipality in which the street or highway is located.
ARTERIAL STREET OR HIGHWAY. A street or highway primarily used by through traffic, usually on a continuous route or a street or highway designated as part of an arterial system.
AUTOCYCLE. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4501.01.
BEACON. A highway traffic signal with one or more signal sections that operate in a flashing mode.
BICYCLE. A pedal-powered vehicle upon which a human operator sits, including an electric bicycle.
BICYCLE BOX. A designated area on the approach to a signalized intersection, between an advance motorist stop line and the crosswalk or intersection, that is intended to provide bicyclists a visible location to wait in front of stopped motorists during the red signal phase.
BICYCLE LANE. A portion of a roadway that has been designated for preferential or exclusive use by bicyclists and is often delineated from the adjacent general- purpose lanes by longitudinal pavement markings and either a bicycle lane symbol, words, or signs. The term includes all of the following:
(1) A buffer-separated bicycle lane, which is separated from the adjacent general-purpose lanes by a pattern of standard longitudinal pavement markings that are wider than a normal or wide-lane pavement marking;
(2) A counter-flow bicycle lane, which is a one- directional bicycle lane that provides a lawful path of travel for bicycles in the opposite direction from the general traffic on a roadway that otherwise requires the general traffic to travel in only one direction. A counter-flow bicycle lane is designated by the traffic control devices used for other bicycle lanes;
(3) A separated bicycle lane, which is an exclusive facility for bicyclists that is located within or directly adjacent to the roadway and is physically separated from the motor vehicle traffic with a vertical element.
BICYCLE SIGNAL FACE. A signal face that displays only bicycle symbol signal indications in accordance with R.C. § 4511.15 that exclusively controls a bicyclist’s movement from a designated bicycle lane or from a separate facility, and that displays signal indications that are applicable only to a bicyclist’s movement.
BICYCLE SIGNAL SIGN. A sign meant to inform road users that the signal indications in the bicycle signal face are intended only for bicyclists, and to inform bicyclists which bicyclist movements are controlled by that bicycle signal face.
BIKEWAY. Any road, street, path, or way that in some manner is specifically designated for bicycle travel, regardless of whether the facility is designated for the exclusive use of bicycles or if it is shared with other modes of transportation.
BUS. Every motor vehicle designed for carrying more than nine passengers, and used for the transportation of persons other than in a ridesharing arrangement, and every motor vehicle, automobile for hire, or funeral car, other than a taxicab or motor vehicle used in a ridesharing arrangement, designed and used for the transportation of persons for compensation.
BUSINESS DISTRICT. The territory fronting upon a street or highway, including the street or highway, between successive intersections within the municipality, where 50% or more of the frontage between successive intersections is occupied by buildings in use for business, or within or outside the municipality where 50% or more of the frontage for a distance of 300 feet or more is occupied by buildings in use for business, and the character of the territory is indicated by official traffic-control devices.
BUSWAY. A traveled way that is used exclusively by buses.
CAB-ENCLOSED MOTORCYCLE. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4501.01.
CHAUFFEURED LIMOUSINE. A motor vehicle that is designed to carry nine or fewer passengers and is operated for hire pursuant to a prearranged contract for the transportation of passengers on public roads and highways along a route under the control of the person hiring the vehicle and not over a defined and regular route. “Prearranged contract” means an agreement, made in advance of boarding, to provide transportation from a specific location in an chauffeured limousine. The term does not include any vehicle that is used exclusively in the business of funeral directing. (R.C. § 4501.01(LL)) (Rev. 2014)
CHILD CARE CENTER. Has the same meaning as set forth in R.C. § 5104.01.
COMMERCIAL TRACTOR. Every motor vehicle having motive power designed or used for drawing other vehicles, and not so constructed as to carry any load thereon, or designed or used for drawing other vehicles while carrying a portion of the other vehicles, or the load thereon, or both.
CONTROLLED-ACCESS HIGHWAY. Every street or highway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right or access to or from the same except at certain points only and in a manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over the street or highway.
CROSSWALK.
(1) That part of a roadway at an intersection included within the connections of the lateral lines of the sidewalks on opposite sides of the highway measured from the curbs, or, in the absence of curbs, from the edges of the traversable roadway, and in the absence of a sidewalk on one side of the roadway, the part of a roadway included within the extension of the lateral lines of the sidewalk at right angles to the center line;
(2) Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere, distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface, which might be supplemented by contrasting pavement texture, style, or color;
(3) Notwithstanding divisions (1) and (2) of this definition, the term does not include an area where local authorities have placed signs indicating no crossing.
DRIVER or OPERATOR. Any person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
DRIVEWAY. An access from a roadway to a building, site, or abutting property.
ELECTRIC BICYCLE. Means a “class 1 electric bicycle”, a “class 2 electric bicycle”, or a “class 3 electric bicycle” as defined below.
(1) CLASS 1 ELECTRIC BICYCLE. Means a bicycle that is equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
(2) CLASS 2 ELECTRIC BICYCLE. Means a bicycle that is equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts that may provide assistance regardless of whether the rider is pedaling and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 20 miles per hour.
(3) CLASS 3 ELECTRIC BICYCLE. Means a bicycle that is equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than 750 watts that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of 28 miles per hour.
ELECTRONIC. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4501.01.
EMERGENCY VEHICLE. Emergency vehicles of municipal, township or county departments or public utility corporations, when identified as such as required by law, the Director of Public Safety, or local authorities, and motor vehicles when commandeered by a police officer.
EXPLOSIVES. Any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is intended for the purpose of producing an explosion that contains any oxidizing and combustible units or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities, or packing that an ignition by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion, or by a detonator of any part of the compound or mixture may cause a sudden generation of highly heated gases, such that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects, or of destroying life or limb. Manufactured articles shall not be held to be explosives when the individual units contain explosives in limited quantities of such nature or in such packing that it is impossible to procure a simultaneous or a destructive explosion of the units, to the injury of life, limb, or property by fire, friction, concussion, percussion, or by a detonator, such as fixed ammunition for small arms, firecrackers, or safety fuse matches.
EXPRESSWAY. A divided arterial street or highway for through traffic with full or partial control of access with an excess of 50% of all crossroads separated in grade.
FARM MACHINERY. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4501.01.
FLAMMABLE LIQUID. Any liquid which has a flash point of 70°F or less, as determined by a tagliabue or equivalent closed cup test device.
FREEWAY. A divided multi-lane highway for through traffic with crossroads separated in grade and with full control of access.
FUNERAL ESCORT VEHICLE. Any motor vehicle, including a funeral hearse, while used to facilitate the movement of a funeral procession.
GROSS WEIGHT. The weight of a vehicle plus the weight of any load thereon.
HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE VEHICLE. A vehicle used in snow and ice removal or road surface maintenance, including a snow plow, traffic line striper, road sweeper, mowing machine, asphalt distributing vehicle, or other such vehicle designed for use in specific highway maintenance activities.
HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SIGNAL. A power-operated traffic control device by which traffic is warned or directed to take some specific action. The term includes a beacon, an in-road warning light, a lane-use control signal, and a traffic control signal. The term does not include a power-operated sign, steadily illuminated pavement marker, gate, flashing light signal, warning light, or steady burning electric lamp.
HYBRID BEACON. A special type of beacon that is intentionally placed in a dark mode where no indications are displayed between periods of operation and, when operated, displays both steady and flashing highway traffic signal indications. The term includes both of the following:
(1) An emergency-vehicle hybrid beacon used to warn and control traffic at an otherwise unsignalized location to assist authorized emergency vehicles in entering or crossing a street or highway;
(2) A pedestrian hybrid beacon used to warn and control traffic at an otherwise unsignalized location to assist pedestrians in crossing a street or highway at a marked crosswalk.
IN-ROAD WARNING LIGHT. A special type of highway traffic signal that is installed in the roadway surface to warn road users that they are approaching a condition on or adjacent to the roadway that might not be readily apparent and might require the road users to reduce speed or come to a complete stop.
INTERSECTION.
(1) The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or, if none, the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two highways that join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different highways that join at any other angle might come into conflict. The junction of an alley, driveway, or site roadway open to public travel with a public roadway or highway does not constitute an intersection, unless the public roadway or highway at the junction is controlled by a traffic control device.
(2) If a highway includes two roadways separated by a median, then every crossing of each roadway of such divided highway by an intersecting highway constitutes a separate intersection if the opposing left-turn paths cross and there is sufficient interior storage for the design vehicle. As used in this division, “design vehicle” means the longest vehicle authorized under R.C. § 5577.05 to operate on that roadway without a permit.
(3) At a location controlled by a highway traffic signal, regardless of the distance between the separate intersections as described in division (2) of this definition:
(a) If a stop line, yield line, or crosswalk has not been designated on the roadway within the median between the separate intersections, the two intersections and the roadway and median constitute one intersection.
(b) Where a stop line, yield line, or crosswalk is designated on the roadway on the intersection approach, the area within the crosswalk and any area beyond the designated stop line or yield line constitute part of the intersection.
(c) Where a crosswalk is designated on a roadway on the departure from the intersection, the intersection includes the area that extends to the far side of the crosswalk.
LANE-USE CONTROL SIGNAL. A signal face or comparable display on a full-matrix changeable message sign that displays indications to permit or prohibit the use of specific lanes of a roadway or a shoulder where driving is sometimes authorized or to indicate the impending prohibition of such use.
LANED HIGHWAY. A highway the roadway of which is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
LIMITED DRIVING PRIVILEGES. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4501.01.
LOCAL AUTHORITIES. Every county, municipal, and other local board or body having authority to adopt police regulations under the Constitution and laws of this state.
LOW-SPEED MICROMOBILITY DEVICE. Means a device weighing less than 100 pounds that has handlebars, is propelled by an electric motor or human power, and has an attainable speed on a paved level surface of not more than 20 miles per hour when propelled by the electric motor.
MEDIAN. The portion of a highway separating opposing directions of the traveled way or the area between two roadways of a divided highway, measured from edge of traveled way to edge of traveled way. The median excludes turn lanes. The width of a median may be different between intersections, interchanges, and at opposite approaches of the same intersection.
MOTOR-DRIVEN CYCLE OR MOTOR SCOOTER. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4501.01.
MOTOR VEHICLE. Every vehicle propelled or drawn by power other than muscular power or power collected from overhead electric trolley wires, except motorized bicycles, electric bicycles, road rollers, traction engines, power shovels, power cranes and other equipment used in construction work, and not designed for or employed in general highway transportation, hole-digging machinery, well-drilling machinery, ditch-digging machinery, farm machinery, and trailers designed and used exclusively to transport a boat between a place of storage and a marina, or in and around a marina, when drawn or towed on a street or highway for a distance of no more than ten miles and at a speed of 25 miles per hour or less.
MOTORCYCLE. Every motor vehicle, other than a tractor, having a seat or saddle for the use of the operator and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, including but not limited to motor vehicles known as “motor-driven cycle”, “motor scooter”, “autocycle”, “cab-enclosed motorcycle”, or “motorcycle” without regard to weight or brake horsepower.
MOTORIZED BICYCLE or MOPED. Any vehicle having either two tandem wheels or one wheel in the front and two wheels in the rear, that may be pedaled, and that is equipped with a helper motor of not more than 50 cubic centimeters piston displacement that produces not more than one brake horsepower and is capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of not greater than 20 miles per hour on a level surface. The terms do not include an electric bicycle.
MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR. Any self-propelled vehicle designed for, and used by, a person with a disability and that is incapable of a speed in excess of eight miles per hour.
MULTI-WHEEL AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR. A type of agricultural tractor that has two or more wheels or tires on each side of one axle at the rear of the tractor, is designed or used for drawing other vehicles or wheeled machinery, has no provision for carrying loads independently of the drawn vehicles or machinery, and is used principally for agricultural purposes.
NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICER. An officer appointed pursuant to R.C. § 1501.24.
OPERATE. To cause or have caused movement of a vehicle.
PARKED or PARKING. The standing of a vehicle upon a street, road, alley, highway or public ground, whether accompanied or unaccompanied by a driver, but does not include the temporary standing of a vehicle for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or loading merchandise or passengers.
PEDESTRIAN. Any person on foot, in a motorized or non-motorized wheelchair, or using another equivalent device, such as skates or a skateboard. The term includes a personal delivery device as defined in R.C. § 4511.513 unless the context clearly suggests otherwise.
PERSON. Every natural person, firm, partnership, association or corporation.
POLE TRAILER. Every trailer or semitrailer attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach, pole, or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle, and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregular shaped loads such as poles, pipes, or structural members capable, generally, of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections.
POLICE OFFICER. Every officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic, or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.
PREDICATE MOTOR VEHICLE OR TRAFFIC OFFENSE. Any of the following:
(1) A violation of R.C. § 4511.03, 4511.051, 4511.12, 4511.132, 4511.16, 4511.20, 4511.201, 4511.21, 4511.211, 4511.213, 4511.22, 4511.23, 4511.25, 4511.26, 4511.27, 4511.28, 4511.29, 4511.30, 4511.31, 4511.32, 4511.33, 4511.34, 4511.35, 4511.36, 4511.37, 4511.38, 4511.39, 4511.40, 4511.41, 4511.42, 4511.43, 4511.431, 4511.432, 4511.44, 4511.441, 4511.451, 4511.452, 4511.46, 4511.47, 4511.48, 4511.481, 4511.49, 4511.50, 4511.511, 4511.53, 4511.54, 4511.55, 4511.56, 4511.57, 4511.58, 4511.59, 4511.60, 4511.61, 4511.64, 4511.66, 4511.661, 4511.68, 4511.70, 4511.701, 4511.71, 4511.711, 4511.712, 4511.713, 4511.72, 4511.73, 4511.763, 4511.771, 4511.78, or 4511.84;
(2) A violation of R.C. § 4511.17(A)(2), 4511.51(A) through (D), or 4511.74(A);
(3) A violation of any provision of R.C. §§ 4511.01 through 4511.76 for which no penalty otherwise is provided in the section that contains the provision violated;
(4) A violation of R.C. § 4511.214;
(5) A violation of a municipal ordinance that is substantially equivalent to any section or provision set forth or described in division (1), (2), (3), or (4) of this definition.
PRIVATE ROAD. Every way or place in private ownership used for vehicular travel by the owner, and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons.
PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLE. Any of the following:
(1) Ambulances, including private ambulance companies under contract to a municipality, township, or county, and private ambulances and nontransport vehicles bearing license plates issued under R.C. § 4503.49;
(2) Motor vehicles used by public law enforcement officers or other persons sworn to enforce the criminal and traffic laws of the state;
(3) Any motor vehicle when properly identified as required by the Director of Public Safety, when used in response to fire emergency calls or to provide emergency medical service to ill or injured persons, and when operated by a duly qualified person who is a member of a volunteer rescue service or a volunteer fire department, and who is on duty pursuant to the rules or directives of that service. The State Fire Marshal shall be designated by the Director of Public Safety as the certifying agency for all public safety vehicles described herein;
(4) Vehicles used by fire departments, including motor vehicles when used by volunteer firefighters responding to emergency calls in the fire department service when identified as required by the Director of Public Safety;
(5) Any vehicle used to transport or provide emergency medical service to an ill or injured person, when certified as a public safety vehicle, shall be considered such a vehicle when transporting an ill or injured person to a hospital, regardless of whether such vehicle has already passed a hospital;
(6) Vehicles used by the Motor Carrier Enforcement Unit for the enforcement of orders and rules of the Public Utilities Commission as specified in R.C. § 5503.34.
RAILROAD. A carrier of persons or property operating upon rails or tracks placed principally on a private right-of-way.
RAILROAD SIGN OR SIGNAL. Any sign, signal, or device erected by authority of a public body or official or by a railroad, and intended to give notice of the presence of railroad tracks or the approach of a train.
RESIDENCE DISTRICT. The territory, not comprising a business district, fronting on a street or highway, including the street or highway, where, for a distance of 300 feet or more, the frontage is improved with residences or residences and buildings in use for business.
RIDESHARING ARRANGEMENT. Includes the transportation of persons in a motor vehicle where the transportation is incidental to another purpose of a volunteer driver, and includes arrangements known as carpools, vanpools, and buspools.
RIGHT-OF-WAY. Either of the following, as the context requires:
(1) The right of a vehicle or pedestrian to proceed uninterruptedly in a lawful manner in the direction in which it, he or she is moving, in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching from a different direction into its, his or her path;
(2) A general term denoting land, property, or the interest therein, usually in the configuration of a strip, acquired for or devoted to transportation purposes. When used in this context, “right-of-way” includes the roadway, shoulders or berm, ditch, and slopes extending to the right- of-way limits under the control of the state or local authority.
ROAD SERVICE VEHICLE. Means wreckers, utility repair vehicles, and state, county, and municipal service vehicles equipped with visual signals by means of flashing, rotating, or oscillating lights.
ROADWAY. That portion of a highway improved, designed, or ordinarily used for vehicular travel and parking lanes, not including the berm, sidewalk, or shoulder, even if the berm, sidewalk, or shoulder is used by a person operating a bicycle or other human-powered vehicle. If a highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term means any such roadway separately but not all such roadways collectively.
ROUNDABOUT. A circular intersection with a yield control at each entry, which permits a vehicle on the circulatory roadway to proceed, with deflection of the approaching vehicles counter-clockwise around a central island.
RURAL MAIL DELIVERY VEHICLE. Every vehicle used to deliver United States mail on a rural mail delivery route.
SAFETY ZONE. The area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians, and protected or marked or indicated by adequate signs so as to be plainly visible at all times.
SCHOOL BUS. Every bus designed for carrying more than nine passengers that is owned by a public, private, or governmental agency or institution of learning and operated for the transportation of children to or from a school session or a school function, or owned by a private person and operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from a school session or a school function. The term does not include any of the following:
(1) A bus operated by a municipally owned transportation system, a mass transit company operating exclusively within the territorial limits of a municipal corporation, or within such limits and the territorial limits of municipal corporations immediately contiguous to such municipal corporation, nor a common passenger carrier certified by the public utilities commission unless such bus is devoted exclusively to the transportation of children to and from a school session or a school function;
(2) A van or bus used by a licensed child care center or type A family child care home to transport children from the child care center or type A family child care home to a school if the van or bus does not have more than 15 children in the van or bus at any time;
(3) An alternative vehicle as defined in R.C. § 4511.76.
SEMITRAILER. Every vehicle designed or used for carrying persons or property with another and separate motor vehicle so that in operation a part of its own weight or that of its load, or both, rests upon and is carried by another vehicle.
SHARED-USE PATH. A bikeway outside the traveled way and physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier and either within the highway right-of-way or within an independent alignment. A shared-use path also may be used by pedestrians, including skaters, joggers, users of manual and motorized wheelchairs, and other authorized motorized and non- motorized users. A shared-use path does not include any trail that is intended to be used primarily for mountain biking, hiking, equestrian use, or other similar uses, or any other single track or natural surface trail that has historically been reserved for non-motorized use.
SHOULDER. A longitudinal area contiguous with the traveled way that is used for accommodating vehicles that are stopped for an emergency and for lateral support of base and surface courses; graded for emergency stopping; either paved or unpaved; and when paved, may be open for part- time travel by some or all vehicles or may also be available for use by pedestrians or bicycles in the absence of other pedestrian or bicycle facilities.
SIDEWALK. That portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines or easements of private property, that is paved or improved, and is intended for the use of pedestrians.
SITE ROADWAY OPEN TO PUBLIC TRAVEL. A roadway or bikeway on site of a shopping center, office park, airport, school, university, sports arena, recreational park, or other similar business, government, or recreation facility that is publicly or privately owned but where the public is allowed to travel without full-time access restrictions. The term does not include a roadway where access is restricted at all times by gates or guards to residents, employees, or other specifically authorized persons, a parking area, a driving aisle within a parking area, or a private highway-rail grade crossing.
STANDING. When prohibited, means any halting of a vehicle, even momentarily, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control device.
STATE. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4501.01.
STATE HIGHWAY. A highway under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation, outside the limits of municipalities, provided that the authority conferred upon the Director of Transportation in R.C. § 5511.01 to erect state highway route markers and signs directing traffic shall not be modified by R.C. §§ 4511.01 through 4511.79 and 4511.99.
STATE ROUTE. Every highway which is designated with an official state route number and so marked.
STOP. When required, means a complete cessation of movement.
STOP INTERSECTION. Any intersection at one or more entrances of which stop signs are erected.
STOPPING. When prohibited, means any halting of a vehicle, even momentarily, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic control device.
STREET or HIGHWAY. A general term for denoting a public way for purposes of travel by vehicles and vulnerable road users, including the entire area within the right-of-way.
THROUGH HIGHWAY. Every street or highway as provided in R.C. § 4511.65, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
THRUWAY. A through highway whose entire roadway is reserved for through traffic and on which roadway parking is prohibited.
TRAFFIC. Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars, and other devices, either singly or together, while using for purposes of travel any highway or site roadway open to public travel.
TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICE. A flagger, sign, signal, marking, channelization device, or other device that uses colors, shapes, symbols, words, sounds, or tactile information for the primary purpose of communicating a regulatory, warning, or guidance message to road users on a street, highway, site roadway open to public travel, pedestrian facility, bikeway, or pathway.
TRAFFIC CONTROL SIGNAL. A highway traffic signal placed at an intersection, movable bridge, fire station, mid-block crosswalk, alternating one-way sections of a single lane road, private driveway, or other location that requires conflicting traffic to be directed to stop and permitted to proceed in an orderly manner. The term includes a vehicular signal indication, a pedestrian signal indication, and a bicycle symbol signal indication. The term does not include an emergency-vehicle hybrid beacon or a pedestrian hybrid beacon.
TRAILER. Every vehicle designed or used for carrying persons or property wholly on its own structure, and for being drawn by a motor vehicle, including any vehicle when formed by or operated as a combination of a semitrailer and a vehicle of the dolly type, such as that commonly known as a trailer dolly, a vehicle used to transport agricultural produce or agricultural production materials between a local place of storage or supply and the farm when drawn or towed on a street or highway at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour and a vehicle designed and used exclusively to transport a boat between a place of storage and a marina, or in and around a marina, when drawn or towed on a street or highway for a distance of more than ten miles or at a speed of more than 25 miles per hour.
TRAIN. One or more locomotives coupled, with or without cars, that operates on rails or tracks and to which all other traffic is required by law to yield the right-of-way at highway-rail grade crossings.
TRUCK. Every motor vehicle, except trailers and semitrailers, designed and used to carry property.
TWO-STAGE BICYCLE TURN BOX. A designated area at an intersection that is intended to provide bicyclists a place to wait for traffic to clear before proceeding in a different direction of travel.
TYPE A FAMILY CHILD CARE HOME. Has the same meaning as set forth in R.C. § 5104.01.
URBAN DISTRICT. The territory contiguous to and including any street or highway which is built up with structures devoted to business, industry, or dwelling houses situated at intervals of less than 100 feet for a distance of one-quarter of a mile or more, and the character of the territory is indicated by official traffic-control devices.
VEHICLE. Every device, including a bicycle, motorized bicycle and an electric bicycle, in, upon, or by which any person or property may be transported or drawn upon a highway. The term does not include any motorized wheelchair, any electric personal assistive mobility device, any low-speed micromobility device, any personal delivery device as defined in R.C. § 4511.513, any device that is moved by power collected from overhead electric trolley wires or that is used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks, or any device that is moved by human power.
WASTE COLLECTION VEHICLE. A vehicle used in the collection of garbage, refuse, trash, or recyclable materials.
WILDLIFE OFFICER. An officer designated pursuant to R.C. § 1531.13.
(R.C. § 4511.01) (Rev. 2026)
(A) No person shall fail to comply with any lawful order or direction of any police officer invested with authority to direct, control, or regulate traffic.
(B) No person shall operate a motor vehicle so as willfully to elude or flee a police officer after receiving a visible or audible signal from a police officer to bring the person’s motor vehicle to a stop.
(C) (1) Whoever violates this section is guilty of failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer.
(2) A violation of division (A) of this section is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(3) Except as provided in divisions (C)(4) and (C)(5) of this section, a violation of division (B) of this section is a felony to be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
(4) A violation of division (B) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law if the jury or judge as trier of fact finds by proof beyond a reasonable doubt that in committing the offense, the offender was fleeing immediately after the commission of a felony.
(5) (a) A violation of division (B) of this section is a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law if the jury or judge as trier of fact finds any of the following by proof beyond a reasonable doubt:
1. The operation of the motor vehicle by the offender was a proximate cause of serious physical harm to persons or property.
2. The operation of the motor vehicle by the offender caused a substantial risk of serious physical harm to persons or property.
(b) If a police officer pursues an offender who is violating division (B) of this section and division (C)(5)(a) of this section applies, the sentencing court, in determining the seriousness of an offender’s conduct for purposes of sentencing the offender for a violation of division (B) of this section, shall consider, along with the factors set forth in R.C. §§ 2929.12 and 2929.13 that are required to be considered, all of the following:
1. The duration of the pursuit;
2. The distance of the pursuit;
3. The rate of speed at which the offender operated the motor vehicle during the pursuit;
4. Whether the offender failed to stop for traffic lights or stop signs during the pursuit;
5. The number of traffic lights or stop signs for which the offender failed to stop during the pursuit;
6. Whether the offender operated the motor vehicle during the pursuit without lighted lights during a time when lighted lights are required;
7. Whether the offender committed a moving violation during the pursuit;
8. The number of moving violations the offender committed during the pursuit;
9. Any other relevant factors indicating that the offender’s conduct is more serious than conduct normally constituting the offense.
(D) In addition to any other sanction imposed for a violation of division (A) of this section, the court shall impose a class five suspension from the range specified in R.C. § 4510.02(A)(5). If the offender previously has been found guilty of an offense under this section or under R.C. § 2921.331 or any other substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, in addition to any other sanction imposed for the offense, the court shall impose a class one suspension as described in R.C. § 4510.02(A)(1). The court may grant limited driving privileges to the offender on a suspension imposed for a misdemeanor violation of this section as set forth in R.C. § 4510.021. No judge shall suspend any portion of the suspension under a class one suspension of an offender’s license, permit, or privilege required by this division.
(E) As used in this section:
MOVING VIOLATION. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 2743.70.
POLICE OFFICER. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4511.01.
(R.C. § 2921.331(A) - (C), (E), (F)) (Rev. 2025)
Cross-reference:Resisting arrest, see § 136.08(A) The driver of any emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle, when responding to an emergency call, upon approaching a red or stop signal or any stop sign, shall slow down as necessary for safety to traffic, but may proceed cautiously past the red or stop sign or signal with due regard for the safety of all persons using the street or highway.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(C) If the offender commits the offense while distracted and the distracting activity is a contributing factor to the commission of the offense, the offender is subject to the additional fine established under § 70.99(B).
(R.C. § 4511.03) (Rev. 2019)
(A) The provisions of this traffic code, except for §§ 73.01 and 73.02, do not apply to persons, teams, motor vehicles, and other equipment while actually engaged in work upon the surface of a highway within an area designated by traffic-control devices, but apply to those persons and vehicles when traveling to or from such work.
(B) The driver of a highway maintenance vehicle owned by this state or any political subdivision of this state, while the driver is engaged in the performance of official duties upon a street or highway, provided the highway maintenance vehicle is equipped with flashing lights and such other markings as are required by law and such lights are in operation when the driver and vehicle are so engaged, shall be exempt from criminal prosecution for violations of R.C. §§ 4511.22, 4511.25, 4511.26, 4511.27, 4511.28, 4511.30, 4511.31, 4511.33, 4511.35, 4511.66, and 4513.02, and R.C. §§ 5577.01 through 5577.09, and any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(C) (1) This section does not exempt a driver of a highway maintenance vehicle from civil liability arising from a violation of R.C. § 4511.22, 4511.25, 4511.26, 4511.27, 4511.28, 4511.30, 4511.31, 4511.33, 4511.35, 4511.66, or 4513.02 or R.C. §§ 5577.01 through 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(2) This section does not exempt a driver of a vehicle who is not a state employee and who is engaged in the transport of highway maintenance equipment from criminal liability for a violation of R.C. §§ 5577.01 through 5577.09, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(D) As used in this section, ENGAGED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF OFFICIAL DUTIES includes driving a highway maintenance vehicle to and from the manufacturer or vehicle maintenance provider and transporting a highway maintenance vehicle, equipment, or materials to and from a work location.
(R.C. § 4511.04) (Rev. 2018)
(E) The provisions of R.C. §§ 4511.12, 4511.13, 4511.131, 4511.132, 4511.14, 4511.202, 4511.21, 4511.211, 4511.22, 4511.23, 4511.25, 4511.26, 4511.27, 4511.28, 4511.29, 4511.30, 4511.31, 4511.32, 4511.33, 4511.34, 4511.35, 4511.36, 4511.37, 4511.38, 4511.39, 4511.40, 4511.41, 4511.42, 4511.43, 4511.431, 4511.432, 4511.44, 4511.441, 4511.57, 4511.58, 4511.59, 4511.60, 4511.61, 4511.62, 4511.66, 4511.68, 4511.681, and 4511.69, and any substantially equivalent municipal ordinances, do not apply to the driver of an emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle if the emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle is responding to an emergency call, is equipped with and displaying at least one flashing, rotating, or oscillating light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of 500 feet to the front of the vehicle and if the driver of the vehicles is giving an audible signal by siren, exhaust whistle, or bell. This section does not relieve the driver of an emergency vehicle or public safety vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and property upon the highway.
(R.C. § 4511.041) (Rev. 2013)
(F) The provisions of R.C. §§ 4511.25, 4511.26, 4511.27, 4511.28, 4511.29, 4511.30, 4511.31, 4511.32, 4511.33, 4511.35, 4511.36, 4511.37, 4511.38, and 4511.66, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinances, do not apply to a coroner, deputy coroner or coroner’s investigator operating a motor vehicle in accordance with R.C. § 4513.171 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance. This division does not relieve a coroner, deputy coroner or coroner’s investigator operating a motor vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons and property upon the highway.
(R.C. § 4511.042) (Rev. 1999)
Every person riding, driving, or leading an animal upon a roadway is subject to the provisions of this traffic code, applicable to the driver of a vehicle, except those provisions of this traffic code which by their nature are inapplicable.
(R.C. § 4511.05)
(A) No person, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall:
(1) As a pedestrian, occupy any space within the limits of the right-of-way of a freeway, except: in a rest area; on a facility that is separated from the roadway and shoulders of the freeway and is designed and appropriately marked for pedestrian use; in the performance of public works or official duties; as a result of an emergency caused by an accident or breakdown of a motor vehicle; or to obtain assistance;
(2) Occupy any space within the limits of the right-of-way of a freeway, with: an animal-drawn vehicle; a ridden or led animal; herded animals; a pushcart; a bicycle, except on a facility that is separated from the roadway and shoulders of the freeway and is designed and appropriately marked for bicycle use; an electric bicycle; a bicycle with motor attached; a motor-driven cycle with a motor which produces not to exceed five brake horsepower; an agricultural tractor; farm machinery; except in the performance of public works or official duties.
(B) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(C) If the offender commits the offense while distracted and the distracting activity is a contributing factor to the commission of the offense, the offender is subject to the additional fine established under § 70.99(B).
(R.C. § 4511.051) (Rev. 2020)
Statutory reference:Designation of a freeway, see R.C. § 4511.011The provisions of this traffic code do not prevent the owner of real property, used by the public for purposes of vehicular travel by permission of the owner and not as a matter of right, from prohibiting such use or from requiring additional conditions to those specified in this traffic code, or otherwise regulating such use as may seem best to the owner.
(R.C. § 4511.08)
(A) As used in this section, MOTOR VEHICLE has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4501.01.
(B) If damage is caused to real property by the operation of a motor vehicle in, or during the, violation of any section of the Ohio Revised Code or of any municipal ordinance, the law enforcement agency that investigates the case, upon request of the real property owner, shall provide the owner with the names of the persons who are charged with the commission of the offense. If a request for the names is made, the agency shall provide the names as soon as possible after the persons are charged with the offense.
(C) The personnel of law enforcement agencies who act pursuant to division (B) of this section in good faith are not liable in damages in a civil action allegedly arising from their actions taken pursuant to that division. Political subdivisions and the state are not liable in damages in a civil action allegedly arising from the actions of personnel of their law enforcement agencies if the personnel have immunity under this division.
(R.C. § 2935.28)
(A) No person, firm or corporation shall cut, injure, remove, or destroy any fence or other barrier designed and erected to prevent traffic from entering or leaving a limited access highway without the permission of the Director of Transportation, except in a case of emergency where life or property is in danger. No person, firm or corporation shall cause a vehicle of any character to enter or leave a limited access highway at any point other than intersections designated by the Director for such purposes, except in a case of emergency where life or property is in danger.
(R.C. § 3767.201)
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(R.C. § 3767.99(D))
(A) All state routes are hereby designated as through highways, provided that stop signs, yield signs, or highway traffic signals shall be erected at all intersections with such through highways by the Department of Transportation as to highways under its jurisdiction and by local authorities as to highways under their jurisdiction, except as otherwise provided in this section. Where two or more state routes that are through highways intersect, and no highway traffic signal is in operation, stop signs or yield signs shall be erected at one or more entrances thereto by the Department or by local authorities having jurisdiction, except as otherwise provided in this section. Whenever the Director of Transportation determines on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that stop signs are necessary to stop traffic on a through highway for safe and efficient operation, nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent such installations. When circumstances warrant, the Director also may omit stop signs on roadways intersecting through highways under the Director’s jurisdiction. Before the Director either installs or removes a stop sign under this division, the Director shall give notice, in writing, of that proposed action to the affected local authority at least 30 days before installing or removing the stop sign.
(B) Other streets or highways, or portions thereof, are hereby designated as through highways if they are within the municipality, if they have a continuous length of more than one mile between the limits of the street or highway or portion thereof, and if they have stop or yield signs or highway traffic signals at the entrances of the majority of intersecting streets or highways. For purposes of this section, the limits of the street or highway, or portion thereof, shall be the municipal corporation line, the physical terminus of the street or highway, or any point on the streets or highway at which vehicular traffic thereon is required by regulatory signs to stop or yield to traffic on the intersecting street, provided, that in residence districts, the municipality may by ordinance designate such street or highway, or portion thereof, not to be a through highway and thereafter the affected residence district shall be indicated by official traffic control devices. Where two or more through highways designated under this division intersect and no highway traffic signal is in operation, stop signs or yield signs shall be erected at one or more entrances thereto by the Department or by local authorities having jurisdiction, except as otherwise provided in this section.
(C) The Department or local authorities having jurisdiction need not erect stop signs at intersections they find to be so constructed as to permit traffic to safely enter a through highway without coming to a stop. Signs shall be erected at such intersections indicating that the operator of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to or merge with all traffic proceeding on the through highway.
(D) Local authorities, with reference to highways under their jurisdiction, may designate additional through highways, and shall erect stop signs, yield signs, or highway traffic signals at all streets and highways intersecting such through highways, or may designate any intersection as a stop or yield intersection, and shall erect like signs at one or more entrances to the intersection.
(R.C. § 4511.65) (Rev. 2026)
A law enforcement officer may remove the ignition key left in the ignition switch of an unlocked and unattended motor vehicle parked on a street or highway. The officer removing the key shall place notification upon the vehicle detailing his or her name and badge number, the place where the key may be reclaimed, and the procedure for reclaiming the key. The key shall be returned to the owner of the motor vehicle upon presentation of proof of ownership.
(R.C. § 4549.05) (Rev. 1999)
(A) If a motor vehicle accident occurs on any highway, public street, or other property open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel and if any motor vehicle, cargo, or personal property that has been damaged or spilled as a result of the motor vehicle accident is blocking the highway, street, or other property or is otherwise endangering public safety, a public safety official may do either of the following without the consent of the owner but with the approval of the law enforcement agency conducting any investigation of the accident:
(1) Remove, or order the removal of, the motor vehicle if the motor vehicle is unoccupied, cargo, or personal property from the portion of the highway, public street, or property ordinarily used for vehicular travel on the highway, public street, or other property open to the public for purposes of vehicular travel.
(2) If the motor vehicle is a commercial motor vehicle, allow the owner or operator of the vehicle the opportunity to arrange for the removal of the motor vehicle within a period of time specified by the public safety official. If the public safety official determines that the motor vehicle cannot be removed within the specified period of time, the public safety official shall remove or order the removal of the motor vehicle.
(B) (1) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, the Department of Transportation, any employee of the Department of Transportation, or a public safety official who authorizes or participates in the removal of any unoccupied motor vehicle, cargo, or personal property as authorized by division (A) of this section, regardless of whether the removal is executed by a private towing service, is not liable for civil damages for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that results from the removal of that unoccupied motor vehicle, cargo, or personal property. Further, except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, if a public safety official authorizes, employs, or arranges to have a private towing service remove any unoccupied motor vehicle, cargo, or personal property as authorized by division (A) of this section, that private towing service is not liable for civil damages for any injury, death, or loss to person or property that results from the removal of that unoccupied motor vehicle, cargo, or personal property.
(2) Division (B)(1) of this section does not apply to any of the following:
(a) Any person or entity involved in the removal of an unoccupied motor vehicle, cargo, or personal property pursuant to division (A) of this section if that removal causes or contributes to the release of a hazardous material or to structural damage to the roadway;
(b) A private towing service that was not authorized, employed, or arranged by a public safety official to remove an unoccupied motor vehicle, cargo, or personal property under this section;
(c) Except as provided in division (B)(2)(d) of this section, a private towing service that was authorized, employed, or arranged by a public safety official to perform the removal of the unoccupied motor vehicle, cargo, or personal property but the private towing service performed the removal in a negligent manner;
(d) A private towing service that was authorized, employed, or arranged by a public safety official to perform the removal of the unoccupied motor vehicle, cargo, or personal property that was endangering public safety but the private towing service performed the removal in a reckless manner.
(C) As used in divisions (A) and (B) of this section:
HAZARDOUS MATERIAL. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 2305.232.
PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIAL. Means any of the following:
(a) The sheriff of the county, or the chief of a law enforcement agency in the municipal corporation, township, port authority, conservancy district, university campus police department, park district police force, or township or joint police district, in which the accident occurred;
(b) A state highway patrol trooper;
(c) The chief of the fire department having jurisdiction where the accident occurred;
(d) A duly authorized subordinate acting on behalf of an official specified in divisions (a) to (c) of this definition.
(e) A natural resources officer or a wildlife officer.
(R.C. § 4513.66) (Rev. 2025)
(D) If a towing service is removing a motor vehicle, and the removal was not authorized under R.C. § 4513.60, 4513.601, 4513.61, or 4513.66, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, prior to removing the motor vehicle, the towing service shall provide a written estimate of the price for the removal to the operator of the motor vehicle, if requested.
(E) The towing service shall ensure that any estimate provided under division (D) of this section includes the fees, services to be rendered, and destination of the vehicle.
(F) If a towing service fails to provide a written estimate as required by this section, the towing service shall not charge fees for the towing and storage of the motor vehicle that exceed 25% of any applicable fees established by the public utilities commission in rules adopted under R.C. § 4921.25(B)(4) or, if the vehicle was towed within a municipal corporation that has established vehicle removal and storage fees, 25% of the fees established by the municipal corporation.
(G) Any storage facility that accepts towed vehicles shall conspicuously post a notice at the entrance to the storage facility that states the limitation on fees established under division (F) of this section.
(R.C. § 4513.68) (Rev. 2018)