For the purpose of this subchapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALL-PURPOSE VEHICLE. Any self-propelled vehicle designed primarily for cross-country travel on land and water, or on more than one type of terrain, and steered by wheels or caterpillar treads, or any combination thereof, including vehicles that operate on a cushion of air, vehicles commonly known as all-terrain vehicles, all season vehicles, mini-bikes and trail bikes. The term does not include a utility vehicle as defined in R.C. § 4501.01 or any vehicle principally used in playing golf, any motor vehicle or aircraft required to be registered under R.C. Chapter 4503 or R.C. Chapter 4561, and any vehicle excepted from definition as a motor vehicle by R.C. § 4501.01(B).
DEALER. Any person or firm engaged in the business of manufacturing or selling snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, or all-purpose vehicles at wholesale or retail, or who rents, leases or otherwise furnishes snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, or all-purpose vehicles for hire.
ELECTRONIC. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4501.01.
ELECTRONIC DEALER. A dealer whom the Registrar of Motor Vehicles designates under R.C. § 4519.511.
ELECTRONIC RECORD. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4501.01.
HIGHWAY. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4511.01.
INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. Any part of the interstate system of highways as defined in subsection (e), 90 Stat. 431 (1976), 23 U.S.C. § 103, as amended.
LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY OR FREEWAY. Have the same meanings as in R.C. § 5511.02.
MINI-TRUCK. A vehicle that has four wheels, is propelled by an electric motor with a rated power of 7,500 watts or less or an internal combustion engine with a piston displacement capacity of 660 cubic centimeters or less, has a total dry weight of 900 to 2,200 pounds, contains an enclosed cabin and a seat for the vehicle operator, resembles a pickup truck or van with a cargo area or bed located at the rear of the vehicle, and was not originally manufactured to meet federal motor vehicle safety standards.
OFF-HIGHWAY MOTORCYCLE. Every motorcycle, as defined in R.C. § 4511.01, that is designed to be operated primarily on lands other than a street or highway.
OPERATOR. Any person who operates or is in actual physical control of a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle.
OWNER. Any person or firm, other than a lienholder or dealer, having title to a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle, or other right to the possession thereof.
PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4509.01.
SNOWMOBILE. Any self-propelled vehicle designed primarily for use on snow or ice, and steered by skis, runners or caterpillar treads.
STATE HIGHWAY and STATE ROUTE. Have the same meanings as in R.C. § 4511.01.
STREET. Has the same meaning as in R.C. § 4511.01.
(R.C. § 4519.01) (Rev. 2018)
(A) In addition to any rules or regulations promulgated by the Ohio Director of Public Safety pursuant to R.C. § 4519.20 and R.C. Chapter 119, equipment of snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, and all-purpose vehicles shall include but not necessarily be limited to requirements for the following items of equipment:
(1) At least one headlight having a minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and objects at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead under normal atmospheric conditions during hours of darkness;
(2) At least one red tail light having a minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity to be plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear under normal atmospheric conditions during hours of darkness;
(3) Every snowmobile, while traveling on packed snow, shall be capable of carrying a driver who weighs 175 pounds or more, and, while carrying such driver, be capable of stopping in no more than 40 feet from an initial steady speed of 20 miles per hour, or locking its traction belt; and
(4) A muffler system capable of precluding the emission of excessive smoke or exhaust fumes, and of limiting the engine noise of vehicles. On snowmobiles manufactured after January 1, 1973, such requirement shall include sound dampening equipment such that noise does not exceed 82 decibels on the “A” scale at 50 feet as measured according to SAE J192 (September 1970).
(B) No person shall operate any snowmobile, off- highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle in violation of this section, except that equipment specified in division (A)(1) and (A)(2) of this section shall not be required on snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, or all-purpose vehicles operated during the daylight hours.
(R.C. § 4519.20(A), (B))
(C) No person shall sell, offer for sale, lease, rent or otherwise furnish for hire in this municipality any new snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle that fails to comply with any rule adopted by the Ohio Director of Public Safety under R.C. § 4519.20 after the effective date of the rule.
(R.C. § 4519.22(A))
(D) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates division (B) of this section shall be fined not more than $50. If the offender within the preceding year previously has committed a violation of division (B) of this section or of R.C. § 4519.20(B), whoever violates division (B) of this section shall be fined not less than $15 nor more than $100, imprisoned not more than three days, or both.
(R.C. § 4519.20(C)) (Rev. 2004)
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates division (C) of this section shall be fined not more than $50. If the offender within the preceding year previously has committed a violation of division (C) of this section or of R.C. § 4519.22(A), whoever violates this section shall be fined not less than $15 nor more than $100, imprisoned not more than three days, or both.
(R.C. § 4519.22(B)) (Rev. 2004)
(A) The applicable provisions of this traffic code apply to the operation of snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, and all-purpose vehicles, except that no person shall operate a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all- purpose vehicle as follows:
(1) On any state highway, including a limited access highway or freeway or the right-of-way thereof, except for emergency travel during such time and in such manner as the Ohio Director of Public Safety designates or except as authorized by R.C. § 4519.41(F);
(2) On any private property, or in any nursery or planting area, without the permission of the owner or other person having the right to possession of the property;
(3) On any land or waters controlled by the state, except at those locations where a sign has been posted permitting such operation;
(4) On the tracks or right-of-way of any operating railroad;
(5) While transporting any firearm, bow or other implement for hunting that is not unloaded and securely encased;
(6) For the purpose of chasing, pursuing, capturing or killing any animal or wild fowl; or
(7) During the time from sunset to sunrise, unless displaying lighted lights as required by R.C. § 4519.20 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(B) Whoever violates this section shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $500, imprisoned not less than 3 nor more than 30 days, or both.
(R.C. § 4519.40) (Rev. 2018)
Cross-reference:Operation restricted for mini-trucks and low-speed, under-speed, or utility vehicles, see § 73.16Snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, and all- purpose vehicles may be operated as follows:
(A) To make a crossing of a highway, other than a highway as designated in R.C. § 4519.40(A)(1) or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, whenever the crossing can be made in safety and will not interfere with the movement of vehicular traffic approaching from any direction on the highway, and provided that the operator yields the right-of-way to any approaching traffic that presents an immediate hazard;
(B) On highways in the county or township road systems whenever the local authority having jurisdiction over such highways so permits;
(C) Off and alongside street or highway for limited distances from the point of unloading from a conveyance to the point at which the snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle is intended and authorized to be operated;
(D) On the berm or shoulder of a highway, other than a highway as designated in R.C. § 4519.40(A)(1) or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, when the terrain permits such operation to be undertaken safely and without the necessity of entering any traffic lane;
(E) On the berm or shoulder or a county or township road, while traveling from one area of operation of the snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle to another such area.
(F) For snowmobiles without metal studded tracks and all-purpose vehicles, on state highways located on an island in Lake Erie, including limited access highways and freeways, between the first day of November and the thirtieth day of April, provided that all of the following conditions apply:
(1) The operator has a valid driver’s license as required under R.C. § 4519.44.
(2) The snowmobile or all-purpose vehicle is in compliance with rules governing safety equipment adopted under R.C. § 4519.20.
(3) The owner of the snowmobile or all-purpose vehicle maintains proof of financial responsibility for both on-road and off-road use of the snowmobile or all-purpose vehicle.
(4) The operator obeys all traffic rules and regulations.
(R.C. § 4519.41) (Rev. 2018)
(A) No person who does not hold a valid, current motor vehicle driver’s or commercial driver’s license, motorcycle operator’s endorsement or probationary license, issued under R.C. Chapter 4506 or R.C. Chapter 4507 or a valid, current driver’s license issued by another jurisdiction, shall operate a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all- purpose vehicle on any street or highway in this municipality, on any portion of the right-of-way thereof, or on any public land or waters.
(B) No person who is less than 16 years of age shall operate a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all- purpose vehicle on any land or waters other than private property or waters owned by or leased to the person’s parent or guardian, unless accompanied by another person who is 18 years of age or older, and who holds a license as provided in division (A) of this section, except that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources may permit such operation on state controlled land under its jurisdiction when such person is less than 16 years of age and is accompanied by a parent or guardian who is a licensed driver 18 years of age or older.
(C) Whoever violates this section shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $500, imprisoned not less than 3 nor more than 30 days, or both.
(R.C. § 4519.44) (Rev. 2010)
(A) Any dealer who rents, leases or otherwise furnishes a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all- purpose vehicle for hire shall maintain the vehicle in safe operating condition. No dealer, or agent or employee of a dealer, shall rent, lease or otherwise furnish a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle for hire to any person who does not hold a license as required by R.C. § 4519.44(A) or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, or to any person whom the dealer or an agent or employee of the dealer has reasonable cause to believe is incompetent to operate the vehicle in a safe and lawful manner.
(B) Whoever violates this section shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500.
(R.C. § 4519.45) (Rev. 2004)
(A) The operator of a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle involved in any accident resulting in bodily injury to or death of any person or damage to the property of any person in excess of $100 shall report the accident within 48 hours to the Chief of Police, and within 30 days shall forward a written report of the accident to the Ohio Registrar of Motor Vehicles on a form prescribed by the Registrar. If the operator is physically incapable of making the reports and there is another participant in the accident not so incapacitated, the participant shall make the reports. In the event there is no other participant, and the operator is other than the owner, the owner, within the prescribed periods of time, shall make the reports.
(B) Any law enforcement officer or other person authorized by R.C. §§ 4519.42 and 4519.43 who investigates or receives information of an accident involving a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle shall forward to the Registrar a written report of the accident within 48 hours.
(R.C. § 4519.46) (Rev. 1999)
(A) Whenever a person is found guilty of operating a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle in violation of any rule authorized to be adopted under R.C. § 4519.21 or 4519.42, the trial judge of any court of record, in addition to or independent of any other penalties provided by law, may impound for not less than 60 days the certificate of registration and license plate, if applicable, of that snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle. The court shall send the impounded certificate of registration and license plate, if applicable, to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, who shall retain the certificate of registration and license plate, if applicable, until the expiration of the period of impoundment.
(B) If a court impounds the certificate of registration and license plate of an all-purpose vehicle pursuant to R.C. § 2911.21, the court shall send the impounded certificate of registration and license plate to the Registrar, who shall retain them until the expiration of the period of impoundment.
(R.C. § 4519.47) (Rev. 2010)
Nothing contained in this subchapter shall prevent the municipality from regulating the operation of snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycle, and all-purpose vehicles on streets and highways and other public property under municipal jurisdiction, and within the reasonable exercise of the police power, except that no registration or licensing of any snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle required to be registered or titled under R.C. Chapter 4519 shall be required.
(R.C. § 4519.48) (Rev. 1999)
(A) (1) Except as provided in division (B), (C) and (D) of this section, no person shall operate any snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle within this municipality unless the snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle is registered and numbered in accordance with R.C. §§ 4519.03 and 4519.04.
(2) Except as provided in R.C. § 4511.215 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, no registration is required for a mini-truck that is operated within this state. A mini-truck may be operated only in accordance with R.C. § 4511.215 and R.C. § 4519.401, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(B) (1) No registration is required for a snowmobile or off-highway motorcycle that is operated exclusively upon lands owned by the owner of the snowmobile or off-highway motorcycle, or on lands to which the owner of the snowmobile or off-highway motorcycle has a contractual right.
(2) No registration is required for an all-purpose vehicle that is used primarily for agricultural purposes when the owner qualifies for the current agricultural use valuation tax credit, unless it is to be used on any public land, trail, or right-of-way.
(3) Any all-purpose vehicle exempted from registration under division (B)(2) of this section and operated for agricultural purposes may use public roads and rights-of-way when traveling from one farm field to another, when such use does not violate R.C. § 4519.41.
(4) No registration is required for a snowmobile or all-purpose vehicle that is operated on a state highway as authorized by R.C. § 4519.41(F).
(C) No registration is required for a snowmobile, off- highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle owned and used in this state by a resident of another state whenever that state has in effect a registration law similar to R.C. Chapter 4519 and the snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle is properly registered under that state’s law. Any snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle owned and used in this state by a resident of a state not having a registration law similar to R.C. Chapter 4519 shall comply with R.C. § 4519.09.
(D) No registration is required for a snowmobile, off- highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle owned and used in this municipality by the United States, another state or a political subdivision thereof, but the snowmobile, off- highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle shall display the name of the owner thereon.
(E) The owner or operator of any all-purpose vehicle operated or used upon the waters in this municipality shall comply with R.C. Chapter 1547 and R.C. Chapter 1548 relative to the operation of watercraft.
(F) Whoever violates division (A) of this section shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $100.
(R.C. § 4519.02) (Rev. 2019)
Statutory reference:Destruction or disposal of vehicle; transfer of ownership; change of address; loss of certificate, see R.C. § 4519.05Registration of emergency vehicles, see R.C. § 4519.08Registration procedure, see R.C. § 4519.03Temporary license placards and fees, see R.C. § 4519.10Temporary operating permit for certain nonresidents, see R.C. § 4519.09(A) No person shall do any of the following:
(1) Operate in this state an off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle without having a certificate of title for the off-highway motorcycle or all- purpose vehicle if such a certificate is required by R.C. Chapter 4519 to be issued for the off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle, or, if a physical certificate of title has not been issued for it, operate an off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle knowing that the ownership information related to the motorcycle or vehicle has not been entered into the automated title processing system by a Clerk of a Court of Common Pleas.
(2) Operate in this municipality an off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle is a certificate of title to the off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle has been issued and then has been canceled.
(3) Fail to surrender any certificate of title upon cancellation of it by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and notice of the cancellation as prescribed in R.C. Chapter 4519.
(4) Fail to surrender the certificate of title to a Clerk of a Court of Common Pleas as provided in R.C. Chapter 4519, in case of the destruction or dismantling of, or change in, the off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle described in the certificate of title.
(5) Violate any provision of R.C. §§ 4519.51 through 4519.70 for which no penalty is otherwise provided or any lawful rules adopted pursuant to those sections.
(6) Operate in this state an off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle knowing that the certificate of title to or ownership of the motorcycle or vehicle as otherwise reflected in the automated title processing system has been canceled.
(B) Whoever violates this section shall be fined not more than $200, imprisoned not more than 90 days, or both.
(R.C. § 4519.66) (Rev. 2010)
Statutory reference:Certificate of title: rules and procedures, see R.C. §§ 4519.51 et seq.Stolen vehicles and restrictions on sale or transfer, felony provisions, see R.C. § 4519.67