438.10 LIGHTS ON SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES; EMBLEM REQUIRED.

   (a)   All vehicles other than bicycles, including animal-drawn vehicles and vehicles referred to in Section 438.01(c), not specifically required to be equipped with lights or other lighting devices by Section 438.02 to 438.09, shall at all times specified in Section 438.02, be equipped with at least one light displaying a white light visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the front of the vehicle, and also shall be equipped with two lights displaying red light visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the rear of the vehicle, or as an alternative, one light displaying a red light visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the rear and two red reflectors visible from all distances of 600 feet to 100 feet to the rear when illuminated by the lawful lower beams of headlights.

   Lights and reflectors required or authorized by this section shall meet standards adopted by the Ohio Director of Public Safety.

   (b)   All boat trailers, farm machinery and other machinery, including all road construction machinery, upon a street or highway, except when being used in actual construction and maintenance work in an area guarded by a flagperson, or where flares are used, or when operating or traveling within the limits of a construction area designated by the Ohio Director of Transportation, or the Municipal or County Engineer, when such construction area is marked in accordance with requirements of the Director and the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as set forth in Ohio R.C. 4511.09, which is designed for operation at a speed of twenty-five miles per hour or less shall be operated at a speed not exceeding twenty-five miles per hour, and shall display a triangular slow-moving vehicle emblem (SMV).  The emblem shall be mounted so as to be visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet to the rear.  The Ohio Director of Public Safety shall adopt standards and specifications for the design and position of mounting the SMV emblem.  The standards and specifications for SMV emblems referred to in this section shall correlate with and, so far as possible, conform with those approved by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers.

   A unit of farm machinery that is designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed greater than twenty-five miles per hour may be operated on a street or highway at a speed greater than twenty-five miles per hour provided it is operated in accordance with this section.

   As used in this subsection (b), "machinery" does not include any vehicle designed to be drawn by an animal.

   (c)   The use of the SMV emblem shall be restricted to animal-drawn vehicles, and to the slow-moving vehicles specified in subsection (b) hereof operating or traveling within the limits of the highway.  Its use on slow-moving vehicles being transported upon other types of vehicles or on any other type of vehicle or stationary object on the highway is prohibited.

   (d)   (1)   No person shall sell, lease, rent or operate any boat trailer, farm machinery or other machinery defined as a slow-moving vehicle in subsection (b) hereof, except those units designed to be completely mounted on a primary power unit, which is manufactured or assembled on or after April 1, 1966, unless the vehicle is equipped with a slow-moving vehicle emblem mounting device as specified in subsection (b) hereof.

      (2)   No person shall sell, lease, rent, or operate on a street or highway any unit of farm machinery that is designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed greater than twenty-five miles per hour unless the unit displays a slow- moving vehicle emblem as specified in subsection (b) of this section and a speed identification symbol that meets the specifications contained in the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Standard ANSI/ASAE S584 JAN2005, agricultural equipment; speed identification symbol (SIS).

   (e)   Any boat trailer, farm machinery, or other machinery defined as a slow-moving vehicle in subsection (b) of this section, in addition to the use of the slow-moving vehicle emblem, and any unit of farm machinery that is designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed greater than twenty-five miles per hour, in addition to the display of a speed identification symbol may be equipped with a red flashing light that shall be visible from a distance of not less than one thousand feet to the rear at all times specified in Section 438.02.  When a double-faced light is used, it shall display amber light to the front and red light to the rear.

   In addition to the lights described in this subsection, farm machinery and motor vehicles escorting farm machinery may display a flashing, oscillating or rotating amber light, as permitted by Section 438.16, and also may display simultaneously flashing turn signals or warning lights, as permitted by that section.

   (f)   Every animal-drawn vehicle upon a street or highway shall at all times be equipped in one of the following ways:

      (1)   With a slow-moving vehicle emblem complying with subsection (b) hereof;

      (2)   With alternate reflective material complying with rules adopted under this subsection (f);

      (3)   With both a slow-moving vehicle emblem and alternate reflective material as specified in this subsection (f).

   The Ohio Director of Public Safety, subject to Ohio R.C. Chapter 119, shall adopt rules establishing standards and specifications for the position of mounting of the alternate reflective material authorized by this subsection (f).  The rules shall permit, as a minimum, the alternate reflective material to be black, gray or silver in color.  The alternate reflective material shall be mounted on the animal-drawn vehicle so as to be visible at all times specified in Section 438.02, from a distance of not less than 500 feet to the rear when illuminated by the lawful lower beams of headlamps.

   (g)   Every unit of farm machinery that is designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed greater than twenty-five miles per hour shall display a slow-moving vehicle emblem and a speed identification symbol that meets the specifications contained in the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Standard ANSI/ASAE S584 JAN2005, agricultural equipment; speed identification symbol (SIS) when the unit is operated upon a street or highway, irrespective of the speed at which the unit is operated on the street or highway.  The speed identification symbol shall indicate the maximum speed in miles per hour at which the unit of farm machinery is designed by its manufacturer to operate.  The display of the speed identification symbol shall be in accordance with the standard prescribed in this subsection.

   If an agricultural tractor that is designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed greater than twenty-five miles per hour is being operated on a street or highway at a speed greater than twenty-five miles per hour and is towing, pulling or otherwise drawing a unit of farm machinery, the unit of farm machinery shall display a slow-moving vehicle emblem and a speed identification symbol that is the same as the speed identification symbol that is displayed on the agricultural tractor.

   (h)   When an agricultural tractor that is designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed greater than twenty-five miles per hour is being operated on a street or highway at a speed greater than twenty-five miles per hour, the operator shall possess some documentation published or provided by the manufacturer indicating the maximum speed in miles per hour at which the manufacturer designed the agricultural tractor to operate.

   (i)   As used in this section, "boat trailer" means any 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 no more than ten miles and at a speed of twenty-five miles per hour or less. 
(ORC 4513.11)

438.11 SPOTLIGHT AND AUXILIARY LIGHTS.

   (a)   Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than one spotlight and every lighted spotlight shall be so aimed and used upon approaching another vehicle that no part of the high-intensity portion of the beam will be directed to the left of the prolongation of the extreme left side of the vehicle, nor more than 100 feet ahead of the vehicle.

   (b)   Any motor vehicle may be equipped with not more than three State approved auxiliary driving lights mounted on the front of the vehicle, which when used shall conform to State regulations.

(ORC 4513.12)

438.12 COWL, FENDER AND BACK-UP LIGHTS.

   (a)   Any motor vehicle may be equipped with side cowl or fender lights or lights on each side thereof which shall emit a white or amber light without glare.

   (b)   Any motor vehicle may be equipped with back-up lights, either separately or in combination with another light.  No back-up lights shall be continuously lighted when the motor vehicle is in forward motion.

(ORC 4513.13)

438.13 DISPLAY OF LIGHTED LIGHTS.

   (a)   At all times mentioned in Section 438.02 at least two State approved lighted lights shall be displayed conforming to State regulations, one near each side of the front of every motor vehicle, except when such vehicle is parked subject to the regulations governing lights on parked vehicles.  (ORC 4513.14)

   (b)   However, on a motorcycle, there shall be displayed at least one and not more than two lighted lights as required herein.

438.14 USE OF HEADLIGHT BEAMS.

   Whenever a motor vehicle is being operated on a roadway or shoulder adjacent thereto during the times specified in Section 438.02, the driver shall use a distribution of light, or composite beam, directed high enough and of sufficient intensity to reveal persons, vehicles and substantial objects at a safe distance in advance of the vehicle, except that upon approaching an oncoming vehicle, the lights or beams shall be so aimed that the glaring rays are not projected into the eyes of the oncoming driver.  (ORC 4513.15)

438.15 LIGHTS OF LESS INTENSITY ON SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES.

   Any motor vehicle may be operated under the conditions specified in Section 438.02 when it is equipped with two lighted lights upon the front thereof capable of revealing persons and substantial objects seventy-five feet ahead in lieu of lights required in Section 438.13, provided that such vehicle shall not be operated at a speed in excess of twenty miles per hour. 

(ORC 4513.16)

438.16 NUMBER OF LIGHTS; LIMITATIONS ON FLASHING, OSCILLATING OR ROTATING LIGHTS.

   (a)   Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with headlights also is equipped with any auxiliary lights or spotlight or any other light on the front thereof projecting a beam of an intensity greater than 300 candle power, not more than a total of five of any such lights on the front of a vehicle shall be lighted at any one time when the vehicle is upon a highway.

   (b)   Any lighted light or illuminating device upon a motor vehicle, other than headlights, spotlights, signal lights or auxiliary driving lights, that projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than 300 candle power, shall be so directed that no part of the beam will strike the level of the roadway on which the vehicle stands at a distance of more than seventy-five feet from the vehicle.

   (c)   (1)   Flashing lights are prohibited on motor vehicles, except as a means for indicating a right or a left turn, or in the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, or overtaking or passing.  This prohibition does not apply to emergency vehicles, road service vehicles servicing or towing a disabled vehicle, stationary waste collection vehicles actively collecting garbage, refuse, trash or recyclable materials on the roadside, rural mail delivery vehicles, vehicles transporting preschool children as provided in Ohio R.C. 4513.182, highway maintenance vehicles, funeral hearses, funeral escort vehicles and similar equipment operated by the Department or local authorities, which shall be equipped with and display, when used on a street or highway for the special purpose necessitating such lights, a flashing,  oscillating or rotating amber light, but shall not display a flashing, oscillating or rotating light of any other color, nor to vehicles or machinery permitted by Section 438.10 to have a flashing red light.

      (2)   When used on a street or highway, farm machinery and vehicles escorting farm machinery may be equipped with and display a flashing, oscillating, or rotating amber light, and the prohibition contained in subsection (c)(1) hereof does not apply to such machinery or vehicles.  Farm machinery also may display the lights described in Section 438.10.

   (d)   Except a person operating a public safety vehicle, as defined in Section 402.28, or a school bus, no person shall operate, move or park upon or permit to stand within the right of way of any public street or highway any vehicle or equipment that is equipped with and displaying a flashing red or a flashing combination red and white light, or an oscillating or rotating red light, or a combination red and white oscillating or rotating light; and except a public law enforcement officer, or other person sworn to enforce the criminal and traffic laws of the State or Municipality, operating a public safety vehicle when on duty, no person shall operate, move or park upon, or permit to stand within the right of way of any street or highway any vehicle or equipment that is equipped with, or upon which is mounted, and displaying a flashing blue or a flashing combination blue and white light, or an oscillating or rotating blue light, or a combination blue and white oscillating or rotating light. 

   (e)   This section does not prohibit the use of warning lights required by law or the simultaneous flashing of turn signals on disabled vehicles or on vehicles being operated in unfavorable atmospheric conditions in order to enhance their visibility.  This section also does not prohibit the simultaneous flashing of turn signals or warning lights either on farm machinery or vehicles escorting farm machinery, when used on a street or highway.  (ORC 4513.17)

438.17 VEHICLES TRANSPORTING PRESCHOOL CHILDREN.

   (a)   No person shall operate any motor vehicle owned, leased or hired by a nursery school, kindergarten or day-care center, while transporting preschool children to or from such an institution, unless the motor vehicle is equipped with and displaying two amber flashing lights mounted on a bar attached to the top of the vehicle, and a sign bearing the designation "Caution- Children", which shall be attached to the bar carrying the amber flashing lights in such a manner as to be legible to persons both in front of and behind the vehicle.  The lights and sign shall meet standards and specifications adopted by the Ohio Director of Public Safety pursuant to Ohio R.C. 4513.182.

   (b)   No person shall operate a motor vehicle displaying the lights and sign required by this section for any purpose other than the transportation of preschool children as provided in this section.  (ORC 4513.182)