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313.08  ALTERATION, INJURY, REMOVAL OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES.
   (a)   No person without lawful authority, shall do any of the following:
      (1)   Knowingly move, deface, damage, destroy or otherwise improperly tamper with any traffic control device, any railroad sign or signal, or any inscription, shield or insignia on the device, sign or signal, or any part of the device, sign or signal;
      (2)   Knowingly drive upon or over any freshly applied pavement marking material on the surface of a roadway while the marking material is in an undried condition and is marked by flags, markers, signs or other devices intended to protect it;
      (3)   Knowingly move, damage, destroy or otherwise improperly tamper with a manhole cover.
   (b)   (1)   Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whoever violates subsection (a)(1) or (3) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.  If a violation of subsection (a)(1) or (3) of this section creates a risk of physical harm to any person, the offender is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.  If a violation of subsection (a)(1) or (3) of this section causes serious physical harm to property that is owned, leased, or controlled by a state or local authority, the offender is guilty of a felony and shall be prosecuted under appropriate state law.
      (2)   Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whoever violates subsection (a)(2) of 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 subsection (a)(2) of 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 subsection (a)(2) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
         (ORC 4511.17)
 
313.09  DRIVER'S DUTIES UPON APPROACHING AMBIGUOUS OR NON-WORKING TRAFFIC SIGNAL.
   (a)   The driver of a vehicle who approaches an intersection where traffic is controlled by traffic control signals shall do all of the following if the signal facing the driver exhibits no colored lights or colored lighted arrows, exhibits a combination of such lights or arrows that fails to clearly indicate the assignment of right of way, or, if the vehicle is a bicycle or an electric bicycle, the signals are otherwise malfunctioning due to the failure of a vehicle detector to detect the presence of the bicycle or electric bicycle.
      (1)   Stop at a clearly marked stop line, but if none, stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection, or, if none, stop before entering the intersection;
      (2)   Yield the right of way to all vehicles in the intersection or approaching on an intersecting road, if the vehicles will constitute an immediate hazard during the time the driver is moving across or within the intersection or junction of roadways.
      (3)   Exercise ordinary care while proceeding through the intersection.
   (b)   Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, 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.
   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 Section 303.991 of the Traffic Code.
(ORC 4511.132)
313.10  UNLAWFUL PURCHASE, POSSESSION OR SALE.
   (a)   As used in this section, "traffic control device" means any sign, traffic control signal or other device conforming to and placed or erected in accordance with the manual adopted under Ohio R.C. 4511.09 by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction, for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic, including signs denoting the names of streets and highways, but does not mean any pavement marking.
   (b)   No individual shall buy or otherwise possess or sell, a traffic control device, except when one of the following applies:
      (1)   In the course of the individual’s employment by the State or a local authority for the express or implied purpose of manufacturing, providing, erecting, moving or removing such a traffic control device;
      (2)   In the course of the individual’s employment by any manufacturer of traffic control devices other than a State or local authority;
      (3)   For the purpose of demonstrating the design and function of a traffic control device to State or local officials;
      (4)   When the traffic control device has been purchased from the State or a local authority at a sale of property that is no longer needed or is unfit for use;
      (5)   The traffic control device has been properly purchased from a manufacturer for use on private property and the person possessing the device has a sales receipt for the device or other acknowledgment of sale issued by the manufacturer.
   (c)   This section does not preclude, and shall not be construed as precluding, prosecution for theft in violation of Ohio R.C. 2913.02 or a municipal ordinance relating to theft, or for receiving stolen property in violation of Ohio R.C. 2913.51 or a municipal ordinance relating to receiving stolen property.
   (d)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(ORC 4511.18)
313.11  PORTABLE SIGNAL PREEMPTION DEVICES PROHIBITED.
   (a)   (1)   No person shall possess a portable signal preemption device.
      (2)   No person shall use a portable signal preemption device to affect the operation of a traffic control signal.
   (b)   Subsection (a)(1) of this section does not apply to any of the following persons and subsection (a)(2) of this section does not apply to any of the following persons when responding to an emergency call:
      (1)   A peace officer, as defined in Ohio R.C. 109.71(A)(11), (12), (14) or (19);
      (2)   A State highway patrol trooper;
      (3)   A person while occupying a public safety vehicle as defined in Ohio R.C. 4511.01(E)(1), (3) or (4).
   (c)   Whoever violates subsection (a)(1) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.  Whoever violates subsection (a)(2) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
   (d)   As used in this section, “portable signal preemption device” means a device that, if activated by a person, is capable of changing a traffic control signal to green out of sequence.
(ORC 4511.031)