(a) Definitions. As used in this section:
(1) “Body floor height” means the vertical distance between the top of the frame rail and the bottom of the passenger compartment (cab) floor. In the event that the vehicle is a truck body, floor height will be measured by the vertical distance between the passenger compartment (cab) floor and the floor of the truck bed.
(2) “Bumper height” means the vertical distance between the ground and the highest point of the bottom of the bumper, measured when the vehicle is laden on a level surface with the vehicle tires inflated to the manufacturer's recommended pressure.
(3) “Frame” means the main longitudinal structural members of the chassis of the vehicle or, for vehicles with unitized body construction, the lowest main longitudinal structural members of the body of the vehicle.
(4) “Gross vehicle weight rating” means the manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating established for the vehicle.
(5) “Manufacturer” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4501.01.
(6) “Multipurpose passenger vehicle” means a motor vehicle with motive power, except a motorcycle, designed to carry ten persons or less, that is constructed either on a truck chassis or with special features for occasional off-road operation.
(7) “Passenger car” means any motor vehicle with motive power, designed for carrying ten persons or less, except a multipurpose passenger vehicle or motorcycle.
(8) “Truck” means every motor vehicle, except trailers and semitrailers, designed and used to carry property and having a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,000 pounds or less. (OAC 4501-43-02)
(b) Prohibitions; Application.
(1) No person shall operate upon a street or highway any passenger car, multipurpose passenger vehicle or truck registered in this State that does not conform to the requirements of this section.
(2) No person shall modify any motor vehicle registered in this State in such a manner as to cause the vehicle body or chassis to come in contact with the ground, expose the fuel tank to damage from collision, or cause the wheels to come in contact with the body under normal operation, and no person shall disconnect any part of the original suspension system of the vehicle to defeat the safe operation of that system, including the installation of inverted, altered or modified suspension system component parts which results in elevation of the height of the vehicle bumper or frame unit to a level that is not in compliance with this section.
(3) No person shall operate upon a street or highway any passenger car, multipurpose passenger vehicle or truck registered in this State without a bumper on the front and rear of the vehicle if such vehicle was equipped with bumpers as standard equipment by the manufacturer.
(4) No person shall operate upon a street or highway any passenger car, multipurpose passenger vehicle or truck registered in this State if the difference in height between the body floor and the top of the frame exceeds four inches.
(5) Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit either of the following:
A. The installation upon a passenger car, multipurpose passenger vehicle or truck registered in this State of heavy duty equipment, including shock absorbers and overload springs, as long as such equipment does not cause the vehicle to be in violation of this section;
B. The operation on a street or highway of a passenger car, multipurpose passenger vehicle or truck registered in this State with normal wear to the suspension system if the normal wear does not adversely affect the control of the vehicle.
(6) This section does not apply to any specially designed or modified passenger car, multipurpose passenger vehicle or truck when operated off a street or highway in races and similar events.
(7) A specially designed or modified passenger car, multipurpose passenger vehicle or truck which does not conform to this section shall not be operated on a street or highway. (OAC 4501-43-03)
(c) Specifications.
(1) The horizontal bumper shall be at least 4.5 inches in vertical height, centered on the vehicle's centerline, and extend no less than the width of the respective wheel track distances. Bumpers shall be horizontal load-bearing bumpers attached to the vehicle frame to effectively transfer impact when engaged.
(2) Maximum bumper heights shall be determined by weight category of gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) measured in terms of the vertical distance between the ground and the bottom of the frame rail or bumper. Maximum bumper heights are as follows:
Front (inches) Rear (inches)
Passenger Vehicles 22 22
4,500 lbs. and under GVWR 24 26
4,501 lbs. to 7,500 lbs. GVWR 27 29
7,501 lbs. to 10,000 lbs. GVWR 28 31
(3) If the body and/or truck bed height is altered, the difference in height between the body floor and/or the truck bed floor to the top of the frame rail shall not exceed four inches.
(4) For any vehicle with bumpers or attaching components which have been modified or altered from the original manufacturer's design in order to conform with the maximum bumper requirements of this section, the bumper height shall be measured from a level surface to the bottom of the vehicle frame rail at the most forward and rearward points of the frame rail.
(5) The height restriction in this subsection (c) applies to the distance from the ground to the bottom of the frame rail under any one or more of the following conditions:
A. A motor vehicle is not equipped with a front and rear bumper.
B. The bumper height relative to the frame rails has been altered.
C. A supplemental bumper has been installed or an addition to the original or replacement has been made. (OAC 4501-43-04)