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(a) (1) Whenever any person driving a vehicle approaches a railroad grade crossing, the person shall stop within 50 feet but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail of the railroad if any of the following circumstances exist at the crossing:
A. A clearly visible electric or mechanical signal device gives warning of the immediate approach of a train.
B. A crossing gate is lowered.
C. A flagperson gives or continues to give a signal of the approach or passage of a train.
D. There is insufficient space on the other side of the railroad grade crossing to accommodate the vehicle the person is operating without obstructing the passage of other vehicles, pedestrians or railroad trains, notwithstanding any traffic control signal indication to proceed.
E. An approaching train is emitting an audible signal or is plainly visible, and is in hazardous proximity to the crossing.
F. There is insufficient undercarriage clearance to safely negotiate the crossing.
(2) A person who is driving a vehicle and who approaches a railroad grade crossing shall not proceed as long as any of the circumstances described in divisions (a)(1)A. through (a)(1)F. of this section exist at the crossing.
(b) No person shall drive any vehicle through, around, or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad crossing while the gate or barrier is closed, or is being opened or closed unless the person is signaled by a law enforcement officer or flagperson that it is permissible to do so.
(c) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(ORC 4511.62)
(a) (1) Except as provided in division (a)(2) of this section, the operator of any bus, any school vehicle, or any vehicle transporting material required to be placarded under 49 C.F.R. Parts 100 to 185, before crossing at grade any track of a railroad, shall stop the vehicle, and while so stopped, shall listen through an open door or open window, and look in both directions along the track for any approaching train and for signals indicating the approach of a train, and shall proceed only upon exercising due care after stopping, looking, and listening as required by this section. Upon proceeding, the operator of such a vehicle shall cross only in a gear that will ensure there will be no necessity for changing gears while traversing the crossing, and shall not shift gears while crossing the tracks.
(2) Division (a)(1) of this section does not apply at grade crossings when any local authority has filed an application with the Public Utilities Commission requesting the approval of an exempt crossing, and the Public Utilities Commission has authorized and approved an exempt crossing as provided Ohio R.C. 4511.63(B).
(3) As used in division (a)(1) of this section:
A. “Bus” means any vehicle originally designed by its manufacturer to transport 16 or more passengers, including the driver, or carries 16 or more passengers, including the driver.
B. “Exempt crossing” means a highway rail grade crossing authorized and approved by the Public Utilities Commission under Ohio R.C. 4511.63(B) at which vehicles may cross without making the stop otherwise required by this section.
C. “School vehicle” means any vehicle used for the transportation of pupils to and from a school or school-related function if the vehicle is owned or operated by, or operated under contract with, a public or nonpublic school.
(4) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates division (a)(1) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more violations of division (a)(1) of this section or Ohio R.C. 4511.63, 4511.76, 4511.761, 4511.762, 4511.764, 4511.77, or 4511.79, or a municipal ordinance that is substantially equivalent to any of those sections, whoever violates division (a)(1) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. (ORC 4511.63)
(b) (1) The Department of Transportation and local authorities, with the approval of the Department, may designate dangerous highway crossings over railroad tracks, and erect stop signs thereat. When stop signs are erected, the operator of any vehicle shall stop within 50, but not less than 15, feet from the nearest rail of the railroad tracks, and shall exercise due care before proceeding across the grade crossing.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates division (b)(1) 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 division (b)(1) 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 division (b)(1) of 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 408.04 of the Traffic Code.
(ORC 4511.61)
(a) No person shall operate or move any crawler-type tractor, steam shovel, derrick, roller, or any equipment or structure having a normal operating speed of six or less miles per hour or a vertical body or load clearance of less than nine inches above the level surface of a roadway, upon or across any tracks at a railroad grade crossing without first complying with divisions (a)(1) and (2) of this section.
(1) Before making any such crossing, the person operating or moving any such vehicle or equipment shall first stop the same, and while stopped, the person shall listen and look in both directions along the track for any approaching train and for signals indicating the approach of a train, and shall proceed only upon exercising due care.
(2) No such crossing shall be made when warning is given by automatic signal, crossing gates, or a flagperson, or otherwise of the immediate approach of a railroad train or car.
(b) If the normal sustained speed of the vehicle, equipment, or structure is not more than three miles per hour, the person owning, operating, or moving the same shall also give notice of the intended crossing to a station agent or superintendent of the railroad, and a reasonable time shall be given to the railroad to provide proper protection for the crossing. Where the vehicles or equipment are being used in constructing or repairing a section of highway lying on both sides of a railroad grade crossing, and in this construction or repair it is necessary to repeatedly move the vehicles or equipment over the crossing, one daily notice specifying when the work will start and stating the hours during which it will be prosecuted is sufficient.
(c) 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.
(ORC 4511.64)
(a) No driver shall enter an intersection or marked crosswalk, or drive onto any railroad grade crossing, unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the intersection, crosswalk, or grade crossing to accommodate the vehicle the driver is operating without obstructing the passage of other vehicles, pedestrians, or railroad trains, notwithstanding any traffic-control signal indication to proceed.
(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.
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 408.04 of the Traffic Code.
(ORC 4511.712)
No person shall operate any motor vehicle, except when necessary for safe operation, or in compliance with law, in such a manner that the vehicle is so rapidly accelerated or started from a stopped position, or in the shifting of gears while in motion, that the exhaust system emits a loud, cracking or chattering noise unusual to its normal operation, or that the rubber tires of such vehicle squeal or leave tire marks on the roadway, commonly known as “peeling”.
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