CHAPTER 413 – TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES

413.01   Obedience to Traffic Control Devices

413.02   Through Streets; Stop and Yield Right-of- Way Signs

413.03   Traffic Control Signal Terms and Lights

413.031   Use of Automated Cameras to Impose Civil Penalties upon Red Light and Speeding Violators

413.032   Costs of Collection of Unpaid Tickets for Photo-Enforced Offenses

413.04   Lane-Use Control Signals Over Individual Lanes

413.05   Pedestrian Control Signals

413.06   Flashing Traffic Signals – Repealed

413.07   Unauthorized Signs and Signals; Hiding from View; Advertising

413.08   Tampering with Traffic Control Devices Prohibited

413.09   No Right Turns on Red

413.10   No Right Turns on Red During Certain Hours

413.11   Driver’s Duties Upon Approaching Ambiguous or Non-Working Traffic Signal

Cross-reference:
   Traffic control device defined, CO 401.67

Statutory reference:
   See sectional histories for similar State law
   Designation of through streets or stop intersections, RC 4511.07, 4511.65
   Placing and maintaining local traffic control devices, RC 4511.10, 4511.11
   Uniform system of traffic control devices, RC 4511.09, 4511.11

§ 413.01 Obedience to Traffic Control Devices

   (a)   (1)   No pedestrian or driver of a vehicle or operator of a streetcar or trackless trolley, shall disobey the instructions of any traffic-control device placed in accordance with the provisions of this Traffic Code, unless at the time otherwise directed by a police officer. When both traffic control signals and stop signs are erected at intersections, traffic shall be governed by the traffic control signal while it is in operation.

      (2)   No provision of this Traffic Code for which signs are required shall be enforced against an alleged violator if at the time and place of the alleged violation an official sign is not in proper position and sufficiently legible to be seen by an ordinarily observant person. Whenever a particular section of this Traffic Code does not state that signs are required, that section shall be effective even though no signs are erected or in place.

   (b)   Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one (1) year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one (1) predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one (1) year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two (2) or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.

(RC 4511.12; Ord. No. 1278-15. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

§ 413.02 Through Streets; Stop and Yield Right- of-Way Signs

   (a)   All State routes are hereby designated as through streets or highways, provided that stop signs, yield signs or traffic control signals shall be erected at all intersections with such through streets or highways by the Ohio Department of Transportation as to streets or highways under its jurisdiction and by the City as to streets or highways under its jurisdiction, except as otherwise provided in this section. Where two (2) or more state routes that are through streets or highways intersect and no traffic control signal is in operation, stop signs or yield signs shall be erected at one (1) or more entrances thereto, except as otherwise provided in this section.

   Whenever the Director of the Ohio Department of Transportation determines on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that stop signs are necessary to stop traffic on a through highway for safe and efficient operation, nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent such installations. When circumstances warrant, the Director also may omit stop signs on roadways intersecting through highways under his or her jurisdiction. Before the Director either installs or removes a stop sign under this division, he or she shall give notice, in writing, of that proposed action to the City at least thirty (30) days before installing or removing the stop sign.

   (b)   Other streets or highways, or portions thereof, are hereby designated through streets or highways, if they are within the City, if they have a continuous length of more than one (1) mile between the limits of such street or highway or portion thereof, and if they have “stop” or “yield” signs or traffic control signals at the entrances of the majority of intersecting streets or highways. For purposes of this section, the limits of such street or highway or portion thereof, shall be a municipal corporation line, the physical terminus of the street or highway or any point on such street or highway at which vehicular traffic thereon is required by regulatory signs to stop or yield to traffic on the intersecting street, provided that in residence districts the City may by ordinance designate such street or highway, or portion thereof, not to be a through street or highway and thereafter the affected residence district shall be indicated by official traffic control devices. Where two (2) or more through streets or highways designated under this subsection (b) intersect and no traffic control signal is in operation, stop signs or yield signs shall be erected at one (1) or more entrances thereto by the City, except as otherwise provided in this section.

   (c)   Stop signs need not be erected at intersections so constructed as to permit traffic to safely enter a through street or highway without coming to a stop. Signs shall be erected at such intersections indicating that the operator of a vehicle shall yield the right-of- way to or merge with all traffic proceeding on the through street or highway.

   (d)   Council may designate additional through streets or highways whereupon the appropriate executive officers shall erect stop signs, yield signs or traffic control signals at all streets and highways intersecting such through streets or highways, or may designate any intersection as a stop or yield intersection and shall erect like signs at one (1) or more entrances to such intersection.

(RC 4511.65)

   (e)   The following are additional through streets or highways designated by Council:

   Bellaire Rd., from West 130th St. to Puritas Ave.;

   Berea Rd., from Detroit Ave. to Triskett Rd.;

   Carnegie Ave.;

   Columbus Rd.;

   East Blvd.;

   Fairhill Rd.;

   Fulton Rd.;

   Independence Rd.;

   Jennings Rd.;

   Lake Ave., from Detroit Ave. to Clifton Rd., and from West Blvd. to West 117th St.;

   Lee Rd.;

   Liberty Blvd.;

   Nottingham Rd., from East 185th St. to southerly City limits.;

   Scranton Rd.;

   Train Ave., from Scranton Rd. to West 47th St.;

   Triskett Rd., from West 117th St. to Lorain Ave.;

   Turney Rd.;

   West 117th St.;

   West Blvd.

(Ord. No. 91-96. Passed 3-18-96, eff. 3-26-96)

§ 413.03 Traffic Control Signal Terms and Lights

   Highway traffic signal indications for vehicles and pedestrians shall have the following meanings:

   (a)   Steady Green Signal Indication.

      (1)   A.   Vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys facing a circular green signal indication are permitted to proceed straight through or turn right or left or make a u-turn movement except as such movement is modified by a lane-use sign, turn prohibition sign, lane marking, roadway design, separate turn signal indication, or other traffic control device. Such vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left or making a u-turn movement, shall yield the right-of-way to both of the following:

            1.   Pedestrians lawfully within an associated crosswalk;

            2.   Other vehicles lawfully within the intersection.

         B.   In addition, vehicular traffic turning left or making a u-turn movement to the left shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles approaching from the opposite direction so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when such turning vehicle is moving across or within the intersection.

      (2)   Vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys facing a green arrow signal indication, displayed alone or in combination with another signal indication, are permitted to cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or such other movement as is permitted by other indications displayed at the same time. Such vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left or making a u-turn movement, shall yield the right-of-way to both of the following:

         A.   Pedestrians lawfully within an associated crosswalk;

         B.   Other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

      (3)   A.   Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal indication, as provided in RC 4511.14, pedestrians facing a circular green signal indication are permitted to proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked associated crosswalk. The pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection or so close as to create an immediate hazard at the time that the green signal indication is first displayed.

         B.   Pedestrians facing a green arrow signal indication, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal indication or other traffic control device, shall not cross the roadway.

   (b)   Steady Yellow Signal Indication.

      (1)   Vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys facing a steady circular yellow signal indication are thereby warned that the related green movement or the related flashing arrow movement is being terminated or that a steady red signal indication will be exhibited immediately thereafter when vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys shall not enter the intersection. The provisions governing vehicular operation under the movement being terminated shall continue to apply while the steady circular yellow signal indication is displayed.

      (2)   Vehicular traffic facing a steady yellow arrow signal indication is thereby warned that the related green arrow movement or the related flashing arrow movement is being terminated. The provisions governing vehicular operation under the movement being terminated shall continue to apply while the steady yellow arrow signal indication is displayed.

      (3)   Pedestrians facing a steady circular yellow or yellow arrow signal indication, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal indication as provided in RC 4511.14 or other traffic control device, shall not start to cross the roadway.

   (c)   Steady Red Signal Indication.

      (1)   A.   Vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys facing a steady circular red signal indication, unless entering the intersection to make another movement permitted by another signal indication, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line; but if there is no stop line, traffic shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection; or if there is no crosswalk, then before entering the intersection; and shall remain stopped until a signal indication to proceed is displayed except as provided in divisions (c)(1), (c)(2), and (c)(3) of this section.

         B.   Except when a traffic control device is in place prohibiting a turn on red or a steady red arrow signal indication is displayed, vehicular traffic facing a steady circular red signal indication is permitted, after stopping, to enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one (1) way street into a one (1) way street. The right to proceed with the turn shall be subject to the provisions that are applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.

      (2)   A.   Vehicular traffic, streetcars, and trackless trolleys facing a steady red arrow signal indication shall not enter the intersection to make the movement indicated by the arrow and, unless entering the intersection to make another movement permitted by another signal indication, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line; but if there is no stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection; or if there is no crosswalk, then before entering the intersection; and shall remain stopped until a signal indication or other traffic control device permitting the movement indicated by such red arrow is displayed.

         B.   When a traffic control device is in place permitting a turn on a steady red arrow signal indication, vehicular traffic facing a steady red arrow indication is permitted, after stopping, to enter the intersection to turn right, or to turn left from a one (1) way street into a one (1) way street. The right to proceed with the turn shall be limited to the direction indicated by the arrow and shall be subject to the provisions that are applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.

      (3)   Unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal indication as provided in RC 4511.14 or other traffic control device, pedestrians facing a steady circular red or steady red arrow signal indication shall not enter the roadway.

      (4)   The municipality by ordinance, or the Ohio Director of Transportation on state highways, may prohibit a right or a left turn against a steady red signal at any intersection, which shall be effective when signs giving notice thereof are posted at the intersection.

   (d)   Flashing Green Signal Indication. A flashing green signal indication has no meaning and shall not be used.

   (e)   Flashing Yellow Signal Indication.

      (1)   A.   Vehicular traffic, on an approach to an intersection, facing a flashing circular yellow signal indication, is permitted to cautiously enter the intersection to proceed straight through or turn right or left or make a u-turn movement except as such movement is modified by lane-use signs, turn prohibition signs, lane markings, roadway design, separate turn signal indications, or other traffic control devices. Such vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left or making a u-turn movement, shall yield the right-of-way to both of the following:

            1.   Pedestrians lawfully within an associated crosswalk;

            2.   Other vehicles lawfully within the intersection.

         B.   In addition, vehicular traffic turning left or making a u-turn to the left shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles approaching from the opposite direction so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when such turning vehicle is moving across or within the intersection.

      (2)   A.   Vehicular traffic, on an approach to an intersection, facing a flashing yellow arrow signal indication, displayed alone or in combination with another signal indication, is permitted to cautiously enter the intersection only to make the movement indicated by such arrow, or other such movement as is permitted by other signal indications displayed at the same time. Such vehicular traffic, including vehicles turning right or left or making a u-turn, shall yield the right-of-way to both of the following:

            1.   Pedestrians lawfully within an associated crosswalk;

            2.   Other vehicles lawfully within the intersection.

         B.   In addition, vehicular traffic turning left or making a u-turn to the left shall yield the right-of-way to other vehicles approaching from the opposite direction so closely as to constitute an immediate hazard during the time when such turning vehicle is moving across or within the intersection.

      (3)   Pedestrians facing any flashing yellow signal indication at an intersection, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal indication or other traffic control device, are permitted to proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked associated crosswalk. Pedestrians shall yield the right- of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that the flashing yellow signal indication is first displayed.

      (4)   When a flashing circular yellow signal indication is displayed as a beacon to supplement another traffic control device, road users are notified that there is a need to pay additional attention to the message contained thereon or that the regulatory or warning requirements of the other traffic control device, which might not be applicable at all times, are currently applicable.

   (f)   Flashing Red Signal Indication.

      (1)   Vehicular traffic, on an approach to an intersection, facing a flashing circular red signal indication, shall stop at a clearly marked stop line; but if there is no stop line, before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection; or if there is no crosswalk, at the point nearest the intersecting roadway where the driver has a view of approaching traffic on the intersecting roadway before entering the intersection. The right to proceed shall be subject to the provisions that are applicable after making a stop at a stop sign.

      (2)   Pedestrians facing any flashing red signal indication at an intersection, unless otherwise directed by a pedestrian signal indication or other traffic control device, are permitted to proceed across the roadway within any marked or unmarked associated crosswalk. Pedestrians shall yield the right- of-way to vehicles lawfully within the intersection at the time that the flashing red signal indication is first displayed.

      (3)   When a flashing circular red signal indication is displayed as a beacon to supplement another traffic control device, road users are notified that there is a need to pay additional attention to the message contained thereon or that the regulatory requirements of the other traffic control device, which might not be applicable at all times, are currently applicable. Use of this signal indication shall be limited to supplementing stop, do not enter, or wrong way signs, and to applications where compliance with the supplemented traffic control device requires a stop at a designated point.

   (g)   In the event an official traffic-control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, the provisions of this section shall be applicable except as to those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking the stop shall be made at the signal.

   (h)   This section does not apply at railroad grade crossings. Conduct of drivers of vehicles, streetcars, and trackless trolleys approaching railroad grade crossings shall be governed by RC 4511.61 and 4511.62.

(RC 4511.13; Ord. No. 1278-15. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)