§ 437.02 Time for Lighted Lights on Motor Vehicles

   (a)   Every vehicle, other than a motorized bicycle, operated upon a street or highway within this state shall display lighted lights and illuminating devices as required by Sections 437.03 to 437.17 during all of the following times:

      (1)   The time from sunset to sunrise;

      (2)   At any other time when, due to insufficient natural light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, persons, vehicles, and substantial objects on the highway are not discernible at a distance of one thousand (1,000) feet ahead;

      (3)   At any time when the windshield wipers of the vehicle are in use because of precipitation on the windshield.

   Every motorized bicycle shall display at such times lighted lights meeting the rules adopted by the Ohio Director of Public Safety under RC 4511.521. No motor vehicle, during any time specified in this section, shall be operated upon a street or highway within this state using only parking lights as illumination.

   Whenever in such sections a requirement is declared as to the distance from which certain lamps and devices shall render objects visible, or within which such lamps or devices shall be visible, such distance shall be measured upon a straight level unlighted highway under normal atmospheric conditions unless a different condition is expressly stated.

   Whenever in such sections a requirement is declared as to the mounted height of lights or devices, it shall mean from the center of such light or device to the level ground upon which the vehicle stands.

   (b)    Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no law enforcement officer shall cause the operator of a vehicle being operated upon a street or highway within this state to stop the vehicle solely because the officer observes that a violation of division (a)(3) of this section has been or is being committed or for the sole purpose of issuing a ticket, citation, or summons for a violation of that division, or causing the arrest of or commencing a prosecution of a person for a violation of that division.

   (c)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(RC 4513.03; Ord. No. 655-17. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

§ 437.03 Headlights on Motor Vehicles and Motorcycles

   (a)   (1)   Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, and every trackless trolley, shall be equipped with at least two (2) headlights with at least one (1) near each side of the front of the motor vehicle or trackless trolley.

      (2)   Every motorcycle shall be equipped with at least one (1) and not more than two (2) headlights.

   (b)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(RC 4513.04; Ord. No. 655-17. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

§ 437.04 Tail Light; Illumination of Rear License Plate

   (a)   (1)   Every motor vehicle, trackless trolley, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer or vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a train of vehicles shall be equipped with at least one (1) tail light mounted on the rear which, when lighted, shall emit a red light visible from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the rear, provided that in the case of a train of vehicles only the tail light on the rear-most vehicle need be visible from the distance specified.

      (2)   Either a tail light or a separate light shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate, when such registration plate is required, and render it legible from a distance of fifty (50) feet to the rear. Any tail light, together with any separate light for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the headlights or auxiliary driving lights are lighted, except where separate lighting systems are provided for trailers for the purpose of illuminating such registration plate.

   (b)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(RC 4513.05; Ord. No. 655-17. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

§ 437.05 Rear Red Reflectors

   (a)   (1)   Every new motor vehicle sold after September 6, 1941, and operated on a highway, other than a commercial tractor to which a trailer or semitrailer is attached, shall carry at the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two (2) red reflectors meeting the requirements of this section, except that vehicles of the type mentioned in Section 437.06 shall be equipped with reflectors as required by the regulations provided for in that section.

      (2)   Every such reflector shall be of a size and characteristics and so maintained as to be visible at night from all distances within three hundred (300) feet to fifty (50) feet from the vehicle.

   (b)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(RC 4513.06; Ord. No. 655-17. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

§ 437.06 Safety Lighting on Commercial Vehicles

   (a)   (1)   The Ohio Director of Public Safety shall prescribe and promulgate regulations relating to clearance lights, marker lights, reflectors, and stop lights on buses, trackless trolleys, trucks, commercial tractors, trailers, semitrailers, and pole trailers, when operated upon any highway, and such vehicles shall be equipped as required by such regulations, and such equipment shall be lighted at all times mentioned in Section 437.02, except that clearance lights and side marker lights need not be lighted on a vehicle when it is operated where there is sufficient light to reveal any person or substantial object on the street at a distance of five hundred (500) feet.

      (2)   Such equipment shall be in addition to all other lights specifically required by Sections 437.02 to 437.15. Vehicles operated under the jurisdiction of the Ohio Public Utilities Commission are not subject to this section.

   (b)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(RC 4513.07; Ord. No. 655-17. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)