371.06 USE OF ROADWAY FOR SOLICITING; RIDING ON OUTSIDE OF VEHICLES.
   (a)   No person while on a roadway shall solicit a ride from the driver of any vehicle.
   (b)   Except as authorized by permit, no person shall stand on a roadway for the purpose of soliciting employment, business or contributions from the occupant of any vehicle.
   (c)   No person shall hang onto, or ride on the outside of any motor vehicle while it is moving upon a roadway, except mechanics or test engineers making repairs or adjustments, or workers performing specialized roadway maintenance or construction under authority of a public agency.
   (d)   No operator shall knowingly permit any person to hang onto, or ride on the outside of, any motor vehicle while it is moving upon a roadway, except mechanics or test engineers making repairs or adjustments, or workers performing specialized roadway maintenance or construction under authority of a public agency.
   (e)   No driver of a truck, trailer or semitrailer shall knowingly permit any person who has not attained the age of sixteen years to ride in the unenclosed or unroofed cargo storage area of the driver’s vehicle if the vehicle is traveling faster than twenty-five miles per hour, unless either of the following applies:
      (1)   The cargo storage area of the vehicle is equipped with a properly secured seat to which is attached a seat safety belt that is in compliance with federal standards for an occupant restraining device as defined in Ohio R.C. 4513.263(A)(2), the seat and seat safety belt were installed at the time the vehicle was originally assembled and the person riding in the cargo storage area is in the seat and is wearing the seat safety belt;
      (2)   An emergency exists that threatens the life of the driver or the person being transported in the cargo storage area of the truck, trailer or semitrailer.
   (f)   No driver of a truck, trailer or semitrailer shall permit any person, except for those workers performing specialized roadway maintenance or construction under authority of a public agency to ride in the cargo storage area or on a tailgate of the driver’s vehicle while the tailgate is unlatched.
   (g)   (1)   Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whoever violates any provision of subsections (a) to (d) 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 any provision of subsections (a) to (d) 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 any provision of subsections (a) to (d) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
      (2)   Whoever violates subsection (e) or (f) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(ORC 4511.51)