As used in this chapter:
(a) “Alcohol concentration.” The concentration of alcohol in a person's blood, breath or urine. When expressed as a percentage, it means grams of alcohol per the following:
(1) 100 milliliters of whole blood, blood serum, or blood plasma;
(2) 210 liters of breath;
(3) 100 milliliters of urine.
(b) “Commercial driver's license.” A license issued in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapter 4506 that authorizes an individual to drive a commercial motor vehicle.
(c) “Commercial driver's license information system.” The information system established pursuant to the requirements of the “Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986,” 100 Stat. 3207-171, 49 U.S.C. App. 2701.
(d) “Commercial motor vehicle.” Except when used in Ohio R.C. 4506.25, any motor vehicle designed or used to transport persons or property that meets any of the following qualifications:
(1) Any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight or combined gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, provided that the gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle or vehicles being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds;
(2) Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more;
(3) Any single vehicle or combination of vehicles that is not a Class A or Class B vehicle, but that either is designed to transport 16 or more passengers including the driver or is placarded for hazardous materials;
(4) Any school bus with a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of less than 26,001 pounds that is designed to transport fewer than 16 passengers including the driver;
(5) Is transporting hazardous materials for which placarding is required by regulations adopted under the “Hazardous Materials Transportation Act,” 88 Stat. 2156 (1975), 49 U.S.C. 1801, as amended; or
(6) Any single vehicle or combination of vehicles that is designed to be operated and to travel on a public street or highway and is considered by the Federal Highway Administration to be a commercial motor vehicle, including, but not limited to, a motorized crane, a vehicle whose function is to pump cement, a rig for drilling wells, and a portable crane.
(e) “Controlled substance.” Includes all of the following:
(1) Any substance classified as a controlled substance under the “Controlled Substances Act,” 80 Stat. 1242 (1970), 21 U.S.C. 802(6), as amended;
(2) Any substance included in Schedules I through V of 21 C.F.R. Part 1308, as amended;
(3) Any drug of abuse.
(f) “Conviction.” An unvacated adjudication of guilt or a determination that a person has violated or failed to comply with the law in a court of original jurisdiction or an authorized administrative tribunal, an unvacated forfeiture of bail or collateral deposited to secure the person's appearance in court, the payment of a fine or court cost, or violation of a condition of release without bail, regardless of whether or not the penalty is rebated, suspended or probated.
(g) “Disqualification.” Withdrawal of the privilege to drive a commercial motor vehicle.
(h) “Domiciled.” Having a true, fixed, principal, and permanent residence to which an individual intends to return.
(i) “Downgrade.” Any of the following, as applicable:
(1) A change in the commercial driver’s license, or commercial driver’s license temporary instruction permit, holder’s self-certified status as described in Ohio R.C. 4506.10(A)(2);
(2) A change to a lesser class of vehicle;
(3) Removal of commercial driver’s license privileges from the individual’s driver’s license.
(j) “Drive.” To drive, operate or be in physical control of a motor vehicle.
(k) “Driver.” Any person who drives, operates or is in physical control of a commercial motor vehicle or is required to have a commercial driver's license.
(l) “Driver's license.” A license issued by the Bureau of Motor Vehicles that authorizes an individual to drive.
(m) “Drug of abuse.” Any controlled substance, dangerous drug as defined in Ohio R.C. 4729.01, or over-the-counter medication that, when taken in quantities exceeding the recommended dosage, can result in impairment of judgment or reflexes.
(n) “Electronic device.” Includes a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, a pager, a computer, and any other device used to input, write, send, receive, or read text.
(o) “Employer.” Any person, including the Federal government, any state, and a political subdivision of any state, that owns or leases a commercial motor vehicle or assigns a person to drive such a motor vehicle.
(p) “Endorsement.” An authorization on a person's commercial driver's license that is required to permit the person to operate a specified type of commercial motor vehicle.
(q) “Felony.” Any offense under Federal or state law that is punishable by death or imprisonment for a term exceeding one year and includes any offense specifically classified as a felony under the law of this State, regardless of the penalty that may be imposed.
(r) “Foreign jurisdiction.” Any jurisdiction other than a state.
(s) “Gross vehicle weight rating.”
(1) The value specified by the manufacturer as the maximum loaded weight of a single or a combination vehicle. The gross vehicle weight rating of a combination vehicle is the gross vehicle weight rating of the power unit plus the gross vehicle weight rating of each towed unit.
(2) For purposes of this chapter, the actual gross weight of a vehicle or combination of vehicles may be used in lieu of a gross vehicle weight rating to determine whether a vehicle or combination of vehicles qualifies as a commercial motor vehicle if the gross vehicle weight rating specified by the manufacturer for the vehicle of combination of vehicles is not determinable, or if the manufacturer of the vehicle has not specified a gross vehicle weight rating.
(ORC 4506.011)
(t) “Hazardous materials.” Materials identified as such under regulations adopted under the “Hazardous Materials Transportation Act,” 88 Stat. 2156 (1975), 49 U.S.C. 1801, as amended.
(u) “Medical variance.” One of the following received by a driver from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration that allows the driver to be issued a medical certificate:
(1) An exemption letter permitting operation of a commercial motor vehicle under 49 C.F.R. part 381, subpart C or 49 C.F.R. 391.64;
(2) A skill performance evaluation certificate permitting operation of a commercial motor vehicle pursuant to 49 C.F.R. 391.49.
(v) “Mobile telephone.” A mobile communication device that falls under or uses any commercial mobile radio service as defined in 47 C.F.R. part 20, except that mobile telephone does not include two-way or citizens band radio services.
(w) “Motor vehicle.” Has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4511.01.
(x) “Out-of-service order.” Except when used in Ohio R.C. 4506.25 and 4506.26, a temporary prohibition against driving a commercial motor vehicle issued under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4506 or a similar law of another state or of a foreign jurisdiction.
(y) “Peace officer.” Has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 2935.01
(z) “Portable tank.” A liquid or gaseous packaging designed primarily to be loaded on or temporarily attached to a vehicle and equipped with skids, mountings, or accessories to facilitate handling of the tank by mechanical means.
(aa) “Residence.” Any person's residence determined in accordance with standards prescribed in the rules adopted by the Registrar.
(bb) “School bus.” Has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4511.01.
(cc) “Temporary residence.” Residence on a temporary basis as determined by the Registrar in accordance with standards prescribed in rules adopted by the Registrar.
(dd) “Serious traffic violation.” Any of the following:
(1) A conviction arising from a single charge of operating a commercial motor vehicle in violation of any provision of Ohio R.C. 4506.03;
(2) A. Except as provided in division (2)B. of this definition, a violation while operating a commercial motor vehicle of a law of this state, or any municipal ordinance or county or township resolution, or any other substantially equivalent law of another state or political subdivision of another state, prohibiting either of the following:
1. Texting while driving;
2. Using a handheld mobile telephone.
B. It is not a serious traffic violation if the person was texting or using a handheld mobile telephone to contact law enforcement or other emergency services.
(3) A conviction arising from the operation of any motor vehicle that involves any of the following:
A. A single charge of any speed in excess of the posted speed limit by 15 miles per hour or more;
B. Violations of Ohio R.C. 4511.20 or 4511.201 or any substantially equivalent ordinance or resolution, or of any substantially equivalent law of another state or political subdivision of another state;
C. Violation of a law of this state or an ordinance or resolution relating to traffic control, other than a parking violation, or of any substantially equivalent law of another state or political subdivision of another state, that results in a fatal accident;
D. Violation of Ohio R.C. 4506.03 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance or county or township resolution, or of any substantially equivalent law of another state or political subdivision of another state, that involves the operation of a commercial motor vehicle without a valid commercial driver’s license with the proper class or endorsement for the specific vehicle group being operated or for the passengers or type of cargo being transported;
E. Violation of Ohio R.C. 4506.03 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance or county or township resolution, or of any substantially equivalent law of another state or political subdivision of another state, that involves the operation of a commercial motor vehicle without a valid commercial driver’s license being in the person’s possession;
F. Violation of Ohio R.C. 4511.33 or 4511.34, or any municipal ordinance or county or township resolution substantially equivalent to either of those sections, or any substantially equivalent law of another state or political subdivision of another state;
G. Violation of any other law of this state, any law of another state, or any ordinance or resolution of a political subdivision of this state or another state that meets both of the following requirements:
1. It relates to traffic control, other than a parking violation;
2. It is determined to be a serious traffic violation by the United States Secretary of Transportation and is designated by the director as such by rule.
(ee) “State.” A state of the United States and includes the District of Columbia.
(ff) “Tank vehicle.” Any commercial motor vehicle that is designed to transport any liquid or gaseous materials within a tank or tanks that are either permanently or temporarily attached to the vehicle or its chassis and have an individual rated capacity of more than 119 gallons and an aggregate rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more. The term does not include a commercial motor vehicle transporting an empty storage container tank that is not designed for transportation, has a rated capacity of 1,000 gallons or more, and is temporarily attached to a flatbed trailer.
(gg) “Texting.” Manually entering alphanumeric text into, or reading text from, an electronic device. “Texting” includes short message service (SMS), e-mail, instant messaging, a command or request to access a world wide web page, pressing more than a single button to initiate or terminate a voice communication using a mobile telephone, or engaging in any other form of electronic text retrieval or entry, for present or future communication. “Texting” does not include the following:
(1) Using voice commands to initiate, receive, or terminate a voice communication using a mobile telephone;
(2) Inputting, selecting, or reading information on a global positioning system or navigation system;
(3) Pressing a single button to initiate or terminate a voice communication using a mobile telephone; or
(4) Using, for a purpose that is not otherwise prohibited by law, a device capable of performing multiple functions, such as a fleet management system, a dispatching device, a mobile telephone, a citizens band radio, or a music player.
(hh) “Texting while driving.” Texting while operating a commercial motor vehicle, with the motor running, including while temporarily stationary because of traffic, a traffic control device, or other momentary delays. Texting while driving does not include operating a commercial motor vehicle with or without the motor running when the driver has moved the vehicle to the side of, or off, a highway and is stopped in a location where the vehicle can safely remain stationary.
(ii) “United States.” Means the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
(jj) “Upgrade.” A change in the class of vehicles, endorsements, or self-certified status as described in R.C. § 4506.10(A)(1) that expands the ability of a current commercial driver’s license holder to operate commercial motor vehicles under this chapter or Ohio R.C. Chapter 4506.
(kk) “Use of a handheld mobile telephone.” Means:
(1) Using at least one hand to hold a mobile telephone to conduct a voice communication;
(2) Dialing or answering a mobile telephone by pressing more than a single button; or
(3) Reaching for a mobile telephone in a manner that requires a driver to maneuver so that the driver is no longer in a seated driving position, or restrained by a seat belt that is installed in accordance with 49 C.F.R. § 393.93 and adjusted in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer’s instructions.
(ll) “Vehicle.” Has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 4511.01.
(ORC 4506.01)