476.02 EQUIPMENT.

   (a)   In addition to any rules or regulations promulgated by the Ohio Director of Public Safety pursuant to Ohio R.C. 4519.20 and Ohio R.C. Chapter 119, equipment of snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, and all-purpose vehicles shall include but not necessarily be limited to requirements for the following items of equipment:

      (1)   At least one headlight having a minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and objects at a distance of at least 100 feet ahead under normal atmospheric conditions during hours of darkness;

      (2)   At least one red tail light having a minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity to be plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear under normal atmospheric conditions during hours of darkness;

      (3)   Every snowmobile, while traveling on packed snow, shall be capable of carrying a driver who weighs 175 pounds or more, and, while carrying such driver, be capable of stopping in no more than 40 feet from an initial steady speed of 20 miles per hour, or locking its traction belt; and

      (4)   A muffler system capable of precluding the emission of excessive smoke or exhaust fumes, and of limiting the engine noise of vehicles. On snowmobiles manufactured after January 1, 1973, such requirement shall include sound dampening equipment such that noise does not exceed 82 decibels on the "A" scale at 50 feet as measured according to SAE J192 (September 1970).

   (b)   No person shall operate any snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all- purpose vehicle in violation of this section, except that equipment specified in division (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section shall not be required on snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, or all-purpose vehicles operated during the daylight hours.

(ORC 4519.20(A), (B))

   (c)   Whoever violates division (b) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

476.03 CODE APPLICATION; PROHIBITED OPERATION.

   (a)   The applicable provisions of this Traffic Code shall be applied to the operation of snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, and all-purpose vehicles, except that no snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle shall be operated as follows:

      (1)   On any street, highway, limited access highway or freeway or the right- of-way thereof, except for emergency travel only during such time and in such manner as the Ohio Director of Public Safety or local authority having jurisdiction shall designate, and except as provided in Section 476.04;

      (2)   On any private property, or in any nursery or planting area, without the permission of the owner or other person having the right to possession of the property;

      (3)   On any land or waters controlled by the State, except at those locations where a sign has been posted permitting such operation;

      (4)   On the tracks or right-of-way of any operating railroad;

      (5)   While transporting any firearm, bow or other implement for hunting that is not unloaded and securely encased;

      (6)   For the purpose of chasing, pursuing, capturing or killing any animal or wild fowl; or

      (7)   During the time from sunset to sunrise, unless displaying lighted lights as required by Ohio R.C. 4519.20 or a substantially similar municipal ordinance.

         (ORC 4519.40(A))

   (b)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

476.04 PERMITTED OPERATION.

   Snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, and all-purpose vehicles may be operated as follows:

   (a)   To make a crossing of a highway, other than a highway as designated in Ohio R.C. 4519.40(A)(1) or a substantially similar municipal ordinance, whenever the crossing can be made in safety and will not interfere with the movement of vehicular traffic approaching from any direction on the highway, and provided that the operator yields the right-of-way to any approaching traffic that presents an immediate hazard;

   (b)   On highways in the county or township road systems whenever the local authority having jurisdiction over such highways so permits;

   (c)   Off and alongside street or highway for limited distances from the point of unloading from a conveyance to the point at which the snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle is intended and authorized to be operated;

   (d)   On the berm or shoulder of a highway, other than a highway as designated in Ohio R.C. 4519.40(A)(1) or a substantially similar municipal ordinance, when the terrain permits such operation to be undertaken safely and without the necessity of entering any traffic lane;

   (e)   On the berm or shoulder or a county or township road, while traveling from one area of operation of the snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle to another such area.

      (ORC 4519.41)

476.05 LICENSING REQUIREMENTS OF OPERATOR.

   (a)   No person who does not hold a valid, current motor vehicle driver's or commercial driver's license, motorcycle operator's endorsement or probationary license, issued under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4506 or Ohio R.C. Chapter 4507, shall operate a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle on any street or highway in this Municipality, on any portion of the right-of-way thereof, or on any public land or waters.

   (b)    No person who is less than 16 years of age shall operate a snowmobile, off- highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle on any land or waters other than private property or waters owned by or leased to the person's parent or guardian, unless accompanied by another person who is 18 years of age or older, and who holds a license as provided in division (a) of this section, except that the Ohio Department of Natural Resources may permit such operation on State controlled land under its jurisdiction when such person is less than 16 years of age but is 12 years of age or older and is accompanied by a parent or guardian who is a licensed driver 18 years of age or older.

(ORC 4519.44(A), (B))

   (c)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

476.06 ACCIDENT REPORTS.

   (a)   The operator of a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle involved in any accident resulting in bodily injury to or death of any person or damage to the property of any person in excess of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall report the accident within 48 hours to the Chief of Police, and within 30 days shall forward a written report of the accident to the Ohio Registrar of Motor Vehicles on a form prescribed by the Registrar. If the operator is physically incapable of making the reports and there is another participant in the accident not so incapacitated, the participant shall make the reports. In the event there is no other participant, and the operator is other than the owner, the owner, within the prescribed periods of time, shall make the reports.

   (b)   Any law enforcement officer or other person authorized by Ohio R.C. 4519.42 and 4519.43 who investigates or receives information of an accident involving a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle shall forward to the Registrar a written report of the accident within 48 hours.

(ORC 4519.46)

476.07 LOCAL CONTROL WITHIN POLICE POWER.

   Nothing contained in this chapter shall prevent the Municipality from regulating the operation of snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycle, and all-purpose vehicles on streets and highways and other public property under municipal jurisdiction, and within the reasonable exercise of the police power, except that no registration or licensing of any snowmobile, off- highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle required to be registered or titled under Ohio R.C. Chapter 4519 shall be required.

(ORC 4519.48)

476.08 REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES.

   (a)   Except as provided in division (b), (c) and (d) of this section, no person shall operate any snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle within this Municipality unless the snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle is registered and numbered in accordance with Ohio R.C. 4519.03 and 4519.04.

   (b)   No registration is required for a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all- purpose vehicle that is operated exclusively upon lands owned by the owner of the snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle, or on lands to which the owner has a contractual right.

   (c)   No registration is required for a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all- purpose vehicle owned and used in this Municipality by a resident of another state whenever that state has in effect a law similar to Ohio R.C. Chapter 4519 and the snowmobile, off- highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle is properly registered thereunder. Any snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle owned and used in this Municipality by a resident of another state not having such a registration requirement shall comply with Ohio R.C. 4519.09.

   (d)   No registration is required for a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all- purpose vehicle owned and used in this Municipality by the United States, another state or a political subdivision thereof, but the snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle shall display the name of the owner thereon.

   (e)   The owner or operator of any all-purpose vehicle operated or used upon the waters in this Municipality shall comply with Ohio R.C. Chapter 1547 and Ohio R.C. Chapter 1548 relative to the operation of watercraft.

(ORC 4519.02(A)-(E))

   (f)   Whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

Statutory reference:

   Dealer registration and fees, see Ohio R.C. 4519.06 and 4519.07

   Destruction or disposal of vehicle; transfer of ownership; change of address; loss of certificate, see Ohio R.C. 4519.05

   Registration of emergency vehicles, see Ohio R.C. 4519.08

   Registration procedure, see Ohio R.C. 4519.03

   Temporary license placards and fees, see Ohio R.C. 4519.10

   Temporary operating permit for certain nonresidents, see Ohio R.C. 4519.09

476.09 OPERATION OF OFF-HIGHWAY MOTORCYCLE OR ALL-PURPOSE VEHICLE WITHOUT CERTIFICATE OF TITLE; FAILURE TO SURRENDER.

   (a)   No person shall do any of the following:

      (1)   Operate in this State an off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle without having a certificate of title for the off-highway motorcycle or all- purpose vehicle if such a certificate is required by Ohio R.C. Chapter 4519 to be issued for the off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle, or, if a physical certificate of title has not been issued for it, operate an off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle knowing that the ownership information related to the motorcycle or vehicle has not been entered into the automated title processing system by a Clerk of a Court of Common Pleas.

      (2)   Operate in this Municipality an off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle if a certificate of title to the off-highway motorcycle or all- purpose vehicle has been issued and then has been canceled.

      (3)   Fail to surrender any certificate of title upon cancellation of it by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles and notice of the cancellation as prescribed in Ohio R.C. Chapter 4519.

      (4)   Fail to surrender the certificate of title to a Clerk of a Court of Common Pleas as provided in Ohio R.C. Chapter 4519, in case of the destruction or dismantling of, or change in, the off-highway motorcycle or all- purpose vehicle described in the certificate of title.

      (5)   Violate any provision of Ohio R.C. 4519.51 to 4519.70 for which no penalty is otherwise provided or any lawful rules adopted pursuant to those sections.

      (6)   Operate in this State an off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle knowing that the certificate of title to or ownership of the motorcycle or vehicle as otherwise reflected in the automated title processing system has been canceled.

         (ORC 4519.66(A))

   (b)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.