(a) Every vehicle, other than a motorized bicycle, operated upon a street or highway within this Municipality shall display lighted lights and illuminating devices as required by the provisions of this chapter 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 1,000 feet ahead;
(3) At any time when the windshield wipers of the vehicle are in use because of precipitation on the windshield.
(b) Every motorized bicycle shall display at such times lighted lights meeting the rules adopted by the Director of Public Safety. No motor vehicle, during any time specified in this section, shall be operated upon a street or highway within this municipality using only parking lights as illumination.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) 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 municipality 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.
(f) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor on a first offense; on a second offense within one year after the first offense, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree; on each subsequent offense within one year after the first offense, the person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
(Ord. 10-10. Passed 1-19-10.)
Statutory reference:
Lighted lights; measurement of distances and heights, see Ohio R.C. 4513.03