(a) All vehicles other than bicycles, including animal-drawn vehicles and vehicles referred to in Ohio R.C. 4513.02(G), not specifically required to be equipped with lamps or other lighting devices by Ohio R.C. 4513.03 through 4513.10, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinances, shall, at the times specified in Ohio R.C. 4513.03 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, be equipped with at least one lamp displaying a white light visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the front of the vehicle and also shall be equipped with two lamps displaying red light visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the rear of the vehicle, or as an alternative, one lamp displaying a red light visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the rear and two red reflectors visible from all distances of 600 feet to 100 feet to the rear when illuminated by the lawful lower beams of headlamps. Lamps and reflectors required by this section shall meet standards adopted by the Director of Public Safety.
(b) All boat trailers, farm machinery and other machinery, including all road construction machinery, upon a street or highway, except when being used in actual construction and maintenance work in an area guarded by a flagperson, or where flares are used, or when operating or traveling within the limits of a construction area designated by the Director of Transportation, a city or village engineer, or the county engineer of the several counties, when such construction area is marked in accordance with requirements of the Director and the Manual and Specifications for a Uniform System of Traffic-Control Devices, as set forth in Ohio R.C. 4511.09, which is designed for operation at a speed of 25 miles per hour or less, shall be operated at a speed not exceeding 25 miles per hour, and shall display a triangular slow-moving vehicle emblem (SMV). The emblem shall be mounted so as to be visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet to the rear. The Director of Public Safety shall adopt standards and specifications for the design and position of mounting the SMV emblem. The standards and specifications for SMV emblems referred to in this section shall correlate with and, so far as possible, conform with those approved by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers. A unit of farm machinery that is designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour may be operated on a street or highway at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour provided it is operated in accordance with this section. As used in this division, “machinery” does not include any vehicle designed to be drawn by an animal.
(c) The use of the SMV emblem shall be restricted to animal-drawn vehicles and to the slow-moving vehicles specified in division (b) of this section operating or traveling within the limits of the highway. Its use on slow-moving vehicles being transported upon other types of vehicles or on any other type of vehicle or stationary object on the highway is prohibited.
(d) (1) No person shall sell, lease, rent or operate any boat trailer, farm machinery or other machinery defined as a slow-moving vehicle in division (b) of this section, except those units designed to be completely mounted on a primary power unit, which is manufactured or assembled on or after April 1, 1966, unless the vehicle is equipped with a slow-moving vehicle emblem mounting device as specified in division (b) of this section.
(Ord. 165-93. Passed 6-21-93.)
(2) No person shall sell, lease, rent, or operate on a street or highway any unit of farm machinery that is designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour unless the unit displays a slow-moving vehicle emblem as specified in division (b) of this section and a speed identification symbol that meets the specifications contained in the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Standard ANSI/ASAE S584 JAN2005, Agricultural Equipment: Speed Identification Symbol (SIS).
(e) Any boat trailer, farm machinery or other machinery defined as a slow-moving vehicle in division (b) of this section, in addition to the use of the slow-moving vehicle emblem, and any unit of farm machinery that is designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour, in addition to the display of a speed identification symbol, may be equipped with a red flashing light that shall be visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the rear at all times specified in Ohio R.C. 4513.03 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance. When a double- faced light is used, it shall display amber light to the front and red light to the rear. In addition to the lights described in this division, farm machinery and motor vehicles escorting farm machinery may display a flashing, oscillating or rotating amber light, as permitted by Ohio R.C. 4513.17 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, and also may display simultaneously flashing turn signals or warning lights, as permitted by that section.
(Ord. 177-98. Passed 6-15-98.)
(f) (1) Every animal-drawn vehicle upon a street or highway shall at all times be equipped in one of the following ways:
A. With a slow-moving vehicle emblem complying with division (b) of this section;
B. With alternate reflective material complying with rules adopted under division (f)(2) below;
C. With both a slow-moving vehicle emblem and alternate reflective material as specified in division (f)(2) below.
(2) Rules adopted by the Director of Public Safety, subject to Ohio R.C. Chapter 119, establishing standards and specifications for the position of mounting of the alternate reflective material authorized by this division, permit, as a minimum, the alternate reflective material to be black, gray, or silver in color. The alternate reflective material shall be mounted on the animal-drawn vehicle so as to be visible, at all times specified in Ohio R.C. 4513.03 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, from a distance of not less than 500 feet to the rear when illuminated by the lawful lower beams of headlamps.
(g) (1) Every unit of farm machinery that is designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour shall display a slow-moving vehicle emblem and a speed identification symbol that meets the specifications contained in the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Standard ANSI/ASAE S584 JAN2005, Agricultural Equipment: Speed Identification Symbol (SIS) when the unit is operated upon a street or highway, irrespective of the speed at which the unit is operated on the street or highway. The speed identification symbol shall indicate the maximum speed in miles per hour at which the unit of farm machinery is designed by its manufacturer to operate. The display of the speed identification symbol shall be in accordance with the standard prescribed in this division.
(2) If an agricultural tractor that is designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour is being operated on a street or highway at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour and is towing, pulling, or otherwise drawing a unit of farm machinery, the unit of farm machinery shall display a slow-moving vehicle emblem and a speed identification symbol that is the same as the speed identification symbol that is displayed on the agricultural tractor.
(h) When an agricultural tractor that is designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour is being operated on a street or highway at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour, the operator shall possess some documentation published or provided by the manufacturer indicating the maximum speed in miles per hour at which the manufacturer designed the agricultural tractor to operate.
(i) As used in this section, “boat trailer” means any vehicle designed and used exclusively to transport a boat between a place of storage and a marina, or in and around a marina, when drawn or towed on a street or highway for a distance of no more than ten miles and at a speed of 25 miles per hour or less.
(ORC 4513.11; Ord. 165-93. Passed 6-21-93.)
(j) Generally.
(1) At the times specified in R.C. § 4513.03, no person shall operate either of the following vehicles unless it is equipped with and displays the lamps described in division (j)(2) of this section:
A. A vehicle not specifically required to be equipped with lamps or other lighting devices by R.C. §§ 4513.03 to 4513.10;
B. A vehicle referred to in R.C. § 4513.02(G).
(2) Vehicles described in division (j)(1) of this section shall be equipped with both of the following:
A. At least one lamp displaying a white light visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the front of the vehicle;
B. Two lamps displaying red light visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the rear of the vehicle, or as an alternative, one lamp displaying a red light visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the rear and two red reflectors visible from all distances of 600 feet to 100 feet to the rear when illuminated by the lawful lower beams of headlamps.
(3) A. At the times specified in R.C. § 4513.03, no person shall operate a multi- wheel agricultural tractor model year 2001 or earlier on a street or highway unless it is equipped with and displays reflectors and illuminated amber lamps so that the extreme left and right projections of the tractor are indicated by all of the following:
1. Flashing lamps displaying amber light, visible to the front and the rear. The lamps need not flash simultaneously and need not flash in conjunction with any directional signals of the tractor.
2. Amber reflectors, all visible to the front;
3. Red reflectors, all visible to the rear.
B. Rules adopted by the Ohio Director of Public Safety under R.C. § 4513.111 governing the lamps and reflectors described in division (j)(3)A. of this section and their placement correlate with and, as far as possible, conform with paragraphs 4.1.4.1, 4.1.7.1, and 4.1.7.2 respectively of the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Standard ANSI/ASAE S279.10 OCT 98, Lighting and Marking of Agricultural Equipment on Highways.
(4) At the times specified in R.C. § 4513.03, no person shall operate a unit of farm machinery model year 2002 or later on a street or highway unless it is equipped with and displays markings and illuminated lamps that meet or exceed the lighting, illumination, and marking standards and specifications that are applicable to that type of farm machinery for the unit's model year specified in the American society of agricultural engineers standard ANSI/ASAE S279.10 OCT 98, lighting and marking of agricultural equipment on highways.
(5) Any unit of farm machinery designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed of 25 miles per hour or greater or any SMV may be equipped with and display a red flashing light that is visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the rear at all times specified in R.C. § 4513.03. When a double-faced light is used, it shall display amber light to the front and red light to the rear.
(6) Lights and reflectors required under divisions (j)(3) and (j)(4) of this section and authorized under division (j)(5) of this section are in addition to other lights required or permitted by this division (j) or R.C. § 4513.17.
(7) The Ohio Director of Public Safety shall adopt rules in accordance R.C. Chapter 119 Code that establish standards and specifications for lamps and reflectors required or authorized by this section. Lamps and reflectors required or authorized by this section shall meet those standards and specifications.
(8) This division (j) does not apply to a bicycle, motorized bicycle, electric bicycle, or animal-drawn vehicle.
(9) Whoever violates this division (j) is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(R.C. § 4513.111)
(k) Slow-moving vehicles.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall operate an SMV on a street or highway as follows:
A. At a speed exceeding 25 miles per hour;
B. Without displaying the triangular SMV emblem mounted in accordance with division (k)(2) of this section.
(2) The SMV emblem shall be mounted so as to be visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet to the rear. In accordance with R.C. Chapter 119, the Ohio Director of Public Safety shall adopt standards and specifications for the design and position of mounting the SMV emblem. The standards and specifications for the SMV emblem correlate with and, so far as possible, conform with those approved by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers.
(3) A person may operate an SMV on a street or highway without displaying the triangular SMV emblem when any of the following apply:
A. The SMV is being used in actual construction and maintenance work in an area guarded by a flagperson, or where flares are used.
B. The SMV is operating or traveling within the limits of a construction area designated by the Ohio Director of Transportation, a city engineer, or the county engineer of the several counties, when such construction area is marked in accordance with requirements of the Ohio Director of Transportation and the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, as set forth in R.C. § 4511.09.
(4) No person shall display an SMV emblem on any of the following:
A. Any vehicle not required to use the SMV emblem by this division (k) or R.C. § 4513.113 or 4513.114;
B. An SMV being transported upon any other vehicle;
C. Any stationary object on the highway.
(5) No person shall sell, lease, rent, or operate an SMV, except a unit designed to be completely mounted on a primary power unit that is manufactured or assembled on or after April 1, 1966, unless it is equipped with an SMV emblem mounting device.
(6) Whoever violates this division (k) is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(R.C. § 4513.112)
(l) Farm machinery and agricultural tractors.
(1) No person shall sell, lease, rent, or operate on a street or highway any unit of farm machinery that is designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour unless the unit displays both of the following:
A. The SMV emblem mounted in accordance with R.C. § 4513.112(B);
B. A speed identification symbol that does both of the following:
1. Meets the specifications contained in the American Society of Agricultural Engineers Standard ANSI/ASAE S584 JAN2005, Agricultural Equipment: Speed Identification Symbol (SIS);
2. Indicates the maximum speed in miles per hour at which the unit of farm machinery is designed by its manufacturer to operate.
(2) No person operating a tractor on a street or highway that is designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour and that is towing, pulling, or otherwise drawing a unit of farm machinery while operating at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour shall fail to display both of the following on the unit of farm machinery:
A. The SMV emblem;
B. The speed identification symbol that matches the speed identification symbol required to be displayed on the agricultural tractor.
(3) No person shall operate an agricultural tractor that is designed by its manufacturer to operate at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour unless the person possesses documentation published or provided by the manufacturer indicating the maximum speed in miles per hour at which the manufacturer designed the agricultural tractor to operate.
(4) Whoever violates this division (l) is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(R.C. § 4513.113)
(m) Animal-drawn vehicles.
(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (m)(4) of this section, no person shall operate an animal-drawn vehicle on a street or highway unless it is equipped with and displays, at the times specified in R.C. § 4513.03, both of the following:
A. At least one lamp displaying a white light visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the front of the animal-drawn vehicle;
B. Two lamps displaying red light visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the rear of the animal-drawn vehicle, or as an alternative, one lamp displaying a red light visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet to the rear and two red reflectors visible from all distances of 600 feet to one hundred feet to the rear when illuminated by the lawful lower beams of headlamps.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in division (m)(4) of this section, no person shall operate an animal-drawn vehicle on a street or highway unless it is equipped with and displays, at all times, all of the following:
A. One yellow flashing lamp displaying yellow light that is visible from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet and that is mounted in either of the following positions:
1. On the top most portion of the rear of the animal-drawn vehicle;
2. On the top of the animal-drawn vehicle.
B. At least one of the following:
1. An SMV emblem mounted in accordance with R.C. § 4513.112(B);
2. Micro-prism reflective tape that is visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet to the rear when illuminated by the lawful lower beams of headlamps;
3. Both an SMV emblem and micro-prism reflective tape, as specified in this division.
C. Lamps and micro-prism reflective tape required by this section shall meet standards and specifications adopted by the Ohio Director of Public Safety under R.C. § 4513.114.
(3) The Ohio Director of Public Safety, in accordance with R.C. Chapter 119, shall adopt rules establishing standards and specifications for the position and mounting of the lamps and micro-prism reflective tape required by R.C. § 4513.114. The rules permit the micro-prism reflective tape to be red, amber, white, or silver in color.
(4) A. Divisions (m)(1) and (m)(2) of this section do not apply to the operator of animal-drawn agricultural equipment who is not transporting any livestock or a person other than the operator.
B. No operator described in division (m)(4)A. of this section shall operate animal-drawn agricultural equipment unless it is equipped with and displays, at all times, the SMV emblem mounted in accordance with R.C. § 4513.112(B).
C. As used in division (m)(4) of this section, “animal-drawn agricultural equipment” means equipment drawn by the muscular power of an animal that is used solely for agricultural purposes. “Animal-drawn agricultural equipment” includes any of the following:
1. A plow;
2. A manure spreader;
3. A thresher.
(5) Whoever violates this division (m) is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(R.C. § 4513.114)
(n) Strict liability offenses. The offenses established under this section are strict liability offenses, and R.C. § 2901.20 does not apply. The designation of these offenses as strict liability offenses shall not be construed to imply that any other offense, for which there is no specified degree of culpability, is not a strict liability offense.
(R.C. § 4513.115)