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371.06   SOLICITING RIDES OR BUSINESS; RIDING ON OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE OR IN CARGO STORAGE AREA.
   (a)   No person while on a roadway outside a safety zone shall solicit a ride from the driver of any vehicle.
   (b)   (1)   Except as provided in division (b)(2) of this section, no person shall stand on a highway for the purpose of soliciting employment, business, or contributions from the occupant of any vehicle.
      (2)   The Council, by ordinance, may authorize the issuance of a permit to a charitable organization to allow a person acting on behalf of the organization to solicit charitable contributions from the occupant of a vehicle by standing on a highway, other than a freeway as provided in Ohio R.C. 4511.051(A), that is under the jurisdiction of the Municipality. The permit shall be valid for only one period of time, which shall be specified in the permit, in any calendar year. The Council also may specify the locations where contributions may be solicited and may impose any other restrictions on or requirements regarding the manner in which the solicitations are to be conducted that the Council considers advisable.
      (3)   As used in divisions (b)(2) of this section, “charitable organization” means an organization that has received from the Internal Revenue Service a currently valid ruling or determination letter recognizing the tax-exempt status of the organization pursuant to IRC 501(c)(3).
   (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 highway or street 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 highway or street 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 16 years to ride in the unenclosed or unroofed cargo storage area of the driver's vehicle if the vehicle is traveling faster than 25 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; or
      (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 highway or street 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.
(ORC 4511.51)
371.07   PASSING THROUGH BRIDGE SIGNALS OR RAILROAD BARRIERS.
   (a)   No pedestrian shall enter or remain upon any bridge or approach thereto beyond the bridge signal, gate, or barrier after a bridge operation signal indication has been given.
   (b)   No pedestrian shall pass through, around, over, or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad grade crossing or bridge while the gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed.
(ORC 4511.511)
371.08   RIGHT-OF-WAY OF PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES.
   (a)   Upon the immediate approach of a public safety vehicle, as stated in Ohio R.C. 4511.45 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, every pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to the public safety vehicle.
   (b)   This section shall not relieve the driver of a public safety vehicle from the duty to exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian.
(ORC 4511.452)
371.09   RIGHT-OF-WAY ON SIDEWALKS.
   (a)   The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian on a sidewalk.
   (b)   Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates 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 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 this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.
   (c)   If the offender commits the offense while distracted and the distracting activity is a contributing factor to the commission of the offense, the offender is subject to the additional fine established under R.C. § 4511.991.
(R.C. § 4511.441)
371.10   INTOXICATION.
   A pedestrian who is under the influence of alcohol, any drug of abuse, or any combination of them, to a degree that renders the pedestrian a hazard shall not walk or be upon a highway.
(ORC 4511.481)
371.11   MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR OPERATORS.
   Every person operating a motorized wheelchair shall have all of the rights and duties applicable to a pedestrian that are contained in this chapter, except those provisions which by their nature can have no application.
(ORC 4511.491)
371.12   OPERATION OF ELECTRIC PERSONAL ASSISTIVE MOBILITY DEVICES.
   (a)   (1)   Electric personal assistive mobility devices may be operated on the public streets, highways, sidewalks, and paths and portions of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles in accordance with this section.
      (2)   Except as otherwise provided in this section, those sections of this Traffic Code that by their nature are applicable to an electric personal assistive mobility device apply to the device and the person operating it whenever it is operated upon any public street, highway, sidewalk, or path or upon any portion of a roadway set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
      (3)   The Municipality may regulate or prohibit the operation of electric personal assistive mobility devices on public streets, highways, sidewalks, and paths, or portions of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, under its jurisdiction.
   (b)   No operator of an electric personal assistive mobility device shall do any of the following:
      (1)   Fail to yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians and human-powered vehicles at all times;
      (2)   Fail to give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian;
      (3)   Operate the device at night unless the device or its operator is equipped with or wearing both of the following:
         A.   A lamp pointing to the front that emits a white light visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet;
         B.   A red reflector facing the rear that is visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle;
      (4)   Operate the device on any portion of a street or highway that has an established speed limit of 55 miles per hour or more;
      (5)   Operate the device upon any path set aside for the exclusive use of pedestrians or other specialized use when an appropriate sign giving notice of the specialized use is posted on the path;
      (6)   If under 18 years of age, operate the device unless wearing a protective helmet on the person's head with the chin strap properly fastened;
      (7)   If under 16 years of age, operate the device unless, during the operation, the person is under the direct visual and audible supervision of another person who is 18 years of age or older and is responsible for the immediate care of the person under 16 years of age.
   (c)   No person who is under 14 years of age shall operate an electric personal assistive mobility device.
   (d)   No person shall distribute or sell an electric personal assistive mobility device unless the device is accompanied by a written statement that is substantially equivalent to the following: “WARNING: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY, USE ONLY WHILE WEARING FULL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT – HELMET, WRIST GUARDS, ELBOW PADS, AND KNEE PADS.”
   (e)   Nothing in this section affects or shall be construed to affect any rule of the Director of Natural Resources or a board of park district commissioners governing the operation of vehicles on lands under the control of the Director or board, as applicable.
   (f)   Penalty.
      (1)   Whoever violates division (b) or (c) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor and shall be punished as follows:
         A.   The offender shall be fined ten dollars ($10.00);
         B.   If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a violation of division (b) or (c) of this section, or any substantially equivalent state law or municipal ordinance, the court, in addition to imposing the fine required under division (f)(1)A. of this section, shall do one of the following:
            1.   Order the impoundment for not less than one day but no more than 30 days of the electric personal assistive mobility device that was involved in the current violation of that division. The court shall order the device to be impounded at a safe indoor location designated by the court and may assess storage fees of not more than five dollars ($5.00) per day; provided the total storage, processing, and release fees assessed against the offender or the device in connection with the device's impoundment or subsequent release shall not exceed fifty dollars ($50.00).
            2.   If the court does not issue an impoundment order pursuant to division (f)(1)B.1. of this section, issue an order prohibiting the offender from operating any electric personal assistive mobility device on the public streets, highways, sidewalks, and paths and portions of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles for not less than one day but not more than 30 days.
      (2)   Whoever violates division (d) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(ORC 4511.512)
   (g)   As used in this Code, “electric personal assistive mobility device” means a self- balancing two non-tandem wheeled device that is designed to transport only one person, has an electric propulsion system of an average of 750 watts, and when ridden on a paved level surface by an operator who weighs 170 pounds has a maximum speed of less than 20 miles per hour.
(ORC 4501.01(TT))
371.13   OPERATION OF PERSONAL DELIVERY DEVICE ON SIDEWALKS AND CROSSWALKS.
   (a)   As used in this section:
      (1)   “Eligible entity.” Means a corporation, partnership, association, firm, sole proprietorship, or other entity engaged in business.
      (2)   “Personal delivery device.” Means an electrically powered device to which all of the following apply:
         A.   The device is intended primarily to transport property and cargo on sidewalks and crosswalks.
         B.   The device weighs less than 250 pounds excluding any property or cargo being carried in the device.
         C.   The device has a maximum speed of ten miles per hour.
         D.   The device is equipped with technology that enables the operation of the device with active control or monitoring by a person, without active control or monitoring by a person, or both with or without active control or monitoring by a person.
      (3)   “Personal delivery device operator.” Means an agent of an eligible entity who exercises direct physical control over, or monitoring of, the navigation and operation of a personal delivery device. The phrase does not include, with respect to a delivery or other service rendered by a personal delivery device, the person who requests the delivery or service. The phrase also does not include a person who only arranges for and dispatches a personal delivery device for a delivery or other service.
   (b)   An eligible entity may operate a personal delivery device on sidewalks and crosswalks so long as all of the following requirements are met:
      (1)   The personal delivery device is operated in accordance with all regulations, if any, established by each local authority within which the personal delivery device is operated.
      (2)   A personal delivery device operator is actively controlling or monitoring the navigation and operation of the personal delivery device.
      (3)   The eligible entity maintains an insurance policy that includes general liability coverage of not less than $100,000 for damages arising from the operation of the personal delivery device by the eligible entity and any agent of the eligible entity.
      (4)   The device is equipped with all of the following:
         A.   A marker that clearly identifies the name and contact information of the eligible entity operating the personal delivery device and a unique identification number;
         B.   A braking system that enables the personal delivery device to come to a controlled stop;
         C.   If the personal delivery device is being operated between sunset and sunrise, a light on both the front and rear of the personal delivery device that is visible in clear weather from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front and rear of the personal delivery device when directly in front of low beams of headlights on a motor vehicle.
   (c)   No personal delivery device operator shall allow a personal delivery device to do any of the following:
      (1)   Fail to comply with traffic or pedestrian control devices and signals;
      (2)   Unreasonably interfere with pedestrians or traffic;
      (3)   Transport any hazardous material that would require a permit issued by the Public Utilities Commission;
      (4)   Operate on a street or highway, except when crossing the street or highway within a crosswalk.
   (d)   A personal delivery device has all of the rights and obligations applicable to a pedestrian under the same circumstances, except that a personal delivery device shall yield the right-of-way to human pedestrians on sidewalks and crosswalks.
   (e)   (1)   No person shall operate a personal delivery device unless the person is authorized to do so under this section and complies with the requirements of this section.
      (2)   An eligible entity is responsible for both of the following:
         A.   Any violation of this section that is committed by a personal delivery device operator; and
         B.   Any other circumstance, including a technological malfunction, in which a personal delivery device operates in a manner prohibited by divisions (c)(1) to (c)(4) of this section.
(ORC 4511.513)
371.14   LOW-SPEED MICROMOBILITY DEVICES.
   (a)   (1)   A low-speed micromobility device may be operated on the public streets, highways, sidewalks, and shared-use paths, and may be operated on any portions of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles in accordance with this section.
      (2)   Except as otherwise provided in this section, those sections of this title that by their nature could apply to a low-speed micromobility device do apply to the device and the person operating it whenever it is operated upon any public street, highway, sidewalk, or shared-use path, or upon any portion of a roadway set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles.
   (b)   No operator of a low-speed micromobility device shall do any of the following:
      (1)   Fail to yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians at all times;
      (2)   Fail to give an audible signal before overtaking and passing a pedestrian;
      (3)   Operate the device at night unless the device or its operator is equipped with or wearing both of the following:
         A.   A lamp pointing to the front that emits a white light visible from a distance of not less than 500 feet;
         B.   A red reflector facing the rear that is visible from all distances from 100 feet to 600 feet when directly in front of lawful lower beams of head lamps on a motor vehicle.
   (c)   (1)   No person who is under 16 years of age shall rent a low-speed micromobility device.
      (2)   No person shall knowingly rent a low-speed micromobility device to a person who is under 16 years of age.
      (3)   No person shall knowingly rent a low-speed micromobility device on behalf of a person who is under 16 years of age.
   (d)   No person shall operate a low-speed micromobility device at a speed greater than 20 miles per hour.
   (e)   (1)   Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
      (2)   Unless a mens rea is otherwise specified in this section, an offense established under this section is a strict liability offense and R.C. § 2901.20 does not apply. The designation of that offense as a strict liability offense 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.
   (f)   Notwithstanding division (a)(1) of this section, the municipality, county, township, metropolitan park district, township park district, recreation district, or any division of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources if the division has the approval of the Ohio Director of Natural Resources may do any of the following:
      (1)   Regulate or prohibit the operation of low-speed micromobility devices on public streets, highways, sidewalks, and shared-use paths, and portions of roadways set aside for the exclusive use of bicycles, under its jurisdiction;
      (2)   Include low-speed micromobility devices that are adapted to expand access for people with various physical limitations into a shared bicycle, shared electric bicycle, or similar vehicle sharing program, under its jurisdiction;
      (3)   Require the owner or operator of a low-speed micromobility device rental service or low-speed micromobility device sharing program to maintain commercial general liability insurance related to the operation of the devices, with limits of up to $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 per aggregate.
(R.C. § 4511.514)
371.99   PENALTY.
   (EDITOR'S NOTE: See Section 303.99 for general Traffic Code penalty if no specific penalty is provided.)