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375.02   EQUIPMENT.
   (a)   Equipment of snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, and all purpose vehicles shall include, but not necessarily be limited to requirements for the following items:
      (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 taillight 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)   Adequate brakes. 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 not more than forty feet from an initial steady speed of twenty miles per hour, or locking its traction belt.
      (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 eighty- two decibels on the "A" scale at fifty 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 subsections (a)(1) and (2) hereof shall not be required on snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, or all purpose vehicles operated during the daylight hours.
   (c)   Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whoever violates subsection (b) of this section shall be fined not more than fifty dollars ($50.00). If the offender within the preceding year previously has committed a violation of subsection (b) of this section, whoever violates subsection (b) of this section shall be fined not less than fifteen dollars ($15.00) nor more than one hundred dollars ($100.00), imprisoned not more than three days, or both.
(ORC 4519.20)
375.03   CODE APPLICATION; PROHIBITED OPERATION.
   (a)   The applicable provisions of this traffic code apply to the operation of snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, and all-purpose vehicles, except that no person shall operate a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle as follows:
      (1)   On any state highway, including a limited access highway or freeway or the right-of-way thereof, except for emergency travel during such time and in such manner as the Ohio Director of Public Safety designates or except as authorized by R.C. § 4519.41(F);
      (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 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;
      (7)   During the time from sunset to sunrise, unless displaying lighted lights as required by Section 375.02.
   (b)   Whoever violates this section shall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), imprisoned not less than three nor more than thirty days, or both.
(ORC 4519.40)
375.04   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 freeway or limited access highway, 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 highway so permits;
   (c)   Off and alongside a 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), 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 of 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.
   (f)   For snowmobiles without metal studded tracks and all-purpose vehicles, on state highways located on an island in Lake Erie, including limited access highways and freeways, between the first day of November and the thirtieth day of April, provided that all of the following conditions apply:
      (1)   The operator has a valid driver’s license as required under R.C. § 4519.44.
      (2)   The snowmobile or all-purpose vehicle is in compliance with rules governing safety equipment adopted under R.C. § 4519.20.
      (3)   The owner of the snowmobile or all-purpose vehicle maintains proof of financial responsibility for both on-road and off-road use of the snowmobile or all-purpose vehicle.
      (4)   The operator obeys all traffic rules and regulations.
(ORC 4519.41)
375.05   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 4507, or a valid, current driver's license issued by another jurisdiction, shall operate a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all purpose vehicle on any street or highway, on any portion of the right of way thereof, or on any public land or waters. This subsection shall not be construed to permit the holder of such a license to operate a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all purpose vehicle in violation of Section 375.03.
   (b)   No person who is less than sixteen 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 such person's parent or guardian, unless accompanied by another person who is eighteen years of age, or older, and who holds a license as provided in subsection (a) hereof, 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 sixteen years of age and is accompanied by a parent or guardian who is a licensed driver eighteen years of age or older.
   (c)   Whoever violates this section shall be fined not less than fifty dollars ($50.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00), imprisoned not less than three nor more than thirty days, or both.
(ORC 4519.44)
375.06   REGISTRATION OF VEHICLES.
   (a)   (1)   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 R.C. §§ 4519.03 and 4519.04.
      (2)   Except as provided in R.C. § 4511.215 or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, no registration is required for a mini-truck that is operated within this state. A mini-truck may be operated only in accordance with R.C. § 4511.215 and R.C. § 4519.401, or any substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
   (b)   (1)   No registration is required for a snowmobile or off-highway motorcycle that is operated exclusively upon lands owned by the owner of the snowmobile or off-highway motorcycle, or on lands to which the owner of the snowmobile or off-highway motorcycle has a contractual right.
      (2)   No registration is required for an all-purpose vehicle that is used primarily for agricultural purposes when the owner qualifies for the current agricultural use valuation tax credit, unless it is to be used on any public land, trail, or right-of-way.
      (3)   Any all-purpose vehicle exempted from registration under division (b)(2) of this section and operated for agricultural purposes may use public roads and rights-of-way when traveling from one farm field to another, when such use does not violate R.C. § 4519.41.
      (4)   No registration is required for a snowmobile or all-purpose vehicle that is operated on a state highway as authorized by R.C. § 4519.41(F).
   (c)   No registration is required for a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle owned and used in this state by a resident of another state whenever that state has in effect a registration law similar to R.C. Chapter 4519 and the snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle is properly registered under that state’s law. Any snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle or all-purpose vehicle owned and used in this state by a resident of a state not having a registration law similar to R.C. Chapter 4519 shall comply with 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 R.C. Chapters 1547 and 1548 relative to the operation of watercraft.
   (f)   Whoever violates division (a) of this section shall be fined not less than $50 nor more than $100.
(ORC 4519.02)
375.07   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 forty-eight hours to the Chief of Police, and, within thirty 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 that 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.
   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 forty-eight hours. (ORC 4519.46)
   (b)   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.
375.08   CERTIFICATE OF TITLE.
   (a)   No person shall do any of the following:
      (1)   Operate in this Municipality 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 relating 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 the 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 or any lawful rules adopted pursuant to those sections;
      (6)   Operate in this Municipality 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.
   (b)   Whoever violates this section shall be fined not more than two hundred dollars ($200.00) or imprisoned not more than ninety days, or both.
(ORC 4519.66)
375.09   LOW-SPEED, UNDER -SPEED, UTILITY OR MINI-TRUCK VEHICLES.
   (a)   No person shall operate a low-speed, under-speed, utility vehicles and/or mini-trucks on any street, highway, or property open to the public for vehicular traffic unless said operator has complied with all of the following:
      (1)   Operation of the aforesaid vehicles shall be limited to streets and highways within the Village having an established speed limit not greater than thirty-five miles per hour;
      (2)   The vehicle owner who wishes to operate an under-speed or utility vehicle or a mini-truck on the public streets or highways within the Village shall submit the vehicle to an inspection conducted by a local law enforcement agency that complies with inspection requirements established by the department of public safety under Ohio R. C. 4513.02;
      (3)   Only those vehicles that successfully pass the required vehicle inspection, are registered in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapter 4503 and are titled in accordance with Ohio R.C. Chapter 4505 shall be permitted to operate on public streets or highways within the Village
   (b)   Whoever violates division (a) of this section shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor upon their first violation; and, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree upon each subsequent violation.
(Ord. 2019-08. Passed 10-10-19.)