Except as otherwise provided, the definitions set forth in R.C. § 4501.01 shall apply to this traffic code and the penal laws of the municipality. Except as otherwise provided, the following words and phrases, when used in this traffic code, shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this chapter.
(a) "Agricultural tractor." Every self-propelled vehicle designed or used for drawing other vehicles or wheeled machinery, but having no provision for carrying loads independently of such other vehicles, and used principally for agricultural purposes.
(b) "Alley." A street or highway intended to provide access to the rear or side of lots or buildings in urban districts, and not intended for the purpose of through vehicular traffic, and any street or highway that has been declared an "alley" by the legislative authority of the municipality in which the street or highway is located.
(c) "Arterial street." Any United States or state numbered route, controlled-access highway, or other major radial or circumferential street or highway designated by local authorities within their respective jurisdictions as part of a major arterial system of streets or highways.
(d) "Bicycle." Every device, other than a tricycle designed solely for use as a play vehicle by a child, propelled solely by human power, upon which any person may ride having two tandem wheels, or one wheel in the front and two wheels in the rear, or two wheels in the front and one wheel in the rear, any of which is more than 14 inches in diameter.
(e) "Bus." Every motor vehicle designed for carrying more than nine passengers, and used for the transportation of persons other than in a ridesharing arrangement, and every motor vehicle, automobile for hire or funeral car, other than a taxicab or motor vehicle used in a ridesharing arrangement, designed and used for the transportation of persons for compensation.
(f) "Business district." The territory fronting upon a street or highway, including the street or highway, between successive intersections within the municipality, where 50% or more of the frontage between successive intersections is occupied by buildings in use for business, or within or outside the municipality where 50% or more of the frontage for a distance of 300 feet or more is occupied by buildings in use for business, and the character of the territory is indicated by official traffic-control devices.
(g) "Chauffeured limousine." A motor vehicle that is designed to carry nine or fewer passengers and is operated for hire on an hourly basis pursuant to a prearranged contract for the transportation of passengers on public roads and highways along a route under the control of the person hiring the vehicle and not over a defined and regular route. "Prearranged contract" means an agreement, made in advance of boarding, to provide transportation from a specific location in an chauffeured limousine at a fixed rate per hour or trip. "Chauffeured limousine" does not include any vehicle that is used exclusively in the business of funeral directing.
(R.C. § 4501.01(LL))
(h) "Child day-care center" and "type A family day-care home." These terms shall have the same meanings as set forth in R.C. § 5104.01.
(i) "Commercial tractor." Every motor vehicle having motive power designed or used for drawing other vehicles, and not so constructed as to carry any load thereon, or designed or used for drawing other vehicles while carrying a portion of the other vehicles, or the load thereon, or both.
(j) "Controlled-access highway." Every street or highway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right or access to or from the same except at certain points only and in a manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over the street or highway.
(i) "Crosswalk."
(1) That part of a roadway at intersections ordinarily included within the real or projected prolongation of property lines and curb lines or, in the absence of curbs, the edges of the traversable roadway;
(2) Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere, distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface;
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this definition, there shall not be a "crosswalk" where the legislative authority has placed signs indicating no crossing.
(j) "Driver" or "operator." Any person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle.
(k) "Emergency vehicle." Emergency vehicles of municipal, township or county departments or public utility corporations, when identified as such as required by law, the Director of Public Safety or local authorities, and motor vehicles when commandeered by a police officer.
(l) "Explosives." Any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is intended for the purpose of producing an explosion that contains any oxidizing and combustible units or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities or packing that an ignition by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion or by a detonator of any part of the compound or mixture may cause a sudden generation of highly heated gases, such that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects, or of destroying life or limb. Manufactured articles shall not be held to be "explosives" when the individual units contain explosives in limited quantities of a nature or in such packing that it is impossible to procure a simultaneous or a destructive explosion of the units, to the injury of life, limb or property by fire, friction, concussion, percussion or by a detonator, such as fixed ammunition for small arms, firecrackers or safety fuse matches.
(m) "Expressway." A divided arterial highway for through traffic with full or partial control of access with an excess of 50% of all crossroads separated in grade.
(n) "Flammable liquid." Any liquid which has a flash point of 70°F or less, as determined by a tagliabue or equivalent closed cup test device.
(o) "Freeway." A divided multi-lane highway for through traffic with crossroads separated in grade and with full control of access.
(p) "Funeral escort vehicle." Any motor vehicle, including a funeral hearse, while used to facilitate the movement of a funeral procession.
(q) "Gross weight." The weight of a vehicle plus the weight of any load thereon.
(r) "Intersection."
(1) The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two highways which join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different highways joining at any other angle may come in conflict.
(2) Where a highway includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of the divided highway by an intersecting highway shall be regarded as a separate intersection. If an intersecting highway also includes two roadways 30 feet or more apart, then every crossing of two roadways of the highways shall be regarded as a separate intersection.
(3) The junction of an alley with a street or highway, or with another alley, shall not constitute an intersection.
(s) "Laned highway." A highway, the roadway of which is divided into two or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic.
(t) "Local authorities." Every county, municipal and other local board or body having authority to adopt police regulations under the Constitution and laws of this state.
(u) "Motor vehicle." Every vehicle propelled or drawn by power other than muscular power or power collected from overhead electric trolley wires, except motorized bicycles, road rollers, traction engines, power shovels, power cranes and other equipment used in construction work, and not designed for or employed in general highway transportation, hole-digging machinery, well-drilling machinery, ditch-digging machinery, farm machinery, and trailers 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.
(v) "Motorcycle." Every motor vehicle other than a tractor having a seat or saddle for the use of the operator and designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground, including but not limited to motor vehicles known as "motor-driven cycle", "motor scooter" or "motorcycle" without regard to weight or brake horsepower.
(w) "Motorized bicycle." Any vehicle having either two tandem wheels or one wheel in the front and two wheels in the rear, that is capable of being pedaled, and is equipped with a helper motor of not more than 50 cubic centimeters piston displacement which produces no more than one brake horsepower, and is capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of no greater than 20 miles per hour on a level surface.
(x) "Motorized wheelchair." Any self-propelled vehicle designed for, and used by, a person with a disability and that is incapable of a speed in excess of eight miles per hour.
(y) "Multi-wheel agricultural tractor." A type of agricultural tractor that has two or more wheels or tires on each side of one axle at the rear of the tractor, is designed or used for drawing other vehicles or wheeled machinery, has no provision for carrying loads independently of the drawn vehicles or machinery, and is used principally for agricultural purposes.
(z) "Operate." To cause or have caused movement of a vehicle.
(aa) "Parking" or "parked." The standing of a vehicle upon a street, road, alley, highway or public ground, whether accompanied or unaccompanied by a driver, but does not include the temporary standing of a vehicle for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or loading merchandise or passengers.
(1996 Code, § 402.26)
(bb) "Pedestrian." Any natural person afoot.
(cc) "Person." Every natural person, firm, partnership, association or corporation.
(dd) "Pole trailer." Every trailer or semitrailer attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach, pole, or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle, and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregular shaped loads such as poles, pipes or structural members capable, generally, of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections.
(ee) "Police officer." Every officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic, or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations.
(ff) "Predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense." Any of the following:
(1) A violation of R.C. § 4511.03, § 4511.051, § 4511.12, § 4511.132, § 4511.16, § 4511.20, § 4511.201, § 4511.21, § 4511.211, § 4511.213, § 4511.22, § 4511.23, § 4511.25, § 4511.26, § 4511.27, § 4511.28, § 4511.29, § 4511.30, § 4511.31, § 4511.32, § 4511.33, § 4511.34, § 4511.35, § 4511.36, § 4511.37, § 4511.38, § 4511.39, § 4511.40, § 4511.41, § 4511.42, § 4511.43, § 4511.431, § 4511.432, § 4511.44, § 4511.441, § 4511.451, § 4511.452, § 4511.46, § 4511.47, § 4511.48, § 4511.481, § 4511.49, § 4511.50, § 4511.511, § 4511.53, § 4511.54, § 4511.55, § 4511.56, § 4511.57, § 4511.58, § 4511.59, § 4511.60, § 4511.61, § 4511.64, § 4511.66, § 4511.661, § 4511.68, § 4511.70, § 4511.701, § 4511.71, § 4511.711, § 4511.712, § 4511.713, § 4511.72, § 4511.73, § 4511.763, § 4511.771, § 4511.78 or § 4511.84;
(2) A violation of R.C. § 4511.17(A)(2), § 4511.51(A) through (D) or § 4511.74(A);
(3) A violation of any provision of R.C. §§ 4511.01 through 4511.76 for which no penalty otherwise is provided in the section that contains the provision violated;
(4) A violation of a municipal ordinance that is substantially equivalent to any section or provision set forth or described in division (1), (2) or (3) of this definition.
(gg) "Private road or driveway." Every way or place in private ownership used for vehicular travel by the owner, and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons.
(hh) "Public safety vehicle." Any of the following:
(1) Ambulances, including private ambulance companies under contract to a municipality, township or county, and private ambulances and nontransport vehicles bearing license plates issued under R.C. § 4503.49;
(2) Motor vehicles used by public law enforcement officers or other persons sworn to enforce the criminal and traffic laws of the state;
(3) Any motor vehicle when properly identified as required by the Director of Public Safety, when used in response to fire emergency calls or to provide emergency medical service to ill or injured persons, and when operated by a duly qualified person who is a member of a volunteer rescue service or a volunteer fire department, and who is on duty pursuant to the rules or directives of that service. The State Fire Marshal shall be designated by the Director of Public Safety as the certifying agency for all public safety vehicles described herein;
(4) Vehicles used by fire departments, including motor vehicles when used by volunteer firefighters responding to emergency calls in the fire department service when identified as required by the Director of Public Safety;
(5) Any vehicle used to transport or provide emergency medical service to an ill or injured person, when certified as a "public safety vehicle", shall be considered such a vehicle when transporting an ill or injured person to a hospital, regardless of whether the vehicle has already passed a hospital;
(6) Vehicles used by the Motor Carrier Enforcement Unit for the enforcement of orders and rules of the Public Utilities Commission as specified in R.C. § 5503.34.
(ii) "Railroad." A carrier of persons or property operating upon rails placed principally on a private right-of-way.
(jj) "Railroad sign or signal." Any sign, signal or device erected by authority of a public body or official or by a railroad, and intended to give notice of the presence of railroad tracks or the approach of a railroad train.
(kk) "Railroad train." A steam engine or an electric or other motor, with or without cars coupled thereto, operated by a railroad.
(ll) "Residence district." The territory, not comprising a business district, fronting on a street or highway, including the street or highway, where, for a distance of 300 feet or more, the frontage is improved with residences or residences and buildings in use for business.
(mm) "Ridesharing arrangement." Includes the transportation of persons in a motor vehicle where the transportation is incidental to another purpose of a volunteer driver, and includes "ridesharing arrangements" known as carpools, vanpools and buspools.
(nn) "Right-of-way." Either of the following, as the context requires:
(1) The right of a vehicle or pedestrian to proceed uninterruptedly in a lawful manner in the direction in which it, he or she is moving, in preference to another vehicle or pedestrian approaching from a different direction into its, his or her path;
(2) A general term denoting land, property or the interest therein, usually in the configuration of a strip, acquired for or devoted to transportation purposes. When used in this context, "right-of-way" includes the roadway, shoulders or berm, ditch and slopes extending to the right-of-way limits under the control of the state or local authority.
(oo) "Road service vehicle." Wreckers, utility repair vehicles and state, county and municipal service vehicles equipped with visual signals by means of flashing, rotating or oscillating lights.
(pp) "Roadway." That portion of a highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, except the berm or shoulder. If a highway includes two or more separate roadways, the term "roadway" means any roadway separately, but not all the roadways collectively.
(qq) "Rural mail delivery vehicle." Every vehicle used to deliver United States mail on a rural mail delivery route.
(rr) "Safety zone." The area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians, and protected or marked or indicated by adequate signs so as to be plainly visible at all times.
(ss) "School bus." Every bus designed for carrying more than nine passengers which is owned by a public, private or governmental agency or institution of learning, and operated for the transportation of children to or from a school session or a school function, or owned by a private person and operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from a school session or a school function; provided, "school bus" does not include a bus operated by a municipally owned transportation system, a mass transit company operating exclusively within the territorial limits of a municipality, or within those limits and the territorial limits of municipalities immediately contiguous to the municipality, nor a common passenger carrier certified by the Public Utilities Commission unless the bus is devoted exclusively to the transportation of children to and from a school session or a school function, and "school bus" does not include a van or bus used by a licensed child day-care center or type A family day-care home to transport children from the child day-care center or type A family day-care home to a school if the van or bus does not have more than 15 children in the van or bus at any time.
(tt) "Semitrailer." Every vehicle designed or used for carrying persons or property with another and separate motor vehicle so that in operation a part of its own weight or that of its load, or both, rests upon and is carried by another vehicle.
(uu) "Sidewalk." That portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral line of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines, intended for the use of pedestrians.
(vv) "State highway." A highway under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation, outside the limits of municipalities, provided that the authority conferred upon the Director of Transportation in R.C. § 5511.01 to erect state highway route markers and signs directing traffic shall not be modified by R.C. §§ 4511.01 through 4511.79 and § 4511.99.
(ww) "State route." Every highway which is designated with an official state route number and so marked.
(xx) "Stop." When required, means a complete cessation of movement.
(1996 Code, § 402.45)
(yy) "Stop intersection." Any intersection at one or more entrances of which stop signs are erected.
(zz) "Stopping" or "standing." When prohibited, means any halting of a vehicle, even momentarily, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or traffic-control device.
(1996 Code, § 402.47)
(aaa) "Street" or "highway." The entire width between the boundary lines of every way open to the use of the public as a thoroughfare for purposes of vehicular travel.
(bbb) "Through highway." Every street or highway as provided in R.C. § 4511.65, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance.
(ccc) "Thruway." A through highway whose entire roadway is reserved for through traffic and on which roadway parking is prohibited.
(ddd) "Traffic." Pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles and other devices, either singly or together, while using any highway for purposes of travel.
(eee) "Traffic-control devices." All flagpersons, signs, signals, markings and devices placed or erected by authority of a public body or official having jurisdiction for the purpose of regulating, warning or guiding traffic, including signs denoting names of streets and highways.
(fff) "Traffic-control signal." Any device, whether manually, electrically or mechanically operated, by which traffic is alternately directed to stop, to proceed, to change direction or not to change direction.
(ggg) "Trailer." Every vehicle designed or used for carrying persons or property wholly on its own structure, and for being drawn by a motor vehicle, including any vehicle when formed by or operated as a combination of a semitrailer and a vehicle of the dolly type, such as that commonly known as a trailer dolly, a vehicle used to transport agricultural produce or agricultural production materials between a local place of storage or supply and the farm when drawn or towed on a street or highway at a speed greater than 25 miles per hour and a 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 more than ten miles or at a speed of more than 25 miles per hour.
(hhh) "Truck." Every motor vehicle, except trailers and semitrailers, designed and used to carry property.
(iii) "Urban district." The territory contiguous to and including any street or highway which is built up with structures devoted to business, industry or dwelling houses situated at intervals of less than 100 feet for a distance of one-quarter of a mile or more, and the character of the territory is indicated by official traffic-control devices.
(jjj) "Vehicle." Every device, including a motorized bicycle, in, upon or by which any person or property may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except that "vehicle" does not include any motorized wheelchair, any electric personal assistive mobility device, any device that is moved by power collected from overhead electric trolley wires or that is used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks or any device, other than a bicycle, that is moved by human power.
(R.C. § 4511.01)