337.20. Muffler; muffler cutout; excessive smoke, gas or noise.

   (a)   Every motor vehicle and motorcycle with an internal combustion engine shall at all times be equipped with a muffler which is in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise, and no person shall use a muffler cutout, by-pass or similar device upon a motor vehicle on a highway or street. Every motorcycle muffler shall be equipped with baffle plates.

   (b)   No person shall own, operate or have in his possession any motor vehicle or motorcycle equipped with a device for producing excessive smoke or gas, or so equipped as to permit oil or any other chemical to flow into or upon the exhaust pipe or muffler of such vehicle, or equipped in any other way to produce or emit an unreasonable quantity of smoke, steam, noxious gases or vapor, other than the ordinary gases emitted by the exhaust of an internal combustion engine under normal operation.

(ORC 4513.22)

337.21. Rear-view mirror; clear view to front, both sides and rear.

   Every motor vehicle and motorcycle shall be equipped with a mirror so located as to reflect to the operator a view of the street to the rear of such vehicle or motorcycle. Operators of vehicles and motorcycles shall have a clear and unobstructed view to the front and to both sides of their vehicles or motorcycles and shall have a clear view to the rear of their vehicles or motorcycles by mirror.

(ORC 4513.23)

337.22. Towing requirements.

   (a)   When one vehicle is towing another vehicle, the drawbar or other connection shall be of sufficient strength to pull all weight towed thereby, and such drawbar or other connection shall not exceed fifteen feet from one vehicle to the other, except the connection between any two vehicles transporting poles, pipe, machinery or other objects of structural nature which cannot readily be dismembered.

   (b)   When one vehicle is towing another and the connection consists only of a chain, rope or cable, there shall be displayed upon such connection a white flag or cloth not less than twelve inches square.

   (c)   In addition to such drawbar or other connection, each trailer and each semitrailer which is not connected to a commercial tractor by means of a fifth wheel shall be coupled with stay chains or cables to the vehicle by which it is being drawn. The chains or cables shall be of sufficient size and strength to prevent the towed vehicle's parting from the drawing vehicle in case the drawbar or other connection should break or become disengaged. In case of a loaded pole trailer, the connecting pole to the drawing vehicle shall be coupled to the drawing vehicle with stay chains or cables of sufficient size and strength to prevent the towed vehicle's parting from the drawing vehicle.

   (d)   Every trailer or semitrailer, except pole and cable trailers and pole and cable dollies operated by a public utility, as defined in Ohio R.C. 5727.01, shall be equipped with a coupling device which shall be so designed and constructed that the trailer will follow substantially in the path of the vehicle drawing it, without whipping or swerving from side to side. Vehicles used to transport agricultural produce or agricultural production materials between a local place of storage and supply and the farm, when drawn or towed on a public road or highway at a speed of twenty-five miles per hour or less, shall have a drawbar or other connection, including the hitch mounted on the towing vehicle, which shall be of sufficient strength to pull all the weight towed thereby, and only one such unit may be towed or drawn at one time, unless the towing vehicle is an agricultural tractor, as defined in Section 301.02.

(ORC 4513.32)

337.23. Limited load extension on left side of passenger vehicle.

   No passenger-type vehicle shall be operated on a street or highway with any load carried on such vehicle which extends more than six inches beyond the line of the fenders on the vehicle's left side.

(ORC 4513.30)

337.24. Motor vehicle stop lights.

   (a)   All motor vehicles when operated upon a street or highway shall be equipped with at least one stop light mounted on the rear of the vehicle which shall be actuated upon application of the service brake, and which may be incorporated with other rear lights. Such stop lights when actuated shall emit a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear, provided that in the case of a train of vehicles only the stop lights on the rear-most vehicle need be visible from the distance specified.

   (b)   Such stop lights when actuated shall give a steady warning light to the rear of a vehicle or train of vehicles to indicate the intention of the operator to diminish the speed of or stop a vehicle or train of vehicles.

   (c)   When stop lights are used as required by this section, they shall be constructed or installed so as to provide adequate and reliable illumination and shall conform to the appropriate rules and regulations prescribed by the Ohio Director of Highway Safety.

   (d)   Historical motor vehicles as defined in Ohio R.C. 4503.181 are not subject to this section.

(ORC 4513.071)

337.25. Air cleaner required.

   (a)   No person shall operate a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine unless the carburetion system of the vehicle is protected with an air filter, a flame arresting device, or any other accepted method of protection that is adequate for this purpose. If the original device or system is replaced, it shall be replaced with one that is equal to or better than the original equipment.

   (b)   This section does not apply to a person doing automotive repair work on a motor vehicle that necessitates this device being removed while the work is performed.

337.26. Solid tire requirements.

   Every solid tire on a vehicle as defined in Ohio R.C. 4501.01. shall have rubber or other resilient material on its entire traction surface at least one-inch thick above the edge of the entire periphery.

(ORC 4513.25; 1952 Code § 21-21-23; Ord. 147-64)