Ohio Traffic Rules

Alcohol Laws: Anyone operating a motor vehicle will be assumed to have given implied consent to a chemical test or test of the person's blood, breath, or urine.

• Open containers are not permitted. Meets TEA-21 requirements.

• Illegal per se BAC law is .08.

• BAC level for people under 21 is .02.

• BAC level for commercial drivers is .04.

Occupant Restraints: Every driver and front seat passenger must wear a seat belt.

• Violation of the seat belt law is a secondary offense, however violation of the child restraint law is a primary offense.

• Every child who is either or both less than four (4) years of age and/or weighing less than 40 lbs. must be secured in a child restraint system when being transported in a motor vehicle.  Additionally, when any child who is at least four (4) years of age but not older than fifteen (15) years of age is being transported in a motor vehicle, other than a taxicab or public safety vehicle, the operator of the motor vehicle shall have the child properly restrained either in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions in a child restraint system that meets federal motor vehicle safety standards or in an occupant restraining device.

• Riding in the back of an unenclosed cargo storage area of a truck or trailer traveling over 25 mph is illegal for persons under age 16. It is illegal for everyone if the tail-gate is unlatched.

Railroad Crossing: Vehicles must stop within 50 feet, but not less than 15 feet from the nearest rail if signaled to do so or if an approaching train is plainly visible.

• Special vehicles, buses, or motortrucks transporting employees, buses transporting passengers, school buses, and vehicles transporting hazardous materials are required to stop.

School Buses: Upon meeting or overtaking any bus stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children or people with disabilities, all drivers must stop at least 10 feet from the front or rear of the bus and may not proceed until such bus resumes motion or the driver is signaled to proceed by the school bus driver.

• If driving on a 4-lane roadway, the driver need not stop if on the other roadway.

Bumper Height: The minimum bumper height is 4.5 inches in vertical height.

Equipment: Each rider must ride on a permanently attached regular seat.

• Each rider must wear safety glasses or other protective eye device.

• No person who is under the age of 18 years, or who holds a motorcycle operator's endorsement or license bearing a "novice," shall operate a motorcycle on a high-way, or be a passenger on a motorcycle, unless wearing a protective helmet on his or her head, and no other person shall be a passenger on a motorcycle operated by such a person unless similarly wearing a protective helmet.

• One and no more than 2 headlights are required.

• At least 1 taillight/brake light is required.

• A horn that can be heard for at least 200 feet is required.

• At least 1 rearview mirror is required.

• Handlebars maybe no more than 15 inches above the seat.

• Motorcycles manufactured after 1968 must be equipped with turn signals.

Licenses: The same age requirements apply to motorcycle licenses as driver's licenses.

• An applicant for a motorcycle operator's endorsement or a restricted license that permits only the operation of a motorcycle shall give an actual demonstration of the ability to exercise ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motorcycle by driving the same under the supervision of an examining officer unless the applicant can show proof of successful completion within the preceding 60 days of a course of basic instruction provided by the motorcycle safety and education pro-gram approved by the director.

Noise Limits: When operated at a speed of 35 mph or less, the maximum noise limit is 82 decibels based on a distance of not less than 50 feet from the center of the line of travel.

• When operated at a speed of more than 35 mph, the maximum noise limit is 86 decibels.

Mopeds: To become licensed to operate a moped, 14 and 15-year-olds must pass the usual vision and written tests, as well as a road test. This rule also applies to persons not currently holding a valid operator's license, regardless of age.

• Probationary motorized bicycle licenses are required for 14 and 15-year-old operators.

• Operators are required to obtain and display a rear license plate.

• A moped operator must obey the same traffic laws that apply to operators of bicycles and motor vehicles. This includes obeying all traffic signs and signals, traveling the same direction as the rest of the traffic, signaling turns, and yielding the right of way.

• Operators must wear a protective helmet with the chin strap properly fastened if under 18 years of age.

• Mopeds must be equipped with a rearview mirror.

• Mopeds must be operated when practicable within 3 feet of the right edge of the roadway.

• Carrying more than 1 person on a moped is never allowed.

Registration: The original owner of any trailer weighing 4,000 lbs. or less and used exclusively for non-commercial purposes shall, upon application for initial registration, obtain and present such evidence of the trailer's weight as the registrar may require.

Brakes: Brakes are required if the trailer has an empty weight of over 2,000 lbs.

Dimensions: Total length: 65 feet; trailer length: 40 feet; width: 102 inches; height: 13.6 feet.

Hitch: When 1 vehicle is towing another vehicle, the drawbar or other connection may not exceed 15 feet from 1 vehicle to the other.

• When 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 12 inches square.

• In addition to a drawbar or other connection, each trailer and each semitrailer which is not connected to a commercial tractor by means of a 5th wheel shall be coupled with stay chains or cables to the vehicle by which it is being drawn.

• Every trailer or semitrailer 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.

Lighting: Trailers must carry, either as part of the taillamps or separately, 2 red reflectors.

• Trailers must be equipped with at least 1 red taillamp visible from 500 feet to the rear and a white light to illuminate the license plate and render it visible from at least 50 feet from the rear.

• Trailers must be equipped with at least 2 stoplights, visible from 500 feet to the rear.

Mirrors: A left rearview mirror is required.

Riding: Riding in a travel trailer or non-self-propelled manufactured home is prohibited. Riding in a pickup camper is permitted.

Speed Limits: 55 mph is the maximum speed for any vehicle or vehicle combination that weighs over 8,000 lbs.

Bail Bonds: Discretionary recognition of AAA arrest bond certificates up to $200, with specified exceptions.

Liability Laws: Has compulsory/mandatory liability which prohibits the operation of a motor vehicle unless financial responsibility is maintained. Applicant for a motor vehicle registration or driver's license is required to sign a statement that he or she maintains financial responsibility. Proof of financial responsibility to be provided whenever a police officer issues a traffic ticket, at all vehicle inspection stops, upon every traffic court appearance upon written request by the BMV, and for every motor vehicle crash causing property damage in excess of $400 or personal injury or death.

• Proof of ability to respond in damages for liability, arising out of the ownership, maintenance, or use of a motor vehicle must be obtained in the amounts of $12,500 because of bodily injury to or death of 1 person in any 1 accident, $25,000 because of bodily injury to or death of 2 or more persons in any 1 accident, and $7,500 because of injury to property of others in any 1 accident.

• State has non-resident service of process law.