(A) Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with headlights also is equipped with any auxiliary lights or spotlight or any other light on the front thereof projecting a beam of an intensity greater than three hundred candle power, not more than a total of five of any such lights on the front of a vehicle shall be lighted at any one time when the vehicle is upon a highway.
(B) Any lighted light or illuminating device upon a motor vehicle, other than headlights, spotlights, signal lights, or auxiliary driving lights, that projects a beam of light of an intensity greater than three hundred candle power, shall be so directed that no part of the beam will strike the level of the roadway on which the vehicle stands at a distance of more than seventy-five feet from the vehicle.
(C)(1) Flashing lights are prohibited on motor vehicles, except as a means for indicating a right or a left turn, or in the presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in approaching, or overtaking or passing.
(2) The prohibition in division (C)(1) of this section does not apply to any of the following:
(a) Emergency vehicles, road service vehicles servicing or towing a disabled vehicle, stationary waste collection vehicles actively collecting garbage, refuse, trash, or recyclable materials on the roadside, rural mail delivery vehicles, vehicles as provided in section4513.182of the Revised Code, highway maintenance vehicles, and similar equipment operated by the department or local authorities, provided such vehicles are equipped with and display, when used on a street or highway for the special purpose necessitating such lights, a flashing, oscillating, or rotating amber light;
(b) Vehicles or machinery permitted by section4513.111of the Revised Code to have a flashing red light;
(c) Farm machinery and vehicles escorting farm machinery, provided such machinery and vehicles are equipped with and display, when used on a street or highway, a flashing, oscillating, or rotating amber light. Farm machinery also may display the lights described in section4513.111of the Revised Code.
(d) A funeral hearse or funeral escort vehicle, provided that the funeral hearse or funeral escort vehicle is equipped with and displays, when used on a street or highway for the special purpose necessitating such lights, a flashing, oscillating, or rotating purple or amber light;
(e) A vehicle being used for emergency preparedness, response, and recovery activities, as those terms are defined in section5502.21of the Revised Code, that is equipped with and displays, when used on a street or highway for the special purpose necessitating such lights, a flashing, oscillating, or rotating amber or red and white light, provided that the vehicle is being operated by a person from one of the following and the vehicle is clearly marked with the applicable agency's or authority's insignia:
(i) The Ohio emergency management agency;
(ii) A countywide emergency management agency established under section5502.26of the Revised Code;
(iii) A regional authority for emergency management established under section5502.27of the Revised Code;
(iv) A program for emergency management established under section5502.271of the Revised Code.
(3) Division (C)(1) of this section does not apply to animal-drawn vehicles subject to section4513.114of the Revised Code.
(D)(1) Except a person operating a public safety vehicle, as defined in division (E) of section4511.01of the Revised Code, an emergency management agency vehicle, as described in division (C)(2)(e) of this section, or a school bus, no person shall operate, move, or park upon, or permit to stand within the right-of-way of any public street or highway any vehicle or equipment that is equipped with and displaying a flashing red or a flashing combination red and white light, or an oscillating or rotating red light, or a combination red and white oscillating or rotating light.
(2) Except a public law enforcement officer, or other person sworn to enforce the criminal and traffic laws of the state, operating a public safety vehicle when on duty, no person shall operate, move, or park upon, or permit to stand within the right-of-way of any street or highway any vehicle or equipment that is equipped with, or upon which is mounted, and displaying a flashing blue or a flashing combination blue and white light, or an oscillating or rotating blue light, or a combination blue and white oscillating or rotating light.
(E) This section does not prohibit the use of warning lights required by law or the simultaneous flashing of turn signals on disabled vehicles or on vehicles being operated in unfavorable atmospheric conditions in order to enhance their visibility. This section also does not prohibit the simultaneous flashing of turn signals or warning lights either on farm machinery or vehicles escorting farm machinery, when used on a street or highway.
(F) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
Last updated August 3, 2023 at 2:45 PM