Bill Text: OH HB475 | 2013-2014 | 130th General Assembly | Introduced

---

Bill Title: To permit the flashing on and off of headlights, and the alternate flashing of the lower and upper beams of headlights, by a motor vehicle operator to convey information to operators of oncoming vehicles, including information concerning the presence of dangers, hazards, or vehicles of interest.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-03-12 - To Transportation, Public Safety and Homeland Security [HB475 Detail]

Download: Ohio-2013-HB475-Introduced.html

---

As Introduced

130th General Assembly Regular Session 2013-2014

H. B. No. 475

Representative Becker 

Cosponsors: Representatives Lynch, Roegner, Stebelton 

---

A BILL

To amend section 4513.17 of the Revised Code to

1

permit the flashing on and off of headlights, and

2

the alternate flashing of the lower and upper

3

beams of headlights, by a motor vehicle operator

4

to convey information to operators of oncoming

5

vehicles, including information concerning the

6

presence of dangers, hazards, or vehicles of

7

interest.

8

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1.  That section 4513.17 of the Revised Code be	9
amended to read as follows:	10

Sec. 4513.17.  (A) Whenever a motor vehicle equipped with	11
headlights also is equipped with any auxiliary lights or spotlight	12
or any other light on the front thereof projecting a beam of an	13
intensity greater than three hundred candle power, not more than a	14
total of five of any such lights on the front of a vehicle shall	15
be lighted at any one time when the vehicle is upon a highway.	16

(B) Any lighted light or illuminating device upon a motor	17
vehicle, other than headlights, spotlights, signal lights, or	18
auxiliary driving lights, that projects a beam of light of an	19
intensity greater than three hundred candle power, shall be so	20
directed that no part of the beam will strike the level of the	21
roadway on which the vehicle stands at a distance of more than	22
seventy-five feet from the vehicle.	23

(C)(1) Flashing lights are prohibited on motor vehicles,	24
except as a means for indicating a right or a left turn, or in the	25
presence of a vehicular traffic hazard requiring unusual care in	26
approaching, or overtaking or passing. This prohibition does not	27
apply to emergency vehicles, road service vehicles servicing or	28
towing a disabled vehicle, rural mail delivery vehicles, vehicles	29
as provided in section 4513.182 of the Revised Code, highway	30
maintenance vehicles, funeral hearses, funeral escort vehicles,	31
and similar equipment operated by the department or local	32
authorities, which shall be equipped with and display, when used	33
on a street or highway for the special purpose necessitating such	34
lights, a flashing, oscillating, or rotating amber light, but	35
shall not display a flashing, oscillating, or rotating light of	36
any other color, nor to vehicles or machinery permitted by section	37
4513.11 of the Revised Code to have a flashing red light.	38

(2) When used on a street or highway, farm machinery and	39
vehicles escorting farm machinery may be equipped with and display	40
a flashing, oscillating, or rotating amber light, and the	41
prohibition contained in division (C)(1) of this section does not	42
apply to such machinery or vehicles. Farm machinery also may	43
display the lights described in section 4513.11 of the Revised	44
Code.	45

(D) Except a person operating a public safety vehicle, as	46
defined in division (E) of section 4511.01 of the Revised Code, or	47
a school bus, no person shall operate, move, or park upon, or	48
permit to stand within the right-of-way of any public street or	49
highway any vehicle or equipment that is equipped with and	50
displaying a flashing red or a flashing combination red and white	51
light, or an oscillating or rotating red light, or a combination	52
red and white oscillating or rotating light; and except a public	53
law enforcement officer, or other person sworn to enforce the	54
criminal and traffic laws of the state, operating a public safety	55
vehicle when on duty, no person shall operate, move, or park upon,	56
or permit to stand within the right-of-way of any street or	57
highway any vehicle or equipment that is equipped with, or upon	58
which is mounted, and displaying a flashing blue or a flashing	59
combination blue and white light, or an oscillating or rotating	60
blue light, or a combination blue and white oscillating or	61
rotating light.	62

(E) This section does not prohibit theany of the following:

63

(1) The use of warning lights required by law or the	64
simultaneous flashing of turn signals on disabled vehicles or on	65
vehicles being operated in unfavorable atmospheric conditions in	66
order to enhance their visibility. This section also does not	67
prohibit the;	68

(2) The simultaneous flashing of turn signals or warning	69
lights either on farm machinery or vehicles escorting farm	70
machinery, when used on a street or highway;	71

(3) The flashing on and off of headlights, or the alternate	72
flashing of the lower beams and the upper beams of headlights, to	73
convey information to operators of oncoming vehicles, including	74
information concerning the presence of dangers, hazards, or	75
vehicles of interest that the operators of the oncoming vehicles	76
may be approaching. The act of flashing headlights on and off or	77
the alternate flashing of the lower and upper beams of headlights	78
as described in division (E)(3) of this section, without more,	79
does not constitute a violation of any provision of the Revised	80
Code or any municipal ordinance.	81

(F) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor	82
misdemeanor.	83

Section 2.  That existing section 4513.17 of the Revised Code	84
is hereby repealed.	85