Chapter 4501-29 Snowmobiles and All-Purpose Vehicles

(A) Every snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, and all-purpose vehicle shall have:

(1) At least one headlight having a minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity to reveal persons and objects at a distance of at least one hundred feet ahead under normal atmospheric conditions during hours of darkness;

(2) At least one red tail light having a minimum candlepower of sufficient intensity to be plainly visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear under normal atmospheric conditions during hours of darkness;

(B) Adequate brakes.

(1) Every snowmobile, while traveling on packed snow, shall be capable of carrying a driver who weighs one hundred seventy-five pounds or more, and, while carrying such driver, be capable of stopping in not more than forty feet from an initial steady speed of twenty miles per hour, or locking its traction belt;

(2) Every off-highway motorcycle and all-purpose vehicle shall be capable at all times and under all conditions of loading, of being stopped on a dry, smooth, level road free from loose material, upon application of the service or foot brake within the following distance:

(a) With brakes on all wheels, vehicle shall come to a stop in thirty feet or less from a speed of twenty miles per hour.

(b) Not having brakes on all wheels, vehicle shall come to a stop in forty feet or less from a speed of twenty miles per hour.

(3) Every off-highway motorcycle and all-purpose vehicle manufactured after January 1, 2006, shall have a split service brake system or two independently actuated service brake systems. The split service brake system shall be as defined in Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 571.122 (January 1, 1974).

(C) A muffler system capable of precluding the emission of excessive smoke or exhaust fumes, and of limiting the engine noise of vehicles.

(1) All snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles and all-purpose vehicles shall at all times be equipped with a muffler that constantly operates to prevent excessive or unusual noise.

(2) On snowmobiles manufactured after January 1, 1973, such requirement shall include sound dampening equipment such that the vehicle sound pressure level does not exceed eighty-two decibels on the “A” scale at fifty feet as measured according to SAE-J192 (September, 1970).

(3) On off-highway motorcycles and all-purpose vehicles manufactured after January 1, 2006 shall not exceed ninety-six decibels when tested according to SAE-J1287 (July 1, 1998).

(D) No person shall operate any snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle in violation of this chapter except that equipment specified in paragraphs (A)(1) and (A)(2) of this rule shall not be required on snowmobiles, off-highway motorcycles, or all-purpose vehicles operated during the daylight hours.

(E) Materials approved for incorporation by reference.

(1) The following are contact sites for the material incorporated by reference:

(a) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), Department of Transportation-National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (DOT-NHTSA), 400 7th Street SW, Washington DC 20590. Obtained via Government Printing Web Site: www.access.gpo.gov/nara

(b) Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Obtained via: 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096 Telephone: (724) 776-4841, Web Site:www.sae.org

Replaces: part of existing rule 4501-29-01

Effective: 06/03/2006

R.C. 119.032 review dates: 03/09/2011

Promulgated Under: 119.03

Statutory Authority: R.C. 4519.20

Rule Amplifies: R.C. 4519.20

Prior Effective Dates: 7/28/72, 7/16/01