Rule 4501-15-04 | Clearance lamps, marker lamps, stop lamps, back-up lamps, turn signals, license plate illuminating light, identification lamps and reflectors on vehicles.
[Comment: For dates and availability of material incorporated by reference in this rule, see rule 4501-15-12 of the Administrative Code.]
(A) Clearance lamps, marker lamps, stop lamps, and reflectors on commercial motor vehicles shall be constructed to conform to appropriate requirements of the S.A.E. standard for clearance, side-marker, identification and parking lamps, or the S.A.E. standard for stop lamps, or the S.A.E. standard for reflex reflectors and shall be installed at locations on the vehicle in accordance with the current federal motor carrier safety regulations.
(B) In addition to the other equipment required in sections 4513.04 to 4513.18 of the Revised Code, the following vehicles shall be equipped as herein stated under the conditions stated in section 4513.07 of the Revised Code, and in addition, the reflectors elsewhere enumerated for such vehicles shall conform to the requirements of section 4513.06 of the Revised Code.
(1) Buses, trucks and motor homes eighty inches or more in overall width:
(a) On the front, two clearance lamps, one at each side, and on vehicles manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1967, three identification lamps meeting the specifications of subdivision (1) of S.A.E. standard for clearance, side-marker, identification, and parking lamps.
(b) On the rear, two clearance lamps, one at each side, and after January 1, 1967, three identification lamps meeting the specifications of subdivision (1) of S.A.E. standard for clearance, side-marker, identification, and parking lamps.
(c) On each side, two side marker lamps, one at or near the front and one at or near the rear.
(d) On each side, two reflectors, one at or near the front and one at or near the rear.
(2) Trailers, semitrailers, fifth-wheel trailers and travel trailers eighty inches or more in overall width:
(a) On the front, two clearance lamps, one at each side.
(b) On the rear, two clearance lamps, one at each side.
(c) On each side, two side marker lamps, one at or near the front and one at or near the rear.
(d) On each side, two reflectors, one at or near the front and one at or near the rear.
(e) After January 1, 1967, on the rear, three identification lamps.
(3) Commercial tractors:
On the front, two cab clearance lamps, one at each side, and on vehicles manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1967, three identification lamps meeting the specifications of subdivision (1) S.A.E. standard for clearance, side-marker, identification, and parking lamps.
(4) Trailers, semitrailers, pole trailers, fifth-wheel trailers, travel trailers, trucks, buses, and motor homes thirty feet or more in overall length:
On each side, one amber side marker lamp and one amber reflector, centrally located with respect to the length of the vehicle.
(5) Pole trailers:
(a) On each side, one amber side marker lamp at or near the front of the load.
(b) On each side, one amber reflector at or near the front of the load.
(c) On the rearmost support for the load, one combination marker lamp showing amber to the front and red to the rear and side, mounted to indicate maximum width of the pole trailer.
(6) Combination driveaway-towaway operation:
(a) On the front, two cab clearance lamps, one on each side.
(b) On each side and near the front, one side marker lamp.
(c) On each saddle mounted vehicle, on each side and near the rear, one side marker lamp.
(d) On rearmost vehicle, two clearance lamps and two reflectors, one at each side.
(e) Marker lamps and clearance lamps may be temporarily mounted on motor vehicles during the time they are in transit in any driveaway operation but in any case, must be firmly attached to the motor vehicles.
(C) Multi-wheeled agricultural tractors, units of farm machinery:
(1) Every multi-wheeled agricultural tractor whose model year was 2001 or earlier, when being operated or traveling on a street or highway at times specified in section 4513.03 of the Revised Code at a minimum shall be equipped, on the extreme left and right projection of the tractor, with amber flashing lamps visible to the front and rear of the tractor, and visible from a distance of five hundred feet. The placement of these lamps shall correlate with and, to the extent not inconsistent with section 4513.111 of the Revised Code, conform with chapters 3 and 4 of the American society of agricultural engineers standard ANSI/ASAE S279.17 JUL2013, lighting and marking of agricultural equipment on highways. These lamps are in addition to the slow-moving vehicle lamps permitted by sections 4513.11 and 4513.17 of the Revised Code.
(2) Every unit of farm machinery whose model year was 2002 or later, when being operated or traveling on a street or highway at times specified in section 4513.03 of the Revised Code shall be equipped with illuminated lamps that meet or exceed the standards that are applicable to that type of farm machinery for the unit's model year specified in the American society of agricultural engineers standard ANSI/ASAE S279.17 JUL2013, lighting and marking of agricultural equipment on highways.
(D) Whenever required or permitted by this chapter, identification lamps shall be grouped in a horizontal row, with lamp centers spaced not less than six nor more than twelve inches apart, and mounted on the permanent structure of the vehicle as close as practicable to the vertical centerline; provided, however, that where the cab of a vehicle is not more than forty-two inches wide at the front roof line, a single identification lamp at the center of the cab shall be deemed to comply with the requirements for front identification lamps.
(E) Color of clearance lamps, identification lamps, side marker lamps, back-up lamps, stop lamps, turn signals, license plate illuminating light, and reflectors:
(1) Front clearance lamps, identification lamps, and those marker lamps, and reflectors mounted on the front or on the side near the front of a vehicle shall display or reflect amber color.
(2) Rear clearance lamps, identification lamps, and those marker lamps and reflectors mounted on the rear or on the sides near the rear of a vehicle shall display or reflect red color.
(3) The stop lamps shall be red in color. The turn signals facing to the rear shall be red or amber. The turn signals facing to the front shall be amber. The light illuminating the license plate shall be white. The light emitted by a back-up lamp shall be white.
(F) Mounting of reflectors, clearance lamps and side marker lamps:
(1) Reflectors when required by section 4513.07 of the Revised Code shall be mounted at a height not less than twenty-four inches and not higher than sixty inches above the ground on which the vehicle stands, except that if the highest part of the permanent structure of the vehicle is less than twenty-four inches the reflector at such point shall be mounted as high as that part of the permanent structure will permit.
The rear reflectors on a pole trailer may be mounted on each side of the bolster or load.
Any required red reflector on the rear of a vehicle may be incorporated with the tail lamp, but such reflector shall meet all the other reflector requirements of this chapter.
(2) Clearance lamps shall be mounted on the permanent structure of the vehicle in such a manner as to indicate its extreme width and as near the top thereof as practicable. Clearance lamps and side marker lamps may be mounted in combination provided illumination is given as required herein with reference to both.
(G) Visibility requirements for reflectors, clearance lamps, identification lamps and marker lamps:
(1) Every reflector upon any vehicle referred to in section 4513.07 of the Revised Code shall be of such size and characteristics and so maintained as to be readily visible at night-time from all distances within six hundred feet to one hundred feet from the vehicle shall reflect the required color of light to the sides, and those mounted on the rear shall reflect a red color to the rear.
(2) Front and rear clearance lamps and identification lamps shall be capable of being seen and distinguished under normal atmospheric conditions at the times lights are required at all distances between five hundred and fifty feet from the front and rear, respectively, of the vehicle.
(3) Side marker lamps shall be capable of being seen and distinguished under normal atmospheric conditions at the times lights are required at all distances between five hundred fifty feet from the side of the vehicle on which mounted.
Supplemental Information