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Cincinnati |
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Code of Ordinances |
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Title V. TRAFFIC CODE |
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Chapter 503. VEHICULAR CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT |
§ 503-1. Lights, General.
Every vehicle upon a highway open to traffic during the time from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise, and at any other time when there is not sufficient natural light to render discernible persons, vehicles and substantial objects on the highway at a distance of 500 feet ahead shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices as hereinafter respectively required for different classes of vehicles, subject to exceptions with respect to parked vehicles as hereinafter stated.
(a)
Every motor vehicle, semi-trailer, pole trailer or any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a train of vehicles shall be equipped with at least one tail lamp mounted on the rear which, when lighted as hereinbefore required, shall emit a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear, provided that in the case of a train of vehicles only the tail lamp on the rearmost vehicle need be visible from the distance specified.
(b)
Either a tail lamp or a separate lamp shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate, when such registration plate is required, and render it legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear. Any tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted, except where separate lighting systems are provided for trailers for the purpose of illuminating such registration plate.
(c)
All vehicles, including animal-drawn vehicles and including those referred to in paragraph (c) of Section 503-29 not hereinbefore specifically required to be equipped with lamps, shall at the time and under the circumstances specified in this section display at least one lighted lamp or lantern exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of approximately 500 feet to the front of such vehicle and with a lamp or lantern exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of approximately 500 feet to the rear.
(d)
Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, shall be equipped with at least two head lamps with at least one near each side of the front of the motor vehicle, which head lamp shall comply with the requirements and limitations set forth in the traffic code.
(e)
Every motorcycle shall be equipped with at least one and not more than two head lamps which shall comply with the requirements and limitations of the traffic code.
(f)
At all times mentioned in this section at least two lighted headlights with uncolored and untinted bulbs, lenses and internal reflectors shall be displayed, one near each side of the front of every motor vehicle except when such vehicle is parked subject to the regulations governing lights on parked vehicles. Cowl lights and accessory lights are not headlights for the purpose of this section.
(g)
All buses, trucks, commercial tractors, trailers, semitrailers and pole trailers respectively, when operated upon any highway, shall be equipped with such clearance and marker lights, reflectors and stop lights as the director of highways may authorize and prescribe, and such equipment so required shall be lighted at all times mentioned in this section, except that clearance and side marker lamps need not be lighted on any such vehicle when operated within a municipality where there is sufficient light to reveal any person or substantial object on the highway at a distance of 500 feet.
Such equipment shall be in addition to all other lamps specifically required by the traffic code.
Vehicles operated under the public utilities commission of Ohio shall not be subject to the requirements of the regulations provided for by this section.
Whenever a requirement is hereinafter declared as to the distance from which certain lamps and devices shall render objects visible or within which such lamps or devices shall be visible, such distance shall be measured upon a straight, level, unlighted highway under normal atmospheric conditions unless a different condition is expressly stated.
Whenever a requirement is hereinafter declared as to the mounted height of lamps or devices, it shall mean from the center of such lamp or device to the level ground upon which the vehicle stands.
(C.O. 503-1; a. Ord. No. 110-1968, eff. Apr. 12, 1968; reordained as C.M.C. 503-1, eff. Jan. 1, 1972)