4501-15-02. Taillights, registration lights and stop lights

(A) Taillights and license plate lights shall be constructed and installed so as to provide adequate and reliable illumination and shall conform to the appropriate S.A.E. standards for taillights and license plate lights.

(B) Every motor vehicle, motorcycles and motor-driven cycles, shall have at least one tail lamp. On a combination of vehicles, only the tail lamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified. On vehicles equipped with more than one tail lamp, the lamps shall be mounted on the same level and as widely spaced laterally as practicable.

Every tail lamp upon every vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than seventy-two inches nor less than fifteen inches.

(C) When stop lights are used as authorized by section 4511.39 of the Revised Code, they shall be constructed and installed so as to provide adequate and reliable illumination and shall conform to the appropriate S.A.E. standards for stop lamps.

(1) After January 1, 1967, every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer and pole trailer shall be equipped with two or more stop lamps, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1967, and motorcycles and motor-driven cycles shall be equipped with at least one stop lamp. On a combination of vehicles, only the stop lamps on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified in this rule.

(2) Any vehicle may be equipped and when required under this rule shall be equipped with a stop lamp or lamps on the rear of the vehicle which shall display a red light, visible from a distance of not less than three hundred feet to the rear in normal sunlight, and which shall be actuated upon application of the service (foot) brake, and which may but need not be incorporated with one or more other rear lamps.

(3) Every stop light shall be located at a height of not more than seventy-two inches nor less than fifteen inches.

(4) If a high mounted stop lamp is installed it shall be located at a minimum height of thirty-four inches in height.

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 3/9/2020 and 03/01/2025
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4513.19
Rule Amplifies: 4513.19
Prior Effective Dates: 11/17/1966, 10/16/1982, 07/23/2001, 08/11/2005

Prior History: (Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 03/10/2015 and 03/10/2020
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4513.19
Rule Amplifies: 4513.19
Prior Effective Dates: 11/17/66, 10/16/82, 7/23/01, 8/11/05)