(A) As used in this section:
(1) "Highway maintenance vehicle" means a vehicle used in snow and ice removal, including a snow plow, when it is owned by a political subdivision and operated by an employee of that political subdivision.
(2) "Peace officer" has the same meaning as in divisions (A)(1), (12), (14), and (19) of section 109.71 of the Revised Code.
(3) "Portable signal preemption device" means a device that, if activated by a person, is capable of changing a highway traffic signal to green out of sequence.
(4) "Public safety vehicle" has the same meaning as in divisions (E)(1), (3), and (4) of section 4511.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) Except as provided in divisions (C) and (D) of this section:
(1) No person shall possess a portable signal preemption device.
(2) No person shall use a portable signal preemption device to affect the operation of the highway traffic signal.
(C) Division (B)(1) of this section does not apply to any of the following persons:
(1) A peace officer;
(2) A state highway patrol trooper;
(3) A person while occupying a public safety vehicle;
(4) The authorized employee operator of a highway maintenance vehicle.
(D) Division (B)(2) of this section does not apply under either of the following circumstances:
(1) When a person listed in divisions (C)(1) to (3) of this section is responding to an emergency call;
(2) When a person listed in division (C)(4) of this section is responding to an emergency level two or level three weather event.
(E) Whoever violates division (B)(1) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. Whoever violates division (B)(2) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Last updated April 30, 2025 at 10:41 AM