Ohio § 4501.01

§ 4501.01.

As used in this chapter and Chapters 4503., 4505., 4507., 4509., 4510., 4513., 4515.,

and 4517. of the Revised Code, and in the penal laws, except as otherwise provided: (A) “ Vehicles ” means everything on wheels or runners, including motorized bicycles, but does not

mean electric personal assistive mobility devices, low-speed micromobility devices,

vehicles that are operated exclusively on rails or tracks or from overhead electric

trolley wires, and vehicles that belong to any police department, municipal fire department,

or volunteer fire department, or that are used by such a department in the discharge

of its functions. (B) “ Motor vehicle ” means any vehicle, including mobile homes and recreational vehicles, that is propelled

or drawn by power other than muscular power or power collected from overhead electric

trolley wires.  “Motor vehicle” does not include utility vehicles as defined in division (VV) of

this section, under-speed vehicles as defined in division (XX) of this section, mini-trucks

as defined in division (BBB) of this section, motorized bicycles, electric bicycles,

road rollers, traction engines, power shovels, power cranes, and other equipment used

in construction work and not designed for or employed in general highway transportation,

well-drilling machinery, ditch-digging machinery, farm machinery, and trailers that

are designed and used exclusively to transport a boat between a place of storage and

a marina, or in and around a marina, when drawn or towed on a public road or highway

for a distance of no more than ten miles and at a speed of twenty-five miles per hour

or less. (C) “ Agricultural tractor ” and “ traction engine ” mean any self-propelling vehicle that is designed or used for drawing other vehicles

or wheeled machinery, but has no provisions for carrying loads independently of such

other vehicles, and that is used principally for agricultural purposes. (D) “ Commercial tractor ,” except as defined in division (C) of this section, means any motor vehicle that

has motive power and either is designed or used for drawing other motor vehicles,

or is designed or used for drawing another motor vehicle while carrying a portion

of the other motor vehicle or its load, or both. (E) “ Passenger car ” means any motor vehicle that is designed and used for carrying not more than nine

persons and includes any motor vehicle that is designed and used for carrying not

more than fifteen persons in a ridesharing arrangement. (F) “ Collector's vehicle ” means any motor vehicle or agricultural tractor or traction engine that is of special

interest, that has a fair market value of one hundred dollars or more, whether operable

or not, and that is owned, operated, collected, preserved, restored, maintained, or

used essentially as a collector's item, leisure pursuit, or investment, but not as

the owner's principal means of transportation.  “ Licensed collector's vehicle ” means a collector's vehicle, other than an agricultural tractor or traction engine,

that displays current, valid license tags issued under section 4503.45 of the Revised Code , or a similar type of motor vehicle that displays current, valid license tags issued

under substantially equivalent provisions in the laws of other states. (G) “ Historical motor vehicle ” means any motor vehicle that is over twenty-five years old and is owned solely as

a collector's item and for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours, parades,

and similar uses, but that in no event is used for general transportation. (H) “ Noncommercial motor vehicle ” means any motor vehicle, including a farm truck as defined in section 4503.04 of the Revised Code , that is designed by the manufacturer to carry a load of no more than one ton and

is used exclusively for purposes other than engaging in business for profit. (I) “ Bus ” means any motor vehicle that has motor power and is designed and used for carrying

more than nine passengers, except any motor vehicle that is designed and used for

carrying not more than fifteen passengers in a ridesharing arrangement. (J) “ Commercial car ” or “ truck ” means any motor vehicle that has motor power and is designed and used for carrying

merchandise or freight, or that is used as a commercial tractor. (K) “ Bicycle ” has the same meaning as in section 4511.01 of the Revised Code . (L) “ Motorized bicycle ” or “ moped ” means any vehicle that either has two tandem wheels or one wheel in the front and

two wheels in the rear, that may be pedaled, and that is equipped with a helper motor

of not more than fifty cubic centimeters piston displacement that produces no more

than one brake horsepower and is capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of no

greater than twenty miles per hour on a level surface.  “Motorized bicycle” or “moped” does not include an electric bicycle. (M) “ Trailer ” means any vehicle without motive power that is designed or used for carrying property

or persons wholly on its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle, and

includes any such vehicle that is formed by or operated as a combination of a semitrailer

and a vehicle of the dolly type such as that commonly known as a trailer dolly, a

vehicle used to transport agricultural produce or agricultural production materials

between a local place of storage or supply and the farm when drawn or towed on a public

road or highway at a speed greater than twenty-five miles per hour, and a vehicle

that is designed and used exclusively to transport a boat between a place of storage

and a marina, or in and around a marina, when drawn or towed on a public road or highway

for a distance of more than ten miles or at a speed of more than twenty-five miles

per hour.  “Trailer” does not include a manufactured home or travel trailer. (N) “ Noncommercial trailer ” means any trailer, except a travel trailer or trailer that is used to transport

a boat as described in division (B) of this section, but, where applicable, includes

a vehicle that is used to transport a boat as described in division (M) of this section,

that has a gross weight of no more than ten thousand pounds, and that is used exclusively

for purposes other than engaging in business for a profit, such as the transportation

of personal items for personal or recreational purposes. (O) “ Mobile home ” means a building unit or assembly of closed construction that is fabricated in an

off-site facility, is more than thirty-five body feet in length or, when erected on

site, is three hundred twenty or more square feet, is built on a permanent chassis,

is transportable in one or more sections, and does not qualify as a manufactured home

as defined in division (C)(4) of section 3781.06 of the Revised Code or as an industrialized unit as defined in division (C)(3) of section 3781.06 of the Revised Code . (P) “ Semitrailer ” means any vehicle of the trailer type that does not have motive power and is so

designed or used with another and separate motor vehicle that in operation a part

of its own weight or that of its load, or both, rests upon and is carried by the other

vehicle furnishing the motive power for propelling itself and the vehicle referred

to in this division, and includes, for the purpose only of registration and taxation

under those chapters, any vehicle of the dolly type, such as a trailer dolly, that

is designed or used for the conversion of a semitrailer into a trailer. (Q) “ Recreational vehicle ” means a vehicular portable structure that meets all of the following conditions: (1) It is designed for the sole purpose of recreational travel. (2) It is not used for the purpose of engaging in business for profit. (3) It is not used for the purpose of engaging in intrastate commerce. (4) It is not used for the purpose of commerce as defined in 49 C.F.R. 383.5 , as amended. (5) It is not regulated by the public utilities commission pursuant to Chapter 4905.,

4921., or 4923. of the Revised Code. (6) It is classed as one of the following: (a) “ Travel trailer ” or “ house vehicle ” means a nonself-propelled recreational vehicle that does not exceed an overall length

of forty feet, exclusive of bumper and tongue or coupling.  “ Travel trailer ” includes a tent-type fold-out camping trailer as defined in section 4517.01 of the Revised Code . (b) “ Motor home ” means a self-propelled recreational vehicle that has no fifth wheel and is constructed

with permanently installed facilities for cold storage, cooking and consuming of food,

and for sleeping. (c) “ Truck camper ” means a nonself-propelled recreational vehicle that does not have wheels for road

use and is designed to be placed upon and attached to a motor vehicle.  “Truck camper” does not include truck covers that consist of walls and a roof, but

do not have floors and facilities enabling them to be used as a dwelling. (d) “ Fifth wheel trailer ” means a vehicle that is of such size and weight as to be movable without a special

highway permit, that is constructed with a raised forward section that allows a bi-level

floor plan, and that is designed to be towed by a vehicle equipped with a fifth-wheel

hitch ordinarily installed in the bed of a truck. (e) “ Park trailer ” means a vehicle that is commonly known as a park model recreational vehicle, meets

the American national standard institute standard A119.5 (1988) for park trailers,

is built on a single chassis, has a gross trailer area of four hundred square feet

or less when set up, is designed for seasonal or temporary living quarters, and may

be connected to utilities necessary for the operation of installed features and appliances. (R) “ Pneumatic tires ” means tires of rubber and fabric or tires of similar material, that are inflated

with air. (S) “ Solid tires ” means tires of rubber or similar elastic material that are not dependent upon confined

air for support of the load. (T) “ Solid tire vehicle ” means any vehicle that is equipped with two or more solid tires. (U) “ Farm machinery ” means all machines and tools that are used in the production, harvesting, and care

of farm products, and includes trailers that are used to transport agricultural produce

or agricultural production materials between a local place of storage or supply and

the farm, agricultural tractors, threshing machinery, hay-baling machinery, corn shellers,

hammermills, and machinery used in the production of horticultural, agricultural,

and vegetable products. (V) “ Owner ” includes any person or firm, other than a manufacturer or dealer, that has title

to a motor vehicle, except that, in sections 4505.01 to 4505.19 of the Revised Code , “ owner ” includes in addition manufacturers and dealers. (W)  “ Manufacturer ” and “ dealer ” include all persons and firms that are regularly engaged in the business of manufacturing,

selling, displaying, offering for sale, or dealing in motor vehicles, at an established

place of business that is used exclusively for the purpose of manufacturing, selling,

displaying, offering for sale, or dealing in motor vehicles.  A place of business that is used for manufacturing, selling, displaying, offering

for sale, or dealing in motor vehicles shall be deemed to be used exclusively for

those purposes even though snowmobiles or all-purpose vehicles are sold or displayed

for sale thereat, even though farm machinery is sold or displayed for sale thereat,

or even though repair, accessory, gasoline and oil, storage, parts, service, or paint

departments are maintained thereat, or, in any county having a population of less

than seventy-five thousand at the last federal census, even though a department in

a place of business is used to dismantle, salvage, or rebuild motor vehicles by means

of used parts, if such departments are operated for the purpose of furthering and

assisting in the business of manufacturing, selling, displaying, offering for sale,

or dealing in motor vehicles.  Places of business or departments in a place of business used to dismantle, salvage,

or rebuild motor vehicles by means of using used parts are not considered as being

maintained for the purpose of assisting or furthering the manufacturing, selling,

displaying, and offering for sale or dealing in motor vehicles. (X) “ Operator ” includes any person who drives or operates a motor vehicle upon the public highways. (Y) “ Chauffeur ” means any operator who operates a motor vehicle, other than a taxicab, as an employee

for hire;  or any operator whether or not the owner of a motor vehicle, other than

a taxicab, who operates such vehicle for transporting, for gain, compensation, or

profit, either persons or property owned by another.  Any operator of a motor vehicle who is voluntarily involved in a ridesharing arrangement

is not considered an employee for hire or operating such vehicle for gain, compensation,

or profit. (Z) “ State ” includes the territories and federal districts of the United States, and the provinces

of Canada. (AA) “ Public roads and highways ” for vehicles includes all public thoroughfares, bridges, and culverts. (BB) “ Manufacturer's number ” means the manufacturer's original serial number that is affixed to or imprinted

upon the chassis or other part of the motor vehicle. (CC) “ Motor number ” means the manufacturer's original number that is affixed to or imprinted upon the

engine or motor of the vehicle. (DD) “ Distributor ” means any person who is authorized by a motor vehicle manufacturer to distribute

new motor vehicles to licensed motor vehicle dealers at an established place of business

that is used exclusively for the purpose of distributing new motor vehicles to licensed

motor vehicle dealers, except when the distributor also is a new motor vehicle dealer,

in which case the distributor may distribute at the location of the distributor's

licensed dealership. (EE) “ Ridesharing arrangement ” means the transportation of persons in a motor vehicle where the transportation

is incidental to another purpose of a volunteer driver and includes ridesharing arrangements

known as carpools, vanpools, and buspools. (FF) “ Apportionable vehicle ” means any vehicle that is used or intended for use in two or more international

registration plan member jurisdictions that allocate or proportionally register vehicles,

that is used for the transportation of persons for hire or designed, used, or maintained

primarily for the transportation of property, and that meets any of the following

qualifications: (1) Is a power unit having a gross vehicle weight in excess of twenty-six thousand pounds; (2) Is a power unit having three or more axles, regardless of the gross vehicle weight; (3) Is a combination vehicle with a gross vehicle weight in excess of twenty-six thousand

pounds. “Apportionable vehicle” does not include recreational vehicles, vehicles displaying

restricted plates, city pick-up and delivery vehicles, or vehicles owned and operated

by the United States, this state, or any political subdivisions thereof. (GG) “ Chartered party ” means a group of persons who contract as a group to acquire the exclusive use of

a passenger-carrying motor vehicle at a fixed charge for the vehicle in accordance

with the carrier's tariff, lawfully on file with the United States department of transportation,

for the purpose of group travel to a specified destination or for a particular itinerary,

either agreed upon in advance or modified by the chartered group after having left

the place of origin. (HH) “ International registration plan ” means a reciprocal agreement of member jurisdictions that is endorsed by the American

association of motor vehicle administrators, and that promotes and encourages the

fullest possible use of the highway system by authorizing apportioned registration

of fleets of vehicles and recognizing registration of vehicles apportioned in member

jurisdictions. (II) “ Restricted plate ” means a license plate that has a restriction of time, geographic area, mileage,

or commodity, and includes license plates issued to farm trucks under division (J) of section 4503.04 of the Revised Code . (JJ) “ Gross vehicle weight ,” with regard to any commercial car, trailer, semitrailer, or bus that is taxed at

the rates established under section 4503.042 or 4503.65 of the Revised Code , means the unladen weight of the vehicle fully equipped plus the maximum weight of

the load to be carried on the vehicle. (KK) “ Combined gross vehicle weight ” with regard to any combination of a commercial car, trailer, and semitrailer, that

is taxed at the rates established under section 4503.042 or 4503.65 of the Revised Code , means the total unladen weight of the combination of vehicles fully equipped plus

the maximum weight of the load to be carried on that combination of vehicles. (LL) “ Chauffeured limousine ” means a motor vehicle that is designed to carry nine or fewer passengers and is

operated for hire pursuant to a prearranged contract for the transportation of passengers

on public roads and highways along a route under the control of the person hiring

the vehicle and not over a defined and regular route.  “ Prearranged contract ” means an agreement, made in advance of boarding, to provide transportation from

a specific location in a chauffeured limousine.  “Chauffeured limousine” does not include any vehicle that is used exclusively in

the business of funeral directing. (MM) “Manufactured home” has the same meaning as in division (C)(4) of section 3781.06 of the Revised Code . (NN) “ Acquired situs ,” with respect to a manufactured home or a mobile home, means to become located in

this state by the placement of the home on real property, but does not include the

placement of a manufactured home or a mobile home in the inventory of a new motor

vehicle dealer or the inventory of a manufacturer, remanufacturer, or distributor

of manufactured or mobile homes. (OO) “ Electronic ” includes electrical, digital, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or any other form

of technology that entails capabilities similar to these technologies. (PP) “ Electronic record ” means a record generated, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means

for use in an information system or for transmission from one information system to

another. (QQ) “ Electronic signature ” means a signature in electronic form attached to or logically associated with an

electronic record. (RR) “Financial transaction device” has the same meaning as in division (A) of section 113.40 of the Revised Code . (SS) “ Electronic motor vehicle dealer ” means a motor vehicle dealer licensed under Chapter 4517. of the Revised Code whom

the registrar of motor vehicles determines meets the criteria designated in section 4503.035 of the Revised Code for electronic motor vehicle dealers and designates as an electronic motor vehicle

dealer under that section. (TT) “ Electric personal assistive mobility device ” means a self-balancing two non-tandem wheeled device that is designed to transport

only one person, has an electric propulsion system of an average of seven hundred

fifty watts, and when ridden on a paved level surface by an operator who weighs one

hundred seventy pounds has a maximum speed of less than twenty miles per hour. (UU) “ Limited driving privileges ” means the privilege to operate a motor vehicle that a court grants under section 4510.021 of the Revised Code to a person whose driver's or commercial driver's license or permit or nonresident

operating privilege has been suspended. (VV) “ Utility vehicle ” means a self-propelled vehicle designed with a bed, principally for the purpose

of transporting material or cargo in connection with construction, agricultural, forestry,

grounds maintenance, lawn and garden, materials handling, or similar activities. (WW) “ Low-speed vehicle ” means a three- or four-wheeled motor vehicle with an attainable speed in one mile

on a paved level surface of more than twenty miles per hour but not more than twenty-five

miles per hour and with a gross vehicle weight rating less than three thousand pounds. (XX) “ Under-speed vehicle ” means a three- or four-wheeled vehicle, including a vehicle commonly known as a

golf cart, with an attainable speed on a paved level surface of not more than twenty

miles per hour and with a gross vehicle weight rating less than three thousand pounds. (YY) “ Motor-driven cycle or motor scooter ” means any vehicle designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with

the ground, with a seat for the driver and floor pad for the driver's feet, and is

equipped with a motor with a piston displacement between fifty and one hundred cubic

centimeters piston displacement that produces not more than five brake horsepower

and is capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed greater than twenty miles per

hour on a level surface. (ZZ) “ Motorcycle ” means a motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of the

operator, designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground,

and having no occupant compartment top or occupant compartment top that can be installed

or removed by the user. (AAA) “ Cab-enclosed motorcycle ” means a motor vehicle with motive power having a seat or saddle for the use of the

operator, designed to travel on not more than three wheels in contact with the ground,

and having an occupant compartment top or an occupant compartment top that is installed. (BBB) “ Mini-truck ” means a vehicle that has four wheels, is propelled by an electric motor with a rated

power of seven thousand five hundred watts or less or an internal combustion engine

with a piston displacement capacity of six hundred sixty cubic centimeters or less,

has a total dry weight of nine hundred to two thousand two hundred pounds, contains

an enclosed cabin and a seat for the vehicle operator, resembles a pickup truck or

van with a cargo area or bed located at the rear of the vehicle, and was not originally

manufactured to meet federal motor vehicle safety standards. (CCC) “ Autocycle ” means a three-wheeled motorcycle that is manufactured to comply with federal safety

requirements for motorcycles and that is equipped with safety belts, a steering wheel,

and seating that does not require the operator to straddle or sit astride to ride

the motorcycle. (DDD) “ Plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicle ” means a passenger car powered in part by a battery cell energy system that can be

recharged via an external source of electricity. (EEE) “ Hybrid motor vehicle ” means a passenger car powered by an internal propulsion system consisting of both

of the following: (1) A combustion engine; (2) A battery cell energy system that cannot be recharged via an external source of electricity

but can be recharged by other vehicle mechanisms that capture and store electric energy. (FFF) “ Low-speed micromobility device ” means a device weighing less than one hundred pounds that has handlebars, is propelled

by an electric motor or human power, and has an attainable speed on a paved level

surface of not more than twenty miles per hour when propelled by the electric motor. (GGG) “ Specialty license plate ” means a license plate, authorized by the general assembly, that displays a combination

of words, markings, logos, or other graphic artwork that is in addition to the words,

images, and distinctive numbers and letters required by section 4503.22 of the Revised Code . (HHH) “ Battery electric motor vehicle ” means a passenger car powered wholly by a battery cell energy system that can be

recharged via an external source of electricity. (III) “ Adaptive mobility vehicle ” means a passenger car or bus that is designed, modified, or equipped to enable an

individual with a disability to operate or to be transported in the passenger car

or bus, in accordance with 49 C.F.R. part 568 or 595 , and contains at least one of the following: (1) An electronic or mechanical lift that enables a person to enter or exit the motor

vehicle while occupying a wheelchair or scooter; (2) An electronic or mechanical wheelchair ramp; (3) A system to secure a wheelchair or scooter in order to allow a person to operate

or be transported safely while occupying that wheelchair or scooter. (JJJ) “ Replica motor vehicle ” means a motor vehicle that is constructed, assembled, or modified so as to replicate

the make, model, and model year of a motor vehicle that is at least twenty-five years

old.