From Ohio Administrative Code:
OAC 4501-33-05 Equipment inspection for self-assembled motor vehicles
(A) All self-assembled vehicles shall be inspected to determine compliance with Chapter 4513.
of the Revised Code, and the following chapters of the Administrative Code: 4501:2-1
(addressing motor vehicle inspection), 4501-15 (addressing lighting), 4501-17 (addressing
motorcycles-lighting and helmets), 4501-41 (addressing windows of vehicles), and 4501-43
(addressing maximum height of bumpers).
(B) Inspecting employees will document that the vehicle has not been inspected to meet
federal motor vehicle safety standards.
OAC 4501-33-03 Inspection of additional numbers
(A) In addition to motor vehicle number and vehicle identification number, inspection of a
motor vehicle assembled from component parts by a person other than the manufacturer as
provided in section 4505.111 of the Revised Code shall include, but not be limited to, the
following numbers:
(1) The federal safety decal number;
(2) The confidential manufacturer's applied number;
(3) Any manufacturer's applied number which can be traced by available records to the original
vehicle identification number;
(4) Any owner's applied number which can be traced to the original owner or identification
number.
(B) In addition to motor vehicle numbers and vehicle identification number, inspection of a
motor vehicle titled with a salvage certificate of title and restored for operation upon the
highways as provided in section 4505.11 of the Revised Code shall include, but not be limited
to, the following numbers:
(1) The federal safety decal number;
(2) The confidential manufacturer's applied number;
(3) Any manufacturer's applied number which can be traced by available records to the original
vehicle identification number;
(4) Any owner's applied number which can be traced to the original owner or identification
number.
OAC 4501-33-04 Identification of component parts
(A) Each inspection of a motor vehicle assembled from component parts by a person other than
the manufacturer as provided in section 4505.111 of the Revised Code shall include inspection
for identification for all component parts used to build the particular vehicle.
(B) Each inspection of a motor vehicle titled with a salvage certificate of title and restored for
operation upon the highways as provided in section 4505.11 of the Revised Code shall include
inspection for identification for all component parts used to rebuild or restore the particular.
From Ohio Revised Code:
R.C. § 4513.38 Exemption of collector's or historical vehicles from equipment standards
No person shall be prohibited from owning or operating a licensed collector's vehicle or
historical motor vehicle that is equipped with a feature of design, type of material, or article of
equipment that was not in violation of any motor vehicle equipment law of this state or of its
political subdivisions in effect during the calendar year the vehicle was manufactured, and no
licensed collector's vehicle or historical motor vehicle shall be prohibited from displaying or
using any such feature of design, type of material, or article of equipment.
No person shall be prohibited from owning or operating a licensed collector's vehicle or
historical motor vehicle for failing to comply with an equipment provision contained in Chapter
4513. of the Revised Code or in any state rule that was enacted or adopted in a year
subsequent to that in which the vehicle was manufactured, and no licensed collector's vehicle
or historical motor vehicle shall be required to comply with an equipment provision enacted
into Chapter 4513. of the Revised Code or adopted by state rule subsequent to the calendar
year in which it was manufactured. No political subdivision shall require an owner of a licensed
collector's vehicle or historical motor vehicle to comply with equipment provisions contained in
laws or rules that were enacted or adopted subsequent to the calendar year in which the
vehicle was manufactured, and no political subdivision shall prohibit the operation of a licensed
collector's vehicle or historical motor vehicle for failure to comply with any such equipment
laws or rules.
R.C. § 4513.02 Prohibition against operating unsafe vehicles; inspection of vehicles;
exemptions; official inspection stations
(A) No person shall drive or move, or cause or knowingly permit to be driven or moved, on any
highway any vehicle or combination of vehicles which is in such unsafe condition as to
endanger any person.
(B) When directed by any state highway patrol trooper, the operator of any motor vehicle shall
stop and submit such motor vehicle to an inspection under division (B)(1) or (2) of this section,
as appropriate, and such tests as are necessary.
(1) Any motor vehicle not subject to inspection by the public utilities commission shall be
inspected and tested to determine whether it is unsafe or not equipped as required by law, or
that its equipment is not in proper adjustment or repair, or in violation of the equipment
provisions of Chapter 4513. of the Revised Code.
Such inspection shall be made with respect to the brakes, lights, turn signals, steering, horns
and warning devices, glass, mirrors, exhaust system, windshield wipers, tires, and such other
items of equipment as designated by the superintendent of the state highway patrol by rule or
regulation adopted pursuant to sections 119.01 to 119.13 of the Revised Code.
Upon determining that a motor vehicle is in safe operating condition and its equipment in
conformity with Chapter 4513. of the Revised Code, the inspecting officer shall issue to the
operator an official inspection sticker, which shall be in such form as the superintendent
prescribes except that its color shall vary from year to year.
(2) Any motor vehicle subject to inspection by the public utilities commission shall be inspected
and tested in accordance with rules adopted by the commission. Upon determining that the
vehicle and operator are in compliance with rules adopted by the commission, the inspecting
officer shall issue to the operator an appropriate official inspection sticker.
(C) The superintendent of the state highway patrol, pursuant to sections 119.01 to 119.13 of
the Revised Code, shall determine and promulgate standards for any inspection program
conducted by a political subdivision of this state. These standards shall exempt licensed
collector's vehicles and historical motor vehicles from inspection. Any motor vehicle bearing a
valid certificate of inspection issued by another state or a political subdivision of this state
whose inspection program conforms to the superintendent's standards, and any licensed
collector's vehicle or historical motor vehicle which is not in a condition which endangers the
safety of persons or property, shall be exempt from the tests provided in division (B) of this
section.
R.C. § 4513.071 Stop lights required
(A) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer when operated upon a highway
shall be equipped with two or more stop lights, except that passenger cars manufactured or
assembled prior to January 1, 1967, motorcycles, and motor-driven cycles shall be equipped
with at least one stop light. Stop lights shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle, actuated
upon application of the service brake, and may be incorporated with other rear lights. Such
stop lights when actuated shall emit a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to
the rear, provided that in the case of a train of vehicles only the stop lights on the rear-most
vehicle need be visible from the distance specified.
Such stop lights when actuated shall give a steady warning light to the rear of a vehicle or train
of vehicles to indicate the intention of the operator to diminish the speed of or stop a vehicle or
train of vehicles.
When stop lights are used as required by this section, they shall be constructed or installed so
as to provide adequate and reliable illumination and shall conform to the appropriate rules and
regulations established under section 4513.19 of the Revised Code.
Historical motor vehicles as defined in section 4503.181 of the Revised Code, not originally
manufactured with stop lights, are not subject to this section.
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
R.C. § 4513.20 Brake equipment
(A) The following requirements govern as to brake equipment on vehicles:
(1) Every trackless trolley and motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle, when operated upon a
highway shall be equipped with brakes adequate to control the movement of and to stop and
hold such trackless trolley or motor vehicle, including two separate means of applying the
brakes, each of which means shall be effective to apply the brakes to at least two wheels. If
these two separate means of applying the brakes are connected in any way, then on such
trackless trolleys or motor vehicles manufactured or assembled after January 1, 1942, they
shall be so constructed that failure of any one part of the operating mechanism shall not leave
the trackless trolley or motor vehicle without brakes on at least two wheels.
R.C. § 4513.261 Directional signals
(A)(1) No person shall operate any motor vehicle manufactured or assembled on or after
January 1, 1954, unless the vehicle is equipped with electrical or mechanical directional signals.
(2) No person shall operate any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle manufactured or assembled
on or after January 1, 1968, unless the vehicle is equipped with electrical or mechanical
directional signals.
(B) “Directional signals” means an electrical or mechanical signal device capable of clearly
indicating an intention to turn either to the right or to the left and which shall be visible from
both the front and rear.
(C) All mechanical signal devices shall be self-illuminating devices when in use at the times
mentioned in section 4513.03 of the Revised Code.
(D) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.