Motorists beware: Not turning on your lights when your wipers are on in rain, snow or fog could mean a ticket and a $100 fine beginning Friday.
A new state law that took effect this year included the mandatory lights-on provision, but it allowed law enforcement to issue warnings for six months.
Beginning Friday, breaking the law will mean a ticket, not a warning, according to Lt. Anthony Bradshaw of the State Highway Patrol.
Bradshaw said the law requires motorists to turn on their headlights "anytime when the windshield wipers of the vehicle are in use because of precipitation."
That means rain, ice, snow, mist or even fog, Bradshaw said.
"As a safety precaution, anytime you do have precipitation of any sort on the windshield, you want to have your headlights on," he said.
"You want to make sure people coming down the road can see you."
Since the passage this year of Senate Bill 2, the state transportation budget that included the lights-on provision and other traffic-law changes, patrol troopers have been giving warnings for violations of the law, Bradshaw said. But troopers at all 55 posts statewide have been notified to ticket violators in the new year, he said.
The violation is a secondary offense, meaning that motorists cannot be stopped or cited only for failing to turn on their lights. However, it can be tacked on to something else, such as speeding or another moving violation.
A lights-on violation will be a minor misdemeanor punishable by up to a $100 fine plus court costs.
Two other motor-vehicle laws included in Senate Bill 2 already have taken effect.
One requires drivers to change lanes or slow down when a tow truck is on the side of the road. A violation is a third-degree misdemeanor punishable on the first offense by up to a $300 fine plus courts costs. A second violation would result in a $500 fine.
Also, the speed limit for trucks increased from 55 mph to 65 mph on most Ohio interstates.
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