§ 2137.221 — Restrictions on the use of tinted glass and other obscuring material

2137.221 - Restrictions on the use of tinted glass and other obscuring material.

(a) Pursuant to Chapter 119 and Section 4513.241 of the Ohio Revised Code, the Ohio Director of Public Safety has adopted rules governing the use of tinted glass, and the use of transparent, nontransparent, translucent, and reflectorized materials in or on motor vehicle windshields, side windows, sidewings, and rear windows that prevent a person of normal vision looking into the motor vehicle from seeing or identifying persons or objects inside the motor vehicle. (b) The rules adopted under Section 4513.241 of the Ohio Revised Code may provide for persons who meet either of the following qualifications: (1) On November 11, 1994, or the effective date of any rule adopted under Section 4513.241 of the Ohio Revised Code, own a motor vehicle that does not conform to any requirements of, or rules adopted under, Section 4513.241 of the Ohio Revised Code or any rule adopted under that section; (2) Establish residency in this state and are required to register a motor vehicle that does not conform to any requirements of, or rules adopted under, Section 4513.241 of the Ohio Revised Code. (c) No person shall operate, on any highway or other public or private property open to the public for vehicular travel or parking, lease, or rent any motor vehicle that is registered in this state unless the motor vehicle conforms to any requirements of, or rule adopted under, Section 4513.241 of the Ohio Revised Code. (d) No person shall install in or on any motor vehicle, any glass or other material that fails to conform to any requirements of, or rules adopted under, Section 4513.241 of the Ohio Revised Code. (e) No used motor vehicle dealer or new motor vehicle dealer, as defined in Section 4517.01 of the Revised Code, shall sell any motor vehicle that fails to conform to any requirements of, or rules adopted under, Section 4513.241 of the Ohio Revised Code. (f) No reflectorized materials shall be permitted upon or in any front windshield, side windows, sidewings, or rear window. (g) This section does not apply to the manufacturer's tinting or glazing of motor vehicle windows or windshields that is otherwise in compliance with or permitted by federal motor vehicle safety standard number two hundred five (205). (h) With regard to any side window behind a driver's seat or any rear window other than any window on an emergency door, this section does not apply to any school bus used to transport a disabled child pursuant to a special education program under Chapter 3323 of the Ohio Revised Code, whom it is impossible or impractical to transport by regular school bus in the course of regular route transportation provided by a school district. As used in this division, "disabled child" and "special education program" have the same meanings as in Section 3323.01 of the Ohio Revised Code. (i) This section does not apply to any school bus that is to be sold and operated outside this state. (j) Whoever violates division (c), (d), (e), or (f) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(ORC 4513.241; Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part); Ord. No. 2019-2021, § 1, 7-26-2021)