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DEFINITIONS

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland pt. FOUR, tit. I, ch. 401
in effect

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.01 Meaning of Words and Phrases

§ 401.01 Meaning of Words and Phrases The following words and phrases when used in this Traffic Code, except as otherwise provided, shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this chapter. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.02 Agricultural Tractor

§ 401.02 Agricultural Tractor “Agricultural tractor” means every self-propelling vehicle designed or used for drawing other vehicles or wheeled machinery, but having no provision for carrying loads independently of such other vehicles, and used principally for agricultural purposes. (RC 4511.01(J); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.03 Alley

§ 401.03 Alley “Alley” means a street or highway intended to provide access to the rear or side of lots or buildings in urban districts and not intended for the purpose of through vehicular traffic, and includes any street or highway that is less than thirty (30) feet wide between property lines, or that has been declared an “alley” by the legislative authority of the municipal corporation in which the street or highway is located. (RC 4511.01(XX); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.04 Automatically Operated Gate

§ 401.04 Automatically Operated Gate “Automatically operated gate” means any mechanical device placed or erected within a Municipal parking facility, as defined in section 401.27, for the regulation of parking, so designed that a gate across the exit or entrance of such parking facility automatically raises to allow a single vehicle to be moved through the exit or entrance upon the deposit in such gate of coins or parking tokens, or upon the insertion in such gate of a parking key or parking card, as indicated on the automatically operated gate. (Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.05 Bicycle

§ 401.05 Bicycle “Bicycle” means every device, other than a device that is designed solely for use as a play vehicle by a child, that is propelled solely by human power upon which a person may ride, and that has two (2) or more wheels, any of which is more than fourteen (14) inches in diameter. (RC 4511.01(G); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.06 Bus

§ 401.06 Bus “Bus” means every motor vehicle designed for carrying more than nine (9) passengers and used for the transportation of persons other than in a ridesharing arrangement, as defined in section 401.481, and every motor vehicle, automobile for hire, or funeral car, other than a taxicab or motor vehicle used in a ridesharing arrangement, designed and used for the transportation of persons for compensation. (RC 4511.01(L); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.07 Business District

§ 401.07 Business District “Business district” means the territory fronting upon a street or highway, including the street or highway, between successive intersections within municipal corporations where fifty percent (50%) or more of the frontage between such successive intersections is occupied by buildings in use for business, or within or outside municipal corporations where fifty percent (50%) or more of the frontage for a distance of three hundred (300) feet or more is occupied by buildings in use for business, and the character of such territory is indicated by official traffic control devices. (RC 4511.01(NN); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.08 Center or Center Line of Street

§ 401.08 Center or Center Line of Street “Center or center line of street” means the exact center of the improved portion of the roadway, or that line designated and marked by traffic control devices for the purpose of dividing traffic moving in opposite directions into right and left sides of the roadway. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.09 Coach

§ 401.09 Coach “Coach” means a public hack so designed and constructed to comfortably seat four (4) or more persons inside thereof, in the opinion of the Commissioner of Assessments and Licenses. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.10 Commercial Car or Truck

§ 401.10 Commercial Car or Truck “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. (RC 4501.01(J); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.11 Commercial Tractor

§ 401.11 Commercial Tractor “Commercial tractor” means every motor vehicle having motive power designed or used for drawing other vehicles and not so constructed as to carry any load thereon, or designed or used for drawing other vehicles while carrying a portion of such other vehicles, or the load thereon, or both. (RC 4511.01(I); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.12 Commercial Unit

§ 401.12 Commercial Unit “Commercial unit” means any commercial tractor, truck, trailer, semitrailer, pole trailer or commercial car; or any other combination of these vehicles, when a commercial tractor, truck or commercial car is actually connected to one (1) or more trailers, semitrailers, or pole trailers for the purpose of drawing such vehicles. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.13 Controlled-Access Highway

§ 401.13 Controlled-Access Highway “Controlled-access highway” means every street or highway in respect to which owners or occupants of abutting lands and other persons have no legal right of access to or from the same, except at such points only and in such manner as may be determined by the public authority having jurisdiction over such street or highway. (RC 4511.01(CC); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.14 Crosswalk

§ 401.14 Crosswalk “Crosswalk” means: (a) That part of a roadway at intersections ordinarily included within the real or projected prolongation of property lines and curb lines or, in the absence of curbs, the edges of the traversable roadway; (b) Any portion of a roadway at an intersection or elsewhere, distinctly indicated for pedestrian crossing by lines or other markings on the surface; (c) Notwithstanding divisions (a) and (b) of this section, there shall not be a crosswalk where local authorities have placed signs indicating no crossing. (RC 4511.01(LL); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.15 Driver or Operator

§ 401.15 Driver or Operator “Driver” or “operator” means every person who drives or is in actual physical control of a vehicle, trackless trolley, or streetcar. (RC 4511.01(Y); Ord. No. 835-03. Passed 6-10-03, eff. 6-12-03)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.16 Emergency Vehicle

§ 401.16 Emergency Vehicle “Emergency vehicle” means emergency vehicles of municipal, township or county departments or public utility corporations when identified as such as required by law, the Ohio Director of Public Safety, or local authorities, and motor vehicles when commandeered by a police officer. (RC 4511.01(D); Ord. No. 91-96. Passed 3-18-96, eff. 3-26-96)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.17 Expressway

§ 401.17 Expressway “Expressway” means a divided arterial highway for through traffic with full or partial control of access with an excess of fifty percent (50%) of all crossroads separated in grade. (RC 4511.01(ZZ); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.18 Freeway

§ 401.18 Freeway “Freeway” means a divided multi-lane highway for through traffic with all crossroads separated in grade and with full control of access. (RC 4511.01(YY); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.19 Funeral Escort Vehicle

§ 401.19 Funeral Escort Vehicle “Funeral escort vehicle” means any motor vehicle, including a funeral hearse, while used to facilitate the movement of a funeral procession. (RC 4511.01(WW); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.20 Gross Weight

§ 401.20 Gross Weight “Gross weight” means the weight of a vehicle plus the weight of any load thereon. (RC 4511.01(V); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.21 Intersection

§ 401.21 Intersection “Intersection” means: (a) The area embraced within the prolongation or connection of the lateral curb lines, or, if none, then the lateral boundary lines of the roadways of two (2) highways that join one another at, or approximately at, right angles, or the area within which vehicles traveling upon different highways that join at any other angle might come into conflict, or two (2) or more municipal parking lot drives which join one another. The junction of an alley or driveway with a roadway or highway does not constitute an intersection unless the roadway or highway at the junction is controlled by a traffic control device. (b) If a highway includes two (2) roadways that are thirty (30) feet or more apart, then every crossing of each roadway of such divided highway by an intersecting highway constitutes a separate intersection. If both intersecting highways include two (2) roadways thirty (30) feet or more apart, then every crossing of any two (2) roadways of such highways constitutes a separate intersection. (c) At a location controlled by a traffic control signal, regardless of the distance between the separate intersections as described in division (b) of this section: (1) If a stop line, yield line, or crosswalk has not been designated on the roadway within the median between the separate intersections, the two (2) intersections and the roadway and median constitute one (1) intersection. (2) Where a stop line, yield line, or crosswalk line is designated on the roadway on the intersection approach, the area within the crosswalk and any area beyond the designated stop line or yield line constitute part of the intersection. (3) Where a crosswalk is designated on a roadway on the departure from the intersection, the intersection includes the area that extends to the far side of the crosswalk. (RC 4511.01(KK); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.22 Laned Street or Highway

§ 401.22 Laned Street or Highway “Laned street” or “highway” means a street or highway, the roadway of which is divided into two (2) or more clearly marked lanes for vehicular traffic. (RC 4511.01(GG); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.23 Median

§ 401.23 Median “Median” means the area between two (2) roadways of a divided highway, measured from edge of traveled way to edge of traveled way, but excluding turn lanes. The width of a median may be different between intersections, between interchanges, and at opposite approaches of the same intersection. (RC 4511.01(NNN); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.24 Motor Carrier

§ 401.24 Motor Carrier “Motor carrier” means any person engaged exclusively in the operation of motor vehicles for carrying persons for hire from points within the City to points outside the City. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.25 Motor Vehicle

§ 401.25 Motor Vehicle “Motor vehicle” means every vehicle propelled or drawn by power other than muscular power or power collected from overhead electric trolley wires, except motorized 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, hole-digging machinery, well-drilling machinery, ditch-digging machinery, farm machinery, and trailers 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 street or highway for a distance of no more than ten (10) miles and at a speed of twenty- five (25) miles per hour or less. (RC 4511.01(B); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.26 Motorcycle

§ 401.26 Motorcycle “Motorcycle” means every motor vehicle, other than a tractor, having a seat or saddle for the use of the operator and designed to travel on not more than three (3) wheels in contact with the ground, including, but not limited, to motor vehicles known as “motor-driven cycle”, “motor scooter”, “cab-enclosed motorcycle”, or “motorcycle” without regard to weight or brake horsepower. (RC 4511.01(C); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.27 Municipal Parking Facility

§ 401.27 Municipal Parking Facility “Municipal parking facility” means any property owned by or under the control of the City of Cleveland designed and used by the public for the parking or storage of vehicles, except streets or highways. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.28 Municipal Parking Facility Drive

§ 401.28 Municipal Parking Facility Drive “Municipal parking facility drive” means that portion of a Municipal parking facility designated for the purpose of providing ingress and egress to vehicles and used for the movement of vehicular travel within a Municipal parking facility. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.29 Net Weight

§ 401.29 Net Weight “Net weight” means the weight of any vehicle or commercial unit exclusive of the weight of any load thereon. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.30 Operate for Hire

§ 401.30 Operate for Hire “Operate for hire” includes “plying for hire” and “carrying passengers for hire” and means the engaging by any person, firm or corporation, directly or through any agent, lessee, representative, officer or employee in the business of transporting persons, or of providing or furnishing such transportation service, for hire to the public generally or under special or individual contracts, over the streets and highways of the City, and also includes the soliciting of public patronage upon the streets and highways of the City, the demanding, accepting or receiving of any compensation, remuneration, reward, gift, donation, gratuity, tip or other consideration, for transporting any person or persons over the public streets of this City, whether the amount received is equal to, greater or less than the rates prescribed in Section 443.26; the holding out of himself, herself, themselves or itself to the general public as prepared to transport any person or persons without charge or for such fee as the person or persons transported may voluntarily contribute; and the employing of any other scheme, device or method to circumvent or evade the provisions of this Traffic Code. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.031 Arterial Street

§ 401.031 Arterial Street “Arterial street” means any United States or state numbered route, controlled access highway, or other major radial or circumferential street or highway designated by local authorities within their respective jurisdictions as part of a major arterial system of streets or highways. (RC 4511.01(CCC); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.31 Park or Parking

§ 401.31 Park or Parking “Park” or “parking” means the standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.32 Parking Key or Parking Card

§ 401.32 Parking Key or Parking Card “Parking key” or “parking card” means any key or card or similar device issued by the Commissioner of Traffic Engineering and Parking designed to be inserted into a parking meter upon a Municipal parking facility or automatically operated gate so that upon such insertion the parking meter or automatically operated gate will be set into operation. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.33 Parking Meter

§ 401.33 Parking Meter “Parking meter” means any mechanical or electronic device used, placed, installed, or erected upon a Municipal parking facility or in a metered parking zone where it is indicated thereon the legal parking time established by the City or otherwise on property that is owned, leased, or operated by the City. A parking meter includes, but is not limited to, single space meters, multi-space meters, and parking mobile payment applications authorized by the City. (Ord. No. 817-2023. Passed 9-18-23, eff. 9-21-23)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.34 Parking Place

§ 401.34 Parking Place “Parking place” means any garage or other building or part thereof, or any premises or parcel of land in or upon which a business of storing more than ten (10) motor vehicles in any twenty-four (24) hour period, where the owner or person storing such vehicles is charged a fee, but excluding the rental of private garages and the all-night storing of vehicles upon the premises of and in connection with the operation of regularly established gasoline stations. (Ord. No. 726-2025. Passed 8-13-25, eff. 8-18-25)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.35 Parking Space

§ 401.35 Parking Space “Parking space” means any space within Municipal parking facility which is designated for the parking of a single vehicle by markings on the surface of the Municipal parking facility. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.36 Parking Token

§ 401.36 Parking Token “Parking token” means any special coin or device issued by the Commissioner of Traffic Engineering and Parking, designed to be deposited into a parking meter upon a Municipal parking facility or automatically operated gate so that upon such deposit the parking meter or automatically operated gate will be set into operation. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.38 Person

§ 401.38 Person “Person” means every natural person, firm, copartnership, association or corporation. (RC 4511.01(W); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.39 Pole Trailer

§ 401.39 Pole Trailer “Pole trailer” means every trailer or semitrailer attached to the towing vehicle by means of a reach, pole or by being boomed or otherwise secured to the towing vehicle, and ordinarily used for transporting long or irregular shaped loads such as poles, pipes or structural members capable, generally, of sustaining themselves as beams between the supporting connections. (RC 4511.01(O); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.40 Police Officer

§ 401.40 Police Officer “Police officer” means every officer authorized to direct or regulate traffic, or to make arrests for violations of traffic regulations. (RC 4511.01(Z); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.41 Private Road or Driveway

§ 401.41 Private Road or Driveway “Private road” or “driveway” means every way or place in private ownership used for vehicular travel by the owner and those having express or implied permission from the owner, but not by other persons. (RC 4511.01(DD); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.041 Beacon

§ 401.041 Beacon “Beacon” means a highway traffic signal with one (1) or more signal sections that operate in a flashing mode. (RC 4511.01(KKK); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.42 Public Hack

§ 401.42 Public Hack “Public hack” or “hack” means any public vehicle whose owner or driver secures or accepts passengers for hire on the public streets, or in public or quasi- public places, except carriages as defined in division (a) of Section 447.01 and vehicles operated by the Cleveland Regional Transit Authority. (Ord. No. 2459-A-91. Passed 12-14-92, eff. 12-18-92)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.43 Public Safety Vehicle

§ 401.43 Public Safety Vehicle “Public safety vehicle” means any of the following: (a) Ambulances, including private ambulance companies under contract to a municipal corporation, township, or county, and private ambulances and nontransport vehicles bearing license plates issued under RC 4503.49. (b) Motor vehicles used by public law enforcement officers or other persons sworn to enforce the criminal and traffic laws of the state. (c) Any motor vehicle when properly identified as required by the Ohio Director of Public Safety, when used in response to fire emergency calls or to provide emergency medical service to ill or injured persons, and when operated by a duly qualified person who is a member of a volunteer rescue service or a volunteer fire department, and who is on duty pursuant to the rules or directives of that service. The State Fire Marshal shall be designated by the Ohio Director of Public Safety as the certifying agency for all public safety vehicles described in this division (c). (d) Vehicles used by fire departments, including motor vehicles when used by volunteer firefighters responding to emergency calls in the fire department service when identified as required by the Ohio Director of Public Safety. Any vehicle used to transport or provide emergency medical service to an ill or injured person, when certified as a public safety vehicle, shall be considered a public safety vehicle when transporting an ill or injured person to a hospital, regardless of whether the vehicle has already passed a hospital. (e) Vehicles used by the motor carrier enforcement unit for the enforcement of orders and rules of the Public Utilities Commission as specified in RC 5503.34. (RC 4511.01(E); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.44 Railroad

§ 401.44 Railroad “Railroad” means a carrier of persons or property operating upon rails placed principally on a private right-of-way. (RC 4511.01(P); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.45 Railroad Sign or Signal

§ 401.45 Railroad Sign or Signal “Railroad sign or signal” means any sign, signal or device erected by authority of a public body or official or by a railroad and intended to give notice of the presence of railroad tracks or the approach of a railroad train. (RC 4511.01(SS); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.46 Railroad Train

§ 401.46 Railroad Train “Railroad train” means a steam engine, or an electric or other motor, with or without cars coupled thereto, operated by a railroad. (RC 4511.01(Q); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.47 Receiving Station

§ 401.47 Receiving Station “Receiving station” means any garage or parking lot which is guarded by an attendant at all times, to which vehicles may be removed under regulations set forth in this Traffic Code, when not called for by the owner before the hour of closing such parking lot or before the hour at which such parking lot becomes unattended. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.48 Residence District

§ 401.48 Residence District “Residence district” means the territory, not comprising a business district, fronting on a street or highway, including the street or highway, where, for a distance of three hundred (300) feet or more, the frontage is improved with residences or residences and buildings in use for business. (RC 4511.01(OO); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.49 Right-of-Way

§ 401.49 Right-of-Way “Right-of-way” means either of the following, as the context requires: (a) The right of a vehicle, streetcar, trackless trolley, or pedestrian to proceed uninterruptedly in a lawful manner in the direction in which it or he or she is moving in preference to another vehicle, streetcar, trackless trolley, or pedestrian approaching from a different direction into its or his or her path; (b) A general term denoting land, property, or the interest therein, usually in the configuration of a strip, acquired for or devoted to transportation purposes. When used in this context, right-of-way includes the roadway, shoulders or berm, ditch, and slopes extending to the right-of-way limits under the control of the state or local authority. (RC 4511.01(UU); Ord. No. 91-96. Passed 3-18-96, eff. 3-26-96)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.50 Roadway

§ 401.50 Roadway “Roadway” means that portion of a street or highway improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular travel, except the berm or shoulder. If a street or highway includes two (2) or more separate roadways, the term “roadway” means any such roadway separately but not all such roadways collectively. (RC 4511.01(EE); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.51 Safety Zone

§ 401.51 Safety Zone “Safety zone” means the area or space officially set apart within a roadway for the exclusive use of pedestrians and protected or marked or indicated by adequate signs as to be plainly visible at all times. (RC 4511.01(MM); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.52 School Bus

§ 401.52 School Bus “School bus” means every bus designed for carrying more than nine (9) passengers which is owned by a public, private or governmental agency or institution of learning and operated for the transportation of children to or from a school session or a school function, or owned by a private person and operated for compensation for the transportation of children to or from a school session or a school function; provided “school bus” does not include a bus operated by a municipally owned transportation system, a mass transit company operating exclusively within the territorial limits of the City, or within such limits and the territorial limits of municipal corporations immediately contiguous to the City, nor a common passenger carrier certified by the Public Utilities Commission unless such bus is devoted exclusively to the transportation of children to and from a school session or a school function, and “school bus” does not include a van or bus used by a licensed child day-care center or type A family day-care home to transport children from the child day-care center or type A family day-care home to a school if the van or bus does not have more than fifteen (15) children in the van or bus at any time. (RC 4511.01(F); Ord. No. 91-96. Passed 3-18-96, eff. 3-26-96)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.53 Semitrailer

§ 401.53 Semitrailer “Semitrailer” means every vehicle designed or used for carrying persons or property with another and separate motor vehicle so that in operation a part of its own weight or that of its load, or both, rests upon and is carried by another vehicle. (RC 4511.01(N); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.54 Sidewalk

§ 401.54 Sidewalk “Sidewalk” means that portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines, intended for the use of pedestrians. (RC 4511.01(FF); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.55 Sight-Seeing Car

§ 401.55 Sight-Seeing Car “Sight-seeing car” means a motor vehicle other than a bus and other than a public hack, engaged or employed in the business of carrying passengers for hire, or used in the conveyance for hire, of tourists and sight-seers, over the public streets, exclusively for the purpose of a sight-seeing trip in the visiting and viewing of places of interest. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.57 State Route

§ 401.57 State Route “State route” means every highway which is designated with an official State route number and so marked. (RC 4511.01(JJ); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.59 Stop or Stopping (When Prohibited)

§ 401.59 Stop or Stopping (When Prohibited) “Stop or stopping” when prohibited means any cessation of movement except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or of traffic control devices. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.60 Stop Intersection

§ 401.60 Stop Intersection “Stop intersection” means any intersection at one (1) or more entrances of which stop signs are erected. (RC 4511.01(BBB); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.61 Street or Highway

§ 401.61 Street or Highway “Street” or “highway” are synonymous and mean the entire width between the boundary lines of every way open to the use of the public as a thoroughfare for purposes of vehicular travel. (RC 4511.01(BB); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.63 Taximeter

§ 401.63 Taximeter “Taximeter” means a mechanical instrument or device by which the charge for hire of a public hack is mechanically calculated, either for distance traveled, for waiting time or both, and upon which such charges are indicated by means of figures. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.64 Through Street or Highway

§ 401.64 Through Street or Highway “Through street or highway” means every street or highway as provided in Section 413.02. (RC 4511.01(HH); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.65 Thruway

§ 401.65 Thruway “Thruway” means a through street or highway whose entire roadway is reserved for through traffic and on which roadway parking is prohibited. (RC 4511.01(AAA); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.66 Traffic

§ 401.66 Traffic “Traffic” means pedestrians, ridden or herded animals, vehicles, streetcars, trackless trolleys, and other devices, either singly or together, while using for purposes of travel any highway or private road open to public travel. (RC 4511.01(TT); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.67 Traffic Control Device

§ 401.67 Traffic Control Device “Traffic control device” means a flagger, sign, signal, marking, or other device used to regulate, warn, or guide traffic, placed on, over, or adjacent to a street, highway, private road open to public travel, pedestrian facility, or shared-use path by authority of a public agency or official having jurisdiction, or, in the case of a private road open to public travel, by authority of the private owner or private official having jurisdiction. (RC 4511.01(QQ); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.68 Traffic Control Signal

§ 401.68 Traffic Control Signal “Traffic control signal” means any highway traffic signal by which traffic is alternately directed to stop and permitted to proceed. (RC 4511.01(RR); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.69 Trailer

§ 401.69 Trailer “Trailer” means every vehicle designed or used for carrying persons or property wholly on its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle, including any vehicle when 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 street or highway at a speed greater than twenty-five (25) miles per hour, and a vehicle 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 street or highway for a distance of more than ten (10) miles or at a speed of more than twenty-five (25) miles per hour. (RC 4511.01(M); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.70 Truck

§ 401.70 Truck “Truck” means every motor vehicle, except trailers and semitrailers, designed and used to carry property. (RC 4511.01(K); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.71 Truck Zone

§ 401.71 Truck Zone “Truck zone” means that portion of the roadway so designated for the loading and unloading of materials and marked by signs. (Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.72 Urban District

§ 401.72 Urban District “Urban district” means the territory contiguous to and including any street or highway which is built up with structures devoted to business, industry or dwelling houses situated at intervals of less than one hundred (100) feet for a distance of a quarter of a mile or more, and the character of such territory is indicated by official traffic control devices. (RC 4511.01(PP); Ord. No. 1684-76. Passed 6-29-76, eff. 7-6-76)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.73 Vehicle

§ 401.73 Vehicle “Vehicle” means every device, including a motorized bicycle, in, upon, or by which any person or property may be transported or drawn upon a highway, except that “vehicle” does not include any motorized wheelchair, any electric personal assistive mobility device, any device that is moved by power collected from overhead electric trolley wires or that is used exclusively upon stationary rails or tracks, or any device, other than a bicycle, that is moved by human power. (RC 4511.01(A); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.081 Child Day-Care Center and Type A Family Day-Care Home

§ 401.081 Child Day-Care Center and Type A Family Day-Care Home “Child day-care center” and “type A family day-care home” have the same meanings as in RC 5104.01. (RC 4511.01(FFF); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.101 Commercial Motor Vehicle

§ 401.101 Commercial Motor Vehicle “Commercial motor vehicle” means any motor vehicle designed or used to transport persons or property that meets any of the following qualifications: (a) Any combination of vehicles with a gross vehicle weight or combined gross vehicle weight rating of twenty-six thousand one (26,001) pounds or more, provided the gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of the vehicle or vehicles being towed is in excess of ten thousand (10,000) pounds; (b) Any single vehicle with a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of twenty-six thousand one (26,001) pounds or more; (c) Any single vehicle or combination of vehicles that is not a class A or class B vehicle, but is designed to transport sixteen (16) or more passengers including the driver; (d) Any school bus with a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of less than twenty-six thousand one (26,001) pounds that is designed to transport fewer than sixteen (16) passengers including the driver; (e) Is transporting hazardous materials for which placarding required under subpart F of 49 C.F.R. part 172, as amended; (f) Any single vehicle or combination of vehicles that is designed to be operated and to travel on a public street or highway and is considered by the federal motor carrier safety administration to be a commercial motor vehicle, including, but not limited to, a motorized crane, a vehicle whose function is to pump cement, a rig for drilling wells, and a portable crane. (RC 4506.01(D); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.151 Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device

§ 401.151 Electric Personal Assistive Mobility Device “Electric personal assistive mobility device” means a self-balancing two (2) non-tandem wheeled device that is designed to transport only one (1) person, has an electric propulsion system of an average of seven hundred fifty (750) watts, and when ridden on a paved level surface by an operator who weighs one hundred seventy (170) pounds has a maximum speed of less than twenty (20) miles per hour. (RC 4501.01(TT); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.152 E-Bike

§ 401.152 E-Bike E-Bike or "electric bicycle" is a two (2) wheeled device that has handlebars, a seat, and pedals designed to be operated similar to a bicycle, and is powered by electricity. E-Bike or "electric bicycle" means a "class 1 electric bicycle", a "class 2 electric bicycle", or a "class 3 electric bicycle" and is further defined as follows: (a) "Class 1 electric bicycle" means a bicycle that is equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than seven hundred fifty (750) watts that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty (20) miles per hour. (RC 4511.01(SSS)) (b) "Class 2 electric bicycle" means a bicycle that is equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than seven hundred fifty (750) watts that may provide assistance regardless of whether the rider is pedaling and is not capable of providing assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty (20) miles per hour. (RC 4511.01(TTT)) (c) "Class 3 electric bicycle" means a bicycle that is equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than seven hundred fifty (750) watts that provides assistance only when the rider is pedaling and ceases to provide assistance when the bicycle reaches the speed of twenty-eight (28) miles per hour. (RC 4511.01(UUU)) (Ord. No. 464-2019. Passed 6-3-19, eff. 7-5-197-5-19; Am. Ord. No. 396-2020. Passed 6-3-20, eff. 6-9-20)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.153 E-Scooter

§ 401.153 E-Scooter "E-Scooter" means a two (2) wheeled device that has handlebars, a floor board, designed to be stood upon when operating and is powered by electricity. The electricity is stored on board in a rechargeable battery. (Ord. No. 464-2019. Passed 6-3-19, eff. 7-5-19; Am. Ord. No. 396-2020. Passed 6-3-20, eff. 6-9-20)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.161 Explosives

§ 401.161 Explosives “Explosives” means any chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is intended for the purpose of producing an explosion that contains any oxidizing and combustible units or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities, or packing that an ignition by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion, or by a detonator of any part of the compound or mixture may cause such a sudden generation of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects, or of destroying life or limb. Manufactured articles shall not be held to be explosives when the individual units contain explosives in such limited quantities, of such nature, or in such packing, that it is impossible to procure a simultaneous or a destructive explosion of such units, to the injury of life, limb, or property by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion, or by a detonator, such as fixed ammunition for small arms, firecrackers, or safety fuse matches. (RC 4511.01(T); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.171 Flammable Liquid

§ 401.171 Flammable Liquid “Flammable liquid” means any liquid that has a flash point of seventy degrees Fahrenheit (70°F), or less, as determined by a tagliabue or equivalent closed cup test device. (RC 4511.01(U); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.201 Highway Maintenance Vehicle

§ 401.201 Highway Maintenance Vehicle “Highway maintenance vehicle” means a vehicle used in snow and ice removal or road surface maintenance, including a snow plow, traffic line striper, road sweeper, mowing machine, asphalt distributing vehicle, or other such vehicle designed for use in specific highway maintenance activities. (RC 4511.01(QQQ); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.202 Highway Traffic Signal

§ 401.202 Highway Traffic Signal “Highway traffic signal” means a power- operated traffic control device by which traffic is warned or directed to take some specific action. “Highway traffic signal” does not include a power- operated sign, steadily illuminated pavement marker, warning light, or steady burning electric lamp. (RC 4511.01(MMM); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.231 Mobility Device

§ 401.231 Mobility Device "Mobility device" means small mobility devices, such as scooters, e-scooters, e-bikes, or other similar devices. A mobility device does not include those designed solely for use by a child, or those used as assistive mobility devices by persons with disabilities, or those defined as an electronic personal assistive mobility device. (Ord. No. 396-2020. Passed 6-3-20, eff. 6-9-20)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.261 Motorized Bicycle or Moped

§ 401.261 Motorized Bicycle or Moped “Motorized bicycle” or “moped” means any vehicle that either has two (2) tandem wheels or one (1) wheel in the front and two (2) wheels in the rear, that may be pedaled, and that is equipped with a helper motor of not more than fifty (50) cubic centimeters piston displacement that produces no more than one (1) brake horsepower and is capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of no greater than twenty (20) miles per hour on a level surface. "Motorized bicycle" or "moped" does not include an electric bicycle. (RC 4501.01(L), 4511.01(H); Ord. No. 1178-2019. Passed 10-7-19, eff. 10-8-19)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.262 Motorized Wheelchair

§ 401.262 Motorized Wheelchair “Motorized wheelchair” means any self-propelled vehicle designed for, and used by, a handicapped person and that is incapable of a speed in excess of eight (8) miles per hour. (RC 4511.01(EEE); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.263 Multi-Wheel Agricultural Tractor

§ 401.263 Multi-Wheel Agricultural Tractor “Multi-wheel agricultural tractor” means a type of agricultural tractor that has two (2) or more wheels or tires on each side of one (1) axle at the rear of the tractor, is designed or used for drawing other vehicles or wheeled machinery, has no provision for carrying loads independently of the drawn vehicles or machinery, and is used principally for agricultural purposes. (RC 4511.01(GGG); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.291 Operate

§ 401.291 Operate “Operate” means to cause or have caused movement of a vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley. (RC 4511.01(HHH); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.331 Parking Meter Zone

§ 401.331 Parking Meter Zone “Parking meter zone” means any section of a street or highway where parking meters are installed adjacent to the curb. (Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.371 Pedestrian Way

§ 401.371 Pedestrian Way “Pedestrian way” means property dedicated to the City of Cleveland upon which pedestrian, bicycle and City-owned vehicular traffic is permitted, but all other vehicular traffic is prohibited. A pedestrian way may include City-operated gates or other barriers designed to control access during certain hours. (Ord. No. 195-94. Passed 3-14-94, eff. 3-23-94)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.401 Predicate Motor Vehicle or Traffic Offense

§ 401.401 Predicate Motor Vehicle or Traffic Offense “Predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense” means any of the following: (a) A violation of RC 4511.03, 4511.051, 4511.12, 4511.132, 4511.16, 4511.20, 4511.201, 4511.21, 4511.211, 4511.213, 4511.22, 4511.23, 4511.25, 4511.26, 4511.27, 4511.28, 4511.29, 4511.30, 4511.31, 4511.32, 4511.33, 4511.34, 4511.35, 4511.36, 4511.37, 4511.38, 4511.39, 4511.40, 4511.41, 4511.42, 4511.43, 4511.431, 4511.432, 4511.44, 4511.441, 4511.451, 4511.452, 4511.46, 4511.47, 4511.48, 4511.481, 4511.49, 4511.50, 4511.511, 4511.522, 4511.53, 4511.54, 4511.55, 4511.56, 4511.57, 4511.58, 4511.59, 4511.60, 4511.61, 4511.64, 4511.66, 4511.661, 4511.68, 4511.70, 4511.701, 4511.71, 4511.711, 4511.712, 4511.713, 4511.72, 4511.73, 4511.763, 4511.771, 4511.78 or 4511.84; (b) A violation of RC 4511.17(A)(2), 4511.51(A) to (D) or 4511.74(A); (c) A violation of any provision of RC 4511.01 to 4511.76 for which no penalty otherwise is provided in the section that contains the provision violated; (d) A violation of RC 4511.214; (e) A violation of any section of this Traffic Code that is substantially equivalent to any section or provision set forth or described in divisions (a), (b), (c) or (d) of this section. (RC 4511.01(III); Ord. No. 1178-2019. Passed 10-7-19, eff. 10-8-19)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.402 Private Road Open to Public Travel

§ 401.402 Private Road Open to Public Travel “Private road open to public travel” means a private toll road or road, including any adjacent sidewalks that generally run parallel to the road, within a shopping center, airport, sports arena, or other similar business or recreation facility that is privately owned but where the public is allowed to travel without access restrictions. “Private road open to public travel” includes a gated toll road but does not include a road within a private gated property where access is restricted at all times, a parking area, a driving aisle within a parking area, or a private grade crossing. (RC 4511.01(OOO); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.481 Ridesharing Arrangement

§ 401.481 Ridesharing Arrangement “Ridesharing arrangement” means the transportation of persons in a motor vehicle where such transportation is incidental to another purpose of a volunteer driver and includes ridesharing arrangements known as carpools, vanpools, and buspools. (RC 4511.01(DDD); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.491 Road Service Vehicle

§ 401.491 Road Service Vehicle “Road service vehicle” means wreckers, utility repair vehicles, and state, county and municipal service vehicles equipped with visual signals by means of flashing, rotating or oscillating lights. (RC 4511.01(JJJ); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.501 Rollerskates

§ 401.501 Rollerskates Rollerskates means a device, propelled solely by human power, worn on the user’s feet like shoes, consisting of a shoe or boot with wheels attached on the bottom of the shoe or boot allowing the user to be propelled over land by alternate action of the legs, this includes devices commonly known as “rollerblades.” (Ord. No. 1084-95. Passed 5-13-96, eff. 5-25-96 without the signature of the Mayor)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.531 Shared-Use Path

§ 401.531 Shared-Use Path “Shared-use path” means a bikeway outside the traveled way and physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier and either within the highway right-of-way or within an independent alignment. A shared-use path also may be used by pedestrians, including skaters, joggers, users of manual and motorized wheelchairs, and other authorized motorized and non-motorized users. (RC 4511.01(PPP); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.551 Skateboard

§ 401.551 Skateboard “Skateboard” means a device, propelled solely by human power, upon which a person may ride, consisting of a short, narrow board having a set of four (4) wheels mounted under it. (Ord. No. 2723-89. Passed 6-18-90, eff. 6-27-90)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.561 State Highway

§ 401.561 State Highway “State highway” means a highway under the jurisdiction of the Ohio Department of Transportation, outside the limits of municipal corporations, provided that the authority conferred upon the Ohio Director of Transportation in RC 5511.01 to erect state highway route markers and signs directing traffic shall not be modified by RC 4511.01 to 4511.79 and 4511.99. (RC 4511.01(II); Ord. No. 188-16. Passed 10-16-17, eff. 10-20-17)

Codified Ordinances of Cleveland § 401.711 Under-Speed Vehicle

§ 401.711 Under-Speed Vehicle “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 (20) miles per hour and with a gross vehicle weight rating less than three thousand (3,000) pounds; as defined by RC 4501.01(XX) which may be updated from time to time. This does not include low-speed vehicles as defined by RC 4501.01(WW) such as a golf cart modified to attain a speed of more than twenty (20) miles per hour. (Ord. No. 1215-2025. Passed 10-13-25, eff. 10-14-25)
Source: City of Cleveland, Ohio, Codified Ordinances and City Charter (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/cleveland/latest/cleveland_oh/0-0-0-21599Fetched: 11/1/2026

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