Ohio Rev. Code » Chapter 4511
Ohio Revised Code

Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.39 (2026)

Turn and stop signals

✓ current as of May 2026
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Effective:
October 29, 2018
Latest Legislation:
House Bill 250, House Bill 95 - 132nd General Assembly
PDF:
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(A) No person shall turn a vehicle or trackless trolley or move right or left upon a highway unless and until such person has exercised due care to ascertain that the movement can be made with reasonable safety nor without giving an appropriate signal in the manner hereinafter provided.

When required, a signal of intention to turn or move right or left shall be given continuously during not less than the last one hundred feet traveled by the vehicle or trackless trolley before turning, except that in the case of a person operating a bicycle or electric bicycle, the signal shall be made not less than one time but is not required to be continuous. A bicycle or electric bicycle operator is not required to make a signal if the bicycle or electric bicycle is in a designated turn lane, and a signal shall not be given when the operator's hands are needed for the safe operation of the bicycle or electric bicycle.

No person shall stop or suddenly decrease the speed of a vehicle or trackless trolley without first giving an appropriate signal in the manner provided herein to the driver of any vehicle or trackless trolley immediately to the rear when there is opportunity to give a signal.

Any stop or turn signal required by this section shall be given either by means of the hand and arm, or by signal lights that clearly indicate to both approaching and following traffic intention to turn or move right or left, except that any motor vehicle in use on a highway shall be equipped with, and the required signal shall be given by, signal lights when the distance from the center of the top of the steering post to the left outside limit of the body, cab, or load of such motor vehicle exceeds twenty-four inches, or when the distance from the center of the top of the steering post to the rear limit of the body or load thereof exceeds fourteen feet, whether a single vehicle or a combination of vehicles.

The signal lights required by this section shall not be flashed on one side only on a disabled vehicle or trackless trolley, flashed as a courtesy or "do pass" signal to operators of other vehicles or trackless trolleys approaching from the rear, nor be flashed on one side only of a parked vehicle or trackless trolley except as may be necessary for compliance with this section.

(B) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.

If the offender commits the offense while distracted and the distracting activity is a contributing factor to the commission of the offense, the offender is subject to the additional fine established under section 4511.991 of the Revised Code.

The Legislative Service Commission presents the text of this section as a composite of the section as amended by multiple acts of the General Assembly. This presentation recognizes the principle stated in R.C. 1.52(B) that amendments are to be harmonized if reasonably capable of simultaneous operation.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 145 cases (28 in the last 5 years), 1954–2026 · leading case: State v. Lowman, 613 N.E.2d 692 (Ohio Ct. App. 1992).
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State v. Lowman, 613 N.E.2d 692 (Ohio Ct. App. 1992). · cites it 17× “19(A)(1), failure to use a turn signal pursuant to R.C. 4511.39, and for possessing an open container of alcohol pursuant to R.”
State v. Delevie, 2019 Ohio 3563 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 9× “12 and one count of turn signal violation pursuant to R.C. 4511.39. Both offenses are minor misdemeanors.”
State v. Leder, 2019 Ohio 2866 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 11× “The complaint also charged Leder with two "turn signal violations" for failing to properly use his turn signal in violation of R.C. 4511.39(A). The charges arose after Trooper Haggerty with the Ohio State Highway Patrol initiated a traffic stop of Leder's vehicle after he…”
State v. Barnett, 2018 Ohio 2486 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 11× “Officers Savnik and Caraway initiated a traffic stop of appellee for a violation of R.C. 4511.39 in that appellee did not have his turn signal activated for at least 100 feet prior to performing a turn.”
State v. Smith, 805 N.E.2d 171 (Ohio Ct. App. 2004). · cites it 11× “We disagree, because we interpret R.C. 4511.39 to require drivers to use a turn signal when making a turn even if they are in a “turn only” lane.”
State ex rel. Cincinnati Enquirer v. Ohio Dept. of Pub. Saf. (Slip Opinion), 2016 Ohio 7987 (Ohio 2016). · cites it 2× “33, changing lanes without signaling, R.C. 4511.39, and failing to comply with the signal of a police officer, R.”
Middleton v. Holbrook, 2016 Ohio 3387 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 3× “9-15-47 R.C. 4511.39(A). Violation of this statute is a minor misdemeanor.”
State v. Cremeans, 2022 Ohio 3932 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 25× “21CA3741 2 his prejudice in finding that an objectively reasonable officer would have believed he committed a violation of R.C. 4511.39; and 3) that the trial court abused its discretion in denying his request to supplement the record.”
State v. Harpel, 2020 Ohio 4513 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 4× “On cross-examination, Trooper Roose again testified about his observations regarding Harpel’s turn signal as he (Trooper -9- Case No.”
State v. Powell, 2022 Ohio 882 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022). · cites it 8× “19(A)(1)(d); and failure to activate a turn signal in violation of R.C. 4511.39. Doc. 1. {¶6} On June 13, 2021, Powell filed a motion to suppress.”
State v. Dowty, 2016 Ohio 4719 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 11× “31/R.C. 4511.39. {¶ 8} The State contends that the trial court should have overruled the motion to suppress, because the officer had a reasonable suspicion that the driver of the vehicle was committing a violation of R.”
State v. Sanders, 721 N.E.2d 433 (Ohio Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 6× “19(A)(1) and one count of failure to signal in violation of R.C. 4511.39. *792 The following facts are relevant to a determination of this appeal.”
Show all 145 citing cases →
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.39(A) — 52 cases
State v. Leder, 2019 Ohio 2866 (Ohio Ct. App. 2019). “The complaint also charged Leder with two "turn signal violations" for failing to properly use his turn signal in violation of R.C. 4511.39(A). The charges arose after Trooper Haggerty with the Ohio State Highway Patrol initiated a traffic stop of Leder's vehicle after he…”
State v. Harpel, 2020 Ohio 4513 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). “On cross-examination, Trooper Roose again testified about his observations regarding Harpel’s turn signal as he (Trooper -9- Case No.”
Middleton v. Holbrook, 2016 Ohio 3387 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). “9-15-47 R.C. 4511.39(A). Violation of this statute is a minor misdemeanor.”
State v. Powell, 2022 Ohio 882 (Ohio Ct. App. 2022). “19(A)(1)(d); and failure to activate a turn signal in violation of R.C. 4511.39. Doc. 1. {¶6} On June 13, 2021, Powell filed a motion to suppress.”
State v. Snell, 2021 Ohio 482 (Ohio Ct. App. 2021).
— Ohio Rev. Code § 4511.39(B) — 3 cases
Middleton v. Holbrook, 2016 Ohio 3387 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). “9-15-47 R.C. 4511.39(A). Violation of this statute is a minor misdemeanor.”
State v. Dowty, 2016 Ohio 4719 (Ohio Ct. App. 2016). “31/R.C. 4511.39. {¶ 8} The State contends that the trial court should have overruled the motion to suppress, because the officer had a reasonable suspicion that the driver of the vehicle was committing a violation of R.”
State v. Hamilton, 2011 Ohio 3835 (Ohio Ct. App. 2011).
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