(A) Every motor vehicle or trackless trolley when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with a horn which is in good working order and capable of emitting sound audible, under normal conditions, from a distance of not less than two hundred feet.
No motor vehicle or trackless trolley shall be equipped with, nor shall any person use upon a vehicle, any siren, whistle, or bell. Any vehicle may be equipped with a theft alarm signal device which shall be so arranged that it cannot be used as an ordinary warning signal. Every emergency vehicle shall be equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell, capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than five hundred feet and of a type approved by the director of public safety. Such equipment shall not be used except when such vehicle is operated in response to an emergency call or is in the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, in which case the driver of the emergency vehicle shall sound such equipment when it is necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the approach thereof.
(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10
cases, 1962–2020 · leading case: Lipscomb v. Lewis, 619 N.E.2d 102 (Ohio Ct. App. 1993).
Lipscomb v. Lewis, 619 N.E.2d 102 (Ohio Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 5דAppellants rely on R.C. 4513.21 and 4511.45 in arguing that an ambulance operator is statutorily required to utilize the siren and signal lights during an “emergency alarm.”
Moore v. City of Columbus, 649 N.E.2d 850 (Ohio Ct. App. 1994). · cites it 2דR.C. 4513.21 provides, in pertinent part, as follows: “ * * * Every emergency vehicle shall be equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell, capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than five hundred feet and of a type approved by the…”
McGuire v. Lovell, 715 N.E.2d 587 (Ohio Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 3דAdditionally, R.C. 4513.21 provides, in pertinent part: “ * * * Every emergency vehicle shall be equipped with a siren * * * .”
Maxey v. Lenigar, 471 N.E.2d 1388 (Ohio Ct. App. 1984). “Presumably, however, if such a danger is in existence, the officer would immediately comply with the provision of R.C. 4513.21 and turn on both the flashing beacon lights and siren so as to warn the travelling public not only of the danger of the violator but also of the dangel…”
Tufts Carter v. Hymes, 2020 Ohio 3967 (Ohio Ct. App. 2020). · cites it 2ד” In addition, officers in a vehicle pursuit must comply with R.C. 4513.21 (“Horns, sirens, and warning devices”).”
Mashburn v. Dutcher, 2012 Ohio 6283 (Ohio Ct. App. 2012). “{¶43} R.C. 4513.21 states in pertinent part: Every emergency vehicle shall be equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell, capable of emitting sound audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than five hundred feet and of a type approved by the director of public…”
State v. Rutland, 786 N.E.2d 530 (Ohio Ct. App. 2003). “For having horns, sirens, or other warning devices on his motor vehicle in violation of R.C. 4513.21, the court fined appellant $25 with costs suspended.”
Vill. of Mantua v. Sobczak, 2018 Ohio 2578 (Ohio Ct. App. 2018). · cites it 6ד19 reads differently than R.C. 4513.21, which is cited in the ordinance, and that the trial court erred by not considering the differences between these two provisions.”
City of Worthington v. O'Dea, 185 N.E.2d 323 (Ohio Ct. App. 1962). · cites it 2דSection 4513.21, Revised Code. Under that section “the driver of the emergency vehicle shall sound such equipment when it is necessary to warn pedestrians and other drivers of the approach thereof.”
Lingo v. Hoekstra, 176 Ohio St. (N.S.) 417 (Ohio 1964). · cites it 2ד” Section 4513.21, Revised Code, makes a distinction between an emergency call and the immediate pursuit of an actual or suspected violator of the law, in the following language: “* * * Every emergency vehicle shall be equipped with a siren, whistle, or bell, capable of emitting…”
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