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Grace period to end Friday for windshield wiper, headlight law
Published Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Beginning Friday, Ohio residents can expect a citation if they are pulled over and found to be using their windshield wipers without having their headlights on. The beginning of the year marks the end of a six-month grace period for a state law requiring motorists to turn on their headlights when they use their windshield wipers.
The law went into effect July 1, 2009. Until this week, officers had been issuing warnings to drivers. Beginning January 1, 2010, drivers caught violating the law will be issued tickets.
The offense is secondary, which means that officers will not pull someone over for it, but will instead enforce it when they pull someone over for another offense such as speeding.
Fines for the citation vary from court system to court system Sgt. Raymond Durant of the Ohio State Highway Patrol said. Durant said he has seen fines ranging from $100-150.
With the New Year quickly approaching, Durant urged drivers to be safe in their celebrating.
“(We’ll have) pretty much the same enforcement,” Durant said. “Our officers will be out looking to take impaired drivers off the road.”
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Comments
Posted by RabidTiger (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 1:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
SHOULDA BEEN AN IMMEDIATE TICKET and not some 'secondary issue thing'.
This has been law in Florida for many years, as it should be all over.
Posted by IamTheWalrus (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 2:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If I happen to push the button to wash my windshield and the wipers are swishing back and fourth and its the middle of a bright sunny afternoon and I dont have my head light on can I expect to be scrutenized for this foolhardy and dangerous behaviour?
Posted by nottellin (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 3:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Rabid...Why? I've seen days where the sun is shining and there's rain. Didn't NEED the headlights.
Iam...Probably. There will be ONE cop somewhere stupid enough to ticket you for it.
Posted by bleedingheart (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 4:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is it illegal to talk on a cell phone and drive??? Which is more dangerous???
Posted by Country (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 4:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Why is it a $100 to $150 fine? That seems to be a little high. Sometimes you use your wipers when a car passes after a rain and you are cleaning your windshield. I do agree that cell phone use is more dangerous. Another thing that can be dangerous but nothing seems to be done is people who have animals climbing all around inside the car. Including some drivers holding an animal. Like a cat or dog.
Posted by Stunney (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 8:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
IAmTheWalrus.....COOO COOO CA CHHHHUU.... I agree! I agree with Country too.
Posted by viewfromtheelm (anonymous) on December 29, 2009 at 9:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I thought this had been a law for quite some time. I seem to recall that years ago when the Tribune carried a periodic column written by the Highway Patrol, that this topic was mentioned. Did anyone else think this also? I know that at least one former law enforcement officer frequents these comment sections so maybe he can clarify this issue.
Also, don't some newer vehicles automatically turn the lights on when the wipers are activated? I know my previous vehicle (a GM product) automatically turned the headlights on whenever I put it in gear, whether day, night, rain, shine, or whatever.
Posted by crackerjack (anonymous) on December 30, 2009 at 5:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Could someone please explain the purpose of this law? I am unfamiliar with it and have never heard of it until now. I think cell phones and text messaging while driving are much more dangerous than driving during the daytime than using windshield wipers without headlights.
Posted by muskratt (anonymous) on December 30, 2009 at 11:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Just like the seat belt law, a reason will be found to pull you over whether that be a missing front plate or some other garbage "safety check".
Posted by med6149 (anonymous) on December 30, 2009 at 11:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The Highway Patrol did not make the law but their job is to enforce the law. If it is law they have to enforce it. Don't know what state legislative rep added this to a bill but there are worse things a driver can be doing like texting.
Posted by mommyof2 (anonymous) on December 30, 2009 at 11:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, this is the craziest law I have heard of then! I would understand if it said it was raining and it was mandatory to have your headlights on while you were driving in the rain, but as others have said, if you're just cleaning your windshield and it's sunny, then that is absurd!
Posted by Country (anonymous) on December 30, 2009 at 12:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
They should make a law to make parking spots bigger and give tickets to those who then could not park in them.
Posted by nottellin (anonymous) on December 30, 2009 at 3:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Talking on cell phones, fiddling with the radio/ipod, smoking, eating... ALL activities that are far more dangerous than running wipers without headlights.
This is a stupid law.
Posted by hamma (anonymous) on December 30, 2009 at 3:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree with Nottellin this is a stupid law.Probably the companies that love this law make batteries,headlights and wipers.
Posted by crackerjack (anonymous) on December 30, 2009 at 5:21 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like one more thing the government can make us do.......just because they can! Next thing you know it will be against the law to wear sunglasses when driving!!!
Posted by wakeupamerica (anonymous) on December 31, 2009 at 12:18 a.m. (Suggest removal)
As if we don't already have enough stupid laws on the books. When are we going to start using common sense and good judgement in the things that we do? While I agree that we should always be safe and if it's raining, etc and you have your wipers on you would be better served to also have your headlights on statisitcs show much more accidents are contributed to drivers that are eating, talking on a cell phone, texting, etc. I would love to see a law passed outlawing talking on a phone or texting while driving it's those idiots that you have to watch out for. This law is simply ridiculous. That said I would like to wish everyone a happy and safe New Year!
Posted by SoundByte (anonymous) on December 31, 2009 at 5:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Cell phone use in vehicles cannot be illegal, see the cops on them quite often driving around town
Posted by SoundByte (anonymous) on December 31, 2009 at 5:38 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you look in the old driving booklets it is actually against the law to do anything that can take your attention away from the road. It is actually illegal to even drink or eat in your vehicles while operating them. Also headlights are supposed to be on during any inclement weather wipers or not. As well as 1 hour before dusk and 1 hour after sunrise. Pedestrians "ALWAYS" have the right of way. Many laws are overlooked, forgotten, or simply not taught. Break out your test books and brush up on em lol
Posted by nottellin (anonymous) on January 2, 2010 at 7:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Soundbyte, we also see sheriff's deputies flying down the road, headed home or to lunch, at 75 miles an hour. 75 on highway 52 is illegal too... What's your point?
It was established a LLLOOONNNGGG time ago that the local yokel "cops" are some of the biggest offenders in the county.
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