If you get stopped in Ohio, know this....

[wonderwoman77]

This is why Ohio cannot use "unmarked" cars for traffic enforcement.....

Ohio Revised Code
4549.13 Marking and equipment for motor vehicle used by traffic enforcement officers.

Any motor vehicle used by a member of the state highway patrol or by any other peace officer, while said officer is on duty for the exclusive or main purpose of enforcing the motor vehicle or traffic laws of this state, provided the offense is punishable as a misdemeanor, shall be marked in some distinctive manner or color and shall be equipped with, but need not necessarily have in operation at all times, at least one flashing, oscillating, or rotating colored light mounted outside on top of the vehicle. The superintendent of the state highway patrol shall specify what constitutes such a distinctive marking or color for the state highway patrol.
Effective Date: 10-25-1979


and....


4549.14 Incompetency of officer as witness.

Any officer arresting, or participating or assisting in the arrest of, a person charged with violating the motor vehicle or traffic laws of this state, provided the offense is punishable as a misdemeanor, such officer being on duty exclusively or for the main purpose of enforcing such laws, is incompetent to testify as a witness in any prosecution against such arrested person if such officer at the time of the arrest was using a motor vehicle not marked in accordance with section 4549.13 of the Revised Code.
Effective Date: 10-01-1953


Basically..... Not clearly marked and/or No light of any sort on top of car..... No Traffic enforcement use. Cop can stop you and read you the riot act, but no ticket.

['09 Milan]

That law has been in effect since 1953???

[wonderwoman77]

Yes it has. They wanted enforcement to be fair I guess.

['09 Milan]

Originally Posted by wonderwoman77

They wanted enforcement to be fair I guess.

Well there's a first time for everything

[saleen95]

[The superintendent of the state highway patrol shall specify what constitutes such a distinctive marking or color for the state highway patrol.

Please reread that twice.

QUOTE=wonderwoman77;13718]This is why Ohio cannot use "unmarked" cars for traffic enforcement.....

Ohio Revised Code
4549.13 Marking and equipment for motor vehicle used by traffic enforcement officers.

Any motor vehicle used by a member of the state highway patrol or by any other peace officer, while said officer is on duty for the exclusive or main purpose of enforcing the motor vehicle or traffic laws of this state, provided the offense is punishable as a misdemeanor, shall be marked in some distinctive manner or color and shall be equipped with, but need not necessarily have in operation at all times, at least one flashing, oscillating, or rotating colored light mounted outside on top of the vehicle. The superintendent of the state highway patrol shall specify what constitutes such a distinctive marking or color for the state highway patrol.
Effective Date: 10-25-1979


and....


4549.14 Incompetency of officer as witness.

Any officer arresting, or participating or assisting in the arrest of, a person charged with violating the motor vehicle or traffic laws of this state, provided the offense is punishable as a misdemeanor, such officer being on duty exclusively or for the main purpose of enforcing such laws, is incompetent to testify as a witness in any prosecution against such arrested person if such officer at the time of the arrest was using a motor vehicle not marked in accordance with section 4549.13 of the Revised Code.
Effective Date: 10-01-1953


Basically..... Not clearly marked and/or No light of any sort on top of car..... No Traffic enforcement use. Cop can stop you and read you the riot act, but no ticket. [/QUOTE]

[wonderwoman77]

You are correct in that. But still has to be a light of some sort, no matter how small, on top. And yes, they could minimally mark a car. But they probably won't. I have seen the OSP with a confiscated "drug" car that they marked with full decals and put a light bar on top. But yes, I agree with you.

[TSi+WRX]

^ +1.

Overall, yes, it is true - it *has* to be a "clearly marked" vehicle, with some kind of external marking light atop the roof.

But exactly how "clearly marked" can be highly variable, and that light atop the roof can also be extremely small - particularly considering the size of the vehicle.

The Orange Township "low profile" new-generation Chevy Impala enforcement vehicle fits the former, with its "stealth" graphics that are only minimally visible in daylight ( i.e. NEW! Stealth Graphic Kits ), and on the top of the rather huge low-profile Chevy Tahoe cruiser of my native Shaker Heights township, even a "large" dome light, such as this - Larger View - 6 inch tall by 6 and 1/2 inch diameter unit, all but disappears.

Yes, I agree, saleen, with what you said - but at the same time, I think that kind of battle would likely need to be fought in-court, whereas for the roadside enforcement scenario, the situation is much less black-and-white ( no pun intended! ).

[DaveyK]

Hey, I'm new to this forum, but by no means to the rd world. Since this is my first post, I almost feel bad that I'm bringing back a topic from 3 months ago ha. Anyway, I just thought I would point out somehting that you guys overlooked; this law states that it only applies to an offense that punishable by a "misdemeanor". So while I'm sure most people on here wouldn't get pulled over for only going mere 15 over, if that were the case, markings or no markings wouldn't matter. Unless Ohio has different laws than michigan as to what constitutes a misdemeanor traffic violation.

['09 Milan]

Originally Posted by DaveyK

I'm sure most people on here wouldn't get pulled over for only going mere 15 over

Welcome Davey! They will pull you over for going less than 10 over. Depends on the cop, but there is no solid '10 over' cushion here.

[RRNet|Allen]

Originally Posted by DaveyK

Hey, I'm new to this forum, but by no means to the rd world. Since this is my first post, I almost feel bad that I'm bringing back a topic from 3 months ago ha. Anyway, I just thought I would point out somehting that you guys overlooked; this law states that it only applies to an offense that punishable by a "misdemeanor". So while I'm sure most people on here wouldn't get pulled over for only going mere 15 over, if that were the case, markings or no markings wouldn't matter. Unless Ohio has different laws than michigan as to what constitutes a misdemeanor traffic violation.

Hey there Davey! Welcome to RadarReviews.net Feel free to say hello or introduce yourself (if you wish) in the Introduce Yourself forum.

It's funny you mention this because I also noticed that it said "misdemeanor".