331.381 SCHOOL BUS OPERATOR TO REPORT VIOLATIONS.

331.381 SCHOOL BUS OPERATOR TO REPORT VIOLATIONS.

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2025-04 (current)
Sheffield Lake Overview
Codified Ordinances of Sheffield Lake, OH
CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF SHEFFIELD LAKE, OHIO
CERTIFICATION
ROSTER OF OFFICIALS
ADOPTING ORDINANCE NO. 116-84
COMPARATIVE SECTION TABLE
TABLES OF SPECIAL ORDINANCES OF SHEFFIELD LAKE
CHARTER
PART ONE - ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
PART THREE - TRAFFIC CODE
TITLE ONE - Administration
TITLE THREE - Streets and Traffic Control Devices
TITLE FIVE - Vehicles
CHAPTER 331 Operation Generally
331.01 DRIVING UPON RIGHT SIDE OF ROADWAY; EXCEPTIONS.
331.02 PASSING TO RIGHT WHEN PROCEEDING IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS.
331.03 OVERTAKING, PASSING TO LEFT; DRIVER'S DUTIES.
331.04 OVERTAKING AND PASSING UPON RIGHT.
331.05 OVERTAKING, PASSING TO LEFT OF CENTER.
331.06 ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS ON DRIVING UPON LEFT SIDE OF ROADWAY.
331.07 HAZARDOUS OR NO PASSING ZONES.
331.08 DRIVING IN MARKED LANES OR CONTINUOUS LINES OF TRAFFIC.
331.09 FOLLOWING TOO CLOSELY.
331.10 TURNING AT INTERSECTIONS.
331.11 TURNING INTO PRIVATE DRIVEWAY, ALLEY OR BUILDING.
331.12 "U" TURNS RESTRICTED.
331.13 STARTING AND BACKING VEHICLES.
331.14 SIGNALS BEFORE CHANGING COURSE, TURNING OR STOPPING.
331.15 HAND AND ARM SIGNALS.
331.16 RIGHT OF WAY AT INTERSECTIONS.
331.17 RIGHT OF WAY WHEN TURNING LEFT.
331.18 OPERATION OF VEHICLE AT YIELD SIGNS.
331.19 OPERATION OF VEHICLE AT STOP SIGNS.
331.20 EMERGENCY OR PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLES AT STOP SIGNALS OR SIGNS.
331.21 RIGHT OF WAY OF PUBLIC SAFETY OR CORONER’S VEHICLE.
331.211 REPORT OF VEHICLE FAILING TO YIELD RIGHT OF WAY TO PUBLIC SAFETY VEHICLE.
331.22 DRIVING ONTO ROADWAY FROM PLACE OTHER THAN ROADWAY: DUTY TO YIELD.
331.23 DRIVING ONTO ROADWAY FROM PLACE OTHER THAN ROADWAY: STOPPING AT SIDEWALK.
331.24 RIGHT OF WAY OF FUNERAL PROCESSION.
331.25 DRIVER'S VIEW AND CONTROL TO BE UNOBSTRUCTED BY LOAD OR PERSONS.
331.26 DRIVING UPON STREET POSTED AS CLOSED FOR REPAIR.
331.27 FOLLOWING AND PARKING NEAR EMERGENCY OR SAFETY VEHICLES.
331.28 DRIVING OVER FIRE HOSE.
331.29 DRIVING THROUGH SAFETY ZONE.
331.30 ONE-WAY STREETS AND ROTARY TRAFFIC ISLANDS.
331.31 DRIVING UPON DIVIDED ROADWAYS.
331.32 ENTERING AND EXITING CONTROLLED-ACCESS HIGHWAY.
331.33 OBSTRUCTING INTERSECTION, CROSSWALK OR GRADE CROSSING.
331.34 FAILURE TO CONTROL; WEAVING; FULL TIME AND ATTENTION.
331.35 OCCUPYING
331.36 SQUEALING TIRES, "PEELING," CRACKING EXHAUST NOISES.
331.37 DRIVING UPON SIDEWALKS, STREET LAWNS OR CURBS.
331.38 STOPPING FOR SCHOOL BUS; DISCHARGING CHILDREN.
331.381 SCHOOL BUS OPERATOR TO REPORT VIOLATIONS.
331.39 DRIVING ACROSS GRADE CROSSING.
331.40 STOPPING AT GRADE CROSSING.
331.401 SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS.
331.41 SHORTCUTTING; AVOIDING TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES.
331.42 DRIVING ACROSS OPEN DITCHES.
331.43 LITTERING FROM MOTOR VEHICLE.
331.44 WEARING EARPLUGS OR EARPHONES PROHIBITED.
331.45 VEHICULAR OPERATION ON STREET CLOSED DUE TO RISE IN WATER LEVEL.
331.46 RESTRICTIONS ON THE OPERATION OF SCHOOL BUSES.
CHAPTER 333 OVI; Willful Misconduct; Speed
CHAPTER 335 Licensing; Accidents
CHAPTER 337 Safety and Equipment
CHAPTER 339 Commercial and Heavy Vehicles
CHAPTER 341 Commercial Drivers
CHAPTER 343 Transportation of Hazardous Wastes
TITLE SEVEN - Parking
TITLE NINE - Pedestrians, Bicycles and Motorcycles
PART FIVE - GENERAL OFFENSES CODE
PART SEVEN - BUSINESS REGULATION CODE
PART NINE - STREETS, UTILITIES AND PUBLIC SERVICES CODE
PART ELEVEN - PLANNING AND ZONING CODE
PART THIRTEEN - BUILDING CODE
PART FIFTEEN - FIRE PREVENTION CODE
OH
Sheffield Lake
Codified Ordinances of Sheffield Lake, OH
331.381 SCHOOL BUS OPERATOR TO REPORT VIOLATIONS.
CHAPTER 331 Operation Generally
331.38 STOPPING FOR SCHOOL BUS; DISCHARGING CHILDREN.
   (a)   The driver of a vehicle upon meeting or overtaking from either direction any school bus stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school child, person attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and County boards of developmental disabilities, or child attending a program offered by a head start agency, shall stop at least ten feet from the front or rear of the school bus and shall not proceed until such school bus resumes motion, or until signaled by the school bus driver to proceed.
   It is no defense to a charge under this subsection (a) hereof that the school bus involved failed to display or be equipped with an automatically extended stop warning sign as required by subsection (b) hereof.
   (b)   Every school bus shall be equipped with amber and red visual signals meeting the requirements of Ohio R.C. 4511.771, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, and an automatically extended stop warning sign of a type approved by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, which shall be actuated by the driver of the bus whenever but only whenever the bus is stopped or stopping on the roadway for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children, persons attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and County boards of developmental disabilities, or children attending programs offered by head start agencies. A school bus driver shall not actuate the visual signals or the stop warning sign in designated school bus loading areas where the bus is entirely off the roadway or at school buildings when children or persons attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and County boards of developmental disabilities are loading or unloading at curbside or at buildings when children attending programs offered by head start agencies are loading or unloading at curbside. The visual signals and stop warning sign shall be synchronized or otherwise operated as required by rule of the Ohio Administrative Code.
   (c)   Where a highway has been divided into four or more traffic lanes, a driver of a vehicle need not stop for a school bus approaching from the opposite direction which has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school child, persons attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and County boards of developmental disabilities, or children attending programs offered by head start agencies. The driver of any vehicle overtaking the school bus shall comply with subsection (a) hereof.
   (d)   School buses operating on divided highways or on highways with four or more traffic lanes shall receive and discharge all school children, persons attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and County boards of developmental disabilities, and children attending programs offered by head start agencies on their residence side of the highway.
   (e)   No school bus driver shall start the driver’s bus until after any child, person attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and County boards of developmental disabilities, or child attending a program offered by a head start agency who may have alighted therefrom has reached a place of safety on the child or person’s residence side of the road.
   (f)   As used in this section:
      (1)   “Head start agency” has the same meaning as in Ohio R.C. 3301.32.
      (2)   “School bus”, as used in relation to children who attend a program offered by a head start agency, means a bus that is owned and operated by a head start agency, is equipped with an automatically extended stop warning sign of a type approved by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, is painted the color and displays the markings described in Ohio R.C. 4511.77, and is equipped with amber and red visual signals meeting the requirements of Ohio R.C. 4511.77, irrespective of whether or not the bus has fifteen or more children aboard at any time. “School bus” does not include a van owned and operated by a head start agency, irrespective of its color, lights, or markings.
   (g)   (1)   Whoever violates subsection (a) of this section may be fined an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00). A person who is issued a citation for a violation of subsection (a) of this section is not permitted to enter a written plea of guilty and waive the person’s right to contest the citation in a trial but instead must appear in person in the proper court to answer the charge.
      (2)   In addition to and independent of any other penalty provided by law, the court or mayor may impose upon an offender who violates this section a class seven suspension of the offender’s driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (a)(7) of Ohio R.C. 4510.02. When a license is suspended under this section, the court or mayor shall cause the offender to deliver the license to the court, and the court or clerk of the court immediately shall forward the license to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, together with notice of the court’s action. (ORC 4511.75)
331.381 SCHOOL BUS OPERATOR TO REPORT VIOLATIONS.
   (a)   Definition. As used in this section, "license plate" includes, but is not limited to, any temporary motor vehicle license registration issued under Ohio R.C. 4503.182 or similar law of another jurisdiction.
   (b)   Report by School Bus Driver. When the operator of a school bus believes that a motorist has violated Section 331.38(a), the operator shall report the license plate number and a general description of the vehicle and of the operator of the vehicle to the law enforcement agency exercising jurisdiction over the area where the alleged violation occurred. The information contained in the report relating to the license plate number and to the general description of the vehicle and the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation may be supplied by any person with first-hand knowledge of the information. Information of which the operator of the school bus has first-hand knowledge also may be corroborated by any other person.
   (c)   Investigation. Upon receipt of the report of the alleged violation of Section 331.38(a), the law enforcement agency shall conduct an investigation to attempt to determine or confirm the identity of the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation. If the identity of the operator at the time of the alleged violation is established, the reporting of the license plate number of the vehicle shall establish probable cause for the law enforcement agency to issue a citation for the violation of Section 331.38(a). However, if the identity of the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation cannot be established, the law enforcement agency shall issue a warning to the owner of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation, except in the case of a leased or rented vehicle when the warning shall be issued to the lessee at the time of the alleged violation. (ORC 4511.751)
331.39 DRIVING ACROSS GRADE CROSSING.
   (a)   (1)    Whenever any person driving a vehicle approaches a railroad grade crossing, the person shall stop within fifty feet, but not less than fifteen feet from the nearest rail of the railroad if any of the following circumstances exist at the crossing:
         A.   A clearly visible electric or mechanical signal device gives warning of the immediate approach of a train or other on-track equipment.
         B.   A crossing gate is lowered.
         C.   A flagperson gives or continues to give a signal of the approach or passage of a train or other ontrack equipment.
         D.   There is insufficient space on the other side of the railroad grade crossing to accommodate the vehicle the person is operating without obstructing the passage of other vehicles, pedestrians, or trains, notwithstanding any highway traffic signal indication to proceed.
         E.   An approaching train is emitting an audible signal or is plainly visible and is in hazardous proximity to the crossing.
         F.   There is insufficient undercarriage clearance to safely negotiate the crossing.
         G.   There is insufficient space on the other side of the railroad grade crossing to accommodate the vehicle the person is operating without obstructing the passage of other on-track equipment.
         H.   Approaching on-track equipment is emitting an audible signal or is plainly visible and is in hazardous proximity to the crossing.
      (2)   A.   A person who is driving a vehicle and who approaches a railroad grade crossing shall not proceed as long as any of the circumstances described in subsections (a)(1)A. to F. of this section exist at the crossing.
         B.   A person who is driving a vehicle and who approaches a railroad grade crossing shall not recklessly proceed as long as any of the circumstances described in subsections (a)(1)G. or H. of this section exist at the crossing.
   
   (b)   No person shall drive any vehicle through, around, or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad crossing while the gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed unless the person is signaled by a law enforcement officer or flagperson that it is permissible to do so.
   (c)   (1)    Whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
      (2)    In lieu of a fine or jail term for a violation of this section, a court may instead order the offender to attend and successfully complete a remedial safety training or presentation regarding rail safety that is offered by an authorized and qualified organization that is selected by the court. The offender shall complete the presentation within a time frame determined by the court, not to exceed 180 days after the court issues the order. The offender shall notify the court of the successful completion of the presentation. When the offender notifies the court of the successful completion of the presentation, the court shall waive any fine or jail term that it otherwise would have imposed for a violation of this section.
         (ORC 4511.62)
331.40 STOPPING AT GRADE CROSSING.
   (a)   (1)   Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, the operator of any bus, any school vehicle, or any vehicle transporting a material or materials required to be placarded under 49 C.F.R. Parts 100 through 185, before crossing at grade any track of a railroad, shall stop the vehicle and, while so stopped, shall listen through an open door or open window and look in both directions along the track for any approaching train or other on-track equipment, and for signals indicating the approach of a train or other on-track equipment, and shall proceed only upon exercising due care after stopping, looking, and listening as required by this section. Upon proceeding, the operator of such a vehicle shall cross only in a gear that will ensure there will be no necessity for changing gears while traversing the crossing and shall not shift gears while crossing the tracks.
      (2)   This section does not apply at grade crossings when the Ohio Public Utilities Commission has authorized and approved an exempt crossing as provided in this subsection.
         A.   Any local authority may file an application with the Commission requesting the approval of an exempt crossing. Upon receipt of such a request, the Commission shall authorize a limited period for the filing of comments by any party regarding the application and then shall conduct a public hearing in the community seeking the exempt crossing designation. The Commission shall provide appropriate prior public notice of the comment period and the public hearing. By registered mail, the Commission shall notify each railroad operating over the crossing of the comment period.
         B.   After considering any comments or other information received, the Commission may approve or reject the application. By order, the Commission may establish conditions for the exempt crossing designation, including compliance with division (b) of 49 C.F.R. Part 392.10, when applicable. An exempt crossing designation becomes effective only when appropriate signs giving notice of the exempt designation are erected at the crossing as ordered by the Commission and any other conditions ordered by the Commission are satisfied.
         C.   By order, the Commission may rescind any exempt crossing designation made under this section if the Commission finds that a condition at the exempt crossing has changed to such an extent that the continuation of the exempt crossing designation compromises public safety. The Commission may conduct a public hearing to investigate and determine whether to rescind the exempt crossing designation. If the Commission rescinds the designation, it shall order the removal of any exempt crossing signs and may make any other necessary order.
      (3)   As used in this section:
         A.   “School vehicle” means any vehicle used for the transportation of pupils to and from a school or school-related function if the vehicle is owned or operated by, or operated under contract with, a public or nonpublic school.
         B.   “Bus” means any vehicle originally designed by its manufacturer to transport sixteen or more passengers, including the driver, or carries sixteen or more passengers, including the driver.
         C.   “Exempt crossing” means a highway rail grade crossing authorized and approved by the Public Utilities Commission under subsection (a)(2) hereof at which vehicles may cross without making the stop otherwise required by this section.
      (4)   Except as otherwise provided in this subsection (a)(4), whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more violations of subsection (a) hereof or Ohio R.C. 4511.76, 4511.761, 4511.762, 4511.764, 4511.77 or 4511.79, or a municipal ordinance that is substantially similar to any of those sections, whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. (ORC 4511.63)
   (b)   (1)   When authorized stop signs are erected at railroad grade crossings, the operator of any vehicle shall stop within fifty but not less than fifteen feet from the nearest rail of the railroad tracks and shall exercise due care before proceeding across such grade crossing.
      (2)   Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, whoever violates this subsection (b)(1) hereof 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 303.991 of the Traffic Code. (ORC 4511.61)
331.401 SLOW-MOVING VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT CROSSING RAILROAD TRACKS.
   (a)   No person shall operate or move any crawler-type tractor, steam shovel, derrick, roller, or any equipment or structure having a normal operating speed of six or less miles per hour or a vertical body or load clearance of less than nine inches above the level surface of a roadway, upon or across any tracks at a railroad grade crossing without first complying with subsections (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this section.
      (1)    Before making any such crossing, the person operating or moving any such vehicle or equipment shall first stop the same, and while stopped the person shall listen and look in both directions along such track for any approaching train or other on-track equipment and for signals indicating the approach of a train or other on-track equipment, and shall proceed only upon exercising due care.
      (2)    No such crossing shall be made when warning is given by automatic signal or crossing gates or a flagperson or otherwise of the immediate approach of a train or car or other on-track equipment.
   (b)   If the normal sustained speed of the vehicle, equipment, or structure is not more than three miles per hour, the person owning, operating, or moving the same shall also give notice of the intended crossing to a station agent or superintendent of the railroad, and a reasonable time shall be given to the railroad to provide proper protection for the crossing. Where the vehicles or equipment are being used in constructing or repairing a section of highway lying on both sides of a railroad grade crossing, and in this construction or repair it is necessary to repeatedly move the vehicles or equipment over the crossing, one daily notice specifying when the work will start and stating the hours during which it will be prosecuted is sufficient.
   (c)   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.
   (d)   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 303.991.
(ORC 4511.64)

Disclaimer: This Code of Ordinances and/or any other documents that appear on this site may not reflect the most current legislation adopted by the Municipality. American Legal Publishing provides these documents for informational purposes only. These documents should not be relied upon as the definitive authority for local legislation. Additionally, the formatting and pagination of the posted documents varies from the formatting and pagination of the official copy. The official printed copy of a Code of Ordinances should be consulted prior to any action being taken.

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Detected legislative history

• Ordinances of Sheffield Lake, OH
• ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF SHEFFIELD LAKE, OHIO
• ORDINANCE NO. 116-84
• ORDINANCES OF SHEFFIELD LAKE
• ordinance, and an automatically extended stop warning sign of a type approved by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, which shall be actuated by the driver of the bus whenever bu
• order the offender to attend and successfully complete a remedial safety training or presentation regarding rail safety that is offered by an authorized and qualified organization tha
• order
• order, the Commission may establish conditions for the exempt crossing designation, including compliance with division (b) of 49 C
• effective only when appropriate signs giving notice of the exempt designation are erected at the crossing as ordered by the Commission and any other conditions ordered by the Commission are
• order, the Commission may rescind any exempt crossing designation made under this section if the Commission finds that a condition at the exempt crossing has changed to such an extent
• order the removal of any exempt crossing signs and may make any other necessary order
• ordinance that is substantially similar to any of those sections, whoever violates subsection (a) hereof is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree
• Ordinances and/or any other documents that appear on this site may not reflect the most current legislation adopted by the Municipality
• Ordinances should be consulted prior to any action being taken
• Ordinances or other documents posted on this site, please contact the Municipality directly or contact American Legal Publishing toll-free at 800-445-5588

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