Effective January 1st 2010, Ohio state law requires a driver to turn on their headlights when using windshield wipers
Lt. Shawn Davis, spokesman for the Ohio State Highway Patrol, said the law previously said headlights should be activated during “unfavorable atmospheric conditions.”
“This provision now makes it clearer when to have your lights on — when windshield wipers are activated,” Davis said.
The offense is a secondary violation…. similar to the seatbelt law. Officers may only cite a motorist for not having lights on with wipers when stopped for another violation i.e. speeding, weaving in a lane or driving through a traffic light.
