Home › Ohio › Ohio Rev. Code 4511.84
Ohio · Ohio Rev. Code 4511.84
Quote checked October 14, 2026 Text match only; current legal status and enforcement not verified.
“No person shall operate a motor vehicle while wearing earphones over, or earplugs in, both ears.”
“This section does not apply to: (1) Any person wearing a hearing aid; (2) Law enforcement personnel while on duty; (3) Fire department personnel and emergency medical service personnel while on duty; (4) Any person engaged in the operation of equipment for use in the maintenance or repair of any highway; (5) Any person engaged in the operation of refuse collection equipment; (6) Any person wearing earphones or earplugs for hearing protection while operating a motorcycle.”
“Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.”
We didn't find a history note for this section on the official page, so we don't give a year.
Our reading
The key word is both. Ohio drivers can't have earphones over, or earplugs in, both ears at once while operating a motor vehicle. The section lists exceptions, starting with hearing aids and on-duty police, firefighters and EMS crews, and running through highway maintenance crews, refuse collection crews and motorcyclists wearing hearing protection.
Written by Silly Rules from the quoted text above. It's a plain reading, not legal advice. We haven't researched how courts read this section or how often anyone enforces it.
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Every quote on this site was matched against its official page on October 14, 2026. Text match only; current legal status and enforcement not verified.