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Now that warmer weather has brought lawn mowing back into practice in Ohio, we are being reminded about the possible safety hazard of blowing grass clippings onto streets and roads.
Most motorcycle riders say that like leaves on the roads that create slick road conditions when they become wet, grass clippings can create hazardous or slick conditions on the pavement for riders as well.
While Ohio law does not specifically forbid this practice, there are laws on the books that state “injurious materials” can not be placed on the roadways. The question is, do grass clippings fall within that category?
In a 1952 Ohio Supreme Court ruling concerning “mud” left on roads, the court determined this could not be considered as “injurious material”.
Regardless of whether it does or not, if enough evidence of grass clippings can not stand the legal test for criminal charges in court, it could still leave a person open to being sued in civil court.
Some Ohio cities have passed ordinances banning grass clippings being left on city streets, including the City of Chillicothe, where this language was added to the existing Ordinance #311.01, in 2019.
Need this to be enforced and made into a law.