I just removed my third brake light and I wanted to make sure that I was in compliance with the law. I looked up the ORC for it and found out that not only do we only need two brake lights - the side markers are apparently optional, as is a back up light. So if you want tube fenders or flush mount taillights, no worries about installing some kind of side markers.
4513.071 Stop light.
(A) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with two or more stop lights, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1967, motorcycles, and motor-driven cycles shall be equipped with at least one stop light. Stop lights shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle, actuated upon application of the service brake, and may be incorporated with other rear lights. Such stop lights when actuated shall emit a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear...
4513.13 Cowl, fender, and back-up lights.
(A) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with side cowl or fender lights which shall emit a white or amber light without glare.
Any motor vehicle may be equipped with lights on each side thereof which shall emit a white or amber light without glare.
Any motor vehicle may be equipped with back-up lights, either separately or in combination with another light. No back-up lights shall be continuously lighted when the motor vehicle is in forward motion.
However - your license plate must be illuminated.
4513.05 Tail lights and illumination of rear license plate.
(A) ...
Either a tail light or a separate light shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate, when such registration plate is required, and render it legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear. Any tail light, together with any separate light for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the headlights or auxiliary driving lights are lighted, except where separate lighting systems are provided for trailers for the purpose of illuminating such registration plate.
Link to the codes: Lawriter - ORC - Chapter 4513: TRAFFIC LAWS - EQUIPMENT; LOADS
Hope this helps some people.
4513.071 Stop light.
(A) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer when operated upon a highway shall be equipped with two or more stop lights, except that passenger cars manufactured or assembled prior to January 1, 1967, motorcycles, and motor-driven cycles shall be equipped with at least one stop light. Stop lights shall be mounted on the rear of the vehicle, actuated upon application of the service brake, and may be incorporated with other rear lights. Such stop lights when actuated shall emit a red light visible from a distance of five hundred feet to the rear...
4513.13 Cowl, fender, and back-up lights.
(A) Any motor vehicle may be equipped with side cowl or fender lights which shall emit a white or amber light without glare.
Any motor vehicle may be equipped with lights on each side thereof which shall emit a white or amber light without glare.
Any motor vehicle may be equipped with back-up lights, either separately or in combination with another light. No back-up lights shall be continuously lighted when the motor vehicle is in forward motion.
However - your license plate must be illuminated.
4513.05 Tail lights and illumination of rear license plate.
(A) ...
Either a tail light or a separate light shall be so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate, when such registration plate is required, and render it legible from a distance of fifty feet to the rear. Any tail light, together with any separate light for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the headlights or auxiliary driving lights are lighted, except where separate lighting systems are provided for trailers for the purpose of illuminating such registration plate.
Link to the codes: Lawriter - ORC - Chapter 4513: TRAFFIC LAWS - EQUIPMENT; LOADS
Hope this helps some people.