As Passed by the House 1
123rd General Assembly 4
Regular Session Am. Sub. S. B. No. 232 5
1999-2000 6
SENATORS OELSLAGER-WACHTMANN-McLIN-LATTA-JOHNSON-HOTTINGER- 8
SCHAFRATH-CARNES-SPADA-PRENTISS-WATTS-HERINGTON-CUPP-GARDNER- 9
DiDONATO-LATELL-REPRESENTATIVES CLANCY-BENDER-METTLER-BRITTON- 10
OLMAN-CALVERT-CAREY-EVANS-SCHULER-GRENDELL-BUEHRER-TRAKAS- 11
TIBERI-MOTTLEY-WIDENER-O'BRIEN-VERICH-TERWILLEGER-WOMER BENJAMIN- 12
D. MILLER-CALLENDER-GERBERRY-HOLLISTER-FERDERBER-PERRY-ROMAN- 13
WILLAMOWSKI-WILSON-HOOPS-CATES-METZGER-AUSTRIA-GARDNER-ALLEN- 14
KILBANE-DePIERO-NETZLEY-BUCHY-DISTEL-JAMES-JERSE-HARTNETT-SULZER- 15
STEVENS-BARRETT-J. BEATTY-PATTON-DAMSCHRODER-HOUSEHOLDER-BARNES- 16
SALERNO-GOODING-METELSKY-SUTTON 17
_________________________________________________________________ 19
A B I L L
To amend sections 4503.48, 4503.54, 4503.571, and 21
4503.59 and to enact section 4503.73 of the 22
Revised Code to eliminate the additional $10 fee 23
that a person pays to the Bureau of Motor 24
Vehicles when first obtaining or renewing Ohio 25
National Guard license plates, U.S. Armed Forces
Reserves license plates, U.S. Armed Forces 26
retiree or honorably discharged veteran license 27
plates, Purple Heart license plates, and Pearl 28
Harbor license plates; to allow a Purple Heart
recipient to receive Purple Heart license plates 29
for more than one vehicle owned by the recipient;
to specify that certain special license plates 30
may be obtained for motor homes rather than for 31
all types of recreational vehicles; and to create
the "Leader in Flight" license plate. 32
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO: 34
2
Section 1. That sections 4503.48, 4503.54, 4503.571, and 36
4503.59 be amended and section 4503.73 of the Revised Code be 37
enacted to read as follows: 38
Sec. 4503.48. Any person who is a member of the Ohio 47
national guard or the reserves of the armed forces of the United 48
States may apply to the registrar of motor vehicles for the 49
registration of any passenger car, noncommercial motor vehicle, 50
motor home, or other vehicle of a class approved by the registrar 51
that the person owns or leases. The application shall be 53
accompanied by such written evidence that the person is a member
of the Ohio national guard or of the reserves as the registrar 54
requires by rule.
Upon receipt of an application for registration of a motor 56
vehicle under this section;, presentation of satisfactory 57
evidence of membership in the Ohio national guard or the 59
reserves;, AND payment of the regular license fees as prescribed 61
under section 4503.04 of the Revised Code, AND any local motor 62
vehicle license tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised 64
Code, and an additional fee of ten dollars, the registrar shall 65
issue to the applicant the appropriate motor vehicle registration 66
and a set of license plates and a validation sticker, or a 67
validation sticker alone when required by section 4503.191 of the 68
Revised Code. In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily 69
inscribed thereon, the license plates shall be inscribed with 70
identifying words or markings designed by the department of 71
public safety. THE LICENSE PLATES SHALL BEAR COUNTY 73
IDENTIFICATION STICKERS THAT IDENTIFY THE COUNTY OF REGISTRATION 74
BY NAME OR NUMBER.
Sec. 4503.54. Any person who is a retired or honorably 83
discharged veteran of any branch of the armed forces of the 84
United States may apply to the registrar of motor vehicles for 85
the registration of any passenger car, noncommercial motor 86
vehicle, motor home, or other vehicle of a class approved by the 87
registrar the person owns or leases. The application shall be 88
3
accompanied by such written evidence that the applicant is a 89
retired or honorably discharged veteran of a branch of the armed 90
forces of the United States as the registrar shall require by 91
rule. 92
Upon receipt of an application for registration of a motor 94
vehicle under this section, presentation of satisfactory evidence 95
documenting that the applicant is a retired or honorably 96
discharged veteran of a branch of the armed forces of the United 97
States, AND payment of the regular license fees as prescribed 98
under section 4503.04 of the Revised Code, AND any local motor 99
vehicle license tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised 100
Code, and an additional fee of ten dollars, the registrar shall 101
issue to the applicant the appropriate motor vehicle registration 102
and a set of license plates and a validation sticker, or a 103
validation sticker alone when required by section 4503.191 of the 104
Revised Code. In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily 105
inscribed thereon, the license plates shall contain the 106
appropriate inscription as follows: "U.S. ARMED FORCES 107
RETIRED--(BRANCH OF SERVICE)" or "U.S. ARMED FORCES 108
VETERAN--(BRANCH OF SERVICE)." Depending upon the format of the 109
inscription, the registrar shall determine whether or not the 110
inscription contains the dash. THE LICENSE PLATES SHALL BEAR 113
COUNTY IDENTIFICATION STICKERS THAT IDENTIFY THE COUNTY OF
REGISTRATION BY NAME OR NUMBER. 114
Sec. 4503.571. Any person who has been awarded the purple 123
heart may apply to the registrar of motor vehicles for the 124
registration of one ANY passenger car, noncommercial motor 125
vehicle, recreational vehicle MOTOR HOME, or other vehicle of a 127
class approved by the registrar that the person owns or leases. 129
The application shall be accompanied by such documentary evidence 130
in support of the award as the registrar may require. The 131
application may be combined with a request for a special reserved
license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised 133
Code.
4
Upon receipt of an application for registration of a motor 135
vehicle under this section and the required taxes and fees, and 136
presentation of the required supporting evidence of the award of 137
the purple heart, the registrar shall issue to the applicant the 138
appropriate motor vehicle registration and a set of license 139
plates and a validation sticker, or a validation sticker alone 140
when required by section 4503.191 of the Revised Code. 141
In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed 143
thereon, the license plates shall be inscribed with the words 144
"PURPLE HEART." The license plates shall bear county 145
identification stickers that identify the county of registration 146
by name or number.
The license plates and validation stickers shall be issued 148
upon payment of the regular license fee required by section 149
4503.04 of the Revised Code, payment of any local motor vehicle 150
license tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, 151
payment of an additional fee of ten dollars, and compliance with 152
all other applicable laws relating to the registration of motor 153
vehicles. If the application is combined with a request for a 154
special reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 155
of the Revised Code, the license plates and validation sticker 156
shall be issued upon payment of the fees and taxes referred to in 157
this section and the additional fee prescribed under section 158
4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code. The additional fee of 159
ten dollars shall be for the purpose of compensating the bureau 160
of motor vehicles for additional services required in the issuing 162
of license plates under this section and shall be transmitted by 163
the registrar to the treasurer of state for deposit into the 164
state treasury to the credit of the state bureau of motor
vehicles fund created by section 4501.25 of the Revised Code. 165
No person who is not a recipient of the purple heart shall 167
willfully and falsely represent that the person is a recipient of 168
a purple heart for the purpose of obtaining license plates under 169
this section. No person shall own a motor vehicle bearing 170
5
license plates under this section unless the person is eligible 171
to be issued such license plates. 172
Sec. 4503.59. The owner or lessee of any passenger car, 181
noncommercial motor vehicle, recreational vehicle MOTOR HOME, or 182
other vehicle of a class approved by the registrar of motor 184
vehicles who is certified by the Pearl Harbor survivors
association as having survived the attack on Pearl Harbor may 185
apply to the registrar for the registration of the vehicle and 186
issuance of Pearl Harbor license plates. The application for 187
Pearl Harbor license plates may be combined with a request for a 188
special reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 189
of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of the completed application, 190
presentation by the applicant of documentation issued by the 191
Pearl Harbor survivors association certifying that the applicant 193
survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, and compliance by the 194
applicant with this section, the registrar shall issue to the 195
applicant the appropriate vehicle registration and a set of Pearl 196
Harbor license plates with a validation sticker or a validation 198
sticker alone when required by section 4503.191 of the Revised 199
Code.
In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed 201
thereon, Pearl Harbor license plates shall be inscribed with the 202
words "Pearl Harbor" and a symbol or logo designed by the Pearl 203
Harbor survivors association and approved by the registrar. 204
Pearl Harbor license plates shall bear county identification 205
stickers that identify the county of registration by name or
number. 206
Pearl Harbor license plates and validation stickers shall 208
be issued upon payment of the regular license fee required by 209
section 4503.04 of the Revised Code, payment of any local motor 210
vehicle license tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised 211
Code, payment of an additional fee of ten dollars, and compliance 213
with all other applicable laws relating to the registration of
motor vehicles. If the application for Pearl Harbor license 214
6
plates is combined with a request for a special reserved license 215
plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code, the 216
license plates and validation sticker shall be issued upon 217
payment of the fees and taxes contained in this section and the 218
additional fee prescribed under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the 219
Revised Code. The additional fee of ten dollars shall be for the
purpose of compensating the bureau of motor vehicles for 221
additional services required in the issuing of Pearl Harbor 222
license plates, and shall be transmitted by the registrar to the 223
treasurer of state for deposit into the state treasury to the 224
credit of the state bureau of motor vehicles fund created by 225
section 4501.25 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 4503.73. (A) THE OWNER OR LESSEE OF ANY PASSENGER 227
CAR, NONCOMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLE, MOTOR HOME, OR OTHER VEHICLE OF 228
A CLASS APPROVED BY THE REGISTRAR OF MOTOR VEHICLES MAY APPLY TO 230
THE REGISTRAR FOR THE REGISTRATION OF THE VEHICLE AND ISSUANCE OF 231
"THE LEADER IN FLIGHT" LICENSE PLATES. THE APPLICATION FOR "THE 232
LEADER IN FLIGHT" LICENSE PLATES MAY BE COMBINED WITH A REQUEST 233
FOR A SPECIAL RESERVED LICENSE PLATE UNDER SECTION 4503.40 OR 234
4503.42 OF THE REVISED CODE. UPON RECEIPT OF THE COMPLETED 235
APPLICATION AND COMPLIANCE WITH DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION, THE 236
REGISTRAR SHALL ISSUE TO THE APPLICANT THE APPROPRIATE VEHICLE 237
REGISTRATION AND A SET OF "THE LEADER IN FLIGHT" LICENSE PLATES 238
WITH A VALIDATION STICKER OR A VALIDATION STICKER ALONE WHEN 240
REQUIRED BY SECTION 4503.191 OF THE REVISED CODE.
IN ADDITION TO THE LETTERS AND NUMBERS ORDINARILY INSCRIBED 242
THEREON, "THE LEADER IN FLIGHT" LICENSE PLATES SHALL BE INSCRIBED 243
WITH THE WORDS "THE LEADER IN FLIGHT" AND ILLUSTRATIONS OF A 244
SPACE SHUTTLE IN A VERTICAL POSITION AND THE WRIGHT "B" AIRPLANE. 245
"THE LEADER IN FLIGHT" LICENSE PLATES SHALL BEAR COUNTY 246
IDENTIFICATION STICKERS THAT IDENTIFY THE COUNTY OF REGISTRATION 247
BY NAME OR NUMBER. 248
(B) "THE LEADER IN FLIGHT" LICENSE PLATES AND VALIDATION 250
STICKER SHALL BE ISSUED UPON PAYMENT OF THE REGULAR LICENSE TAX 251
7
AS PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 4503.04 OF THE REVISED CODE, A FEE OF 252
TEN DOLLARS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPENSATING THE BUREAU OF MOTOR 253
VEHICLES FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES REQUIRED IN THE ISSUING OF "THE 254
LEADER IN FLIGHT" LICENSE PLATES, ANY APPLICABLE MOTOR VEHICLE 255
TAX LEVIED UNDER CHAPTER 4504. OF THE REVISED CODE, AND 256
COMPLIANCE WITH ALL OTHER APPLICABLE LAWS RELATING TO THE 258
REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES. IF THE APPLICATION FOR "THE 259
LEADER IN FLIGHT" LICENSE PLATES IS COMBINED WITH A REQUEST FOR A 260
SPECIAL RESERVED LICENSE PLATE UNDER SECTION 4503.40 OR 4503.42 261
OF THE REVISED CODE, THE LICENSE PLATE AND VALIDATION STICKER 262
SHALL BE ISSUED UPON PAYMENT OF THE FEES AND TAXES REFERRED TO OR 263
ESTABLISHED IN THIS DIVISION AND THE ADDITIONAL FEE PRESCRIBED 264
UNDER SECTION 4503.40 OR 4503.42 OF THE REVISED CODE. 265
(C) THE REGISTRAR SHALL DEPOSIT THE ADDITIONAL FEE OF TEN 267
DOLLARS SPECIFIED IN DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION THAT THE 268
APPLICANT FOR REGISTRATION VOLUNTARILY PAYS FOR THE PURPOSE OF 269
COMPENSATING THE BUREAU FOR THE ADDITIONAL SERVICES REQUIRED IN 271
THE ISSUING OF THE APPLICANT'S "THE LEADER IN FLIGHT" LICENSE 272
PLATES IN THE STATE BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES FUND CREATED IN 273
SECTION 4501.25 OF THE REVISED CODE.
Section 2. That existing sections 4503.48, 4503.54, 275
4503.571, and 4503.59 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed. 276