As Introduced 1
123rd General Assembly 4
Regular Session S. B. No. 242 5
1999-2000 6
SENATOR OELSLAGER 8
_________________________________________________________________ 10
A B I L L
To amend sections 4501.01, 4503.10, 4503.102, and 12
4503.20 of the Revised Code to permit the renewal 13
of motor vehicle registrations by electronic
means.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO: 15
Section 1. That sections 4501.01, 4503.10, 4503.102, and 17
4503.20 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows: 18
Sec. 4501.01. As used in this chapter and Chapters 4503., 28
4505., 4507., 4509., 4511., 4513., 4515., and 4517. of the 29
Revised Code, and in the penal laws, except as otherwise 30
provided: 31
(A) "Vehicles" means everything on wheels or runners, 33
including motorized bicycles, but does not mean vehicles that are 34
operated exclusively on rails or tracks or from overhead electric 35
trolley wires and vehicles that belong to any police department, 36
municipal fire department, or volunteer fire department, or that 37
are used by such a department in the discharge of its functions. 38
(B) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle, including mobile 41
homes and recreational vehicles, that is propelled or drawn by 43
power other than muscular power or power collected from overhead 44
electric trolley wires. "Motor vehicle" does not include 45
motorized bicycles, road rollers, traction engines, power 46
shovels, power cranes, and other equipment used in construction 47
work and not designed for or employed in general highway 48
transportation, well-drilling machinery, ditch-digging machinery, 49
farm machinery, trailers that are used to transport agricultural 50
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produce or agricultural production materials between a local 51
place of storage or supply and the farm when drawn or towed on a 52
public road or highway at a speed of twenty-five miles per hour 53
or less, threshing machinery, hay-baling machinery, corn sheller, 54
hammermill and agricultural tractors, machinery used in the 55
production of horticultural, agricultural, and vegetable 56
products, and trailers that are designed and used exclusively to 57
transport a boat between a place of storage and a marina, or in 58
and around a marina, when drawn or towed on a public road or 59
highway for a distance of no more than ten miles and at a speed 60
of twenty-five miles per hour or less.
(C) "Agricultural tractor" and "traction engine" mean any 62
self-propelling vehicle that is designed or used for drawing 63
other vehicles or wheeled machinery, but has no provisions for 64
carrying loads independently of such other vehicles, and that is 65
used principally for agricultural purposes. 66
(D) "Commercial tractor," except as defined in division 68
(C) of this section, means any motor vehicle that has motive 69
power and either is designed or used for drawing other motor 70
vehicles, or is designed or used for drawing another motor 72
vehicle while carrying a portion of the other motor vehicle or 73
its load, or both.
(E) "Passenger car" means any motor vehicle that is 75
designed and used for carrying not more than nine persons and 76
includes any motor vehicle that is designed and used for carrying 77
not more than fifteen persons in a ridesharing arrangement. 78
(F) "Collector's vehicle" means any motor vehicle or 80
agricultural tractor or traction engine that is of special 81
interest, that has a fair market value of one hundred dollars or 82
more, whether operable or not, and that is owned, operated, 83
collected, preserved, restored, maintained, or used essentially 84
as a collector's item, leisure pursuit, or investment, but not as 85
the owner's principal means of transportation. "Licensed 86
collector's vehicle" means a collector's vehicle, other than an 87
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agricultural tractor or traction engine, that displays current, 88
valid license tags issued under section 4503.45 of the Revised 89
Code, or a similar type of motor vehicle that displays current, 90
valid license tags issued under substantially equivalent 91
provisions in the laws of other states. 92
(G) "Historical motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle 94
that is over twenty-five years old and is owned solely as a 95
collector's item and for participation in club activities, 96
exhibitions, tours, parades, and similar uses, but that in no 97
event is used for general transportation. 98
(H) "Noncommercial motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle, 100
including a farm truck as defined in section 4503.04 of the 101
Revised Code, that is designed by the manufacturer to carry a 102
load of no more than one ton and is used exclusively for purposes 103
other than engaging in business for profit. 104
(I) "Bus" means any motor vehicle that has motor power and 107
is designed and used for carrying more than nine passengers,
except any motor vehicle that is designed and used for carrying 108
not more than fifteen passengers in a ridesharing arrangement. 109
(J) "Commercial car" means any motor vehicle that has 111
motor power and is designed and used for carrying merchandise or 112
freight, or that is used as a commercial tractor. 113
(K) "Bicycle" means every device, other than a tricycle 115
that is designed solely for use as a play vehicle by a child, 117
that is propelled solely by human power upon which any person may 118
ride, and that has either two tandem wheels, or one wheel in 119
front and two wheels in the rear, any of which is more than 120
fourteen inches in diameter.
(L) "Motorized bicycle" means any vehicle that either has 122
two tandem wheels or one wheel in the front and two wheels in the 124
rear, that is capable of being pedaled, and that is equipped with
a helper motor of not more than fifty cubic centimeters piston 125
displacement that produces no more than one brake horsepower and 126
is capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of no greater 127
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than twenty miles per hour on a level surface. 128
(M) "Trailer" means any vehicle without motive power that 131
is designed or used for carrying property or persons wholly on
its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle, and 132
includes any such vehicle that is formed by or operated as a 133
combination of a semitrailer and a vehicle of the dolly type such 134
as that commonly known as a trailer dolly, a vehicle used to 135
transport agricultural produce or agricultural production 136
materials between a local place of storage or supply and the farm 137
when drawn or towed on a public road or highway at a speed 138
greater than twenty-five miles per hour, and a vehicle that is 139
designed and used exclusively to transport a boat between a place 140
of storage and a marina, or in and around a marina, when drawn or 141
towed on a public road or highway for a distance of more than ten 142
miles or at a speed of more than twenty-five miles per hour. 143
"Trailer" does not include a manufactured home or travel trailer. 144
(N) "Noncommercial trailer" means any trailer, except a 146
travel trailer or trailer that is used to transport a boat as 147
described in division (B) of this section, but, where applicable, 148
includes a vehicle that is used to transport a boat as described 149
in division (M) of this section, that has a gross weight of no 150
more than three thousand pounds, and that is used exclusively for 151
purposes other than engaging in business for a profit. 152
(O) "Mobile home" means a building unit or assembly of 155
closed construction that is fabricated in an off-site facility, 156
is more than thirty-five body feet in length or, when erected on 157
site, is three hundred twenty or more square feet, is built on a 158
permanent chassis, is transportable in one or more sections, and 160
does not qualify as a manufactured home as defined in division 161
(C)(4) of section 3781.06 of the Revised Code or as an 162
industrialized unit as defined in division (C)(3) of section 163
3781.06 of the Revised Code.
(P) "Semitrailer" means any vehicle of the trailer type 165
that does not have motive power and is so designed or used with 166
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another and separate motor vehicle that in operation a part of 167
its own weight or that of its load, or both, rests upon and is 168
carried by the other vehicle furnishing the motive power for 169
propelling itself and the vehicle referred to in this division, 170
and includes, for the purpose only of registration and taxation 171
under those chapters, any vehicle of the dolly type, such as a 172
trailer dolly, that is designed or used for the conversion of a 173
semitrailer into a trailer. 174
(Q) "Recreational vehicle" means a vehicular portable 176
structure that is designed and constructed to be used as a 177
temporary dwelling for travel, recreational, and vacation uses 178
and is classed as follows: 179
(1) "Travel trailer" means a nonself-propelled 181
recreational vehicle that does not exceed an overall length of 182
thirty-five feet, exclusive of bumper and tongue or coupling, and 183
contains less than three hundred twenty square feet of space when 184
erected on site. "Travel trailer" includes a tent-type fold-out 186
camping trailer as defined in section 4517.01 of the Revised 187
Code.
(2) "Motor home" means a self-propelled recreational 189
vehicle that is constructed with permanently installed facilities 190
for cold storage, cooking and consuming of food, and for 191
sleeping.
(3) "Truck camper" means a nonself-propelled recreational 193
vehicle that does not have wheels for road use and is designed to 194
be placed upon and attached to a motor vehicle. "Truck camper" 195
does not include truck covers that consist of walls and a roof, 196
but do not have floors and facilities enabling them to be used as 197
a dwelling.
(4) "Fifth wheel trailer" means a vehicle that is of such 199
size and weight as to be movable without a special highway 200
permit, that has a gross trailer area of four hundred square feet 201
or less, that is constructed with a raised forward section that 202
allows a bi-level floor plan, and that is designed to be towed by
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a vehicle equipped with a fifth-wheel hitch ordinarily installed 203
in the bed of a truck. 204
(5) "Park trailer" means a vehicle that is commonly known 206
as a park model recreational vehicle, meets the American national 207
standard institute standard A119.5 (1988) for park trailers, is 208
built on a single chassis, has a gross trailer area of four 209
hundred square feet or less when set up, is designed for seasonal 210
or temporary living quarters, and may be connected to utilities
necessary for the operation of installed features and appliances. 211
(R) "Pneumatic tires" means tires of rubber and fabric or 213
tires of similar material, that are inflated with air. 214
(S) "Solid tires" means tires of rubber or similar elastic 216
material that are not dependent upon confined air for support of 217
the load.
(T) "Solid tire vehicle" means any vehicle that is 219
equipped with two or more solid tires. 220
(U) "Farm machinery" means all machines and tools that are 222
used in the production, harvesting, and care of farm products, 223
and includes trailers that are used to transport agricultural 224
produce or agricultural production materials between a local 225
place of storage or supply and the farm when drawn or towed on a 226
public road or highway at a speed of twenty-five miles per hour 227
or less.
(V) "Owner" includes any person, firm, or corporation 229
other than a manufacturer or dealer that has title to a motor 230
vehicle, except that in sections 4505.01 to 4505.19 of the 231
Revised Code, "owner" includes in addition manufacturers and 232
dealers.
(W) "Manufacturer" and "dealer" include all persons, 234
firms, and corporations that are regularly engaged in the 235
business of manufacturing, selling, displaying, offering for 236
sale, or dealing in motor vehicles, at an established place of 237
business that is used exclusively for the purpose of 238
manufacturing, selling, displaying, offering for sale, or dealing 239
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in motor vehicles. A place of business that is used for 240
manufacturing, selling, displaying, offering for sale, or dealing 241
in motor vehicles shall be deemed to be used exclusively for 242
those purposes even though snowmobiles or all-purpose vehicles 243
are sold or displayed for sale thereat, even though farm 244
machinery is sold or displayed for sale thereat, or even though 245
repair, accessory, gasoline and oil, storage, parts, service, or 246
paint departments are maintained thereat, or, in any county 247
having a population of less than seventy-five thousand persons at 248
the last federal census, even though a department in a place of 249
business is used to dismantle, salvage, or rebuild motor vehicles 250
by means of used parts, if such departments are operated for the 251
purpose of furthering and assisting in the business of 252
manufacturing, selling, displaying, offering for sale, or dealing 253
in motor vehicles. Places of business or departments in a place 254
of business used to dismantle, salvage, or rebuild motor vehicles 255
by means of using used parts are not considered as being 256
maintained for the purpose of assisting or furthering the 257
manufacturing, selling, displaying, and offering for sale or 258
dealing in motor vehicles.
(X) "Operator" includes any person who drives or operates 260
a motor vehicle upon the public highways. 261
(Y) "Chauffeur" means any operator who operates a motor 263
vehicle, other than a taxicab, as an employee for hire; or any 264
operator whether or not the owner of a motor vehicle, other than 265
a taxicab, who operates such vehicle for transporting, for gain, 266
compensation, or profit, either persons or property owned by 267
another. Any operator of a motor vehicle who is voluntarily 268
involved in a ridesharing arrangement is not considered an 269
employee for hire or operating such vehicle for gain, 270
compensation, or profit.
(Z) "State" includes the territories and federal districts 272
of the United States, and the provinces of Canada. 273
(AA) "Public roads and highways" for vehicles includes all 275
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public thoroughfares, bridges, and culverts. 276
(BB) "Manufacturer's number" means the manufacturer's 278
original serial number that is affixed to or imprinted upon the 279
chassis or other part of the motor vehicle. 280
(CC) "Motor number" means the manufacturer's original 282
number that is affixed to or imprinted upon the engine or motor 283
of the vehicle. 284
(DD) "Distributor" means any person who is authorized by 286
a motor vehicle manufacturer to distribute new motor vehicles to 287
licensed motor vehicle dealers at an established place of 288
business that is used exclusively for the purpose of distributing 289
new motor vehicles to licensed motor vehicle dealers, except when 290
the distributor also is a new motor vehicle dealer, in which case 291
the distributor may distribute at the location of the 292
distributor's licensed dealership. 293
(EE) "Ridesharing arrangement" means the transportation of 295
persons in a motor vehicle where the transportation is incidental 297
to another purpose of a volunteer driver and includes ridesharing 298
arrangements known as carpools, vanpools, and buspools. 299
(FF) "Apportionable vehicle" means any vehicle that is 301
used or intended for use in two or more international 302
registration plan member jurisdictions that allocate or 303
proportionally register vehicles, that is used for the 304
transportation of persons for hire or designed, used, or 305
maintained primarily for the transportation of property, and that 306
meets any of the following qualifications:
(1) Is a power unit having a gross vehicle weight in 308
excess of twenty-six thousand pounds; 309
(2) Is a power unit having three or more axles, regardless 311
of the gross vehicle weight; 312
(3) Is a combination vehicle with a gross vehicle weight 314
in excess of twenty-six thousand pounds. 315
"Apportionable vehicle" does not include recreational 317
vehicles, vehicles displaying restricted plates, city pick-up and 318
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delivery vehicles, buses used for the transportation of chartered 319
parties, or vehicles owned and operated by the United States, 320
this state, or any political subdivisions thereof. 321
(GG) "Chartered party" means a group of persons who 323
contract as a group to acquire the exclusive use of a 324
passenger-carrying motor vehicle at a fixed charge for the 325
vehicle in accordance with the carrier's tariff, lawfully on file 326
with the United States department of transportation, for the 328
purpose of group travel to a specified destination or for a 329
particular itinerary, either agreed upon in advance or modified 330
by the chartered group after having left the place of origin. 331
(HH) "International registration plan" means a reciprocal 333
agreement of member jurisdictions that is endorsed by the 334
American association of motor vehicle administrators, and that 335
promotes and encourages the fullest possible use of the highway 336
system by authorizing apportioned registration of fleets of 337
vehicles and recognizing registration of vehicles apportioned in 338
member jurisdictions. 339
(II) "Restricted plate" means a license plate that has a 341
restriction of time, geographic area, mileage, or commodity, and 342
includes license plates issued to farm trucks under division (K) 343
of section 4503.04 of the Revised Code. 344
(JJ) "Gross vehicle weight," with regard to any commercial 346
car, trailer, semitrailer, or bus that is taxed at the rates 347
established under section 4503.042 of the Revised Code, means the 348
unladen weight of the vehicle fully equipped plus the maximum 349
weight of the load to be carried on the vehicle. 350
(KK) "Combined gross vehicle weight" with regard to any 352
combination of a commercial car, trailer, and semitrailer, that 353
is taxed at the rates established under section 4503.042 of the 354
Revised Code, means the total unladen weight of the combination 355
of vehicles fully equipped plus the maximum weight of the load to 356
be carried on that combination of vehicles. 357
(LL) "Chauffeured limousine" means a motor vehicle that is 360
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designed to carry nine or fewer passengers and is operated for 361
hire on an hourly basis pursuant to a prearranged contract for 362
the transportation of passengers on public roads and highways 363
along a route under the control of the person hiring the vehicle 364
and not over a defined and regular route. "Prearranged contract" 365
means an agreement, made in advance of boarding, to provide 366
transportation from a specific location in a chauffeured 367
limousine at a fixed rate per hour or trip. "Chauffeured 368
limousine" does not include any vehicle that is used exclusively 369
in the business of funeral directing. 370
(NN)(MM) "Manufactured home" has the same meaning as in 373
division (C)(4) of section 3781.06 of the Revised Code. 374
(OO)(NN) "Acquired situs," with respect to a manufactured 377
home or a mobile home, means to become located in this state 378
pursuant to the issuance of a certificate of title for the home 379
and the placement of the home on real property, but does not 380
include the placement of a manufactured home or a mobile home in 381
the inventory of a new motor vehicle dealer or the inventory of a 382
manufacturer, remanufacturer, or distributor of manufactured or 383
mobile homes. 384
(OO) "ELECTRONIC" INCLUDES ELECTRICAL, DIGITAL, MAGNETIC, 386
OPTICAL, ELECTROMAGNETIC, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF TECHNOLOGY THAT 387
ENTAILS CAPABILITIES SIMILAR TO THESE TECHNOLOGIES. 388
(PP) "ELECTRONIC RECORD" MEANS A RECORD GENERATED, 390
COMMUNICATED, RECEIVED, OR STORED BY ELECTRONIC MEANS FOR USE IN 391
AN INFORMATION SYSTEM OR FOR TRANSMISSION FROM ONE INFORMATION 392
SYSTEM TO ANOTHER.
(QQ) "ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE" MEANS A SIGNATURE IN 394
ELECTRONIC FORM ATTACHED TO OR LOGICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH AN 395
ELECTRONIC RECORD.
Sec. 4503.10. (A) The owner of every snowmobile, 404
off-highway motorcycle, and all-purpose vehicle required to be 406
registered under section 4519.02 of the Revised Code shall file 408
an application for registration under section 4519.03 of the 409
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Revised Code. The owner of a motor vehicle, other than a 412
snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle, that 413
is not designed and constructed by the manufacturer for operation 414
on a street or highway may not register it under this chapter 415
except upon certification of inspection pursuant to section 416
4513.02 of the Revised Code by the sheriff or chief of police of 419
the municipal or township police with jurisdiction over the 420
political subdivision in which the owner of the motor vehicle 421
resides. Except as provided in section 4503.103 of the Revised 422
Code, every owner of every other motor vehicle not previously 423
described in this section and every person mentioned as owner in 424
the last certificate of title of a motor vehicle that is operated 426
or driven upon the public roads or highways shall cause to be 427
filed each year, by mail or otherwise, in the office of the 428
registrar of motor vehicles or a deputy registrar, a written OR 429
ELECTRONIC application or a preprinted registration renewal
notice issued under section 4503.102 of the Revised Code, the 430
form of which shall be prescribed by the registrar, for 431
registration for the following registration year, which shall 432
begin on the first day of January of every calendar year and end 433
on the thirty-first day of December in the same year. 434
Applications for registration and registration renewal notices 435
shall be filed at the times established by the registrar pursuant 436
to section 4503.101 of the Revised Code. A MOTOR VEHICLE OWNER 437
ALSO MAY ELECT TO RENEW A MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION BY 438
ELECTRONIC MEANS USING ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE IN ACCORDANCE WITH 439
RULES ADOPTED BY THE REGISTRAR. Except as provided in division 440
(J) of this section, applications for registration shall be made 441
on blanks furnished by the registrar for that purpose, containing 442
the following information: 443
(1) A brief description of the motor vehicle to be 445
registered, including the name of the manufacturer, the factory 446
number of the vehicle, the year's model, and, in the case of 447
commercial cars, the gross weight of the vehicle fully equipped 448
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computed in the manner prescribed in section 4503.08 of the 449
Revised Code; 450
(2) The name and residence address of the owner, and the 453
township and municipal corporation in which the owner resides; 455
(3) The district of registration, which shall be 457
determined as follows: 458
(a) In case the motor vehicle to be registered is used for 460
hire or principally in connection with any established business 461
or branch business, conducted at a particular place, the district 462
of registration is the municipal corporation in which that place 463
is located or, if not located in any municipal corporation, the 464
county and township in which that place is located. 465
(b) In case the vehicle is not so used, the district of 467
registration is the municipal corporation or county in which the 468
owner resides at the time of making the application. 469
(4) Whether the motor vehicle is a new or used motor 471
vehicle; 472
(5) The date of purchase of the motor vehicle; 474
(6) Whether the fees required to be paid for the 476
registration or transfer of the motor vehicle, during the 477
preceding registration year and during the preceding period of 478
the current registration year, have been paid. Each application 479
for registration shall be signed by the owner, directly EITHER 480
MANUALLY OR BY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE, or pursuant to obtaining a 482
limited power of attorney authorized by the registrar for
registration, or other document authorizing such signature. IF 483
THE OWNER ELECTS TO RENEW THE MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION WITH THE 484
REGISTRAR BY ELECTRONIC MEANS, THE OWNER'S MANUAL SIGNATURE IS 485
NOT REQUIRED.
(7) The owner's social security number, if assigned, or, 487
where a motor vehicle to be registered is used for hire or 488
principally in connection with any established business, the 489
owner's federal taxpayer identification number. 490
(B) Each time the applicant first registers a motor 492
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vehicle in the applicant's name, the applicant shall present for 494
inspection a certificate of title or a memorandum certificate 495
showing title to the motor vehicle to be registered in the 496
applicant. When a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance 497
program is in effect under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code 498
and rules adopted under it, each application for registration for 499
a vehicle required to be inspected under that section and those 500
rules shall be accompanied by an inspection certificate for the 501
motor vehicle issued in accordance with that section. The 502
application shall be refused if any of the following applies: 503
(1) The application is not in proper form. 505
(2) The application is prohibited from being accepted by 507
division (D) of section 2935.27, division (A) of section 508
2937.221, division (A) of section 4503.13, division (B) of 509
section 4507.168, or division (B)(1) of section 4521.10 of the 510
Revised Code.
(3) A certificate of title or memorandum certificate of 513
title does not accompany the application. 515
(4) All registration and transfer fees for the motor 517
vehicle, for the preceding year or the preceding period of the 518
current registration year, have not been paid. 519
(5) The owner or lessee does not have an inspection 521
certificate for the motor vehicle as provided in section 3704.14 522
of the Revised Code, and rules adopted under it, if that section 523
is applicable. 524
This section does not require the payment of license or 526
registration taxes on a motor vehicle for any preceding year, or 527
for any preceding period of a year, if the motor vehicle was not 528
taxable for that preceding year or period under sections 4503.02, 529
4503.04, 4503.11, 4503.12, and 4503.16 or Chapter 4504. of the 530
Revised Code. When a certificate of registration is issued upon 531
the first registration of a motor vehicle by or on behalf of the 532
owner, the official issuing the certificate shall indicate the 533
issuance with a stamp on the certificate of title or memorandum 534
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certificate and on the inspection certificate for the motor 535
vehicle, if any. The official also shall indicate, by a stamp or 536
by such other means as the registrar prescribes, on the 537
registration certificate issued upon the first registration of a 538
motor vehicle by or on behalf of the owner the odometer reading 539
of the motor vehicle as shown in the odometer statement included 540
in or attached to the certificate of title. Upon each subsequent 541
registration of the motor vehicle by or on behalf of the same 542
owner, the official also shall so indicate the odometer reading 543
of the motor vehicle as shown on the immediately preceding 544
certificate of registration. 545
The registrar shall include in the permanent registration 547
record of any vehicle required to be inspected under section 548
3704.14 of the Revised Code the inspection certificate number 549
from the inspection certificate that is presented at the time of 550
registration of the vehicle as required under this division. 551
(C) In addition, a charge of twenty-five cents shall be 553
made for each reflectorized safety license plate issued, and a 554
single charge of twenty-five cents shall be made for each county 555
identification sticker or each set of county identification 557
stickers issued, as the case may be, to cover the cost of 558
producing the license plates and stickers, including material, 559
manufacturing, and administrative costs. Those fees shall be in 560
addition to the license tax. If the total cost of producing the 561
plates is less than twenty-five cents per plate, or if the total 562
cost of producing the stickers is less than twenty-five cents per 563
sticker or per set issued, any excess moneys accruing from the 564
fees shall be distributed in the same manner as provided by 565
section 4501.04 of the Revised Code for the distribution of 566
license tax moneys. If the total cost of producing the plates 567
exceeds twenty-five cents per plate, or if the total cost of 568
producing the stickers exceeds twenty-five cents per sticker or 569
per set issued, the difference shall be paid from the license tax 571
moneys collected pursuant to section 4503.02 of the Revised Code. 572
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(D) Each deputy registrar shall be allowed a fee of two 574
dollars and twenty-five cents for each application for 575
registration and registration renewal notice the deputy registrar 577
receives, which shall be for the purpose of compensating the 578
deputy registrar for the deputy registrar's services, and such 579
office and rental expenses, as may be necessary for the proper 581
discharge of the deputy registrar's duties in the receiving of 583
applications and renewal notices and the issuing of licenses. 584
(E) Upon the certification of the registrar, the county 586
sheriff or local police officials shall recover license plates 587
erroneously or fraudulently issued. 588
(F) Each deputy registrar, upon receipt of any application 590
for registration or registration renewal notice, together with 591
the license fee and any or local motor vehicle license tax levied 594
pursuant to Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, shall transmit 595
that fee and tax, if any, in the manner provided in this section, 596
together with the original and duplicate copy of the application, 597
to the registrar. The registrar, subject to the approval of the 598
director of public safety, may deposit the funds collected by 599
those deputies in a local bank or depository to the credit of the 600
"state of Ohio, bureau of motor vehicles." Where a local bank or 601
depository has been designated by the registrar, each deputy 602
registrar shall deposit all moneys collected by the deputy 603
registrar into that bank or depository not more than one business 604
day after their collection and shall make reports to the 606
registrar of the amounts so deposited, together with any other 607
information, some of which may be prescribed by the treasurer of 608
state, as the registrar may require and as prescribed by the 609
registrar by rule. The registrar, within three days after 610
receipt of notification of the deposit of funds by a deputy 611
registrar in a local bank or depository, shall draw on that
account in favor of the treasurer of state. The registrar, 613
subject to the approval of the director and the treasurer of 614
state, may make reasonable rules necessary for the prompt 615
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transmittal of fees and for safeguarding the interests of the 616
state and of counties, townships, municipal corporations, and 617
transportation improvement districts levying local motor vehicle 618
license taxes. The registrar may pay service charges usually 622
collected by banks and depositories for such service. If deputy 623
registrars are located in communities where banking facilities 625
are not available, they shall transmit the fees forthwith, by 626
money order or otherwise, as the registrar, by rule approved by 627
the director and the treasurer of state, may prescribe. The 628
registrar may pay the usual and customary fees for such service. 629
(G) This section does not prevent any person from making 631
an application for a motor vehicle license directly to the 632
registrar BY MAIL, BY ELECTRONIC MEANS, OR IN PERSON AT ANY OF 633
THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICES, upon payment of a SERVICE FEE OF two 634
dollars and twenty-five cents service fee for each application. 635
(H) No person shall make a false statement as to the 637
district of registration in an application required by division 638
(A) of this section. Violation of this division is falsification 639
under section 2921.13 of the Revised Code and punishable as 640
specified in that section. 641
(I)(1) Where applicable, the requirements of division (B) 643
of this section relating to the presentation of an inspection 644
certificate issued under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code and 645
rules adopted under it for a motor vehicle, the refusal of a 646
license for failure to present an inspection certificate, and the 647
stamping of the inspection certificate by the official issuing 648
the certificate of registration apply to the registration of and 649
issuance of license plates for a motor vehicle under sections 650
4503.102, 4503.12, 4503.14, 4503.15, 4503.16, 4503.171, 4503.172, 651
4503.19, 4503.40, 4503.41, 4503.42, 4503.43, 4503.44, 4503.46, 652
4503.47, and 4503.51 of the Revised Code. 653
(2)(a) The registrar shall adopt rules ensuring that each 655
owner registering a motor vehicle in a county where a motor 656
vehicle inspection and maintenance program is in effect under 657
17
section 3704.14 of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it 658
receives information about the requirements established in that 659
section and those rules and about the need in those counties to 660
present an inspection certificate with an application for 661
registration or preregistration. 662
(b) Upon request, the registrar shall provide the director 664
of environmental protection, or any person that has been awarded 665
a contract under division (D) of section 3704.14 of the Revised 666
Code, an on-line computer data link to registration information 667
for all passenger cars, noncommercial motor vehicles, and 668
commercial cars that are subject to that section. The registrar 669
also shall provide to the director of environmental protection a 670
magnetic data tape containing registration information regarding 671
passenger cars, noncommercial motor vehicles, and commercial cars 672
for which a multi-year registration is in effect under section 673
4503.103 of the Revised Code or rules adopted under it, 674
including, without limitation, the date of issuance of the 675
multi-year registration, the registration deadline established 676
under rules adopted under section 4503.101 of the Revised Code 677
that was applicable in the year in which the multi-year 678
registration was issued, and the registration deadline for 679
renewal of the multi-year registration. 680
(J) Application for registration under the international 682
registration plan, as set forth in sections 4503.60 to 4503.66 of 683
the Revised Code, shall be made to the registrar on forms 684
furnished by the registrar. In accordance with international 685
registration plan guidelines and pursuant to rules adopted by the 686
registrar, the forms shall include the following: 687
(1) A uniform mileage schedule; 689
(2) The gross vehicle weight of the vehicle or combined 691
gross vehicle weight of the combination vehicle as declared by 692
the registrant; 693
(3) Any other information the registrar requires by rule. 696
Sec. 4503.102. (A) The registrar of motor vehicles shall 705
18
adopt rules to establish a centralized system of motor vehicle 706
registration renewal by mail OR BY ELECTRONIC MEANS. Any person 707
owning a motor vehicle that was registered in the person's name 708
during the preceding registration year shall renew the 710
registration of the motor vehicle NOT MORE THAN NINETY DAYS PRIOR 711
TO THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE REGISTRATION either by mail OR BY 712
ELECTRONIC MEANS through the centralized system of registration 713
established under this section, or in person at a ANY OFFICE OF 714
THE REGISTRAR OR AT A deputy registrar's office. 715
(B)(1) No less than forty-five days prior to the 717
expiration date of any motor vehicle registration, the registrar 718
shall mail a renewal notice to the person in whose name the motor 719
vehicle is registered. The renewal notice shall clearly state 720
that the registration of the motor vehicle may be renewed by mail 721
OR ELECTRONIC MEANS through the centralized system of 723
registration or in person at ANY OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OR AT a 725
deputy registrar's office and shall be preprinted with 726
information including, but not limited to, the owner's name and
residence address as shown in the records of the bureau of motor 727
vehicles, a brief description of the motor vehicle to be 728
registered, notice of the license taxes and fees due on the motor 729
vehicle, the toll-free telephone number of the registrar as 730
required under division (D)(1) of section 4503.031 of the Revised 731
Code, and any additional information the registrar may require by 732
rule. The renewal notice shall be sent by regular mail to the 734
owner's last known address as shown in the records of the bureau
of motor vehicles. 735
(2) If the application for renewal of the registration of 738
a motor vehicle is prohibited from being accepted by the 739
registrar or a deputy registrar by division (D) of section 740
2935.27, division (A) of section 2937.221, division (A) of 741
section 4503.13, division (B) of section 4507.168, or division 743
(B)(1) of section 4521.10 of the Revised Code, the registrar is
not required to send a renewal notice to the vehicle owner or 744
19
vehicle lessee.
(C) The owner of the motor vehicle shall verify the 746
information contained in the notice, sign it EITHER MANUALLY OR 747
BY ELECTRONIC MEANS, and return it, EITHER BY MAIL OR ELECTRONIC 748
MEANS, OR THE OWNER MAY TAKE IT in person to ANY OFFICE OF THE 750
REGISTRAR OR OF a deputy registrar or by mail to the registrar, 751
together with a credit card number, when permitted by rule of the 752
registrar, check, or money order in the amount of the 753
registration taxes and fees payable on the motor vehicle and a 754
mail fee of two dollars and twenty-five cents plus postage as 755
indicated on the notice, if the registration is renewed by mail, 756
and an inspection certificate for the motor vehicle as provided 757
in section 3704.14 of the Revised Code. IF THE MOTOR VEHICLE 758
OWNER CHOOSES TO RENEW THE MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION BY 759
ELECTRONIC MEANS, THE OWNER SHALL PROCEED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE 760
RULES THE REGISTRAR ADOPTS.
(D) If all registration and transfer fees for the motor 762
vehicle for the preceding year or the preceding period of the 763
current registration year have not been paid, if division (D) of 764
section 2935.27, division (A) of section 2937.221, division (A) 765
of section 4503.13, division (B) of section 4507.168, or division 767
(B)(1) of section 4521.10 of the Revised Code prohibits 768
acceptance of the renewal notice, or if the owner or lessee does 769
not have an inspection certificate for the motor vehicle as 770
provided in section 3704.14 of the Revised Code, if that section 771
is applicable, the license shall be refused, and the registrar or 772
deputy registrar shall so notify the owner. This section does 773
not require the payment of license or registration taxes on a 774
motor vehicle for any preceding year, or for any preceding period 775
of a year, if the motor vehicle was not taxable for that 776
preceding year or period under section 4503.02, 4503.04, 4503.11, 777
4503.12, or 4503.16 or Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code. 778
(E)(1) Failure to receive a renewal notice does not 780
relieve a motor vehicle owner from the responsibility to renew 782
20
the registration for the motor vehicle. Any person who has a 783
motor vehicle registered in this state and who does not receive a 784
renewal notice as provided in division (B) of this section prior 785
to the expiration date of the registration shall request an 786
application for registration from the registrar or a deputy 787
registrar and return SIGN the signed application MANUALLY OR BY 789
ELECTRONIC MEANS AND SUBMIT THE APPLICATION and PAY any 790
applicable license taxes and fees to the registrar or deputy 791
registrar.
(2) If the owner of a motor vehicle submits an application 793
for registration and the registrar is prohibited by division (D) 794
of section 2935.27, division (A) of section 2937.221, division 795
(A) of section 4503.13, division (B) of section 4507.168, or 797
division (B)(1) of section 4521.10 of the Revised Code from 798
accepting the application, the registrar shall return the 799
application and the payment to the owner. IF THE OWNER OF A 800
MOTOR VEHICLE SUBMITS A REGISTRATION RENEWAL APPLICATION TO THE 801
REGISTRAR BY ELECTRONIC MEANS AND THE REGISTRAR IS PROHIBITED 802
FROM ACCEPTING THE APPLICATION AS PROVIDED IN THIS DIVISION, THE 803
REGISTRAR SHALL NOTIFY THE OWNER OF THIS FACT AND DENY THE 804
APPLICATION AND RETURN THE PAYMENT OR GIVE A CREDIT ON THE CREDIT 805
CARD ACCOUNT OF THE OWNER IN THE MANNER THE REGISTRAR PRESCRIBES 806
BY RULE ADOPTED PURSUANT TO DIVISION (A) OF THIS SECTION. 807
(F) Every deputy registrar shall post in a prominent place 809
at the deputy's office a notice informing the public of the mail 811
registration system required by this section, and also shall post 812
a notice that every owner of a motor vehicle and every chauffeur 813
holding a certificate of registration is required to notify the 814
registrar in writing of any change of residence within ten days 815
after the change occurs. The notice shall be in such form as the 816
registrar prescribes by rule. 817
(G) The two dollars and twenty-five cents fee, plus 819
postage and any credit card surcharge collected by the registrar 820
for registration by mail, shall be paid to the credit of the 821
21
state bureau of motor vehicles fund established by section 823
4501.25 of the Revised Code.
(H) The PURSUANT TO SECTION 113.40 OF THE REVISED CODE, 825
THE registrar may implement a program permitting payment of motor 827
vehicle registration taxes and fees, driver's license and 828
commercial driver's license fees, and any other taxes, fees, 829
penalties, or charges imposed or levied by the state by means of 830
a credit card. The registrar may adopt rules as necessary for 831
this purpose.
If a person uses a credit card to pay motor vehicle 833
registration taxes or fees, license fees, or other similar taxes, 834
fees, penalties, or charges imposed or levied by the state as 835
provided in this section, a surcharge sufficient to pay the 836
required service charge of the financial institution or credit 837
card company shall be paid by the person using the credit card. 838
(I) For persons who reside in counties where tailpipe 840
emissions inspections are required under the motor vehicle 841
inspection and maintenance program, the notice required by 842
division (B) of this section shall also include the toll-free 843
telephone number maintained by the Ohio environmental protection 844
agency to provide information concerning the locations of 845
emissions testing centers. 846
Sec. 4503.20. (A) As used in this section: 855
(1) "Dealer engaged in the business of leasing motor 857
vehicles" means any person engaged in the business of regularly 858
making available, offering to make available, or arranging for 859
another person to use a motor vehicle pursuant to a bailment, 860
lease, or other contractual arrangement. 861
(2) "Motor vehicle" has the meaning set forth in section 863
4509.01 of the Revised Code. 864
(B) An application for the registration of a motor vehicle 866
shall contain a statement, to be signed by the applicant EITHER 867
MANUALLY OR BY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE, that does all of the 868
following:
22
(1) States that the applicant maintains, or has maintained 870
on his THE APPLICANT'S behalf, proof of financial responsibility 871
at the time of application, and will not operate a motor vehicle 873
in this state, unless he THE APPLICANT maintains, with respect to 874
that motor vehicle or the operation of such vehicle, proof of
financial responsibility; 875
(2) Contains a brief summary of the purposes and operation 877
of section 4509.101 of the Revised Code, the rights and duties of 878
the applicant under that section, and the penalties for violation 879
of that section; 880
(3) Warns the applicant that the financial responsibility 882
law does not prevent the possibility that the applicant may be 883
involved in an accident with an owner or operator of a motor 884
vehicle who is without proof of financial responsibility. 885
(C)(1) A person who purchases any motor vehicle from a 887
licensed motor vehicle dealer who agrees to make application for 888
registration of the motor vehicle on behalf of the purchaser 889
shall sign statements that comply with divisions (B) and (F) of 890
this section. The dealer shall submit the statements to the 891
deputy registrar where the dealer has agreed to make application 892
for registration on behalf of the person. 893
(2) In the case of a person who leases any motor vehicle 895
from a dealer engaged in the business of leasing motor vehicles 896
who agrees to make application for registration of the motor 897
vehicle on behalf of the lessee, the person shall sign a 898
statement that complies with division (B) of this section, and 899
the dealer shall do either of the following: 900
(a) Submit the statement signed by the person to the 902
deputy registrar where the dealer has agreed to make application 903
for registration on behalf of the person; 904
(b) Sign and submit a statement to the deputy registrar 906
that certifies that a statement has been signed and filed with 907
the dealer or incorporated into the lease. 908
The dealer shall submit to the registrar or deputy 910
23
registrar to whom he THE DEALER submits the application for 911
registration a statement signed by the person that complies with 913
division (F) of this section.
(D) The registrar of motor vehicles shall prescribe the 915
form of the statements required under divisions (B), (C), and (F) 916
of this section, and the manner or manners in which the 917
statements required under divisions (B) and (F) of this section 918
shall be presented to the applicant. Any statement that is 919
required under divisions (B), (C), and (F) of this section shall 920
be designed to enable the applicant to retain a copy of it. 921
(E) Nothing within this section shall be construed to 923
excuse a violation of section 4509.101 of the Revised Code. A 924
motor vehicle dealer who makes application for the registration 925
of a motor vehicle on behalf of the purchaser or lessee of the 926
motor vehicle is not liable in damages in any civil action on 927
account of the act of making such application for registration or 928
the content of any such application for registration.
(F) In addition to the statements required by divisions 930
(B) and (C) of this section, a person who makes application for 931
registration of a motor vehicle shall be furnished with a form 932
that lists in plain language all the possible penalties to which 933
a person could be subject for a violation of the financial
responsibility law, including driver's license suspensions; all 934
fees, including nonvoluntary compliance and reinstatement fees; 935
and vehicle immobilization or impoundment. The person shall read 936
THE FORM and EITHER MANUALLY OR BY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE sign the 937
form, which shall be submitted along with the application for 938
registration as provided in this section. The form shall be 939
retained by the registrar or deputy registrar who issues the 940
motor vehicle registration or his THE REGISTRAR'S OR DEPUTY 941
REGISTRAR'S successor for a period of two years from the date of
issuance of the registration. 942
(G) Upon the registration of a motor vehicle, the owner of 944
the motor vehicle is deemed to have agreed to the production of 945
24
proof of financial responsibility by him THE OWNER or the 946
operator of the motor vehicle, upon the request of a peace 947
officer or state highway patrol trooper made in accordance with 948
division (E)(2) of section 4509.101 of the Revised Code. 949
(H) THE REGISTRAR SHALL ADOPT RULES GOVERNING THE RENEWAL 951
OF MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS BY ELECTRONIC MEANS AND THE 952
COMPLETION AND SUBMISSION OF STATEMENTS THAT COMPLY WITH 953
DIVISIONS (B) AND (F) OF THIS SECTION. THE REGISTRAR SHALL ADOPT 954
THE RULES PRESCRIBED BY THIS DIVISION IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 955
119. OF THE REVISED CODE. 956
Section 2. That existing sections 4501.01, 4503.10, 958
4503.102, and 4503.20 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed. 959
Section 3. Section 4501.01 of the Revised Code is 961
presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by 962
both Am. Sub. H.B. 611 and Am. Sub. S.B. 142 of the 122nd General 963
Assembly, with the new language of neither of the acts shown in 965
capital letters. This is in recognition of the principle stated 966
in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that such 967
amendments are to be harmonized where not substantively 968
irreconcilable and constitutes a legislative finding that such is 969
the resulting version in effect prior to the effective date of 970
this act.