As Passed by the Senate 1
123rd General Assembly 4
Regular Session Am. S. B. No. 242 5
1999-2000 6
SENATORS OELSLAGER-CARNES-SPADA-MUMPER-CUPP-DRAKE-ARMBRUSTER- 8
HORN-McLIN-MALLORY 9
_________________________________________________________________ 11
A B I L L
To amend sections 4501.01, 4503.10, 4503.102, and 13
4503.20 of the Revised Code to permit the renewal 14
of motor vehicle registrations by electronic
means.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO: 16
Section 1. That sections 4501.01, 4503.10, 4503.102, and 18
4503.20 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows: 19
Sec. 4501.01. As used in this chapter and Chapters 4503., 29
4505., 4507., 4509., 4511., 4513., 4515., and 4517. of the 30
Revised Code, and in the penal laws, except as otherwise 31
provided: 32
(A) "Vehicles" means everything on wheels or runners, 34
including motorized bicycles, but does not mean vehicles that are 35
operated exclusively on rails or tracks or from overhead electric 36
trolley wires and vehicles that belong to any police department, 37
municipal fire department, or volunteer fire department, or that 38
are used by such a department in the discharge of its functions. 39
(B) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle, including mobile 42
homes and recreational vehicles, that is propelled or drawn by 44
power other than muscular power or power collected from overhead 45
electric trolley wires. "Motor vehicle" does not include 46
motorized bicycles, road rollers, traction engines, power 47
shovels, power cranes, and other equipment used in construction 48
work and not designed for or employed in general highway 49
transportation, well-drilling machinery, ditch-digging machinery, 50
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farm machinery, trailers that are used to transport agricultural 51
produce or agricultural production materials between a local 52
place of storage or supply and the farm when drawn or towed on a 53
public road or highway at a speed of twenty-five miles per hour 54
or less, threshing machinery, hay-baling machinery, corn sheller, 55
hammermill and agricultural tractors, machinery used in the 56
production of horticultural, agricultural, and vegetable 57
products, and trailers that are designed and used exclusively to 58
transport a boat between a place of storage and a marina, or in 59
and around a marina, when drawn or towed on a public road or 60
highway for a distance of no more than ten miles and at a speed 61
of twenty-five miles per hour or less.
(C) "Agricultural tractor" and "traction engine" mean any 63
self-propelling vehicle that is designed or used for drawing 64
other vehicles or wheeled machinery, but has no provisions for 65
carrying loads independently of such other vehicles, and that is 66
used principally for agricultural purposes. 67
(D) "Commercial tractor," except as defined in division 69
(C) of this section, means any motor vehicle that has motive 70
power and either is designed or used for drawing other motor 71
vehicles, or is designed or used for drawing another motor 73
vehicle while carrying a portion of the other motor vehicle or 74
its load, or both.
(E) "Passenger car" means any motor vehicle that is 76
designed and used for carrying not more than nine persons and 77
includes any motor vehicle that is designed and used for carrying 78
not more than fifteen persons in a ridesharing arrangement. 79
(F) "Collector's vehicle" means any motor vehicle or 81
agricultural tractor or traction engine that is of special 82
interest, that has a fair market value of one hundred dollars or 83
more, whether operable or not, and that is owned, operated, 84
collected, preserved, restored, maintained, or used essentially 85
as a collector's item, leisure pursuit, or investment, but not as 86
the owner's principal means of transportation. "Licensed 87
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collector's vehicle" means a collector's vehicle, other than an 88
agricultural tractor or traction engine, that displays current, 89
valid license tags issued under section 4503.45 of the Revised 90
Code, or a similar type of motor vehicle that displays current, 91
valid license tags issued under substantially equivalent 92
provisions in the laws of other states. 93
(G) "Historical motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle 95
that is over twenty-five years old and is owned solely as a 96
collector's item and for participation in club activities, 97
exhibitions, tours, parades, and similar uses, but that in no 98
event is used for general transportation. 99
(H) "Noncommercial motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle, 101
including a farm truck as defined in section 4503.04 of the 102
Revised Code, that is designed by the manufacturer to carry a 103
load of no more than one ton and is used exclusively for purposes 104
other than engaging in business for profit. 105
(I) "Bus" means any motor vehicle that has motor power and 108
is designed and used for carrying more than nine passengers,
except any motor vehicle that is designed and used for carrying 109
not more than fifteen passengers in a ridesharing arrangement. 110
(J) "Commercial car" means any motor vehicle that has 112
motor power and is designed and used for carrying merchandise or 113
freight, or that is used as a commercial tractor. 114
(K) "Bicycle" means every device, other than a tricycle 116
that is designed solely for use as a play vehicle by a child, 118
that is propelled solely by human power upon which any person may 119
ride, and that has either two tandem wheels, or one wheel in 120
front and two wheels in the rear, any of which is more than 121
fourteen inches in diameter.
(L) "Motorized bicycle" means any vehicle that either has 123
two tandem wheels or one wheel in the front and two wheels in the 125
rear, that is capable of being pedaled, and that is equipped with
a helper motor of not more than fifty cubic centimeters piston 126
displacement that produces no more than one brake horsepower and 127
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is capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of no greater 128
than twenty miles per hour on a level surface. 129
(M) "Trailer" means any vehicle without motive power that 132
is designed or used for carrying property or persons wholly on
its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle, and 133
includes any such vehicle that is formed by or operated as a 134
combination of a semitrailer and a vehicle of the dolly type such 135
as that commonly known as a trailer dolly, a vehicle used to 136
transport agricultural produce or agricultural production 137
materials between a local place of storage or supply and the farm 138
when drawn or towed on a public road or highway at a speed 139
greater than twenty-five miles per hour, and a vehicle that is 140
designed and used exclusively to transport a boat between a place 141
of storage and a marina, or in and around a marina, when drawn or 142
towed on a public road or highway for a distance of more than ten 143
miles or at a speed of more than twenty-five miles per hour. 144
"Trailer" does not include a manufactured home or travel trailer. 145
(N) "Noncommercial trailer" means any trailer, except a 147
travel trailer or trailer that is used to transport a boat as 148
described in division (B) of this section, but, where applicable, 149
includes a vehicle that is used to transport a boat as described 150
in division (M) of this section, that has a gross weight of no 151
more than three thousand pounds, and that is used exclusively for 152
purposes other than engaging in business for a profit. 153
(O) "Mobile home" means a building unit or assembly of 156
closed construction that is fabricated in an off-site facility, 157
is more than thirty-five body feet in length or, when erected on 158
site, is three hundred twenty or more square feet, is built on a 159
permanent chassis, is transportable in one or more sections, and 161
does not qualify as a manufactured home as defined in division 162
(C)(4) of section 3781.06 of the Revised Code or as an 163
industrialized unit as defined in division (C)(3) of section 164
3781.06 of the Revised Code.
(P) "Semitrailer" means any vehicle of the trailer type 166
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that does not have motive power and is so designed or used with 167
another and separate motor vehicle that in operation a part of 168
its own weight or that of its load, or both, rests upon and is 169
carried by the other vehicle furnishing the motive power for 170
propelling itself and the vehicle referred to in this division, 171
and includes, for the purpose only of registration and taxation 172
under those chapters, any vehicle of the dolly type, such as a 173
trailer dolly, that is designed or used for the conversion of a 174
semitrailer into a trailer. 175
(Q) "Recreational vehicle" means a vehicular portable 177
structure that is designed and constructed to be used as a 178
temporary dwelling for travel, recreational, and vacation uses 179
and is classed as follows: 180
(1) "Travel trailer" means a nonself-propelled 182
recreational vehicle that does not exceed an overall length of 183
thirty-five feet, exclusive of bumper and tongue or coupling, and 184
contains less than three hundred twenty square feet of space when 185
erected on site. "Travel trailer" includes a tent-type fold-out 187
camping trailer as defined in section 4517.01 of the Revised 188
Code.
(2) "Motor home" means a self-propelled recreational 190
vehicle that is constructed with permanently installed facilities 191
for cold storage, cooking and consuming of food, and for 192
sleeping.
(3) "Truck camper" means a nonself-propelled recreational 194
vehicle that does not have wheels for road use and is designed to 195
be placed upon and attached to a motor vehicle. "Truck camper" 196
does not include truck covers that consist of walls and a roof, 197
but do not have floors and facilities enabling them to be used as 198
a dwelling.
(4) "Fifth wheel trailer" means a vehicle that is of such 200
size and weight as to be movable without a special highway 201
permit, that has a gross trailer area of four hundred square feet 202
or less, that is constructed with a raised forward section that 203
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allows a bi-level floor plan, and that is designed to be towed by
a vehicle equipped with a fifth-wheel hitch ordinarily installed 204
in the bed of a truck. 205
(5) "Park trailer" means a vehicle that is commonly known 207
as a park model recreational vehicle, meets the American national 208
standard institute standard A119.5 (1988) for park trailers, is 209
built on a single chassis, has a gross trailer area of four 210
hundred square feet or less when set up, is designed for seasonal 211
or temporary living quarters, and may be connected to utilities
necessary for the operation of installed features and appliances. 212
(R) "Pneumatic tires" means tires of rubber and fabric or 214
tires of similar material, that are inflated with air. 215
(S) "Solid tires" means tires of rubber or similar elastic 217
material that are not dependent upon confined air for support of 218
the load.
(T) "Solid tire vehicle" means any vehicle that is 220
equipped with two or more solid tires. 221
(U) "Farm machinery" means all machines and tools that are 223
used in the production, harvesting, and care of farm products, 224
and includes trailers that are used to transport agricultural 225
produce or agricultural production materials between a local 226
place of storage or supply and the farm when drawn or towed on a 227
public road or highway at a speed of twenty-five miles per hour 228
or less.
(V) "Owner" includes any person, firm, or corporation 230
other than a manufacturer or dealer that has title to a motor 231
vehicle, except that in sections 4505.01 to 4505.19 of the 232
Revised Code, "owner" includes in addition manufacturers and 233
dealers.
(W) "Manufacturer" and "dealer" include all persons, 235
firms, and corporations that are regularly engaged in the 236
business of manufacturing, selling, displaying, offering for 237
sale, or dealing in motor vehicles, at an established place of 238
business that is used exclusively for the purpose of 239
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manufacturing, selling, displaying, offering for sale, or dealing 240
in motor vehicles. A place of business that is used for 241
manufacturing, selling, displaying, offering for sale, or dealing 242
in motor vehicles shall be deemed to be used exclusively for 243
those purposes even though snowmobiles or all-purpose vehicles 244
are sold or displayed for sale thereat, even though farm 245
machinery is sold or displayed for sale thereat, or even though 246
repair, accessory, gasoline and oil, storage, parts, service, or 247
paint departments are maintained thereat, or, in any county 248
having a population of less than seventy-five thousand persons at 249
the last federal census, even though a department in a place of 250
business is used to dismantle, salvage, or rebuild motor vehicles 251
by means of used parts, if such departments are operated for the 252
purpose of furthering and assisting in the business of 253
manufacturing, selling, displaying, offering for sale, or dealing 254
in motor vehicles. Places of business or departments in a place 255
of business used to dismantle, salvage, or rebuild motor vehicles 256
by means of using used parts are not considered as being 257
maintained for the purpose of assisting or furthering the 258
manufacturing, selling, displaying, and offering for sale or 259
dealing in motor vehicles.
(X) "Operator" includes any person who drives or operates 261
a motor vehicle upon the public highways. 262
(Y) "Chauffeur" means any operator who operates a motor 264
vehicle, other than a taxicab, as an employee for hire; or any 265
operator whether or not the owner of a motor vehicle, other than 266
a taxicab, who operates such vehicle for transporting, for gain, 267
compensation, or profit, either persons or property owned by 268
another. Any operator of a motor vehicle who is voluntarily 269
involved in a ridesharing arrangement is not considered an 270
employee for hire or operating such vehicle for gain, 271
compensation, or profit.
(Z) "State" includes the territories and federal districts 273
of the United States, and the provinces of Canada. 274
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(AA) "Public roads and highways" for vehicles includes all 276
public thoroughfares, bridges, and culverts. 277
(BB) "Manufacturer's number" means the manufacturer's 279
original serial number that is affixed to or imprinted upon the 280
chassis or other part of the motor vehicle. 281
(CC) "Motor number" means the manufacturer's original 283
number that is affixed to or imprinted upon the engine or motor 284
of the vehicle. 285
(DD) "Distributor" means any person who is authorized by 287
a motor vehicle manufacturer to distribute new motor vehicles to 288
licensed motor vehicle dealers at an established place of 289
business that is used exclusively for the purpose of distributing 290
new motor vehicles to licensed motor vehicle dealers, except when 291
the distributor also is a new motor vehicle dealer, in which case 292
the distributor may distribute at the location of the 293
distributor's licensed dealership. 294
(EE) "Ridesharing arrangement" means the transportation of 296
persons in a motor vehicle where the transportation is incidental 298
to another purpose of a volunteer driver and includes ridesharing 299
arrangements known as carpools, vanpools, and buspools. 300
(FF) "Apportionable vehicle" means any vehicle that is 302
used or intended for use in two or more international 303
registration plan member jurisdictions that allocate or 304
proportionally register vehicles, that is used for the 305
transportation of persons for hire or designed, used, or 306
maintained primarily for the transportation of property, and that 307
meets any of the following qualifications:
(1) Is a power unit having a gross vehicle weight in 309
excess of twenty-six thousand pounds; 310
(2) Is a power unit having three or more axles, regardless 312
of the gross vehicle weight; 313
(3) Is a combination vehicle with a gross vehicle weight 315
in excess of twenty-six thousand pounds. 316
"Apportionable vehicle" does not include recreational 318
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vehicles, vehicles displaying restricted plates, city pick-up and 319
delivery vehicles, buses used for the transportation of chartered 320
parties, or vehicles owned and operated by the United States, 321
this state, or any political subdivisions thereof. 322
(GG) "Chartered party" means a group of persons who 324
contract as a group to acquire the exclusive use of a 325
passenger-carrying motor vehicle at a fixed charge for the 326
vehicle in accordance with the carrier's tariff, lawfully on file 327
with the United States department of transportation, for the 329
purpose of group travel to a specified destination or for a 330
particular itinerary, either agreed upon in advance or modified 331
by the chartered group after having left the place of origin. 332
(HH) "International registration plan" means a reciprocal 334
agreement of member jurisdictions that is endorsed by the 335
American association of motor vehicle administrators, and that 336
promotes and encourages the fullest possible use of the highway 337
system by authorizing apportioned registration of fleets of 338
vehicles and recognizing registration of vehicles apportioned in 339
member jurisdictions. 340
(II) "Restricted plate" means a license plate that has a 342
restriction of time, geographic area, mileage, or commodity, and 343
includes license plates issued to farm trucks under division (K) 344
of section 4503.04 of the Revised Code. 345
(JJ) "Gross vehicle weight," with regard to any commercial 347
car, trailer, semitrailer, or bus that is taxed at the rates 348
established under section 4503.042 of the Revised Code, means the 349
unladen weight of the vehicle fully equipped plus the maximum 350
weight of the load to be carried on the vehicle. 351
(KK) "Combined gross vehicle weight" with regard to any 353
combination of a commercial car, trailer, and semitrailer, that 354
is taxed at the rates established under section 4503.042 of the 355
Revised Code, means the total unladen weight of the combination 356
of vehicles fully equipped plus the maximum weight of the load to 357
be carried on that combination of vehicles. 358
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(LL) "Chauffeured limousine" means a motor vehicle that is 361
designed to carry nine or fewer passengers and is operated for 362
hire on an hourly basis pursuant to a prearranged contract for 363
the transportation of passengers on public roads and highways 364
along a route under the control of the person hiring the vehicle 365
and not over a defined and regular route. "Prearranged contract" 366
means an agreement, made in advance of boarding, to provide 367
transportation from a specific location in a chauffeured 368
limousine at a fixed rate per hour or trip. "Chauffeured 369
limousine" does not include any vehicle that is used exclusively 370
in the business of funeral directing. 371
(NN)(MM) "Manufactured home" has the same meaning as in 374
division (C)(4) of section 3781.06 of the Revised Code. 375
(OO)(NN) "Acquired situs," with respect to a manufactured 378
home or a mobile home, means to become located in this state 379
pursuant to the issuance of a certificate of title for the home 380
and the placement of the home on real property, but does not 381
include the placement of a manufactured home or a mobile home in 382
the inventory of a new motor vehicle dealer or the inventory of a 383
manufacturer, remanufacturer, or distributor of manufactured or 384
mobile homes. 385
(OO) "ELECTRONIC" INCLUDES ELECTRICAL, DIGITAL, MAGNETIC, 387
OPTICAL, ELECTROMAGNETIC, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF TECHNOLOGY THAT 388
ENTAILS CAPABILITIES SIMILAR TO THESE TECHNOLOGIES. 389
(PP) "ELECTRONIC RECORD" MEANS A RECORD GENERATED, 391
COMMUNICATED, RECEIVED, OR STORED BY ELECTRONIC MEANS FOR USE IN 392
AN INFORMATION SYSTEM OR FOR TRANSMISSION FROM ONE INFORMATION 393
SYSTEM TO ANOTHER.
(QQ) "ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE" MEANS A SIGNATURE IN 395
ELECTRONIC FORM ATTACHED TO OR LOGICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH AN 396
ELECTRONIC RECORD.
(RR) "FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICE" HAS THE SAME MEANING 398
AS IN DIVISION (A) OF SECTION 113.40 OF THE REVISED CODE. 399
Sec. 4503.10. (A) The owner of every snowmobile, 408
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off-highway motorcycle, and all-purpose vehicle required to be 410
registered under section 4519.02 of the Revised Code shall file 412
an application for registration under section 4519.03 of the 413
Revised Code. The owner of a motor vehicle, other than a 416
snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle, that 417
is not designed and constructed by the manufacturer for operation 418
on a street or highway may not register it under this chapter 419
except upon certification of inspection pursuant to section 420
4513.02 of the Revised Code by the sheriff or chief of police of 423
the municipal or township police with jurisdiction over the 424
political subdivision in which the owner of the motor vehicle 425
resides. Except as provided in section 4503.103 of the Revised 426
Code, every owner of every other motor vehicle not previously 427
described in this section and every person mentioned as owner in 428
the last certificate of title of a motor vehicle that is operated 430
or driven upon the public roads or highways shall cause to be 431
filed each year, by mail or otherwise, in the office of the 432
registrar of motor vehicles or a deputy registrar, a written OR 433
ELECTRONIC application or a preprinted registration renewal
notice issued under section 4503.102 of the Revised Code, the 434
form of which shall be prescribed by the registrar, for 435
registration for the following registration year, which shall 436
begin on the first day of January of every calendar year and end 437
on the thirty-first day of December in the same year. 438
Applications for registration and registration renewal notices 439
shall be filed at the times established by the registrar pursuant 440
to section 4503.101 of the Revised Code. A MOTOR VEHICLE OWNER 441
ALSO MAY ELECT TO RENEW A MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION BY 442
ELECTRONIC MEANS USING ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE IN ACCORDANCE WITH 443
RULES ADOPTED BY THE REGISTRAR. Except as provided in division 444
(J) of this section, applications for registration shall be made 445
on blanks furnished by the registrar for that purpose, containing 446
the following information: 447
(1) A brief description of the motor vehicle to be 449
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registered, including the name of the manufacturer, the factory 450
number of the vehicle, the year's model, and, in the case of 451
commercial cars, the gross weight of the vehicle fully equipped 452
computed in the manner prescribed in section 4503.08 of the 453
Revised Code; 454
(2) The name and residence address of the owner, and the 457
township and municipal corporation in which the owner resides; 459
(3) The district of registration, which shall be 461
determined as follows: 462
(a) In case the motor vehicle to be registered is used for 464
hire or principally in connection with any established business 465
or branch business, conducted at a particular place, the district 466
of registration is the municipal corporation in which that place 467
is located or, if not located in any municipal corporation, the 468
county and township in which that place is located. 469
(b) In case the vehicle is not so used, the district of 471
registration is the municipal corporation or county in which the 472
owner resides at the time of making the application. 473
(4) Whether the motor vehicle is a new or used motor 475
vehicle; 476
(5) The date of purchase of the motor vehicle; 478
(6) Whether the fees required to be paid for the 480
registration or transfer of the motor vehicle, during the 481
preceding registration year and during the preceding period of 482
the current registration year, have been paid. Each application 483
for registration shall be signed by the owner, directly EITHER 484
MANUALLY OR BY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE, or pursuant to obtaining a 486
limited power of attorney authorized by the registrar for
registration, or other document authorizing such signature. IF 487
THE OWNER ELECTS TO RENEW THE MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION WITH THE 488
REGISTRAR BY ELECTRONIC MEANS, THE OWNER'S MANUAL SIGNATURE IS 489
NOT REQUIRED.
(7) The owner's social security number, if assigned, or, 491
where a motor vehicle to be registered is used for hire or 492
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principally in connection with any established business, the 493
owner's federal taxpayer identification number. 494
(B) Each time the applicant first registers a motor 496
vehicle in the applicant's name, the applicant shall present for 498
inspection a certificate of title or a memorandum certificate 499
showing title to the motor vehicle to be registered in the 500
applicant. When a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance 501
program is in effect under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code 502
and rules adopted under it, each application for registration for 503
a vehicle required to be inspected under that section and those 504
rules shall be accompanied by an inspection certificate for the 505
motor vehicle issued in accordance with that section. The 506
application shall be refused if any of the following applies: 507
(1) The application is not in proper form. 509
(2) The application is prohibited from being accepted by 511
division (D) of section 2935.27, division (A) of section 512
2937.221, division (A) of section 4503.13, division (B) of 513
section 4507.168, or division (B)(1) of section 4521.10 of the 514
Revised Code.
(3) A certificate of title or memorandum certificate of 517
title does not accompany the application. 519
(4) All registration and transfer fees for the motor 521
vehicle, for the preceding year or the preceding period of the 522
current registration year, have not been paid. 523
(5) The owner or lessee does not have an inspection 525
certificate for the motor vehicle as provided in section 3704.14 526
of the Revised Code, and rules adopted under it, if that section 527
is applicable. 528
This section does not require the payment of license or 530
registration taxes on a motor vehicle for any preceding year, or 531
for any preceding period of a year, if the motor vehicle was not 532
taxable for that preceding year or period under sections 4503.02, 533
4503.04, 4503.11, 4503.12, and 4503.16 or Chapter 4504. of the 534
Revised Code. When a certificate of registration is issued upon 535
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the first registration of a motor vehicle by or on behalf of the 536
owner, the official issuing the certificate shall indicate the 537
issuance with a stamp on the certificate of title or memorandum 538
certificate and on the inspection certificate for the motor 539
vehicle, if any. The official also shall indicate, by a stamp or 540
by such other means as the registrar prescribes, on the 541
registration certificate issued upon the first registration of a 542
motor vehicle by or on behalf of the owner the odometer reading 543
of the motor vehicle as shown in the odometer statement included 544
in or attached to the certificate of title. Upon each subsequent 545
registration of the motor vehicle by or on behalf of the same 546
owner, the official also shall so indicate the odometer reading 547
of the motor vehicle as shown on the immediately preceding 548
certificate of registration. 549
The registrar shall include in the permanent registration 551
record of any vehicle required to be inspected under section 552
3704.14 of the Revised Code the inspection certificate number 553
from the inspection certificate that is presented at the time of 554
registration of the vehicle as required under this division. 555
(C) In addition, a charge of twenty-five cents shall be 557
made for each reflectorized safety license plate issued, and a 558
single charge of twenty-five cents shall be made for each county 559
identification sticker or each set of county identification 561
stickers issued, as the case may be, to cover the cost of 562
producing the license plates and stickers, including material, 563
manufacturing, and administrative costs. Those fees shall be in 564
addition to the license tax. If the total cost of producing the 565
plates is less than twenty-five cents per plate, or if the total 566
cost of producing the stickers is less than twenty-five cents per 567
sticker or per set issued, any excess moneys accruing from the 568
fees shall be distributed in the same manner as provided by 569
section 4501.04 of the Revised Code for the distribution of 570
license tax moneys. If the total cost of producing the plates 571
exceeds twenty-five cents per plate, or if the total cost of 572
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producing the stickers exceeds twenty-five cents per sticker or 573
per set issued, the difference shall be paid from the license tax 575
moneys collected pursuant to section 4503.02 of the Revised Code. 576
(D) Each deputy registrar shall be allowed a fee of two 578
dollars and twenty-five cents for each application for 579
registration and registration renewal notice the deputy registrar 581
receives, which shall be for the purpose of compensating the 582
deputy registrar for the deputy registrar's services, and such 583
office and rental expenses, as may be necessary for the proper 585
discharge of the deputy registrar's duties in the receiving of 587
applications and renewal notices and the issuing of licenses. 588
(E) Upon the certification of the registrar, the county 590
sheriff or local police officials shall recover license plates 591
erroneously or fraudulently issued. 592
(F) Each deputy registrar, upon receipt of any application 594
for registration or registration renewal notice, together with 595
the license fee and any or local motor vehicle license tax levied 598
pursuant to Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, shall transmit 599
that fee and tax, if any, in the manner provided in this section, 600
together with the original and duplicate copy of the application, 601
to the registrar. The registrar, subject to the approval of the 602
director of public safety, may deposit the funds collected by 603
those deputies in a local bank or depository to the credit of the 604
"state of Ohio, bureau of motor vehicles." Where a local bank or 605
depository has been designated by the registrar, each deputy 606
registrar shall deposit all moneys collected by the deputy 607
registrar into that bank or depository not more than one business 608
day after their collection and shall make reports to the 610
registrar of the amounts so deposited, together with any other 611
information, some of which may be prescribed by the treasurer of 612
state, as the registrar may require and as prescribed by the 613
registrar by rule. The registrar, within three days after 614
receipt of notification of the deposit of funds by a deputy 615
registrar in a local bank or depository, shall draw on that
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account in favor of the treasurer of state. The registrar, 617
subject to the approval of the director and the treasurer of 618
state, may make reasonable rules necessary for the prompt 619
transmittal of fees and for safeguarding the interests of the 620
state and of counties, townships, municipal corporations, and 621
transportation improvement districts levying local motor vehicle 622
license taxes. The registrar may pay service charges usually 626
collected by banks and depositories for such service. If deputy 627
registrars are located in communities where banking facilities 629
are not available, they shall transmit the fees forthwith, by 630
money order or otherwise, as the registrar, by rule approved by 631
the director and the treasurer of state, may prescribe. The 632
registrar may pay the usual and customary fees for such service. 633
(G) This section does not prevent any person from making 635
an application for a motor vehicle license directly to the 636
registrar BY MAIL, BY ELECTRONIC MEANS, OR IN PERSON AT ANY OF 637
THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICES, upon payment of a SERVICE FEE OF two 638
dollars and twenty-five cents service fee for each application. 639
(H) No person shall make a false statement as to the 641
district of registration in an application required by division 642
(A) of this section. Violation of this division is falsification 643
under section 2921.13 of the Revised Code and punishable as 644
specified in that section. 645
(I)(1) Where applicable, the requirements of division (B) 647
of this section relating to the presentation of an inspection 648
certificate issued under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code and 649
rules adopted under it for a motor vehicle, the refusal of a 650
license for failure to present an inspection certificate, and the 651
stamping of the inspection certificate by the official issuing 652
the certificate of registration apply to the registration of and 653
issuance of license plates for a motor vehicle under sections 654
4503.102, 4503.12, 4503.14, 4503.15, 4503.16, 4503.171, 4503.172, 655
4503.19, 4503.40, 4503.41, 4503.42, 4503.43, 4503.44, 4503.46, 656
4503.47, and 4503.51 of the Revised Code. 657
17
(2)(a) The registrar shall adopt rules ensuring that each 659
owner registering a motor vehicle in a county where a motor 660
vehicle inspection and maintenance program is in effect under 661
section 3704.14 of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it 662
receives information about the requirements established in that 663
section and those rules and about the need in those counties to 664
present an inspection certificate with an application for 665
registration or preregistration. 666
(b) Upon request, the registrar shall provide the director 668
of environmental protection, or any person that has been awarded 669
a contract under division (D) of section 3704.14 of the Revised 670
Code, an on-line computer data link to registration information 671
for all passenger cars, noncommercial motor vehicles, and 672
commercial cars that are subject to that section. The registrar 673
also shall provide to the director of environmental protection a 674
magnetic data tape containing registration information regarding 675
passenger cars, noncommercial motor vehicles, and commercial cars 676
for which a multi-year registration is in effect under section 677
4503.103 of the Revised Code or rules adopted under it, 678
including, without limitation, the date of issuance of the 679
multi-year registration, the registration deadline established 680
under rules adopted under section 4503.101 of the Revised Code 681
that was applicable in the year in which the multi-year 682
registration was issued, and the registration deadline for 683
renewal of the multi-year registration. 684
(J) Application for registration under the international 686
registration plan, as set forth in sections 4503.60 to 4503.66 of 687
the Revised Code, shall be made to the registrar on forms 688
furnished by the registrar. In accordance with international 689
registration plan guidelines and pursuant to rules adopted by the 690
registrar, the forms shall include the following: 691
(1) A uniform mileage schedule; 693
(2) The gross vehicle weight of the vehicle or combined 695
gross vehicle weight of the combination vehicle as declared by 696
18
the registrant; 697
(3) Any other information the registrar requires by rule. 700
Sec. 4503.102. (A) The registrar of motor vehicles shall 709
adopt rules to establish a centralized system of motor vehicle 710
registration renewal by mail OR BY ELECTRONIC MEANS. Any person 711
owning a motor vehicle that was registered in the person's name 712
during the preceding registration year shall renew the 714
registration of the motor vehicle NOT MORE THAN NINETY DAYS PRIOR 715
TO THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE REGISTRATION either by mail OR BY 716
ELECTRONIC MEANS through the centralized system of registration 717
established under this section, or in person at a ANY OFFICE OF 718
THE REGISTRAR OR AT A deputy registrar's office. 719
(B)(1) No less than forty-five days prior to the 721
expiration date of any motor vehicle registration, the registrar 722
shall mail a renewal notice to the person in whose name the motor 723
vehicle is registered. The renewal notice shall clearly state 724
that the registration of the motor vehicle may be renewed by mail 725
OR ELECTRONIC MEANS through the centralized system of 727
registration or in person at ANY OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OR AT a 729
deputy registrar's office and shall be preprinted with 730
information including, but not limited to, the owner's name and
residence address as shown in the records of the bureau of motor 731
vehicles, a brief description of the motor vehicle to be 732
registered, notice of the license taxes and fees due on the motor 733
vehicle, the toll-free telephone number of the registrar as 734
required under division (D)(1) of section 4503.031 of the Revised 735
Code, and any additional information the registrar may require by 736
rule. The renewal notice shall be sent by regular mail to the 738
owner's last known address as shown in the records of the bureau
of motor vehicles. 739
(2) If the application for renewal of the registration of 742
a motor vehicle is prohibited from being accepted by the 743
registrar or a deputy registrar by division (D) of section 744
2935.27, division (A) of section 2937.221, division (A) of 745
19
section 4503.13, division (B) of section 4507.168, or division 747
(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 748
vehicle lessee.
(C) The owner of the motor vehicle shall verify the 750
information contained in the notice, sign it EITHER MANUALLY OR 751
BY ELECTRONIC MEANS, and return it, EITHER BY MAIL OR ELECTRONIC 752
MEANS, OR THE OWNER MAY TAKE IT in person to ANY OFFICE OF THE 754
REGISTRAR OR OF a deputy registrar or by mail to the registrar, 755
together with a credit card FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICE number, 756
when permitted by rule of the registrar, check, or money order in 758
the amount of the registration taxes and fees payable on the 759
motor vehicle and a mail fee of two dollars and twenty-five cents 760
plus postage as indicated on the notice, if the registration is 761
renewed by mail, and an inspection certificate for the motor 762
vehicle as provided in section 3704.14 of the Revised Code. IF 763
THE MOTOR VEHICLE OWNER CHOOSES TO RENEW THE MOTOR VEHICLE 764
REGISTRATION BY ELECTRONIC MEANS, THE OWNER SHALL PROCEED IN 765
ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES THE REGISTRAR ADOPTS.
(D) If all registration and transfer fees for the motor 767
vehicle for the preceding year or the preceding period of the 768
current registration year have not been paid, if division (D) of 769
section 2935.27, division (A) of section 2937.221, division (A) 770
of section 4503.13, division (B) of section 4507.168, or division 772
(B)(1) of section 4521.10 of the Revised Code prohibits 773
acceptance of the renewal notice, or if the owner or lessee does 774
not have an inspection certificate for the motor vehicle as 775
provided in section 3704.14 of the Revised Code, if that section 776
is applicable, the license shall be refused, and the registrar or 777
deputy registrar shall so notify the owner. This section does 778
not require the payment of license or registration taxes on a 779
motor vehicle for any preceding year, or for any preceding period 780
of a year, if the motor vehicle was not taxable for that 781
preceding year or period under section 4503.02, 4503.04, 4503.11, 782
20
4503.12, or 4503.16 or Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code. 783
(E)(1) Failure to receive a renewal notice does not 785
relieve a motor vehicle owner from the responsibility to renew 787
the registration for the motor vehicle. Any person who has a 788
motor vehicle registered in this state and who does not receive a 789
renewal notice as provided in division (B) of this section prior 790
to the expiration date of the registration shall request an 791
application for registration from the registrar or a deputy 792
registrar and return SIGN the signed application MANUALLY OR BY 794
ELECTRONIC MEANS AND SUBMIT THE APPLICATION and PAY any 795
applicable license taxes and fees to the registrar or deputy 796
registrar.
(2) If the owner of a motor vehicle submits an application 798
for registration and the registrar is prohibited by division (D) 799
of section 2935.27, division (A) of section 2937.221, division 800
(A) of section 4503.13, division (B) of section 4507.168, or 802
division (B)(1) of section 4521.10 of the Revised Code from 803
accepting the application, the registrar shall return the 804
application and the payment to the owner. IF THE OWNER OF A 805
MOTOR VEHICLE SUBMITS A REGISTRATION RENEWAL APPLICATION TO THE 806
REGISTRAR BY ELECTRONIC MEANS AND THE REGISTRAR IS PROHIBITED 807
FROM ACCEPTING THE APPLICATION AS PROVIDED IN THIS DIVISION, THE 808
REGISTRAR SHALL NOTIFY THE OWNER OF THIS FACT AND DENY THE 809
APPLICATION AND RETURN THE PAYMENT OR GIVE A CREDIT ON THE 810
FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICE ACCOUNT OF THE OWNER IN THE MANNER 812
THE REGISTRAR PRESCRIBES BY RULE ADOPTED PURSUANT TO DIVISION (A) 813
OF THIS SECTION.
(F) Every deputy registrar shall post in a prominent place 815
at the deputy's office a notice informing the public of the mail 817
registration system required by this section, and also shall post 818
a notice that every owner of a motor vehicle and every chauffeur 819
holding a certificate of registration is required to notify the 820
registrar in writing of any change of residence within ten days 821
after the change occurs. The notice shall be in such form as the 822
21
registrar prescribes by rule. 823
(G) The two dollars and twenty-five cents fee, plus 825
postage and any credit card FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICE 826
surcharge collected by the registrar for registration by mail, 828
shall be paid to the credit of the state bureau of motor vehicles 829
fund established by section 4501.25 of the Revised Code. 830
(H) The PURSUANT TO SECTION 113.40 OF THE REVISED CODE, 832
THE registrar may implement a program permitting payment of motor 834
vehicle registration taxes and fees, driver's license and 835
commercial driver's license fees, and any other taxes, fees, 836
penalties, or charges imposed or levied by the state by means of 837
a credit card FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICE. The registrar may 838
adopt rules as necessary for this purpose.
If a person uses a credit card to pay motor vehicle 840
registration taxes or fees, license fees, or other similar taxes, 841
fees, penalties, or charges imposed or levied by the state as 842
provided in this section, a surcharge sufficient to pay the 843
required service charge of the financial institution or credit 844
card company shall be paid by the person using the credit card. 845
(I) For persons who reside in counties where tailpipe 847
emissions inspections are required under the motor vehicle 848
inspection and maintenance program, the notice required by 849
division (B) of this section shall also include the toll-free 850
telephone number maintained by the Ohio environmental protection 851
agency to provide information concerning the locations of 852
emissions testing centers. 853
Sec. 4503.20. (A) As used in this section: 862
(1) "Dealer engaged in the business of leasing motor 864
vehicles" means any person engaged in the business of regularly 865
making available, offering to make available, or arranging for 866
another person to use a motor vehicle pursuant to a bailment, 867
lease, or other contractual arrangement. 868
(2) "Motor vehicle" has the meaning set forth in section 870
4509.01 of the Revised Code. 871
22
(B) An application for the registration of a motor vehicle 873
shall contain a statement, to be signed by the applicant EITHER 874
MANUALLY OR BY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE, that does all of the 875
following:
(1) States that the applicant maintains, or has maintained 877
on his THE APPLICANT'S behalf, proof of financial responsibility 878
at the time of application, and will not operate a motor vehicle 880
in this state, unless he THE APPLICANT maintains, with respect to 881
that motor vehicle or the operation of such vehicle, proof of
financial responsibility; 882
(2) Contains a brief summary of the purposes and operation 884
of section 4509.101 of the Revised Code, the rights and duties of 885
the applicant under that section, and the penalties for violation 886
of that section; 887
(3) Warns the applicant that the financial responsibility 889
law does not prevent the possibility that the applicant may be 890
involved in an accident with an owner or operator of a motor 891
vehicle who is without proof of financial responsibility. 892
(C)(1) A person who purchases any motor vehicle from a 894
licensed motor vehicle dealer who agrees to make application for 895
registration of the motor vehicle on behalf of the purchaser 896
shall sign statements that comply with divisions (B) and (F) of 897
this section. The dealer shall submit the statements to the 898
deputy registrar where the dealer has agreed to make application 899
for registration on behalf of the person. 900
(2) In the case of a person who leases any motor vehicle 902
from a dealer engaged in the business of leasing motor vehicles 903
who agrees to make application for registration of the motor 904
vehicle on behalf of the lessee, the person shall sign a 905
statement that complies with division (B) of this section, and 906
the dealer shall do either of the following: 907
(a) Submit the statement signed by the person to the 909
deputy registrar where the dealer has agreed to make application 910
for registration on behalf of the person; 911
23
(b) Sign and submit a statement to the deputy registrar 913
that certifies that a statement has been signed and filed with 914
the dealer or incorporated into the lease. 915
The dealer shall submit to the registrar or deputy 917
registrar to whom he THE DEALER submits the application for 918
registration a statement signed by the person that complies with 920
division (F) of this section.
(D) The registrar of motor vehicles shall prescribe the 922
form of the statements required under divisions (B), (C), and (F) 923
of this section, and the manner or manners in which the 924
statements required under divisions (B) and (F) of this section 925
shall be presented to the applicant. Any statement that is 926
required under divisions (B), (C), and (F) of this section shall 927
be designed to enable the applicant to retain a copy of it. 928
(E) Nothing within this section shall be construed to 930
excuse a violation of section 4509.101 of the Revised Code. A 931
motor vehicle dealer who makes application for the registration 932
of a motor vehicle on behalf of the purchaser or lessee of the 933
motor vehicle is not liable in damages in any civil action on 934
account of the act of making such application for registration or 935
the content of any such application for registration.
(F) In addition to the statements required by divisions 937
(B) and (C) of this section, a person who makes application for 938
registration of a motor vehicle shall be furnished with a form 939
that lists in plain language all the possible penalties to which 940
a person could be subject for a violation of the financial
responsibility law, including driver's license suspensions; all 941
fees, including nonvoluntary compliance and reinstatement fees; 942
and vehicle immobilization or impoundment. The person shall read 943
THE FORM and EITHER MANUALLY OR BY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE sign the 944
form, which shall be submitted along with the application for 945
registration as provided in this section. The form shall be 946
retained by the registrar or deputy registrar who issues the 947
motor vehicle registration or his THE REGISTRAR'S OR DEPUTY 948
24
REGISTRAR'S successor for a period of two years from the date of
issuance of the registration. 949
(G) Upon the registration of a motor vehicle, the owner of 951
the motor vehicle is deemed to have agreed to the production of 952
proof of financial responsibility by him THE OWNER or the 953
operator of the motor vehicle, upon the request of a peace 954
officer or state highway patrol trooper made in accordance with 955
division (E)(2) of section 4509.101 of the Revised Code. 956
(H) THE REGISTRAR SHALL ADOPT RULES GOVERNING THE RENEWAL 958
OF MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS BY ELECTRONIC MEANS AND THE 959
COMPLETION AND SUBMISSION OF STATEMENTS THAT COMPLY WITH 960
DIVISIONS (B) AND (F) OF THIS SECTION. THE REGISTRAR SHALL ADOPT 961
THE RULES PRESCRIBED BY THIS DIVISION IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 962
119. OF THE REVISED CODE. 963
Section 2. That existing sections 4501.01, 4503.10, 965
4503.102, and 4503.20 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed. 966
Section 3. Section 4501.01 of the Revised Code is 968
presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by 969
both Am. Sub. H.B. 611 and Am. Sub. S.B. 142 of the 122nd General 970
Assembly, with the new language of neither of the acts shown in 972
capital letters. This is in recognition of the principle stated 973
in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that such 974
amendments are to be harmonized where not substantively 975
irreconcilable and constitutes a legislative finding that such is 976
the resulting version in effect prior to the effective date of 977
this act.