As Passed by the House 1
123rd General Assembly 4
Regular Session Sub. S. B. No. 242 5
1999-2000 6
SENATORS OELSLAGER-CARNES-SPADA-MUMPER-CUPP-DRAKE-ARMBRUSTER- 8
HORN-McLIN-MALLORY-REPRESENTATIVES CLANCY-METTLER-DAMSCHRODER- 9
PERRY-OLMAN-PATTON-AMSTUTZ-SCHULER-TERWILLEGER-BUEHRER-FLANNERY- 10
EVANS-STEVENS-D. MILLER-REDFERN-BARNES-VERICH-MOTTLEY-PETERSON- 11
HARRIS-CALVERT-TRAKAS-ROBINSON-VAN VYVEN-GRENDELL-HOUSEHOLDER- 12
JAMES-HARTNETT-GERBERRY-J. BEATTY-CATES-O'BRIEN-MYERS-BRITTON- 13
NETZLEY-METZGER-KREBS-BARRETT-WIDENER 14
_________________________________________________________________ 16
A B I L L
To amend sections 1547.01, 1547.54, 4501.01, 18
4503.10, 4503.102, and 4503.20 of the Revised 19
Code to permit the renewal of motor vehicle and 20
watercraft registrations by electronic means. 21
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO: 23
Section 1. That sections 1547.01, 1547.54, 4501.01, 25
4503.10, 4503.102, and 4503.20 of the Revised Code be amended to 27
read as follows:
Sec. 1547.01. (A) As used in sections 1541.03, 1547.25, 36
1547.26, 1547.39, 1547.40, 1547.53, 1547.54, 1547.541, 1547.542, 37
1547.543, 1547.56, 1547.57, 1547.66, 3733.21, and 5311.01 of the 38
Revised Code, "watercraft" means any of the following when used 39
or capable of being used for transportation on the water: 40
(1) A vessel operated by machinery either permanently or 42
temporarily affixed; 43
(2) A sailboat other than a sailboard; 45
(3) An inflatable, manually propelled boat having a hull 47
identification number meeting the requirements of the United 48
States coast guard; 49
(4) A canoe or rowboat. 51
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"Watercraft" does not include ferries as referred to in 53
Chapter 4583. of the Revised Code. 54
Watercraft subject to section 1547.54 of the Revised Code 56
shall be divided into five classes as follows: 57
Class A: Less than sixteen feet in length; 59
Class 1: At least sixteen feet, but less than twenty-six 61
feet in length; 62
Class 2: At least twenty-six feet, but less than forty 64
feet in length; 65
Class 3: At least forty feet, but less than sixty-five 68
feet in length; 69
Class 4: At least sixty-five feet in length. 71
(B) As used in this chapter: 73
(1) "Vessel" includes every description of watercraft, 75
including nondisplacement craft and seaplanes, used or capable of 76
being used as a means of transportation on water. 77
(2) "Rowboat" means any vessel designed to be rowed and 79
that is propelled by human muscular effort by oars or paddles and 82
upon which no mechanical propulsion device, electric motor,
internal combustion engine, or sail has been affixed or is used 83
for the operation of the vessel. 84
(3) "Sailboat" means any vessel, equipped with mast and 86
sails, dependent upon the wind to propel it in the normal course 87
of operation. 88
(a) Any sailboat equipped with an inboard engine is deemed 90
a powercraft with auxiliary sail. 91
(b) Any sailboat equipped with a detachable motor is 93
deemed a sailboat with auxiliary power. 94
(c) Any sailboat being propelled by mechanical power, 96
whether under sail or not, is deemed a powercraft and subject to 97
all laws and rules governing powercraft operation. 98
(4) "Powercraft" means any vessel propelled by machinery, 100
fuel, rockets, or similar device. 101
(5) "Person" includes any legal entity defined as a person 103
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in section 1.59 of the Revised Code and any body politic, except 104
the United States and this state, and includes any agent, 105
trustee, executor, receiver, assignee, or other representative 106
thereof.
(6) "Owner" includes any person who claims lawful 108
possession of a vessel by virtue of legal title or equitable 109
interest therein that entitled the person to that possession. 111
(7) "Operator" includes any person who navigates or has 113
under the person's control a vessel, or vessel and detachable 115
motor, on the waters in this state. 116
(8) "Visible" means visible on a dark night with clear 118
atmosphere. 119
(9) "Waters in this state" means all streams, rivers, 121
lakes, ponds, marshes, watercourses, waterways, and other bodies 123
of water, natural or humanmade, that are situated wholly or 125
partially within this state or within its jurisdiction and are 126
used for recreational boating.
(10) "Navigable waters" means waters that come under the 128
jurisdiction of the department of the army of the United States 129
and any waterways within or adjacent to this state, except inland 130
lakes having neither a navigable inlet nor outlet. 131
(11) "In operation" in reference to a vessel means that 133
the vessel is being navigated or otherwise used on the waters in 135
this state. 136
(12) "Sewage" means human body wastes and the wastes from 138
toilets and other receptacles intended to receive or retain body 139
waste. 140
(13) "Canoe" means a narrow vessel of shallow draft, 142
pointed at both ends and propelled by human muscular effort, and 143
includes kayaks. 144
(14) "Coast guard approved" means bearing an approval 146
number assigned by the United States coast guard. 147
(15) "Type one personal flotation device" means a device 149
that is designed to turn an unconscious person floating in water 151
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from a face downward position to a vertical or slightly face 152
upward position and that has at least nine kilograms, 154
approximately twenty pounds, of buoyancy. 155
(16) "Type two personal flotation device" means a device 157
that is designed to turn an unconscious person in the water from 159
a face downward position to a vertical or slightly face upward 160
position and that has at least seven kilograms, approximately 162
fifteen and four-tenths pounds, of buoyancy. 163
(17) "Type three personal flotation device" means a device 165
that is designed to keep a conscious person in a vertical or 167
slightly face upward position and that has at least seven 169
kilograms, approximately fifteen and four-tenths pounds, of 170
buoyancy. 171
(18) "Type four personal flotation device" means a device 173
that is designed to be thrown to a person in the water and not 175
worn and that has at least seven and five-tenths kilograms, 178
approximately sixteen and five-tenths pounds, of buoyancy. 179
(19) "Type five personal flotation device" means a device 182
that, unlike other personal flotation devices, has limitations on 183
its approval by the United States coast guard, including, without 184
limitation, all of the following: 185
(a) The approval label on the type five personal flotation 187
device indicates that the device is approved for the activity in 188
which the vessel is being used or as a substitute for a personal 189
flotation device of the type required on the vessel in use; 190
(b) The personal flotation device is used in accordance 192
with any requirements on the approval label; 193
(c) The personal flotation device is used in accordance 195
with requirements in its owner's manual if the approval label 196
refers to such a manual. 197
(20) "Inflatable watercraft" means any vessel constructed 199
of rubber, canvas, or other material that is designed to be 201
inflated with any gaseous substance, constructed with two or more 202
air cells, and operated as a vessel. Inflatable watercraft 203
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propelled by a motor shall be classified as powercraft and shall 204
be registered by length. 205
(21) "Idle speed" means the slowest possible speed needed 207
to maintain steerage or maneuverability. 208
(22) "Diver's flag" means a red flag not less than one 210
foot square having a diagonal white stripe extending from the 211
masthead to the opposite lower corner that when displayed 212
indicates that divers are in the water. 213
(23) "Muffler" means an acoustical suppression device or 216
system that is designed and installed to abate the sound of 217
exhaust gases emitted from an internal combustion engine and that 218
prevents excessive or unusual noise.
(24) "Law enforcement vessel" means any vessel used in law 220
enforcement and under the command of a law enforcement officer. 221
(25) "Personal watercraft" means a vessel, less than 223
sixteen feet in length, that is propelled by machinery and 224
designed to be operated by an individual sitting, standing, or 225
kneeling on the vessel rather than by an individual sitting or 226
standing inside the vessel.
(26) "No wake" has the same meaning as "idle speed." 228
(27) "Watercraft dealer" means any person who is regularly 230
engaged in the business of manufacturing, selling, displaying, 231
offering for sale, or dealing in vessels at an established place 232
of business. "Watercraft dealer" does not include a person who 233
is a marine salvage dealer or any other person who dismantles, 234
salvages, or rebuilds vessels using used parts.
(28) "ELECTRONIC" INCLUDES ELECTRICAL, DIGITAL, MAGNETIC, 236
OPTICAL, ELECTROMAGNETIC, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF TECHNOLOGY THAT 237
ENTAILS CAPABILITIES SIMILAR TO THESE TECHNOLOGIES. 238
(29) "ELECTRONIC RECORD" MEANS A RECORD GENERATED, 240
COMMUNICATED, RECEIVED, OR STORED BY ELECTRONIC MEANS FOR USE IN 241
AN INFORMATION SYSTEM OR FOR TRANSMISSION FROM ONE INFORMATION 242
SYSTEM TO ANOTHER.
(30) "ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE" MEANS A SIGNATURE IN 244
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ELECTRONIC FORM ATTACHED TO OR LOGICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH AN 245
ELECTRONIC RECORD.
(C) Unless otherwise provided, this chapter applies to all 247
vessels operating on the waters in this state. Nothing in this 248
chapter shall be construed in contravention of any valid federal 249
act or regulation, but is in addition to the act or regulation 251
where not inconsistent.
The state reserves to itself the exclusive right to 253
regulate the minimum equipment requirements of watercraft and 254
vessels operated on the waters in this state. 255
Sec. 1547.54. (A)(1) The owner of every watercraft 264
requiring registration under this chapter shall file an 265
application for a triennial registration certificate with the 266
chief of the division of watercraft on forms that shall be 267
provided by the chief OR BY AN ELECTRONIC MEANS APPROVED BY THE 268
CHIEF. The application shall be signed by the following: 269
(a) If the watercraft is owned by two persons under joint 271
ownership with right of survivorship established under section 272
2106.17 of the Revised Code, by both of those persons as owners 273
of the watercraft;. THE SIGNATURES MAY BE DONE BY ELECTRONIC 274
SIGNATURE IF THE OWNERS THEMSELVES ARE RENEWING THE REGISTRATION 275
AND THERE ARE NO CHANGES IN THE REGISTRATION INFORMATION SINCE 276
THE ISSUANCE OF THE IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING REGISTRATION
CERTIFICATE. IN ALL OTHER INSTANCES, THE SIGNATURES MUST BE DONE 277
MANUALLY.
(b) If the watercraft is owned by a minor, by the minor 279
and a parent or legal guardian;. THE SIGNATURES MAY BE DONE BY 280
ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE IF THE PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN AND THE 281
MINOR THEMSELVES ARE RENEWING THE REGISTRATION AND THERE ARE NO 282
CHANGES IN THE REGISTRATION INFORMATION SINCE THE ISSUANCE OF THE 283
IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE. IN ALL OTHER 284
INSTANCES, THE SIGNATURES MUST BE DONE MANUALLY.
(c) In all other cases, by the owner of the watercraft. 286
THE SIGNATURE MAY BE DONE BY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE IF THE OWNER 287
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HIM OR HERSELF IS RENEWING THE REGISTRATION AND THERE ARE NO 288
CHANGES IN THE REGISTRATION INFORMATION SINCE THE ISSUANCE OF THE 289
IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE. IN ALL OTHER 290
INSTANCES, THE SIGNATURES MUST BE DONE MANUALLY.
(2) An application for a triennial registration of a 292
watercraft filed under division (A)(1) of this section shall be 294
accompanied by the following fee: 295
(a) For canoes, kayaks, rowboats, and inflatable 297
watercraft, twelve dollars; 299
(b) For class A watercraft, including motorized canoes, 301
thirty dollars; 303
(c) For class 1 watercraft, forty-five dollars; 305
(d) For class 2 watercraft, sixty dollars; 307
(e) For class 3 watercraft, seventy-five dollars; 309
(f) For class 4 watercraft, ninety dollars. 311
(3) For the purpose of registration, any watercraft 313
operated by means of power, sail, or any other mechanical or 314
electrical means of propulsion, except motorized canoes, shall be 315
registered by length as prescribed in this section. 317
(4) If an application for registration is filed by two 319
persons as owners under division (A)(1)(a) of this section, the 321
person who is listed first on the title shall serve as and 323
perform the duties of the "owner" and shall be considered the 325
person "in whose name the watercraft is registered" for purposes 327
of divisions (B) to (P)(Q) of this section and for purposes of 329
all other sections in this chapter. 330
(B) All registration certificates are valid for three 332
years and are renewable on a triennial basis unless sooner 334
terminated or discontinued in accordance with this chapter. The 335
renewal date shall be printed on the registration certificate. A 336
registration certificate may be renewed by the owner in the 337
manner prescribed by the chief. All fees shall be charged 338
according to a proration of the time remaining in the 339
registration cycle to the nearest year.
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(C) In addition to the fees set forth in this section, the 341
chief, or any authorized agent, shall charge an additional fee of 342
three dollars for any registration certificate the chief or 344
authorized agent issues. When the registration certificate is 346
issued by an authorized agent, the additional fee of three 347
dollars shall be retained by the issuing agent. When the 348
registration certificate is issued by the chief, the additional 349
fee of three dollars shall be deposited to the credit of the 350
waterways safety fund established in section 1547.75 of the 351
Revised Code.
(D) Upon receipt of the application in approved form, the 353
chief shall enter the same upon the records of the office of the 354
division, assign a number to the watercraft if a number is 355
required under section 1547.53 of the Revised Code, and issue to 356
the applicant a registration certificate. If a number is 357
assigned by the chief, it shall be set forth on the certificate. 358
The registration certificate shall be on the watercraft for which 359
it is issued and available at all times for inspection whenever 360
the watercraft is in operation, except that livery operators may 361
retain the registration certificate at the livery where it shall 362
remain available for inspection at all times. 363
(E) No person shall issue or be issued a registration 365
certificate for a watercraft that is required to be issued a 367
certificate of title under Chapter 1548. of the Revised Code 368
except upon presentation of a certificate of title for the
watercraft as provided in that chapter, proof of current 371
documentation by the United States coast guard, a renewal 372
registration form provided by the division of watercraft, or a 373
certificate of registration issued under this section that has 374
expired if there is no change in the ownership or description of 375
the watercraft.
(F) Whenever the ownership of a watercraft changes, a new 377
application form together with the prescribed fee shall be filed 378
with the chief or the chief's agent and a new registration 380
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certificate shall be issued. The application shall be signed 381
MANUALLY by the person or persons specified in division (A)(1)(a) 383
to (c) of this section and shall be accompanied by a two-dollar 385
transfer fee. Any remaining time on the registration shall be 386
transferred. An authorized agent of the chief shall charge an 387
additional fee of three dollars, which shall be retained by the 388
issuing agent. If the certificate is issued by the chief, an 389
additional fee of three dollars for each certificate issued shall 390
be collected.
(G) If an agency of the United States has in force an 392
overall system of identification numbering for watercraft or 393
certain types of watercraft within the United States, the 394
numbering system employed by the division shall be in conformity 395
with that system. 396
(H) The chief may assign any registration certificates to 398
any authorized agent for the assignment thereof. If a person 399
accepts that authorization, the person may be assigned a block of 401
numbers and certificates therefor that upon assignment, in 402
conformity with this chapter and Chapter 1548. of the Revised 404
Code and with rules of the division, shall be valid as if 405
assigned directly by the division. Any person so designated as 406
an agent by the chief shall post with the division security as 407
may be required by the director of natural resources. The chief 408
may issue an order temporarily or permanently restricting or 409
suspending an agent's authorization without a hearing if the 410
chief finds that the agent has violated this chapter or Chapter 412
1548. of the Revised Code, rules adopted under them, or any 413
agreements prescribed by the chief. 415
(I) All records of the division made or kept pursuant to 417
this section shall be public records. Those records shall be 418
available for inspection at reasonable hours and in a manner 419
compatible with normal operations of the division. 420
(J) The owner shall furnish the division notice within 422
fifteen days of the following: 423
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(1) The transfer, other than through the creation of a 425
security interest in any watercraft, of all or any part of the 426
owner's interest or, if the watercraft is owned by two persons 428
under joint ownership with right of survivorship established 429
under section 2106.17 of the Revised Code, of all or any part of
the joint interest of either of the two persons. The transfer 430
shall not terminate the registration certificate. 431
(2) Any change in the address appearing on the certificate 434
and, as a part of the notification, shall furnish the chief with 436
the owner's new address;
(3) The destruction or abandonment of the watercraft. 438
(K) The chief may issue duplicate registration 440
certificates or duplicate tags to owners of currently registered 441
watercraft, the fee for which shall be four dollars. 442
(L) If the chief finds that a registration certificate 444
previously issued to an owner is in error to a degree that would 445
impair its basic purpose and use, the chief may issue a corrected 447
certificate to the owner without charge. 448
(M) No authorized agent shall issue and no person shall 450
receive or accept from an authorized agent a registration 451
certificate assigned to the authorized agent under division (H) 452
of this section unless the exact month, day, and year of issue 453
are plainly written thereon by the agent. Certificates issued 454
with incorrect dates of issue are void from the time they are 455
issued. 456
(N) THE CHIEF, IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 119. OF THE 458
REVISED CODE, SHALL ADOPT RULES GOVERNING THE RENEWAL OF 459
WATERCRAFT REGISTRATIONS BY ELECTRONIC MEANS.
(O) As used in this section: 461
(1) "Disabled veteran" means a person who is included in 464
either of the following categories: 465
(a) Because of a service-connected disability, has been or 467
is awarded funds for the purchase of a motor vehicle under the 468
"Disabled Veterans' and Servicemen's Automobile Assistance Act of 469
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1970," 84 Stat. 1998, 38 U.S.C. 1901, and amendments thereto; 470
(b) Has a service-connected disability rated at one 472
hundred per cent by the veterans administration. 473
(2) "Prisoner of war" means any regularly appointed, 475
enrolled, enlisted, or inducted member of the military forces of 476
the United States who was captured, separated, and incarcerated 477
by an enemy of the United States at any time, and any regularly 478
appointed, enrolled, or enlisted member of the military forces of 479
Great Britain, France, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, 481
Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, 482
South Africa, or the republics formerly associated with the Union 483
of Soviet Socialist Republics or Yugoslavia who was a citizen of 485
the United States at the time of the appointment, enrollment, or 486
enlistment, and was captured, separated, and incarcerated by an 487
enemy of this country during World War II. 488
(O)(P) Any disabled veteran, congressional medal of honor 490
awardee, or prisoner of war may apply to the chief for a 491
certificate of registration, or for a renewal of the certificate 493
of registration, without the payment of any fee required by this 495
section. The application for a certificate of registration shall 496
be accompanied by evidence of disability or by documentary 498
evidence in support of a congressional medal of honor that the 500
chief requires by rule. The application for a certificate of 502
registration by any person who has been a prisoner of war shall 504
be accompanied by written evidence in the form of a record of 505
separation, a letter from one of the armed forces of a country 506
listed in division (N)(O)(2) of this section, or other evidence 507
that the chief may require by rule, that the person was honorably 509
discharged or is currently residing in this state on active duty 510
with one of the branches of the armed forces of the United 512
States, or was a prisoner of war and was honorably discharged or 513
received an equivalent discharge or release from one of the armed 514
forces of a country listed in division (N)(O)(2) of this section. 515
(P)(Q) Annually by the fifteenth day of January, the 517
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director of natural resources shall determine the amount of fees 518
that would have been collected in the prior calendar year for 519
each certificate of registration issued or renewed pursuant to 520
division (O)(P) of this section and shall certify the total 522
amount of foregone revenue to the director of budget and 523
management for reimbursement. The director of budget and 524
management shall transfer the amount certified from the general 525
revenue fund to the waterways safety fund created pursuant to 526
section 1547.75 of the Revised Code. 527
Sec. 4501.01. As used in this chapter and Chapters 4503., 537
4505., 4507., 4509., 4511., 4513., 4515., and 4517. of the 538
Revised Code, and in the penal laws, except as otherwise 539
provided: 540
(A) "Vehicles" means everything on wheels or runners, 542
including motorized bicycles, but does not mean vehicles that are 543
operated exclusively on rails or tracks or from overhead electric 544
trolley wires and vehicles that belong to any police department, 545
municipal fire department, or volunteer fire department, or that 546
are used by such a department in the discharge of its functions. 547
(B) "Motor vehicle" means any vehicle, including mobile 550
homes and recreational vehicles, that is propelled or drawn by 552
power other than muscular power or power collected from overhead 553
electric trolley wires. "Motor vehicle" does not include 554
motorized bicycles, road rollers, traction engines, power 555
shovels, power cranes, and other equipment used in construction 556
work and not designed for or employed in general highway 557
transportation, well-drilling machinery, ditch-digging machinery, 558
farm machinery, trailers that are used to transport agricultural 559
produce or agricultural production materials between a local 560
place of storage or supply and the farm when drawn or towed on a 561
public road or highway at a speed of twenty-five miles per hour 562
or less, threshing machinery, hay-baling machinery, corn sheller, 563
hammermill and agricultural tractors, machinery used in the 564
production of horticultural, agricultural, and vegetable 565
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products, and trailers that are designed and used exclusively to 566
transport a boat between a place of storage and a marina, or in 567
and around a marina, when drawn or towed on a public road or 568
highway for a distance of no more than ten miles and at a speed 569
of twenty-five miles per hour or less.
(C) "Agricultural tractor" and "traction engine" mean any 571
self-propelling vehicle that is designed or used for drawing 572
other vehicles or wheeled machinery, but has no provisions for 573
carrying loads independently of such other vehicles, and that is 574
used principally for agricultural purposes. 575
(D) "Commercial tractor," except as defined in division 577
(C) of this section, means any motor vehicle that has motive 578
power and either is designed or used for drawing other motor 579
vehicles, or is designed or used for drawing another motor 581
vehicle while carrying a portion of the other motor vehicle or 582
its load, or both.
(E) "Passenger car" means any motor vehicle that is 584
designed and used for carrying not more than nine persons and 585
includes any motor vehicle that is designed and used for carrying 586
not more than fifteen persons in a ridesharing arrangement. 587
(F) "Collector's vehicle" means any motor vehicle or 589
agricultural tractor or traction engine that is of special 590
interest, that has a fair market value of one hundred dollars or 591
more, whether operable or not, and that is owned, operated, 592
collected, preserved, restored, maintained, or used essentially 593
as a collector's item, leisure pursuit, or investment, but not as 594
the owner's principal means of transportation. "Licensed 595
collector's vehicle" means a collector's vehicle, other than an 596
agricultural tractor or traction engine, that displays current, 597
valid license tags issued under section 4503.45 of the Revised 598
Code, or a similar type of motor vehicle that displays current, 599
valid license tags issued under substantially equivalent 600
provisions in the laws of other states. 601
(G) "Historical motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle 603
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that is over twenty-five years old and is owned solely as a 604
collector's item and for participation in club activities, 605
exhibitions, tours, parades, and similar uses, but that in no 606
event is used for general transportation. 607
(H) "Noncommercial motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle, 609
including a farm truck as defined in section 4503.04 of the 610
Revised Code, that is designed by the manufacturer to carry a 611
load of no more than one ton and is used exclusively for purposes 612
other than engaging in business for profit. 613
(I) "Bus" means any motor vehicle that has motor power and 616
is designed and used for carrying more than nine passengers,
except any motor vehicle that is designed and used for carrying 617
not more than fifteen passengers in a ridesharing arrangement. 618
(J) "Commercial car" means any motor vehicle that has 620
motor power and is designed and used for carrying merchandise or 621
freight, or that is used as a commercial tractor. 622
(K) "Bicycle" means every device, other than a tricycle 624
that is designed solely for use as a play vehicle by a child, 626
that is propelled solely by human power upon which any person may 627
ride, and that has either two tandem wheels, or one wheel in 628
front and two wheels in the rear, any of which is more than 629
fourteen inches in diameter.
(L) "Motorized bicycle" means any vehicle that either has 631
two tandem wheels or one wheel in the front and two wheels in the 633
rear, that is capable of being pedaled, and that is equipped with
a helper motor of not more than fifty cubic centimeters piston 634
displacement that produces no more than one brake horsepower and 635
is capable of propelling the vehicle at a speed of no greater 636
than twenty miles per hour on a level surface. 637
(M) "Trailer" means any vehicle without motive power that 640
is designed or used for carrying property or persons wholly on
its own structure and for being drawn by a motor vehicle, and 641
includes any such vehicle that is formed by or operated as a 642
combination of a semitrailer and a vehicle of the dolly type such 643
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as that commonly known as a trailer dolly, a vehicle used to 644
transport agricultural produce or agricultural production 645
materials between a local place of storage or supply and the farm 646
when drawn or towed on a public road or highway at a speed 647
greater than twenty-five miles per hour, and a vehicle that is 648
designed and used exclusively to transport a boat between a place 649
of storage and a marina, or in and around a marina, when drawn or 650
towed on a public road or highway for a distance of more than ten 651
miles or at a speed of more than twenty-five miles per hour. 652
"Trailer" does not include a manufactured home or travel trailer. 653
(N) "Noncommercial trailer" means any trailer, except a 655
travel trailer or trailer that is used to transport a boat as 656
described in division (B) of this section, but, where applicable, 657
includes a vehicle that is used to transport a boat as described 658
in division (M) of this section, that has a gross weight of no 659
more than three thousand pounds, and that is used exclusively for 660
purposes other than engaging in business for a profit. 661
(O) "Mobile home" means a building unit or assembly of 664
closed construction that is fabricated in an off-site facility, 665
is more than thirty-five body feet in length or, when erected on 666
site, is three hundred twenty or more square feet, is built on a 667
permanent chassis, is transportable in one or more sections, and 669
does not qualify as a manufactured home as defined in division 670
(C)(4) of section 3781.06 of the Revised Code or as an 671
industrialized unit as defined in division (C)(3) of section 672
3781.06 of the Revised Code.
(P) "Semitrailer" means any vehicle of the trailer type 674
that does not have motive power and is so designed or used with 675
another and separate motor vehicle that in operation a part of 676
its own weight or that of its load, or both, rests upon and is 677
carried by the other vehicle furnishing the motive power for 678
propelling itself and the vehicle referred to in this division, 679
and includes, for the purpose only of registration and taxation 680
under those chapters, any vehicle of the dolly type, such as a 681
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trailer dolly, that is designed or used for the conversion of a 682
semitrailer into a trailer. 683
(Q) "Recreational vehicle" means a vehicular portable 685
structure that is designed and constructed to be used as a 686
temporary dwelling for travel, recreational, and vacation uses 687
and is classed as follows: 688
(1) "Travel trailer" means a nonself-propelled 690
recreational vehicle that does not exceed an overall length of 691
thirty-five feet, exclusive of bumper and tongue or coupling, and 692
contains less than three hundred twenty square feet of space when 693
erected on site. "Travel trailer" includes a tent-type fold-out 695
camping trailer as defined in section 4517.01 of the Revised 696
Code.
(2) "Motor home" means a self-propelled recreational 698
vehicle that is constructed with permanently installed facilities 699
for cold storage, cooking and consuming of food, and for 700
sleeping.
(3) "Truck camper" means a nonself-propelled recreational 702
vehicle that does not have wheels for road use and is designed to 703
be placed upon and attached to a motor vehicle. "Truck camper" 704
does not include truck covers that consist of walls and a roof, 705
but do not have floors and facilities enabling them to be used as 706
a dwelling.
(4) "Fifth wheel trailer" means a vehicle that is of such 708
size and weight as to be movable without a special highway 709
permit, that has a gross trailer area of four hundred square feet 710
or less, that is constructed with a raised forward section that 711
allows a bi-level floor plan, and that is designed to be towed by
a vehicle equipped with a fifth-wheel hitch ordinarily installed 712
in the bed of a truck. 713
(5) "Park trailer" means a vehicle that is commonly known 715
as a park model recreational vehicle, meets the American national 716
standard institute standard A119.5 (1988) for park trailers, is 717
built on a single chassis, has a gross trailer area of four 718
17
hundred square feet or less when set up, is designed for seasonal 719
or temporary living quarters, and may be connected to utilities
necessary for the operation of installed features and appliances. 720
(R) "Pneumatic tires" means tires of rubber and fabric or 722
tires of similar material, that are inflated with air. 723
(S) "Solid tires" means tires of rubber or similar elastic 725
material that are not dependent upon confined air for support of 726
the load.
(T) "Solid tire vehicle" means any vehicle that is 728
equipped with two or more solid tires. 729
(U) "Farm machinery" means all machines and tools that are 731
used in the production, harvesting, and care of farm products, 732
and includes trailers that are used to transport agricultural 733
produce or agricultural production materials between a local 734
place of storage or supply and the farm when drawn or towed on a 735
public road or highway at a speed of twenty-five miles per hour 736
or less.
(V) "Owner" includes any person, firm, or corporation 738
other than a manufacturer or dealer that has title to a motor 739
vehicle, except that in sections 4505.01 to 4505.19 of the 740
Revised Code, "owner" includes in addition manufacturers and 741
dealers.
(W) "Manufacturer" and "dealer" include all persons, 743
firms, and corporations that are regularly engaged in the 744
business of manufacturing, selling, displaying, offering for 745
sale, or dealing in motor vehicles, at an established place of 746
business that is used exclusively for the purpose of 747
manufacturing, selling, displaying, offering for sale, or dealing 748
in motor vehicles. A place of business that is used for 749
manufacturing, selling, displaying, offering for sale, or dealing 750
in motor vehicles shall be deemed to be used exclusively for 751
those purposes even though snowmobiles or all-purpose vehicles 752
are sold or displayed for sale thereat, even though farm 753
machinery is sold or displayed for sale thereat, or even though 754
18
repair, accessory, gasoline and oil, storage, parts, service, or 755
paint departments are maintained thereat, or, in any county 756
having a population of less than seventy-five thousand persons at 757
the last federal census, even though a department in a place of 758
business is used to dismantle, salvage, or rebuild motor vehicles 759
by means of used parts, if such departments are operated for the 760
purpose of furthering and assisting in the business of 761
manufacturing, selling, displaying, offering for sale, or dealing 762
in motor vehicles. Places of business or departments in a place 763
of business used to dismantle, salvage, or rebuild motor vehicles 764
by means of using used parts are not considered as being 765
maintained for the purpose of assisting or furthering the 766
manufacturing, selling, displaying, and offering for sale or 767
dealing in motor vehicles.
(X) "Operator" includes any person who drives or operates 769
a motor vehicle upon the public highways. 770
(Y) "Chauffeur" means any operator who operates a motor 772
vehicle, other than a taxicab, as an employee for hire; or any 773
operator whether or not the owner of a motor vehicle, other than 774
a taxicab, who operates such vehicle for transporting, for gain, 775
compensation, or profit, either persons or property owned by 776
another. Any operator of a motor vehicle who is voluntarily 777
involved in a ridesharing arrangement is not considered an 778
employee for hire or operating such vehicle for gain, 779
compensation, or profit.
(Z) "State" includes the territories and federal districts 781
of the United States, and the provinces of Canada. 782
(AA) "Public roads and highways" for vehicles includes all 784
public thoroughfares, bridges, and culverts. 785
(BB) "Manufacturer's number" means the manufacturer's 787
original serial number that is affixed to or imprinted upon the 788
chassis or other part of the motor vehicle. 789
(CC) "Motor number" means the manufacturer's original 791
number that is affixed to or imprinted upon the engine or motor 792
19
of the vehicle. 793
(DD) "Distributor" means any person who is authorized by 795
a motor vehicle manufacturer to distribute new motor vehicles to 796
licensed motor vehicle dealers at an established place of 797
business that is used exclusively for the purpose of distributing 798
new motor vehicles to licensed motor vehicle dealers, except when 799
the distributor also is a new motor vehicle dealer, in which case 800
the distributor may distribute at the location of the 801
distributor's licensed dealership. 802
(EE) "Ridesharing arrangement" means the transportation of 804
persons in a motor vehicle where the transportation is incidental 806
to another purpose of a volunteer driver and includes ridesharing 807
arrangements known as carpools, vanpools, and buspools. 808
(FF) "Apportionable vehicle" means any vehicle that is 810
used or intended for use in two or more international 811
registration plan member jurisdictions that allocate or 812
proportionally register vehicles, that is used for the 813
transportation of persons for hire or designed, used, or 814
maintained primarily for the transportation of property, and that 815
meets any of the following qualifications:
(1) Is a power unit having a gross vehicle weight in 817
excess of twenty-six thousand pounds; 818
(2) Is a power unit having three or more axles, regardless 820
of the gross vehicle weight; 821
(3) Is a combination vehicle with a gross vehicle weight 823
in excess of twenty-six thousand pounds. 824
"Apportionable vehicle" does not include recreational 826
vehicles, vehicles displaying restricted plates, city pick-up and 827
delivery vehicles, buses used for the transportation of chartered 828
parties, or vehicles owned and operated by the United States, 829
this state, or any political subdivisions thereof. 830
(GG) "Chartered party" means a group of persons who 832
contract as a group to acquire the exclusive use of a 833
passenger-carrying motor vehicle at a fixed charge for the 834
20
vehicle in accordance with the carrier's tariff, lawfully on file 835
with the United States department of transportation, for the 837
purpose of group travel to a specified destination or for a 838
particular itinerary, either agreed upon in advance or modified 839
by the chartered group after having left the place of origin. 840
(HH) "International registration plan" means a reciprocal 842
agreement of member jurisdictions that is endorsed by the 843
American association of motor vehicle administrators, and that 844
promotes and encourages the fullest possible use of the highway 845
system by authorizing apportioned registration of fleets of 846
vehicles and recognizing registration of vehicles apportioned in 847
member jurisdictions. 848
(II) "Restricted plate" means a license plate that has a 850
restriction of time, geographic area, mileage, or commodity, and 851
includes license plates issued to farm trucks under division (K) 852
of section 4503.04 of the Revised Code. 853
(JJ) "Gross vehicle weight," with regard to any commercial 855
car, trailer, semitrailer, or bus that is taxed at the rates 856
established under section 4503.042 of the Revised Code, means the 857
unladen weight of the vehicle fully equipped plus the maximum 858
weight of the load to be carried on the vehicle. 859
(KK) "Combined gross vehicle weight" with regard to any 861
combination of a commercial car, trailer, and semitrailer, that 862
is taxed at the rates established under section 4503.042 of the 863
Revised Code, means the total unladen weight of the combination 864
of vehicles fully equipped plus the maximum weight of the load to 865
be carried on that combination of vehicles. 866
(LL) "Chauffeured limousine" means a motor vehicle that is 869
designed to carry nine or fewer passengers and is operated for 870
hire on an hourly basis pursuant to a prearranged contract for 871
the transportation of passengers on public roads and highways 872
along a route under the control of the person hiring the vehicle 873
and not over a defined and regular route. "Prearranged contract" 874
means an agreement, made in advance of boarding, to provide 875
21
transportation from a specific location in a chauffeured 876
limousine at a fixed rate per hour or trip. "Chauffeured 877
limousine" does not include any vehicle that is used exclusively 878
in the business of funeral directing. 879
(NN)(MM) "Manufactured home" has the same meaning as in 882
division (C)(4) of section 3781.06 of the Revised Code. 883
(OO)(NN) "Acquired situs," with respect to a manufactured 886
home or a mobile home, means to become located in this state 887
pursuant to the issuance of a certificate of title for the home 888
and the placement of the home on real property, but does not 889
include the placement of a manufactured home or a mobile home in 890
the inventory of a new motor vehicle dealer or the inventory of a 891
manufacturer, remanufacturer, or distributor of manufactured or 892
mobile homes. 893
(OO) "ELECTRONIC" INCLUDES ELECTRICAL, DIGITAL, MAGNETIC, 895
OPTICAL, ELECTROMAGNETIC, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF TECHNOLOGY THAT 896
ENTAILS CAPABILITIES SIMILAR TO THESE TECHNOLOGIES. 897
(PP) "ELECTRONIC RECORD" MEANS A RECORD GENERATED, 899
COMMUNICATED, RECEIVED, OR STORED BY ELECTRONIC MEANS FOR USE IN 900
AN INFORMATION SYSTEM OR FOR TRANSMISSION FROM ONE INFORMATION 901
SYSTEM TO ANOTHER.
(QQ) "ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE" MEANS A SIGNATURE IN 903
ELECTRONIC FORM ATTACHED TO OR LOGICALLY ASSOCIATED WITH AN 904
ELECTRONIC RECORD.
(RR) "FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICE" HAS THE SAME MEANING 906
AS IN DIVISION (A) OF SECTION 113.40 OF THE REVISED CODE. 907
Sec. 4503.10. (A) The owner of every snowmobile, 916
off-highway motorcycle, and all-purpose vehicle required to be 918
registered under section 4519.02 of the Revised Code shall file 920
an application for registration under section 4519.03 of the 921
Revised Code. The owner of a motor vehicle, other than a 924
snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle, that 925
is not designed and constructed by the manufacturer for operation 926
on a street or highway may not register it under this chapter 927
22
except upon certification of inspection pursuant to section 928
4513.02 of the Revised Code by the sheriff or chief of police of 931
the municipal or township police with jurisdiction over the 932
political subdivision in which the owner of the motor vehicle 933
resides. Except as provided in section 4503.103 of the Revised 934
Code, every owner of every other motor vehicle not previously 935
described in this section and every person mentioned as owner in 936
the last certificate of title of a motor vehicle that is operated 938
or driven upon the public roads or highways shall cause to be 939
filed each year, by mail or otherwise, in the office of the 940
registrar of motor vehicles or a deputy registrar, a written OR 941
ELECTRONIC application or a preprinted registration renewal
notice issued under section 4503.102 of the Revised Code, the 942
form of which shall be prescribed by the registrar, for 943
registration for the following registration year, which shall 944
begin on the first day of January of every calendar year and end 945
on the thirty-first day of December in the same year. 946
Applications for registration and registration renewal notices 947
shall be filed at the times established by the registrar pursuant 948
to section 4503.101 of the Revised Code. A MOTOR VEHICLE OWNER 949
ALSO MAY ELECT TO RENEW A MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION BY 950
ELECTRONIC MEANS USING ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE IN ACCORDANCE WITH 951
RULES ADOPTED BY THE REGISTRAR. Except as provided in division 952
(J) of this section, applications for registration shall be made 953
on blanks furnished by the registrar for that purpose, containing 954
the following information: 955
(1) A brief description of the motor vehicle to be 957
registered, including the name of the manufacturer, the factory 958
number of the vehicle, the year's model, and, in the case of 959
commercial cars, the gross weight of the vehicle fully equipped 960
computed in the manner prescribed in section 4503.08 of the 961
Revised Code; 962
(2) The name and residence address of the owner, and the 965
township and municipal corporation in which the owner resides; 967
23
(3) The district of registration, which shall be 969
determined as follows: 970
(a) In case the motor vehicle to be registered is used for 972
hire or principally in connection with any established business 973
or branch business, conducted at a particular place, the district 974
of registration is the municipal corporation in which that place 975
is located or, if not located in any municipal corporation, the 976
county and township in which that place is located. 977
(b) In case the vehicle is not so used, the district of 979
registration is the municipal corporation or county in which the 980
owner resides at the time of making the application. 981
(4) Whether the motor vehicle is a new or used motor 983
vehicle; 984
(5) The date of purchase of the motor vehicle; 986
(6) Whether the fees required to be paid for the 988
registration or transfer of the motor vehicle, during the 989
preceding registration year and during the preceding period of 990
the current registration year, have been paid. Each application 991
for registration shall be signed by the owner, directly EITHER 992
MANUALLY OR BY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE, or pursuant to obtaining a 994
limited power of attorney authorized by the registrar for
registration, or other document authorizing such signature. IF 995
THE OWNER ELECTS TO RENEW THE MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION WITH THE 996
REGISTRAR BY ELECTRONIC MEANS, THE OWNER'S MANUAL SIGNATURE IS 997
NOT REQUIRED.
(7) The owner's social security number, if assigned, or, 999
where a motor vehicle to be registered is used for hire or 1,000
principally in connection with any established business, the 1,001
owner's federal taxpayer identification number. 1,002
(B) Each time the applicant first registers a motor 1,004
vehicle in the applicant's name, the applicant shall present for 1,006
inspection a certificate of title or a memorandum certificate 1,007
showing title to the motor vehicle to be registered in the 1,008
applicant. When a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance 1,009
24
program is in effect under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code 1,010
and rules adopted under it, each application for registration for 1,011
a vehicle required to be inspected under that section and those 1,012
rules shall be accompanied by an inspection certificate for the 1,013
motor vehicle issued in accordance with that section. The 1,014
application shall be refused if any of the following applies: 1,015
(1) The application is not in proper form. 1,017
(2) The application is prohibited from being accepted by 1,019
division (D) of section 2935.27, division (A) of section 1,020
2937.221, division (A) of section 4503.13, division (B) of 1,021
section 4507.168, or division (B)(1) of section 4521.10 of the 1,022
Revised Code.
(3) A certificate of title or memorandum certificate of 1,025
title does not accompany the application. 1,027
(4) All registration and transfer fees for the motor 1,029
vehicle, for the preceding year or the preceding period of the 1,030
current registration year, have not been paid. 1,031
(5) The owner or lessee does not have an inspection 1,033
certificate for the motor vehicle as provided in section 3704.14 1,034
of the Revised Code, and rules adopted under it, if that section 1,035
is applicable. 1,036
This section does not require the payment of license or 1,038
registration taxes on a motor vehicle for any preceding year, or 1,039
for any preceding period of a year, if the motor vehicle was not 1,040
taxable for that preceding year or period under sections 4503.02, 1,041
4503.04, 4503.11, 4503.12, and 4503.16 or Chapter 4504. of the 1,042
Revised Code. When a certificate of registration is issued upon 1,043
the first registration of a motor vehicle by or on behalf of the 1,044
owner, the official issuing the certificate shall indicate the 1,045
issuance with a stamp on the certificate of title or memorandum 1,046
certificate and on the inspection certificate for the motor 1,047
vehicle, if any. The official also shall indicate, by a stamp or 1,048
by such other means as the registrar prescribes, on the 1,049
registration certificate issued upon the first registration of a 1,050
25
motor vehicle by or on behalf of the owner the odometer reading 1,051
of the motor vehicle as shown in the odometer statement included 1,052
in or attached to the certificate of title. Upon each subsequent 1,053
registration of the motor vehicle by or on behalf of the same 1,054
owner, the official also shall so indicate the odometer reading 1,055
of the motor vehicle as shown on the immediately preceding 1,056
certificate of registration. 1,057
The registrar shall include in the permanent registration 1,059
record of any vehicle required to be inspected under section 1,060
3704.14 of the Revised Code the inspection certificate number 1,061
from the inspection certificate that is presented at the time of 1,062
registration of the vehicle as required under this division. 1,063
(C) In addition, a charge of twenty-five cents shall be 1,065
made for each reflectorized safety license plate issued, and a 1,066
single charge of twenty-five cents shall be made for each county 1,067
identification sticker or each set of county identification 1,069
stickers issued, as the case may be, to cover the cost of 1,070
producing the license plates and stickers, including material, 1,071
manufacturing, and administrative costs. Those fees shall be in 1,072
addition to the license tax. If the total cost of producing the 1,073
plates is less than twenty-five cents per plate, or if the total 1,074
cost of producing the stickers is less than twenty-five cents per 1,075
sticker or per set issued, any excess moneys accruing from the 1,076
fees shall be distributed in the same manner as provided by 1,077
section 4501.04 of the Revised Code for the distribution of 1,078
license tax moneys. If the total cost of producing the plates 1,079
exceeds twenty-five cents per plate, or if the total cost of 1,080
producing the stickers exceeds twenty-five cents per sticker or 1,081
per set issued, the difference shall be paid from the license tax 1,083
moneys collected pursuant to section 4503.02 of the Revised Code. 1,084
(D) Each deputy registrar shall be allowed a fee of two 1,086
dollars and twenty-five cents for each application for 1,087
registration and registration renewal notice the deputy registrar 1,089
receives, which shall be for the purpose of compensating the 1,090
26
deputy registrar for the deputy registrar's services, and such 1,091
office and rental expenses, as may be necessary for the proper 1,093
discharge of the deputy registrar's duties in the receiving of 1,095
applications and renewal notices and the issuing of licenses. 1,096
(E) Upon the certification of the registrar, the county 1,098
sheriff or local police officials shall recover license plates 1,099
erroneously or fraudulently issued. 1,100
(F) Each deputy registrar, upon receipt of any application 1,102
for registration or registration renewal notice, together with 1,103
the license fee and any or local motor vehicle license tax levied 1,106
pursuant to Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, shall transmit 1,107
that fee and tax, if any, in the manner provided in this section, 1,108
together with the original and duplicate copy of the application, 1,109
to the registrar. The registrar, subject to the approval of the 1,110
director of public safety, may deposit the funds collected by 1,111
those deputies in a local bank or depository to the credit of the 1,112
"state of Ohio, bureau of motor vehicles." Where a local bank or 1,113
depository has been designated by the registrar, each deputy 1,114
registrar shall deposit all moneys collected by the deputy 1,115
registrar into that bank or depository not more than one business 1,116
day after their collection and shall make reports to the 1,118
registrar of the amounts so deposited, together with any other 1,119
information, some of which may be prescribed by the treasurer of 1,120
state, as the registrar may require and as prescribed by the 1,121
registrar by rule. The registrar, within three days after 1,122
receipt of notification of the deposit of funds by a deputy 1,123
registrar in a local bank or depository, shall draw on that
account in favor of the treasurer of state. The registrar, 1,125
subject to the approval of the director and the treasurer of 1,126
state, may make reasonable rules necessary for the prompt 1,127
transmittal of fees and for safeguarding the interests of the 1,128
state and of counties, townships, municipal corporations, and 1,129
transportation improvement districts levying local motor vehicle 1,130
license taxes. The registrar may pay service charges usually 1,134
27
collected by banks and depositories for such service. If deputy 1,135
registrars are located in communities where banking facilities 1,137
are not available, they shall transmit the fees forthwith, by 1,138
money order or otherwise, as the registrar, by rule approved by 1,139
the director and the treasurer of state, may prescribe. The 1,140
registrar may pay the usual and customary fees for such service. 1,141
(G) This section does not prevent any person from making 1,143
an application for a motor vehicle license directly to the 1,144
registrar BY MAIL, BY ELECTRONIC MEANS, OR IN PERSON AT ANY OF 1,145
THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICES, upon payment of a SERVICE FEE OF two 1,146
dollars and twenty-five cents service fee for each application. 1,147
(H) No person shall make a false statement as to the 1,149
district of registration in an application required by division 1,150
(A) of this section. Violation of this division is falsification 1,151
under section 2921.13 of the Revised Code and punishable as 1,152
specified in that section. 1,153
(I)(1) Where applicable, the requirements of division (B) 1,155
of this section relating to the presentation of an inspection 1,156
certificate issued under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code and 1,157
rules adopted under it for a motor vehicle, the refusal of a 1,158
license for failure to present an inspection certificate, and the 1,159
stamping of the inspection certificate by the official issuing 1,160
the certificate of registration apply to the registration of and 1,161
issuance of license plates for a motor vehicle under sections 1,162
4503.102, 4503.12, 4503.14, 4503.15, 4503.16, 4503.171, 4503.172, 1,163
4503.19, 4503.40, 4503.41, 4503.42, 4503.43, 4503.44, 4503.46, 1,164
4503.47, and 4503.51 of the Revised Code. 1,165
(2)(a) The registrar shall adopt rules ensuring that each 1,167
owner registering a motor vehicle in a county where a motor 1,168
vehicle inspection and maintenance program is in effect under 1,169
section 3704.14 of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it 1,170
receives information about the requirements established in that 1,171
section and those rules and about the need in those counties to 1,172
present an inspection certificate with an application for 1,173
28
registration or preregistration. 1,174
(b) Upon request, the registrar shall provide the director 1,176
of environmental protection, or any person that has been awarded 1,177
a contract under division (D) of section 3704.14 of the Revised 1,178
Code, an on-line computer data link to registration information 1,179
for all passenger cars, noncommercial motor vehicles, and 1,180
commercial cars that are subject to that section. The registrar 1,181
also shall provide to the director of environmental protection a 1,182
magnetic data tape containing registration information regarding 1,183
passenger cars, noncommercial motor vehicles, and commercial cars 1,184
for which a multi-year registration is in effect under section 1,185
4503.103 of the Revised Code or rules adopted under it, 1,186
including, without limitation, the date of issuance of the 1,187
multi-year registration, the registration deadline established 1,188
under rules adopted under section 4503.101 of the Revised Code 1,189
that was applicable in the year in which the multi-year 1,190
registration was issued, and the registration deadline for 1,191
renewal of the multi-year registration. 1,192
(J) Application for registration under the international 1,194
registration plan, as set forth in sections 4503.60 to 4503.66 of 1,195
the Revised Code, shall be made to the registrar on forms 1,196
furnished by the registrar. In accordance with international 1,197
registration plan guidelines and pursuant to rules adopted by the 1,198
registrar, the forms shall include the following: 1,199
(1) A uniform mileage schedule; 1,201
(2) The gross vehicle weight of the vehicle or combined 1,203
gross vehicle weight of the combination vehicle as declared by 1,204
the registrant; 1,205
(3) Any other information the registrar requires by rule. 1,208
Sec. 4503.102. (A) The registrar of motor vehicles shall 1,217
adopt rules to establish a centralized system of motor vehicle 1,218
registration renewal by mail OR BY ELECTRONIC MEANS. Any person 1,219
owning a motor vehicle that was registered in the person's name 1,220
during the preceding registration year shall renew the 1,222
29
registration of the motor vehicle NOT MORE THAN NINETY DAYS PRIOR 1,223
TO THE EXPIRATION DATE OF THE REGISTRATION either by mail OR BY 1,224
ELECTRONIC MEANS through the centralized system of registration 1,225
established under this section, or in person at a ANY OFFICE OF 1,226
THE REGISTRAR OR AT A deputy registrar's office. 1,227
(B)(1) No less than forty-five days prior to the 1,229
expiration date of any motor vehicle registration, the registrar 1,230
shall mail a renewal notice to the person in whose name the motor 1,231
vehicle is registered. The renewal notice shall clearly state 1,232
that the registration of the motor vehicle may be renewed by mail 1,233
OR ELECTRONIC MEANS through the centralized system of 1,235
registration or in person at ANY OFFICE OF THE REGISTRAR OR AT a 1,237
deputy registrar's office and shall be preprinted with 1,238
information including, but not limited to, the owner's name and
residence address as shown in the records of the bureau of motor 1,239
vehicles, a brief description of the motor vehicle to be 1,240
registered, notice of the license taxes and fees due on the motor 1,241
vehicle, the toll-free telephone number of the registrar as 1,242
required under division (D)(1) of section 4503.031 of the Revised 1,243
Code, and any additional information the registrar may require by 1,244
rule. The renewal notice shall be sent by regular mail to the 1,246
owner's last known address as shown in the records of the bureau
of motor vehicles. 1,247
(2) If the application for renewal of the registration of 1,250
a motor vehicle is prohibited from being accepted by the 1,251
registrar or a deputy registrar by division (D) of section 1,252
2935.27, division (A) of section 2937.221, division (A) of 1,253
section 4503.13, division (B) of section 4507.168, or division 1,255
(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 1,256
vehicle lessee.
(C) The owner of the motor vehicle shall verify the 1,258
information contained in the notice, sign it EITHER MANUALLY OR 1,259
BY ELECTRONIC MEANS, and return it, EITHER BY MAIL OR ELECTRONIC 1,260
30
MEANS, OR THE OWNER MAY TAKE IT in person to ANY OFFICE OF THE 1,262
REGISTRAR OR OF a deputy registrar or by mail to the registrar, 1,263
together with a credit card FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICE number, 1,264
when permitted by rule of the registrar, check, or money order in 1,266
the amount of the registration taxes and fees payable on the 1,267
motor vehicle and a mail fee of two dollars and twenty-five cents 1,268
plus postage as indicated on the notice, if the registration is 1,269
renewed by mail, and an inspection certificate for the motor 1,270
vehicle as provided in section 3704.14 of the Revised Code. IF 1,271
THE MOTOR VEHICLE OWNER CHOOSES TO RENEW THE MOTOR VEHICLE 1,272
REGISTRATION BY ELECTRONIC MEANS, THE OWNER SHALL PROCEED IN 1,273
ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES THE REGISTRAR ADOPTS.
(D) If all registration and transfer fees for the motor 1,275
vehicle for the preceding year or the preceding period of the 1,276
current registration year have not been paid, if division (D) of 1,277
section 2935.27, division (A) of section 2937.221, division (A) 1,278
of section 4503.13, division (B) of section 4507.168, or division 1,280
(B)(1) of section 4521.10 of the Revised Code prohibits 1,281
acceptance of the renewal notice, or if the owner or lessee does 1,282
not have an inspection certificate for the motor vehicle as 1,283
provided in section 3704.14 of the Revised Code, if that section 1,284
is applicable, the license shall be refused, and the registrar or 1,285
deputy registrar shall so notify the owner. This section does 1,286
not require the payment of license or registration taxes on a 1,287
motor vehicle for any preceding year, or for any preceding period 1,288
of a year, if the motor vehicle was not taxable for that 1,289
preceding year or period under section 4503.02, 4503.04, 4503.11, 1,290
4503.12, or 4503.16 or Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code. 1,291
(E)(1) Failure to receive a renewal notice does not 1,293
relieve a motor vehicle owner from the responsibility to renew 1,295
the registration for the motor vehicle. Any person who has a 1,296
motor vehicle registered in this state and who does not receive a 1,297
renewal notice as provided in division (B) of this section prior 1,298
to the expiration date of the registration shall request an 1,299
31
application for registration from the registrar or a deputy 1,300
registrar and return SIGN the signed application MANUALLY OR BY 1,302
ELECTRONIC MEANS AND SUBMIT THE APPLICATION and PAY any 1,303
applicable license taxes and fees to the registrar or deputy 1,304
registrar.
(2) If the owner of a motor vehicle submits an application 1,306
for registration and the registrar is prohibited by division (D) 1,307
of section 2935.27, division (A) of section 2937.221, division 1,308
(A) of section 4503.13, division (B) of section 4507.168, or 1,310
division (B)(1) of section 4521.10 of the Revised Code from 1,311
accepting the application, the registrar shall return the 1,312
application and the payment to the owner. IF THE OWNER OF A 1,313
MOTOR VEHICLE SUBMITS A REGISTRATION RENEWAL APPLICATION TO THE 1,314
REGISTRAR BY ELECTRONIC MEANS AND THE REGISTRAR IS PROHIBITED 1,315
FROM ACCEPTING THE APPLICATION AS PROVIDED IN THIS DIVISION, THE 1,316
REGISTRAR SHALL NOTIFY THE OWNER OF THIS FACT AND DENY THE 1,317
APPLICATION AND RETURN THE PAYMENT OR GIVE A CREDIT ON THE 1,318
FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICE ACCOUNT OF THE OWNER IN THE MANNER 1,320
THE REGISTRAR PRESCRIBES BY RULE ADOPTED PURSUANT TO DIVISION (A) 1,321
OF THIS SECTION.
(F) Every deputy registrar shall post in a prominent place 1,323
at the deputy's office a notice informing the public of the mail 1,325
registration system required by this section, and also shall post 1,326
a notice that every owner of a motor vehicle and every chauffeur 1,327
holding a certificate of registration is required to notify the 1,328
registrar in writing of any change of residence within ten days 1,329
after the change occurs. The notice shall be in such form as the 1,330
registrar prescribes by rule. 1,331
(G) The two dollars and twenty-five cents fee, plus 1,333
postage and any credit card FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICE 1,334
surcharge collected by the registrar for registration by mail, 1,336
shall be paid to the credit of the state bureau of motor vehicles 1,337
fund established by section 4501.25 of the Revised Code. 1,338
(H) The PURSUANT TO SECTION 113.40 OF THE REVISED CODE, 1,340
32
THE registrar may implement a program permitting payment of motor 1,342
vehicle registration taxes and fees, driver's license and 1,343
commercial driver's license fees, and any other taxes, fees, 1,344
penalties, or charges imposed or levied by the state by means of 1,345
a credit card FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICE. The registrar may 1,346
adopt rules as necessary for this purpose.
If a person uses a credit card to pay motor vehicle 1,348
registration taxes or fees, license fees, or other similar taxes, 1,349
fees, penalties, or charges imposed or levied by the state as 1,350
provided in this section, a surcharge sufficient to pay the 1,351
required service charge of the financial institution or credit 1,352
card company shall be paid by the person using the credit card. 1,353
(I) For persons who reside in counties where tailpipe 1,355
emissions inspections are required under the motor vehicle 1,356
inspection and maintenance program, the notice required by 1,357
division (B) of this section shall also include the toll-free 1,358
telephone number maintained by the Ohio environmental protection 1,359
agency to provide information concerning the locations of 1,360
emissions testing centers. 1,361
Sec. 4503.20. (A) As used in this section: 1,370
(1) "Dealer engaged in the business of leasing motor 1,372
vehicles" means any person engaged in the business of regularly 1,373
making available, offering to make available, or arranging for 1,374
another person to use a motor vehicle pursuant to a bailment, 1,375
lease, or other contractual arrangement. 1,376
(2) "Motor vehicle" has the meaning set forth in section 1,378
4509.01 of the Revised Code. 1,379
(B) An application for the registration of a motor vehicle 1,381
shall contain a statement, to be signed by the applicant EITHER 1,382
MANUALLY OR BY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE, that does all of the 1,383
following:
(1) States that the applicant maintains, or has maintained 1,385
on his THE APPLICANT'S behalf, proof of financial responsibility 1,386
at the time of application, and will not operate a motor vehicle 1,388
33
in this state, unless he THE APPLICANT maintains, with respect to 1,389
that motor vehicle or the operation of such vehicle, proof of
financial responsibility; 1,390
(2) Contains a brief summary of the purposes and operation 1,392
of section 4509.101 of the Revised Code, the rights and duties of 1,393
the applicant under that section, and the penalties for violation 1,394
of that section; 1,395
(3) Warns the applicant that the financial responsibility 1,397
law does not prevent the possibility that the applicant may be 1,398
involved in an accident with an owner or operator of a motor 1,399
vehicle who is without proof of financial responsibility. 1,400
(C)(1) A person who purchases any motor vehicle from a 1,402
licensed motor vehicle dealer who agrees to make application for 1,403
registration of the motor vehicle on behalf of the purchaser 1,404
shall sign statements that comply with divisions (B) and (F) of 1,405
this section. The dealer shall submit the statements to the 1,406
deputy registrar where the dealer has agreed to make application 1,407
for registration on behalf of the person. 1,408
(2) In the case of a person who leases any motor vehicle 1,410
from a dealer engaged in the business of leasing motor vehicles 1,411
who agrees to make application for registration of the motor 1,412
vehicle on behalf of the lessee, the person shall sign a 1,413
statement that complies with division (B) of this section, and 1,414
the dealer shall do either of the following: 1,415
(a) Submit the statement signed by the person to the 1,417
deputy registrar where the dealer has agreed to make application 1,418
for registration on behalf of the person; 1,419
(b) Sign and submit a statement to the deputy registrar 1,421
that certifies that a statement has been signed and filed with 1,422
the dealer or incorporated into the lease. 1,423
The dealer shall submit to the registrar or deputy 1,425
registrar to whom he THE DEALER submits the application for 1,426
registration a statement signed by the person that complies with 1,428
division (F) of this section.
34
(D) The registrar of motor vehicles shall prescribe the 1,430
form of the statements required under divisions (B), (C), and (F) 1,431
of this section, and the manner or manners in which the 1,432
statements required under divisions (B) and (F) of this section 1,433
shall be presented to the applicant. Any statement that is 1,434
required under divisions (B), (C), and (F) of this section shall 1,435
be designed to enable the applicant to retain a copy of it. 1,436
(E) Nothing within this section shall be construed to 1,438
excuse a violation of section 4509.101 of the Revised Code. A 1,439
motor vehicle dealer who makes application for the registration 1,440
of a motor vehicle on behalf of the purchaser or lessee of the 1,441
motor vehicle is not liable in damages in any civil action on 1,442
account of the act of making such application for registration or 1,443
the content of any such application for registration.
(F) In addition to the statements required by divisions 1,445
(B) and (C) of this section, a person who makes application for 1,446
registration of a motor vehicle shall be furnished with a form 1,447
that lists in plain language all the possible penalties to which 1,448
a person could be subject for a violation of the financial
responsibility law, including driver's license suspensions; all 1,449
fees, including nonvoluntary compliance and reinstatement fees; 1,450
and vehicle immobilization or impoundment. The person shall read 1,451
THE FORM and EITHER MANUALLY OR BY ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE sign the 1,452
form, which shall be submitted along with the application for 1,453
registration as provided in this section. The form shall be 1,454
retained by the registrar or deputy registrar who issues the 1,455
motor vehicle registration or his THE REGISTRAR'S OR DEPUTY 1,456
REGISTRAR'S successor for a period of two years from the date of
issuance of the registration. 1,457
(G) Upon the registration of a motor vehicle, the owner of 1,459
the motor vehicle is deemed to have agreed to the production of 1,460
proof of financial responsibility by him THE OWNER or the 1,461
operator of the motor vehicle, upon the request of a peace 1,462
officer or state highway patrol trooper made in accordance with 1,463
35
division (E)(2) of section 4509.101 of the Revised Code. 1,464
(H) THE REGISTRAR SHALL ADOPT RULES GOVERNING THE RENEWAL 1,466
OF MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS BY ELECTRONIC MEANS AND THE 1,467
COMPLETION AND SUBMISSION OF STATEMENTS THAT COMPLY WITH 1,468
DIVISIONS (B) AND (F) OF THIS SECTION. THE REGISTRAR SHALL ADOPT 1,469
THE RULES PRESCRIBED BY THIS DIVISION IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 1,470
119. OF THE REVISED CODE. 1,471
Section 2. That existing sections 1547.01, 1547.54, 1,473
4501.01, 4503.10, 4503.102, and 4503.20 of the Revised Code are 1,475
hereby repealed.
Section 3. Section 4501.01 of the Revised Code is 1,477
presented in this act as a composite of the section as amended by 1,478
both Am. Sub. H.B. 611 and Am. Sub. S.B. 142 of the 122nd General 1,479
Assembly, with the new language of neither of the acts shown in 1,481
capital letters. This is in recognition of the principle stated 1,482
in division (B) of section 1.52 of the Revised Code that such 1,483
amendments are to be harmonized where not substantively 1,484
irreconcilable and constitutes a legislative finding that such is 1,485
the resulting version in effect prior to the effective date of 1,486
this act.