As Reported by the House Transportation, Public Safety, and Homeland Security Committee

130th General Assembly Regular Session 2013-2014

H. B. No. 133

Representatives Slesnick, Johnson 

Cosponsors: Representatives Blair, Damschroder, DeVitis, Hall, Henne, Hood, Letson, Maag, Mallory, Pillich, Ramos, Reece, Stautberg, Terhar, Wachtmann, Young, Ruhl 

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A BILL

To amend sections 4503.181, 4503.19, 4503.21,

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4503.23, and 4549.10 and to enact section 4503.192

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of the Revised Code to require that motor vehicles

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carry only one license plate to be displayed on

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the rear of the vehicle, and to amend the version

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of section 4503.21 of the Revised Code that is

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scheduled to take effect January 1, 2017, to

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continue the provisions of this act on and after

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that effective date.

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BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:

Section 1. That sections 4503.181, 4503.19, 4503.21, 4503.23,	10
and 4549.10 be amended and section 4503.192 of the Revised Code be	11
enacted to read as follows:	12

Sec. 4503.181.  (A) As used in this section, "historical	13
motor vehicle" means any motor vehicle that is more than	14
twenty-five years old and that is owned solely as a collector's	15
item and for participation in club activities, exhibitions, tours,	16
parades, and similar uses, but in no event is used for general	17
transportation.	18

(B) In lieu of the annual license tax levied in sections	19
4503.02 and 4503.04 of the Revised Code, a license fee of ten	20
dollars is levied on the operation of ana historical motor	21
vehicle.	22

(C) A person who owns ana historical motor vehicle and	23
applies for a historical license platesplate under this section	24
shall execute an affidavit that the vehicle for which plates are	25
the plate is requested is owned and operated solely for the	26
purposes enumerated in division (A) of this section, and. The	27
affidavit also settingshall act forth in the affidavit that the	28
vehicle has been inspected and found safe to operate on the public	29
roads and highways in the state. A person who owns ana historical	30
motor vehicle and desires to display a model year license plates	31
plate on the vehicle as permitted by this section shall execute at	32
the time of registration an affidavit setting forth that the model	33
year license platesplate the person desires to display on the	34
person's historical motor vehicle areis a legible and serviceable	35
license platesplate that originally werewas issued by this	36
state. No registration issued pursuant to this section need	37
specify the weight of the vehicle.	38

(D) A vehicle registered under this section may display	39
either a historical vehicle license platesplate issued by the	40
registrar of motor vehicles or a model year license platesplate	41
procured by the applicant. HistoricalA historical vehicle license	42
platesplate shall not bear a date, but shall bear the	43
inscription "Historical Vehicle--Ohio" and the registration	44
number, which shall be shown thereon. ModelA model year license	45
platesplate shall be a legible and serviceable license plates	46
plate issued by this state and inscribed with the date of the year	47
corresponding to the model year when the vehicle was manufactured.	48
Notwithstanding section 4503.21 of the Revised Code, only oneTwo	49
model year license plate is required toplates, duplicates of each	50
other, may be displayed on the rear of the historical motor	51
vehicle at all timesany time, one plate on the front and one	52
plate on the rear of the vehicle. The registration certificate and	53
the historical vehicle license platesplate issued by the	54
registrar shall be kept in the vehicle at all times the vehicle is	55
operated on the public roads and highways in this state.	56

Notwithstanding section 4503.21 of the Revised Code, the	57
owner of ana historical motor vehicle that was manufactured for	58
military purposes and that is registered under this section may	59
display the assigned registration number of the vehicle by	60
painting the number on the front and rear of the vehicle. The	61
number shall be painted, in accordance with the size and style	62
specifications established for numerals and letters shown on	63
license plates in section 4503.22 of the Revised Code, in a color	64
that contrasts clearly with the color of the vehicle, and shall be	65
legible and visible at all times. Upon application for	66
registration under this section and payment of the license fee	67
prescribed in division (B) of this section, the owner of such ana	68
historical motor vehicle shall be issued a historical vehicle	69
license platesplate. The registration certificate and at least	70
one suchthe license plate shall be kept in the vehicle at all	71
times the vehicle is operated on the public roads and highways in	72
this state. If ownership of such a vehicle is transferred, the	73
transferor shall surrender the historical vehicle license plates	74
plate or transfer themit to another historical motor vehicle the	75
transferor owns, and remove or obliterate the registration numbers	76
painted on the vehicle.	77

(E) Historical vehicle and model year license plates are	78
valid without renewal as long as the vehicle for which they were	79
issued or procured is in existence. HistoricalA historical	80
vehicle plates areplate is issued for the owner's use only for	81
such vehicle unless later transferred to another historical motor	82
vehicle owned by that person. In order to effect such a transfer,	83
the owner of the historical motor vehicle that originally	84
displayed the historical vehicle platesplate shall comply with	85
division (C) of this section. In the event of a transfer of title,	86
the transferor shall surrender the historical vehicle license	87
platesplate or transfer themit to another historical motor	88
vehicle owned by the transferor, but a model year license plate	89
orplates may be retained by the transferor. The registrar may	90
revoke license plates issued under this section, for cause shown	91
and after hearing, for failure of the applicant to comply with	92
this section. Upon revocation, a historical vehicle license plates	93
plate shall be surrendered; a model year license plate or plates	94
may be retained, but the plate or plates are no longer are valid	95
for display on the vehicle.	96

(F) The owner of ana historical motor vehicle bearing a	97
historical vehicle license platesplate may replace themit with a	98
model year license platesplate by surrendering the historical	99
vehicle license platesplate and motor vehicle certificate of	100
registration to the registrar. The owner, at the time of	101
registration, shall execute an affidavit setting forth that the	102
model year plates areplate is a legible and serviceable license	103
platesplate that originally werewas issued by this state. Such	104
an owner is required to pay the license fee prescribed by division	105
(B) of this section, but the owner is not required to have the	106
historical motor vehicle reinspected under division (C) of this	107
section.	108

A person who owns ana historical motor vehicle bearing a	109
model year license platesplate may replace themit with a	110
historical vehicle license platesplate by surrendering the motor	111
vehicle certificate of registration and applying for issuance of a	112
historical vehicle license platesplate. Such a person is required	113
to pay the license fee prescribed by division (B) of this section,	114
but the person is not required to have the historical motor	115
vehicle reinspected under division (C) of this section.	116

Sec. 4503.19.  (A) Upon the filing of an application for	117
registration and the payment of the tax for registration, the	118
registrar of motor vehicles or a deputy registrar shall determine	119
whether the owner previously has been issued a license plates	120
plate for the motor vehicle described in the application. If no	121
license platesplate previously havehas been issued to the owner	122
for that motor vehicle, the registrar or deputy registrar shall	123
assign to the motor vehicle a distinctive number and issue and	124
deliver to the owner in the manner that the registrar may select a	125
certificate of registration, in the form that the registrar shall	126
prescribe, and, except as otherwise provided in this section, two	127
a license plates, duplicates of each other,plate and a validation	128
sticker, or a validation sticker alone, to be attached to the	129
number plateslicense plate as provided in section 4503.191 of the	130
Revised Code. The registrar or deputy registrar also shall charge	131
the owner any fees required under division (C) of section 4503.10	132
of the Revised Code. Trailers, manufactured homes, mobile homes,	133
semitrailers, the manufacturer thereof, the dealer, or in transit	134
companies therein, shall be issued one license plate only and one	135
validation sticker, or a validation sticker alone, and the	136

The license plate and validation sticker shall be displayed	137
only on the rear of such vehicles. Athe vehicle. However, a	138
commercial tractor that does not receive an apportioned license	139
plate under the international registration plan shall be issued	140
twodisplay the license platesplate and one validation sticker,	141
and the validation sticker shall be displayed on the front of the	142
commercial tractor. An apportioned vehicle receiving an	143
apportioned license plate under the international registration	144
plan shall be issued one license plate only and one validation	145
sticker, or a validation sticker alone; the license plate shall be	146
displayed only on the front of a semitractor and on the rear of	147
all other vehicles. School buses shall not be issued a license	148
platesplate but shall bear identifying numbers in the manner	149
prescribed by section 4511.764 of the Revised Code. The	150
certificate of registration and license platesplate and	151
validation stickerssticker, or validation stickerssticker alone,	152
shall be issued and delivered to the owner in person or by mail.	153
Chauffeured limousines shall be issued a license platesplate, a	154
validation sticker, and a livery sticker as provided in section	155
4503.24 of the Revised Code. In	156

In the event of the loss, mutilation, or destruction of any	157
certificate of registration, or of any license platesplate or	158
validation stickerssticker, or if the owner chooses to replace	159
the license platesplate previously issued for a motor vehicle, or	160
if the registration certificate and license platesplate have been	161
impounded as provided by division (B)(1) of section 4507.02 and	162
section 4507.16 of the Revised Code, the owner of a motor vehicle,	163
or manufacturer or dealer, may obtain from the registrar, or from	164
a deputy registrar if authorized by the registrar, a duplicate	165
thereof or a new license platesplate bearing a different number,	166
if the registrar considers it advisable, upon filing an	167
application prescribed by the registrar, and upon paying a fee of	168
one dollar for such certificate of registration, which one dollar	169
fee shall be deposited into the state treasury to the credit of	170
the state bureau of motor vehicles fund created in section 4501.25	171
of the Revised Code. Commencing	172

Commencing with each request made on or after October 1,	173
2009, or in conjunction with a replacement license platesplate	174
issued for renewal registrations expiring on or after October 1,	175
2009, a fee of seven dollars and fifty cents for each set of two	176
license plates or six dollars and fifty cents for each single	177
license plate or validation sticker shall be charged and	178
collected, of which the. The registrar shall deposit five dollars	179
and fifty cents of each seven dollar and fifty cent fee or each	180
six dollar and fifty cent fee into the state treasury to the	181
credit of the state highway safety fund created in section 4501.06	182
of the Revised Code and the remaining portion of each such fee	183
into the state treasury to the credit of the state bureau of motor	184
vehicles fund created in section 4501.25 of the Revised Code. In	185
addition, each applicant for a replacement certificate of	186
registration, license plate, or validation sticker shall pay the	187
fees provided in divisions (C) and (D) of section 4503.10 of the	188
Revised Code.	189

Additionally, the registrar and each deputy registrar who	190
either issues a license platesplate and a validation sticker for	191
use on any vehicle other than a commercial tractor, semitrailer,	192
or apportioned vehicle, or who issues a validation sticker alone	193
for use on such a vehicle and the owner has changed the owner's	194
county of residence since the owner last was issued county	195
identification stickers, also shall issue and deliver to the owner	196
either one or twoa county identification stickers, as appropriate	197
sticker, which shall be attached to the license platesplate in a	198
manner prescribed by the director of public safety. The county	199
identification stickerssticker shall identify prominently by name	200
or number the county in which the owner of the vehicle resides at	201
the time of registration.	202

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor	203
misdemeanor.	204

Sec. 4503.192. The display of a single current license plate	205
and validation sticker on the rear of a motor vehicle sufficiently	206
indicates that the vehicle is registered in this state. Any	207
reference in the Revised Code to license plates, a set of license	208
plates, registration plates, or validation stickers is deemed to	209
be a reference to the single license plate and validation sticker	210
required by section 4503.19 of the Revised Code.	211

Sec. 4503.21.  (A) No person who is the owner or operator of	212
a motor vehicle shall fail to display in plain view on the front	213
and rear of the motor vehicle the distinctive number and	214
registration mark, including any county identification sticker and	215
any validation sticker issued under sections 4503.19 and 4503.191	216
of the Revised Code, furnished by the director of public safety,	217
except that a manufacturer of motor vehicles or dealer therein,	218
the holder of an in transit permit, and the owner or operator of a	219
motorcycle, motorized bicycle, manufactured home, mobile home,	220
trailer, or semitrailer shall display on the rear only. A motor	221
vehicle that is issued two license plates shall display the	222
validation sticker only on the rear license plate, except that a	223
commercial tractor that does not receive an apportioned license	224
plate under the international registration plan shall display the	225
license plate and validation sticker on the front of the	226
commercial tractor. An apportioned vehicle receiving an	227
apportioned license plate under the international registration	228
plan shall display the license plate only on the front of a	229
commercial tractor and on the rear of all other vehicles. AllThe	230
license platesplate shall be securely fastened so as not to	231
swing, and shall not be covered by any material that obstructs	232
theirits visibility.	233

No person to whom a temporary license placard or windshield	234
sticker has been issued for the use of a motor vehicle under	235
section 4503.182 of the Revised Code, and no operator of that	236
motor vehicle, shall fail to display the temporary license placard	237
in plain view from the rear of the vehicle either in the rear	238
window or on an external rear surface of the motor vehicle, or	239
fail to display the windshield sticker in plain view on the rear	240
window of the motor vehicle. No temporary license placard or	241
windshield sticker shall be covered by any material that obstructs	242
its visibility.	243

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor	244
misdemeanor.	245

Sec. 4503.23.  No motor vehicle designed to carry passengers,	246
owned or leased by the state, or any of its departments, bureaus,	247
commissions, or institutions supported in whole or in part by	248
funds provided by the state, shall be operated or driven by any	249
person unless it has displayed, in a prominent position on both	250
the front and rear of the vehicle, identification plates whicha	251
license plate that shall be the same size, shape, and treated for	252
increased visibility in the same manner as those issued by the	253
registrar of motor vehicles for private vehicles. Such	254
identification platesThe license plate shall be attached to the	255
vehicle in the same manner as provided by statute for the	256
illumination and attachment of a license platesplate on private	257
vehicles. The registrar shall designate the colors of the license	258
tags whichplate that shall be used on state-owned cars; suchthe	259
colors shall be other than those used on privately owned motor	260
vehicles, and shall apply only to license plates used on	261
state-owned motor vehicles. Said platesThe plate shall bear a	262
special serial number, and the words "Ohio State Car."	263

Sec. 4549.10.  (A) No person shall operate or cause to be	264
operated upon a public road or highway a motor vehicle of a	265
manufacturer or dealer unless the vehicle carries and displays two	266
placardsa placard, except as provided in section 4503.21 of the	267
Revised Code, issued by the director of public safety that bear	268
bears the registration number of its manufacturer or dealer.	269

(B) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty	270
of illegal operation of a manufacturer's or dealer's motor	271
vehicle, a minor misdemeanor.	272

Section 2. That existing sections 4503.181, 4503.19, 4503.21,	273
4503.23, and 4549.10 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.	274

Section 3.  That the version of section 4503.21 of the	275
Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2017, be	276
amended to read as follows:	277

Sec. 4503.21.  (A) No person who is the owner or operator of	278
a motor vehicle shall fail to display in plain view on the front	279
and rear of the motor vehicle the distinctive number and	280
registration mark, including any county identification sticker and	281
any validation sticker issued under sections 4503.19 and 4503.191	282
of the Revised Code, furnished by the director of public safety,	283
except that a manufacturer of motor vehicles or dealer therein,	284
the holder of an in transit permit, and the owner or operator of a	285
motorcycle, motorized bicycle or moped, motor-driven cycle or	286
motor scooter, cab-enclosed motorcycle, manufactured home, mobile	287
home, trailer, or semitrailer shall display on the rear only. A	288
motor vehicle that is issued two license plates shall display the	289
validation sticker only on the rear license plate, except that a	290
commercial tractor that does not receive an apportioned license	291
plate under the international registration plan shall display the	292
license plate and validation sticker on the front of the	293
commercial tractor. An apportioned vehicle receiving an	294
apportioned license plate under the international registration	295
plan shall display the license plate only on the front of a	296
commercial tractor and on the rear of all other vehicles. AllThe	297
license platesplate shall be securely fastened so as not to	298
swing, and shall not be covered by any material that obstructs	299
theirits visibility.	300

No person to whom a temporary license placard or windshield	301
sticker has been issued for the use of a motor vehicle under	302
section 4503.182 of the Revised Code, and no operator of that	303
motor vehicle, shall fail to display the temporary license placard	304
in plain view from the rear of the vehicle either in the rear	305
window or on an external rear surface of the motor vehicle, or	306
fail to display the windshield sticker in plain view on the rear	307
window of the motor vehicle. No temporary license placard or	308
windshield sticker shall be covered by any material that obstructs	309
its visibility.	310

(B) Whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor	311
misdemeanor.	312

Section 4.  That the existing version of section 4503.21 of	313
the Revised Code that is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2017,	314
is hereby repealed.	315

Section 5.  Sections 3 and 4 of this act shall take effect	316
January 1, 2017.	317