To amend section 4503.99 and to enact section 4503.471 of the Revised Code to create a special Professional Firefighter license plate.

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

Sec. 4503.471. (A) ANY PERSON WHO IS A PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER MAY APPLY TO THE REGISTRAR OF MOTOR VEHICLES FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ANY PASSENGER CAR, NONCOMMERCIAL VEHICLE, RECREATIONAL VEHICLE, OR OTHER VEHICLE OF A CLASS APPROVED BY THE REGISTRAR THE PERSON OWNS AND THE ISSUANCE OF PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER LICENSE PLATES. THE APPLICATION SHALL BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE WRITTEN EVIDENCE THAT THE REGISTRAR MAY REQUIRE BY RULE, SHOWING THAT THE PERSON IS A PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER. THE APPLICATION FOR PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER LICENSE PLATES MAY BE COMBINED WITH A REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL RESERVE LICENSE PLATE UNDER SECTION 4503.40 OR 4503.42 of the Revised Code.

UPON RECEIPT OF AN APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF A VEHICLE UNDER THIS SECTION, AND PRESENTATION OF SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE OF PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER STATUS, THE REGISTRAR SHALL ISSUE TO THE APPLICANT THE APPROPRIATE VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS, SETS OF LICENSE PLATES AND VALIDATION STICKERS, OR VALIDATION STICKERS ALONE WHEN REQUIRED BY SECTION 4503.191 OF THE REVISED CODE.

IN ADDITION TO THE LETTERS AND NUMBERS ORDINARILY INSCRIBED ON THE LICENSE PLATES, PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER LICENSE PLATES SHALL BE INSCRIBED WITH A MALTESE CROSS EMBLEM DESIGNED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIREFIGHTERS AND APPROVED BY THE REGISTRAR. PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER LICENSE PLATES SHALL BEAR COUNTY IDENTIFICATION STICKERS THAT IDENTIFY THE COUNTY OF REGISTRATION BY NAME OR NUMBER.

THE LICENSE PLATES AND VALIDATION STICKERS SHALL BE ISSUED UPON PAYMENT OF THE REGULAR LICENSE FEE AS PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 4503.04 OF THE REVISED CODE, PAYMENT OF ANY LOCAL MOTOR VEHICLE TAX LEVIED UNDER CHAPTER 4504. OF THE REVISED CODE, AND PAYMENT OF AN ADDITIONAL FEE OF TEN DOLLARS FOR THE PURPOSE OF COMPENSATING THE BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES FOR ADDITIONAL SERVICES REQUIRED IN THE ISSUING OF LICENSE PLATES UNDER THIS SECTION. IF THE APPLICATION FOR PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER LICENSE PLATES IS COMBINED WITH A REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL RESERVED LICENSE PLATE UNDER SECTION 4503.40 OR 4503.42 of the Revised Code, THE LICENSE PLATE AND VALIDATION STICKER SHALL BE ISSUED UPON PAYMENT OF THE FEES AND TAXES CONTAINED IN THIS DIVISION AND THE ADDITIONAL FEE PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 4503.40 OR 4503.42 of the Revised Code. THE REGISTRAR SHALL DEPOSIT THE ADDITIONAL FEE OF TEN DOLLARS IN THE STATE BUREAU OF MOTOR VEHICLES FUND CREATED BY SECTION 4501.25 OF THE REVISED CODE.

THE CHIEF OF A FIRE DEPARTMENT OR THE FIRE CHIEF IMMEDIATELY SHALL NOTIFY THE REGISTRAR WHENEVER ANY PERSON UNDER THE CHIEF'S SUPERVISION NO LONGER IS A PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER, EXCEPT THAT THE NOTIFICATION NEED NOT BE MADE WHEN THE PERSON RETIRES FROM THE PROFESSION OF FIREFIGHTING.

WHENEVER A PERSON NO LONGER IS ELIGIBLE TO BE ISSUED PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER LICENSE PLATES, THE PERSON SHALL SURRENDER THE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER LICENSE PLATES TO THE BUREAU IN EXCHANGE FOR LICENSE PLATES WITHOUT THE MALTESE CROSS EMBLEM DESCRIBED IN THIS SECTION. A FEE OF THREE DOLLARS AND FIFTY CENTS SHALL BE CHARGED FOR THE SERVICES REQUIRED IN THE ISSUING OF REPLACEMENT PLATES WHEN A PERSON NO LONGER IS ELIGIBLE TO BE ISSUED PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER LICENSE PLATES.

A PERSON MAY MAKE APPLICATION FOR PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER LICENSE PLATES AT ANY TIME OF YEAR, AND THE REGISTRAR SHALL ISSUE PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER LICENSE PLATES AND REPLACEMENT PLATES AT ANY TIME OF YEAR.

(B) NO PERSON WHO IS NOT A PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER SHALL WILLFULLY AND FALSELY REPRESENT THAT THE PERSON IS A PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER LICENSE PLATES UNDER THIS SECTION. NO PERSON SHALL OWN A VEHICLE BEARING PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER LICENSE PLATES UNLESS THE PERSON IS ELIGIBLE TO BE ISSUED PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER LICENSE PLATES.

(C) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, "PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER" MEANS ANY PERSON WHO IS ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN THE PROFESSION OF FIREFIGHTING AND, FOR THE PURPOSES OF RENEWING THE REGISTRATION OF A PASSENGER CAR OR NONCOMMERCIAL VEHICLE FOR WHICH PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTER LICENSE PLATES PREVIOUSLY HAVE BEEN ISSUED UNDER THIS SECTION, INCLUDES ANY PERSON WHO IS RETIRED FROM THE PROFESSION OF FIREFIGHTING.

Sec. 4503.99. (A) Whoever violates section 4503.05, 4503.11, or 4503.12, division (A) of section 4503.182, section 4503.28, 4503.44, 4503.46, or 4503.47, DIVISION (B) OF SECTION 4503.471, or division (C), (D), or (E) of section 4503.066 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(B) Whoever violates division (H)(4) of section 4503.061, or section 4503.19, 4503.21, or 4503.34 of the Revised Code is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.

(C) Whoever violates division (B) of section 4503.182 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(D) Whoever violates division (A) of section 4503.236 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.

(E) Whoever violates section 4503.30, division (B) of section 4503.301, or section 4503.32 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.

(F)(1) Whoever violates division (B) of section 4503.033 of the Revised Code shall be fined one thousand dollars.

(2) Whoever violates division (C) of section 4503.033 of the Revised Code shall be fined ten thousand dollars.