As Passed by the Senate
136th General Assembly
Regular Session Sub. H. B. No. 3
2025-2026
Representatives Willis, Thomas, C.
Cosponsors: Representatives Fischer, McClain, Brennan, Johnson, Williams, Synenberg, Daniels, Brewer, Click, Hiner, Piccolantonio, Claggett, Sigrist, Cockley, Callender, Hall, T., Jarrells, John, Sims, Abdullahi, Bird, Brownlee, Creech, Deeter, Denson, Dovilla, Ghanbari, Glassburn, Grim, Hall, D., Hoops, Humphrey, King, Kishman, Lett, Manning, Mathews, T., McNally, Miller, J., Miller, K., Miller, M., Mohamed, Odioso, Peterson, Pizzulli, Plummer, Rader, Ritter, Robb Blasdel, Roemer, Russo, Salvo, Sweeney, Thomas, J., Upchurch, White, A., White, E., Workman
Senators Antonio, Craig, Johnson, O'Brien, Smith, Weinstein
To amend sections 4503.03, 4503.10, 4503.102, 4503.12, 4510.036, 4511.75, 4511.751, and 4511.76 and to enact sections 5.501, 3327.18, 3327.19, 4511.752, 4511.753, 4511.754, 4511.755, 4511.756, and 4511.757 of the Revised Code to address school bus safety, to designate this act as the School Bus Safety Act, and to make an appropriation.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF OHIO:
Section 1. That sections 4503.03, 4503.10, 4503.102, 4503.12, 4510.036, 4511.75, 4511.751, and 4511.76 be amended and sections 5.501, 3327.18, 3327.19, 4511.752, 4511.753, 4511.754, 4511.755, 4511.756, and 4511.757 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 5.501. The month of August is designated as "School Bus Safety Awareness Month" to increase public awareness of the need to properly stop when a stopped school bus is loading and unloading passengers.
Sec. 3327.18. (A) The school bus safety fund is created in the state treasury. The fund shall consist of the criminal fines collected for violations of division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code and a portion of the civil penalties collected in accordance with sections 4511.753 to 4511.757 of the Revised Code.
(B) The fund shall be administered by the director of education and workforce. Money in the fund shall be used to make grants to school districts for purposes of improving the safety features on school buses in accordance with section 3327.19 of the Revised Code.
(C) All investment earnings of the fund shall be credited to the fund.
Sec. 3327.19. (A) As used in this section:
(1) "Eligible applicant" means a board of education of a city school district, a local school district, an exempted village school district, a cooperative education school district, or a joint vocational school district, or a governing board of an educational service center.
(2) "School bus safety feature" means any of the following:
(a) External school bus cameras;
(b) Crossing arms;
(c) Lane departure warning systems;
(d) Electronic stability control;
(e) Lighted crossover mirrors;
(f) Colorado rack test-approved bus frames;
(g) Fully illuminated stop arms located at the front and rear of a school bus;
(h) Fully illuminated "school bus" signs;
(i) Collision avoidance systems;
(j) All light-emitting diode lights;
(k) Ground wash lights;
(l) Reflective chevron;
(m) Occupant restraining devices that conform to the school bus seat belt requirements of 49 C.F.R. 571;
(n) Silent panic alert technology that connects the school bus to a public safety answering point to allow immediate contact with emergency service;
(o) Broadband push-to-talk capabilities, integrated with traditional land mobile radio, if necessary, for direct interoperability with public safety and other emergency service broadband applications;
(p) Additional safety features that become available through advancements in technology and that are approved by the department of public safety and the department of education and workforce.
(3) "Emergency service" and "public safety answering point" have the same meanings as in section 128.01 of the Revised Code.
(B) The department of education and workforce shall administer a school bus safety grant program. Under the grant program, the department shall award grants to eligible applicants who apply to the department for funding to do any of the following:
(1) Purchase and install school bus safety features on an eligible applicant's school buses that do not currently have those features installed;
(2) Purchase and install school bus safety features to replace old, broken, or outdated safety features on an eligible applicant's current school buses;
(3) Purchase school bus safety features as additional features to be included on new school buses being purchased by the eligible applicant.
(C) The department shall use the school bus safety fund created under section 3327.18 of the Revised Code to provide grants to eligible applicants in accordance with this section.
(D) The director of education and workforce shall establish any procedures and requirements necessary to administer this section, including procedures and requirements governing the form of grant applications and grant award processes and amounts.
(E) An eligible applicant that receives a grant under this section shall do both of the following:
(1) Use the funds only for the purchase and installation of school bus safety features;
(2) Spend any grant funds awarded not later than two years after the date the funds are distributed to the eligible applicant.
Sec. 4503.03. (A)(1)(a) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, the registrar of motor vehicles may designate one or more of the following persons to act as a deputy registrar in each county:
(i) The county auditor in any county;
(ii) The clerk of a court of common pleas in any county;
(iii) An individual;
(iv) A nonprofit corporation as defined in division (C) of section 1702.01 of the Revised Code.
All fees collected and retained by a clerk for conducting deputy registrar services shall be paid into the county treasury to the credit of the certificate of title administration fund created under section 325.33 of the Revised Code.
(b) As part of the selection process in awarding a deputy registrar contract, the registrar shall consider the customer service performance record of any person previously awarded a deputy registrar contract pursuant to division (A)(1) of this section.
(2) Deputy registrars shall accept applications for the annual license tax for any vehicle not taxed under section 4503.63 of the Revised Code and shall assign distinctive numbers in the same manner as the registrar. Such deputies shall be located in such locations as the registrar sees fit. Except as provided in division (A)(3) of this section, there shall be at least one deputy registrar in each county.
(3) The registrar need not appoint a deputy registrar in a county to which all of the following apply:
(a) No individual, nonprofit corporation, or, where applicable, clerk of court of common pleas participates in the competitive selection process to be designated as a deputy registrar;
(b) Neither the county auditor nor the clerk of court of common pleas agrees to be designated as a deputy registrar;
(c) No individual or nonprofit corporation agrees to be designated as a deputy registrar;
(d) No deputy registrar operating an existing deputy registrar agency in another county agrees to be designated as the deputy registrar for that county.
(4) The registrar may reestablish a deputy registrar in any county without a deputy registrar if any of the following apply:
(a) The county auditor requests to be designated as a deputy registrar;
(b) The clerk of court of common pleas requests to be designated as a deputy registrar;
(c) A deputy registrar operating an existing deputy registrar agency in another county requests to be designated as a deputy registrar for that county;
(d) A qualified individual or nonprofit corporation requests to be designated as a deputy registrar. In the event that two or more qualified individuals, nonprofit corporations, or a combination thereof, request to be designated as a deputy registrar, the registrar may make the designation through the competitive selection process.
Deputy registrar contracts are subject to the provisions of division (B) of section 125.081 of the Revised Code.
(B)(1) The registrar shall not designate any person to act as a deputy registrar under division (A)(1) of this section if the person or, where applicable, the person's spouse or a member of the person's immediate family has made, within the current calendar year or any one of the previous three calendar years, one or more contributions totaling in excess of one hundred dollars to any person or entity included in division (A)(2) of section 4503.033 of the Revised Code. As used in this division, "immediate family" has the same meaning as in division (D) of section 102.01 of the Revised Code, and "entity" includes any political party and any "continuing association" as defined in division (C)(4) of section 3517.01 of the Revised Code or "political action committee" as defined in division (C)(8) of that section that is primarily associated with that political party. For purposes of this division, contributions to any continuing association or any political action committee that is primarily associated with a political party shall be aggregated with contributions to that political party.
The contribution limitations contained in this division do not apply to any county auditor or clerk of a court of common pleas. A county auditor or clerk of a court of common pleas is not required to file the disclosure statement or pay the filing fee required under section 4503.033 of the Revised Code. The limitations of this division also do not apply to a deputy registrar who, subsequent to being awarded a deputy registrar contract, is elected to an office of a political subdivision.
(2) The registrar shall not designate either of the following to act as a deputy registrar:
(a) Any elected public official other than a county auditor or, as authorized by division (A)(1) of this section, a clerk of a court of common pleas, acting in an official capacity, except that, the registrar shall continue and may renew a contract with any deputy registrar who, subsequent to being awarded a deputy registrar contract, is elected to an office of a political subdivision;
(b) Any person holding a current, valid contract to conduct motor vehicle inspections under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code.
(3) As used in division (B) of this section, "political subdivision" has the same meaning as in section 3501.01 of the Revised Code.
(C)(1) Except as provided in division (C)(2) of this section, deputy registrars are independent contractors and neither they nor their employees are employees of this state, except that nothing in this section shall affect the status of county auditors or clerks of courts of common pleas as public officials, nor the status of their employees as employees of any of the counties of this state, which are political subdivisions of this state. Each deputy registrar shall be responsible for the payment of all unemployment compensation premiums, all workers' compensation premiums, social security contributions, and any and all taxes for which the deputy registrar is legally responsible. Each deputy registrar shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws requiring the withholding of income taxes or other taxes from the compensation of the deputy registrar's employees. Each deputy registrar shall maintain during the entire term of the deputy registrar's contract a policy of business liability insurance satisfactory to the registrar and shall hold the department of public safety, the director of public safety, the bureau of motor vehicles, and the registrar harmless upon any and all claims for damages arising out of the operation of the deputy registrar agency.
(2) For purposes of Chapter 4141. of the Revised Code, determinations concerning the employment of deputy registrars and their employees shall be made under Chapter 4141. of the Revised Code.
(D)(1) With the approval of the director, the registrar shall adopt rules governing deputy registrars. The rules shall do all of the following:
(a) Establish requirements governing the terms of the contract between the registrar and each deputy registrar and the services to be performed;
(b) Establish requirements governing the amount of bond to be given as provided in this section;
(c) Establish requirements governing the size and location of the deputy's office;
(d) Establish requirements governing the leasing of equipment necessary to conduct the vision screenings required under section 4507.12 of the Revised Code and training in the use of the equipment;
(e) Encourage every deputy registrar to inform the public of the location of the deputy registrar's office and hours of operation by means of public service announcements;
(f) Allow any deputy registrar to advertise in regard to the operation of the deputy registrar's office, including allowing nonprofit corporations operating as a deputy registrar to advertise that a specified amount of proceeds collected by the nonprofit corporation are directed to a specified charitable organization or philanthropic cause;
(g) Specify the hours the deputy's office is to be open to the public and require as a minimum that one deputy's office in each county be open to the public for at least four hours each weekend, provided that if only one deputy's office is located within the boundary of the county seat, that office is the office that shall be open for the four-hour period each weekend;
(h) Specify that every deputy registrar, upon request, provide any person with information about the location and office hours of all deputy registrars in the county;
(i) Allow a deputy registrar contract to be awarded to a nonprofit corporation formed under the laws of this state;
(j) Establish procedures for a deputy registrar to request the authority to collect reinstatement fees under sections 4507.1612, 4507.45, 4509.101, 4509.81, 4510.10, 4510.22, 4510.72, and 4511.191 of the Revised Code and to transmit the reinstatement fees and two dollars of the service fee collected under those sections. The registrar shall ensure that at least one deputy registrar in each county has the necessary equipment and is able to accept reinstatement fees. The registrar shall deposit the service fees received from a deputy registrar under those sections into the public safety - highway purposes fund created in section 4501.06 of the Revised Code and shall use the money for deputy registrar equipment necessary in connection with accepting reinstatement fees.
(k) Establish standards for a deputy registrar, when the deputy registrar is not a county auditor or a clerk of a court of common pleas, to sell advertising rights to third party businesses to be placed in the deputy registrar's office;
(l) Allow any deputy registrar that is not a county auditor or a clerk of a court of common pleas to operate a vending machine;
(m) Specify that each deputy registrar and driver examination location shall display at all times, in a prominent place on the premises, a graphic that instructs drivers to stop and yield to a stopped school bus when it is either loading or unloading passengers.
The registrar shall create and issue the graphic for distribution to and display at each deputy registrar and driver examination location. The registrar also shall display the graphic on the bureau of motor vehicle's web site.
(n) Establish such other requirements as the registrar and director consider necessary to provide a high level of service.
(2) The rules may allow both of the following:
(a) The registrar to award a contract to a deputy registrar to operate more than one deputy registrar's office if determined by the registrar to be practical;
(b) A nonprofit corporation formed for the purposes of providing automobile-related services to its members or the public and that provides such services from more than one location in this state to operate a deputy registrar office at any location.
(3) As a daily adjustment, the bureau of motor vehicles shall credit to a deputy registrar the amount established under section 4503.038 of the Revised Code for each damaged license plate or validation sticker the deputy registrar replaces as a service to a member of the public.
(4)(a) With the prior approval of the registrar, each deputy registrar may conduct at the location of the deputy registrar's office any business that is consistent with the functions of a deputy registrar and that is not specifically mandated or authorized by this or another chapter of the Revised Code or by implementing rules of the registrar.
(b) In accordance with guidelines the director of public safety shall establish, a deputy registrar may operate or contract for the operation of a vending machine at a deputy registrar location if products of the vending machine are consistent with the functions of a deputy registrar.
(c) A deputy registrar may enter into an agreement with the Ohio turnpike and infrastructure commission pursuant to division (A)(11) of section 5537.04 of the Revised Code for the purpose of allowing the general public to acquire from the deputy registrar the electronic toll collection devices that are used under the multi-jurisdiction electronic toll collection agreement between the Ohio turnpike and infrastructure commission and any other entities or agencies that participate in such an agreement. The approval of the registrar is not necessary if a deputy registrar engages in this activity.
(5) As used in this section and in section 4507.01 of the Revised Code, "nonprofit corporation" has the same meaning as in section 1702.01 of the Revised Code.
(E)(1) Unless otherwise terminated and except for interim contracts lasting not longer than one year, contracts with deputy registrars shall be entered into through a competitive selection process and shall be limited in duration as follows:
(a) For contracts entered into between July 1, 1996 and June 29, 2014, for a period of not less than two years, but not more than three years;
(b) For contracts entered into on or after June 29, 2014, for a period of five years, unless the registrar determines that a shorter contract term is appropriate for a particular deputy registrar.
(2) All contracts with deputy registrars shall expire on the last Saturday of June in the year of their expiration. Prior to the expiration of any deputy registrar contract, the registrar, with the approval of the director, may award a one-year contract extension to any deputy registrar who has provided exemplary service based upon objective performance evaluations.
(3)(a) The auditor of state may examine the accounts, reports, systems, and other data of each deputy registrar at least every two years. The registrar, with the approval of the director, shall immediately remove a deputy who violates any provision of the Revised Code related to the duties as a deputy, any rule adopted by the registrar, or a term of the deputy's contract with the registrar. The registrar also may remove a deputy who, in the opinion of the registrar, has engaged in any conduct that is either unbecoming to one representing this state or is inconsistent with the efficient operation of the deputy's office.
(b) If the registrar, with the approval of the director, determines that there is good cause to believe that a deputy registrar or a person proposing for a deputy registrar contract has engaged in any conduct that would require the denial or termination of the deputy registrar contract, the registrar may require the production of books, records, and papers as the registrar determines are necessary, and may take the depositions of witnesses residing within or outside the state in the same manner as is prescribed by law for the taking of depositions in civil actions in the court of common pleas, and for that purpose the registrar may issue a subpoena for any witness or a subpoena duces tecum to compel the production of any books, records, or papers, directed to the sheriff of the county where the witness resides or is found. Such a subpoena shall be served and returned in the same manner as a subpoena in a criminal case is served and returned. The fees of the sheriff shall be the same as that allowed in the court of common pleas in criminal cases. Witnesses shall be paid the fees and mileage provided for under section 119.094 of the Revised Code. The fees and mileage shall be paid from the fund in the state treasury for the use of the agency in the same manner as other expenses of the agency are paid.
In any case of disobedience or neglect of any subpoena served on any person or the refusal of any witness to testify to any matter regarding which the witness lawfully may be interrogated, the court of common pleas of any county where the disobedience, neglect, or refusal occurs or any judge of that court, on application by the registrar, shall compel obedience by attachment proceedings for contempt, as in the case of disobedience of the requirements of a subpoena issued from that court, or a refusal to testify in that court.
(4) Nothing in division (E) of this section shall be construed to require a hearing of any nature prior to the termination of any deputy registrar contract by the registrar, with the approval of the director, for cause.
(F) Except as provided in section 2743.03 of the Revised Code, no court, other than the court of common pleas of Franklin county, has jurisdiction of any action against the department of public safety, the director, the bureau, or the registrar to restrain the exercise of any power or authority, or to entertain any action for declaratory judgment, in the selection and appointment of, or contracting with, deputy registrars. Neither the department, the director, the bureau, nor the registrar is liable in any action at law for damages sustained by any person because of any acts of the department, the director, the bureau, or the registrar, or of any employee of the department or bureau, in the performance of official duties in the selection and appointment of, and contracting with, deputy registrars.
(G) The registrar shall assign to each deputy registrar a series of numbers sufficient to supply the demand at all times in the area the deputy registrar serves, and the registrar shall keep a record in the registrar's office of the numbers within the series assigned. Except as otherwise provided in section 3.061 of the Revised Code, each deputy shall be required to give bond in the amount of at least twenty-five thousand dollars, or in such higher amount as the registrar determines necessary, based on a uniform schedule of bond amounts established by the registrar and determined by the volume of registrations handled by the deputy. The form of the bond shall be prescribed by the registrar. The bonds required of deputy registrars, in the discretion of the registrar, may be individual or schedule bonds or may be included in any blanket bond coverage carried by the department.
(H) Each deputy registrar shall keep a file of each application received by the deputy and shall register that motor vehicle with the name and address of its owner.
(I) Upon request, a deputy registrar shall make the physical inspection of a motor vehicle and issue the physical inspection certificate required in section 4505.061 of the Revised Code.
(J) Each deputy registrar shall file a report semiannually with the registrar of motor vehicles listing the number of applicants for licenses the deputy has served, the number of voter registration applications the deputy has completed and transmitted to the board of elections, and the number of voter registration applications declined.
Sec. 4503.10. (A) The owner of every snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, and all-purpose vehicle required to be registered under section 4519.02 of the Revised Code shall file an application for registration under section 4519.03 of the Revised Code. The owner of a motor vehicle, other than a snowmobile, off-highway motorcycle, or all-purpose vehicle, that is not designed and constructed by the manufacturer for operation on a street or highway may not register it under this chapter except upon certification of inspection pursuant to section 4513.02 of the Revised Code by the sheriff, or the chief of police of the municipal corporation or township, with jurisdiction over the political subdivision in which the owner of the motor vehicle resides. Except as provided in sections 4503.103 and 4503.107 of the Revised Code, every owner of every other motor vehicle not previously described in this section and every person mentioned as owner in the last certificate of title of a motor vehicle that is operated or driven upon the public roads or highways shall cause to be filed each year, by mail or otherwise, in the office of the registrar of motor vehicles or a deputy registrar, a written or electronic application or a preprinted registration renewal notice issued under section 4503.102 of the Revised Code, the form of which shall be prescribed by the registrar, for registration for the following registration year, which shall begin on the first day of January of every calendar year and end on the thirty-first day of December in the same year. Applications for registration and registration renewal notices shall be filed at the times established by the registrar pursuant to section 4503.101 of the Revised Code. A motor vehicle owner also may elect to apply for or renew a motor vehicle registration by electronic means using electronic signature in accordance with rules adopted by the registrar. Except as provided in division (J) of this section, applications for registration shall be made on blanks furnished by the registrar for that purpose, containing the following information:
(1) A brief description of the motor vehicle to be registered, including the year, make, model, and vehicle identification number, and, in the case of commercial cars, the gross weight of the vehicle fully equipped computed in the manner prescribed in section 4503.08 of the Revised Code;
(2) The name and residence address of the owner, and the township and municipal corporation in which the owner resides;
(3) The district of registration, which shall be determined as follows:
(a) In case the motor vehicle to be registered is used for hire or principally in connection with any established business or branch business, conducted at a particular place, the district of registration is the municipal corporation in which that place is located or, if not located in any municipal corporation, the county and township in which that place is located.
(b) In case the vehicle is not so used, the district of registration is the municipal corporation or county in which the owner resides at the time of making the application.
(4) Whether the motor vehicle is a new or used motor vehicle;
(5) The date of purchase of the motor vehicle;
(6) Whether the fees required to be paid for the registration or transfer of the motor vehicle, during the preceding registration year and during the preceding period of the current registration year, have been paid. Each application for registration shall be signed by the owner, either manually or by electronic signature, or pursuant to obtaining a limited power of attorney authorized by the registrar for registration, or other document authorizing such signature. If the owner elects to apply for or renew the motor vehicle registration with the registrar by electronic means, the owner's manual signature is not required.
(7) The owner's social security number, driver's license number, or state identification number, or, where a motor vehicle to be registered is used for hire or principally in connection with any established business, the owner's federal taxpayer identification number. The bureau of motor vehicles shall retain in its records all social security numbers provided under this section, but the bureau shall not place social security numbers on motor vehicle certificates of registration.
(8) Whether the applicant wishes to certify willingness to make an anatomical gift if an applicant has not so certified under section 2108.05 of the Revised Code. The applicant's response shall not be considered in the decision of whether to approve the application for registration.
(B)(1) When an applicant first registers a motor vehicle in the applicant's name, the applicant shall provide proof of ownership of that motor vehicle. Proof of ownership may include any of the following:
(a) The applicant may present for inspection a physical certificate of title or memorandum certificate showing title to the motor vehicle to be registered in the name of the applicant.
(b) The applicant may present for inspection an electronic certificate of title for the applicant's motor vehicle in a manner prescribed by rules adopted by the registrar.
(c) The registrar or deputy registrar may electronically confirm the applicant's ownership of the motor vehicle.
An applicant is not required to present a certificate of title to an electronic motor vehicle dealer acting as a limited authority deputy registrar in accordance with rules adopted by the registrar.
(2) When a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program is in effect under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it, each application for registration for a vehicle required to be inspected under that section and those rules shall be accompanied by an inspection certificate or alternative emissions certificate for the motor vehicle issued in accordance with that section.
(3) An application for registration shall be refused if any of the following applies:
(a) The application is not in proper form.
(b) The application is prohibited from being accepted by division (D) of section 2935.27, division (A) of section 4503.13, division (B) of section 4510.22, division (D) of section 4503.234, division (D) of section 4511.756, division (B)(1) of section 4521.10, or division (B) of section 5537.041 of the Revised Code.
(c) Proof of ownership is required but is not presented or confirmed in accordance with division (B)(1) of this section.
(d) All registration and transfer fees for the motor vehicle, for the preceding year or the preceding period of the current registration year, have not been paid.
(e) The owner or lessee does not have an inspection certificate or alternative emissions certificate for the motor vehicle as provided in section 3704.14 of the Revised Code, and rules adopted under it, if that section is applicable.
(4) This section does not require the payment of license or registration taxes on a motor vehicle for any preceding year, or for any preceding period of a year, if the motor vehicle was not taxable for that preceding year or period under sections 4503.02, 4503.04, 4503.11, 4503.12, and 4503.16 or Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code.
(5) When a certificate of registration is issued upon the first registration of a motor vehicle by or on behalf of the owner, the official issuing the certificate shall indicate the issuance with a stamp on the certificate of title or memorandum certificate or, in the case of an electronic certificate of title or electronic verification of ownership, an electronic stamp or other notation as specified in rules adopted by the registrar, and with a stamp on the inspection certificate for the motor vehicle, if any.
(6) The official also shall indicate, by a stamp or by other means the registrar prescribes, on the registration certificate issued upon the first registration of a motor vehicle by or on behalf of the owner the odometer reading of the motor vehicle as shown in the odometer statement included in or attached to the certificate of title. Upon each subsequent registration of the motor vehicle by or on behalf of the same owner, the official also shall so indicate the odometer reading of the motor vehicle as shown on the immediately preceding certificate of registration.
(7) The registrar shall include in the permanent registration record of any vehicle required to be inspected under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code the inspection certificate number from the inspection certificate or the alternative emissions certificate number from the alternative emissions certificate that is presented at the time of registration of the vehicle as required under this division.
(C)(1) The registrar and each deputy registrar shall collect the following additional fees for each application for registration and registration renewal received:
(a) Except as provided in division (C)(1)(b) of this section, a fee of eleven dollars on or before December 31, 2025, and a fee of sixteen dollars on and after January 1, 2026;
(b) For vehicles specified in divisions (A)(1) to (21) of section 4503.042 of the Revised Code, a fee of thirty dollars on or before December 31, 2025, and a fee of thirty-five dollars on and after January 1, 2026.
No additional fee shall be charged for vehicles registered under section 4503.65 of the Revised Code. Each additional fee is for the purpose of defraying the department of public safety's costs associated with the administration and enforcement of the motor vehicle and traffic laws of Ohio. Each deputy registrar shall transmit the fees collected under divisions (C)(1) and (3) of this section in the time and manner provided in this section. The registrar shall deposit all moneys received under division (C)(1) of this section into the public safety - highway purposes fund established in section 4501.06 of the Revised Code.
(2) In addition, a charge of twenty-five cents shall be made for each reflectorized safety license plate issued, and a single charge of twenty-five cents shall be made for each county identification sticker or each set of county identification stickers issued, as the case may be, to cover the cost of producing the license plates and stickers, including material, manufacturing, and administrative costs. Those fees shall be in addition to the license tax. If the total cost of producing the plates is less than twenty-five cents per plate, or if the total cost of producing the stickers is less than twenty-five cents per sticker or per set issued, any excess moneys accruing from the fees shall be distributed in the same manner as provided by section 4501.04 of the Revised Code for the distribution of license tax moneys. If the total cost of producing the plates exceeds twenty-five cents per plate, or if the total cost of producing the stickers exceeds twenty-five cents per sticker or per set issued, the difference shall be paid from the license tax moneys collected pursuant to section 4503.02 of the Revised Code.
(3) The registrar and each deputy registrar shall collect the following additional fee, as applicable, for each application for registration or registration renewal received for any hybrid motor vehicle, plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicle, or battery electric motor vehicle:
(a) One hundred dollars for a hybrid motor vehicle;
(b) One hundred fifty dollars for a plug-in hybrid electric motor vehicle;
(c) Two hundred dollars for a battery electric motor vehicle.
Each fee imposed under this division shall be prorated based on the number of months for which the vehicle is registered. The registrar shall transmit all money arising from each fee to the treasurer of state for distribution in accordance with division (E) of section 5735.051 of the Revised Code, subject to division (D) of section 5735.05 of the Revised Code.
(D) Each deputy registrar shall be allowed a fee equal to the amount established under section 4503.038 of the Revised Code for each application for registration and registration renewal notice the deputy registrar receives, which shall be for the purpose of compensating the deputy registrar for the deputy registrar's services, and such office and rental expenses, as may be necessary for the proper discharge of the deputy registrar's duties in the receiving of applications and renewal notices and the issuing of registrations.
(E) Upon the certification of the registrar, the county sheriff or local police officials shall recover license plates erroneously or fraudulently issued.
(F) Each deputy registrar, upon receipt of any application for registration or registration renewal notice, together with the license fee and any local motor vehicle license tax levied pursuant to Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, shall transmit that fee and tax, if any, in the manner provided in this section, together with the original and duplicate copy of the application, to the registrar. The registrar, subject to the approval of the director of public safety, may deposit the funds collected by those deputies in a local bank or depository to the credit of the "state of Ohio, bureau of motor vehicles." Where a local bank or depository has been designated by the registrar, each deputy registrar shall deposit all moneys collected by the deputy registrar into that bank or depository not more than one business day after their collection and shall make reports to the registrar of the amounts so deposited, together with any other information, some of which may be prescribed by the treasurer of state, as the registrar may require and as prescribed by the registrar by rule. The registrar, within three days after receipt of notification of the deposit of funds by a deputy registrar in a local bank or depository, shall draw on that account in favor of the treasurer of state. The registrar, subject to the approval of the director and the treasurer of state, may make reasonable rules necessary for the prompt transmittal of fees and for safeguarding the interests of the state and of counties, townships, municipal corporations, and transportation improvement districts levying local motor vehicle license taxes. The registrar may pay service charges usually collected by banks and depositories for such service. If deputy registrars are located in communities where banking facilities are not available, they shall transmit the fees forthwith, by money order or otherwise, as the registrar, by rule approved by the director and the treasurer of state, may prescribe. The registrar may pay the usual and customary fees for such service.
(G) This section does not prevent any person from making an application for a motor vehicle license directly to the registrar by mail, by electronic means, or in person at any of the registrar's offices, upon payment of a service fee equal to the amount established under section 4503.038 of the Revised Code for each application.
(H) No person shall make a false statement as to the district of registration in an application required by division (A) of this section. Violation of this division is falsification under section 2921.13 of the Revised Code and punishable as specified in that section.
(I)(1) Where applicable, the requirements of division (B) of this section relating to the presentation of an inspection certificate issued under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it for a motor vehicle, the refusal of a license for failure to present an inspection certificate or alternative emissions certificate, and the stamping of the inspection certificate or alternative emissions certificate by the official issuing the certificate of registration apply to the registration of and issuance of license plates for a motor vehicle under sections 4503.102, 4503.12, 4503.14, 4503.15, 4503.16, 4503.171, 4503.172, 4503.19, 4503.40, 4503.41, 4503.42, 4503.43, 4503.44, 4503.46, 4503.47, and 4503.51 of the Revised Code.
(2)(a) The registrar shall adopt rules ensuring that each owner registering a motor vehicle in a county where a motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program is in effect under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code and rules adopted under it receives information about the requirements established in that section and those rules and about the need in those counties to present an inspection certificate or an alternative emissions certificate with an application for registration or preregistration.
(b) Upon request, the registrar shall provide the director of environmental protection, or any person that has been awarded a contract under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code, an on-line computer data link to registration information for all passenger cars, noncommercial motor vehicles, and commercial cars that are subject to that section. The registrar also shall provide to the director of environmental protection a magnetic data tape containing registration information regarding passenger cars, noncommercial motor vehicles, and commercial cars for which a multi-year registration is in effect under section 4503.103 of the Revised Code or rules adopted under it, including, without limitation, the date of issuance of the multi-year registration, the registration deadline established under rules adopted under section 4503.101 of the Revised Code that was applicable in the year in which the multi-year registration was issued, and the registration deadline for renewal of the multi-year registration.
(J) Subject to division (K) of this section, application for registration under the international registration plan, as set forth in sections 4503.60 to 4503.66 of the Revised Code, shall be made to the registrar on forms furnished by the registrar. In accordance with international registration plan guidelines and pursuant to rules adopted by the registrar, the forms shall include the following:
(1) A uniform mileage schedule;
(2) The gross vehicle weight of the vehicle or combined gross vehicle weight of the combination vehicle as declared by the registrant;
(3) Any other information the registrar requires by rule.
(K) The registrar shall determine the feasibility of implementing an electronic commercial fleet licensing and management program that will enable the owners of commercial tractors, commercial trailers, and commercial semitrailers to conduct electronic transactions by July 1, 2010, or sooner. If the registrar determines that implementing such a program is feasible, the registrar shall adopt new rules under this division or amend existing rules adopted under this division as necessary in order to respond to advances in technology.
If international registration plan guidelines and provisions allow member jurisdictions to permit applications for registrations under the international registration plan to be made via the internet, the rules the registrar adopts under this division shall permit such action.
Sec. 4503.102. (A)(1) The registrar of motor vehicles may adopt rules to establish a centralized system of motor vehicle registration for initial registration, registration renewal, and transfer of registration, by mail or by electronic means.
(2) Any person applying electronically for initial registration or for transfer of registration may submit all associated documents electronically through the centralized system of motor vehicle registration established under this section. The registrar or a deputy registrar shall verify and authenticate such documents.
(3) Any person owning a motor vehicle that was registered in the person's name during the preceding registration year shall renew the registration of the motor vehicle not more than ninety days prior to the expiration date of the registration through one of the following:
(a) By mail or by electronic means through the centralized system of registration established under this section;
(b) In person at any office of the registrar or at a deputy registrar's office.
(B)(1) Except as provided in division (B)(2) of this section, no less than forty-five days prior to the expiration date of any motor vehicle registration, the registrar shall mail a renewal notice to the person in whose name the motor vehicle is registered. The renewal notice shall clearly state that the registration of the motor vehicle may be renewed by mail or electronic means through the centralized system of registration or in person at any office of the registrar or at a deputy registrar's office and shall be preprinted with information including, but not limited to, the owner's name and residence address as shown in the records of the bureau of motor vehicles, a brief description of the motor vehicle to be registered, notice of the license taxes and fees due on the motor vehicle, the toll-free telephone number of the registrar as required under division (D)(1) of section 4503.031 of the Revised Code, and any additional information the registrar may require by rule. The renewal notice shall not include the social security number of either the owner of the motor vehicle or the person in whose name the motor vehicle is registered. The renewal notice shall be sent by regular mail to the owner's last known address as shown in the records of the bureau of motor vehicles.
(2) The registrar is not required to mail a renewal notice if either of the following applies:
(a) The owner of the vehicle has consented to receiving the renewal notice by electronic means only.
(b) The application for renewal of the registration of a motor vehicle is prohibited from being accepted by the registrar or a deputy registrar by division (D) of section 2935.27, division (A) of section 4503.13, division (B) of section 4510.22, division (D) of section 4503.234, division (D) of section 4511.756, division (B)(1) of section 4521.10, or division (B) of section 5537.041 of the Revised Code.
(3) If the owner of a motor vehicle has consented to receiving a renewal notice by electronic means only, the registrar shall send an electronic renewal notice to the owner that contains the information specified in division (B)(1) of this section at the time specified under that division.
(C) The owner of the motor vehicle shall verify the information contained in the notice, sign it either manually or by electronic means, and return it, either by mail or electronic means, or the owner may take it in person to any office of the registrar or of a deputy registrar. The owner shall include with the notice a financial transaction device number when renewing in person or by electronic means but not by mail, check, or money order in the amount of the registration taxes and fees payable on the motor vehicle and a service fee equal to the amount established under section 4503.038 of the Revised Code, plus postage as indicated on the notice if the registration is renewed or fulfilled by mail, and an inspection certificate or alternative emissions certificate for the motor vehicle as provided in section 3704.14 of the Revised Code. If the motor vehicle owner chooses to renew the motor vehicle registration by electronic means, the owner shall proceed in accordance with the rules the registrar adopts.
(D) If all registration and transfer fees for the motor vehicle for the preceding year or the preceding period of the current registration year have not been paid, if division (D) of section 2935.27, division (A) of section 4503.13, division (B) of section 4510.22, division (D) of section 4503.234, division (D) of section 4511.756, division (B)(1) of section 4521.10, or division (B) of section 5537.041 of the Revised Code prohibits acceptance of the renewal notice, or if the owner or lessee does not have an inspection certificate or alternative emissions certificate for the motor vehicle as provided in section 3704.14 of the Revised Code, if that section is applicable, the license shall be refused, and the registrar or deputy registrar shall so notify the owner. This section does not require the payment of license or registration taxes on a motor vehicle for any preceding year, or for any preceding period of a year, if the motor vehicle was not taxable for that preceding year or period under section 4503.02, 4503.04, 4503.11, 4503.12, or 4503.16 or Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code.
(E)(1) Failure to receive a renewal notice does not relieve a motor vehicle owner from the responsibility to renew the registration for the motor vehicle. Any person who has a motor vehicle registered in this state and who does not receive a renewal notice as provided in division (B) of this section prior to the expiration date of the registration shall request an application for registration from the registrar or a deputy registrar and sign the application manually or by electronic means and submit the application and pay any applicable license taxes and fees to the registrar or deputy registrar.
(2) If the owner of a motor vehicle submits an application for registration and the registrar is prohibited by division (D) of section 2935.27, division (A) of section 4503.13, division (B) of section 4510.22, division (D) of section 4503.234, division (D) of section 4511.756, division (B)(1) of section 4521.10, or division (B) of section 5537.041 of the Revised Code from accepting the application, the registrar shall return the application and the payment to the owner. If the owner of a motor vehicle submits a registration renewal application to the registrar by electronic means and the registrar is prohibited from accepting the application as provided in this division, the registrar shall notify the owner of this fact and deny the application and return the payment or give a credit on the financial transaction device account of the owner in the manner the registrar prescribes by rule adopted pursuant to division (A) of this section.
(F) Every deputy registrar shall post in a prominent place at the deputy's office a notice informing the public of the mail registration system required by this section and also shall post a notice that every owner of a motor vehicle and every chauffeur holding a certificate of registration is required to notify the registrar in writing of any change of residence within ten days after the change occurs. The notice shall be in such form as the registrar prescribes by rule.
(G)(1) The service fee equal to the amount established under section 4503.038 of the Revised Code that is collected from a person who renews a motor vehicle registration by electronic means or by mail, plus postage collected by the registrar and any financial transaction device surcharge collected by the registrar, shall be paid to the credit of the public safety - highway purposes fund established by section 4501.06 of the Revised Code.
(2) A person who submits an initial registration or a transfer of registration by electronic means under this section shall pay a service fee equal to the amount established under section 4503.038 of the Revised Code, any necessary postage costs, and any financial transaction device surcharge, as applicable. The service fee collected shall be paid either to the registrar or to the deputy registrar that verifies and authenticates the submitted documents in accordance with division (A)(2) of this section. If the registrar authorizes a deputy registrar to mail the certificate of registration and any associated license plate to the applicant, the postage costs shall be paid to that deputy registrar.
(H)(1) Pursuant to section 113.40 of the Revised Code, the registrar shall implement a program permitting payment of motor vehicle registration taxes and fees, driver's license and commercial driver's license fees, and any other taxes, fees, penalties, or charges imposed or levied by the state by means of a financial transaction device for transactions occurring online, at any office of the registrar, and at all deputy registrar locations. The program shall take effect not later than July 1, 2016. The registrar shall adopt rules as necessary for this purpose, but all such rules are subject to any action, policy, or procedure of the board of deposit or treasurer of state taken or adopted under section 113.40 of the Revised Code.
(2) The rules adopted under division (H)(1) of this section shall require a deputy registrar to accept payments by means of a financial transaction device beginning on the effective date of the rules unless the deputy registrar contract entered into by the deputy registrar prohibits the acceptance of such payments by financial transaction device. However, commencing with deputy registrar contract awards that have a start date of July 1, 2016, and for all contract awards thereafter, the registrar shall require that the proposer accept payment by means of a financial transaction device, including credit cards and debit cards, for all department of public safety transactions conducted at that deputy registrar location.
The bureau and deputy registrars are not required to pay any costs that result from accepting payment by means of a financial transaction device. A deputy registrar may charge a person who tenders payment for a department transaction by means of a financial transaction device any cost the deputy registrar incurs from accepting payment by the financial transaction device, but the deputy registrar shall not require the person to pay any additional fee of any kind in connection with the use by the person of the financial transaction device.
(3) In accordance with division (H)(1) of this section and rules adopted by the registrar under that division, a county auditor or clerk of a court of common pleas that is designated a deputy registrar shall accept payment by means of a financial transaction device, including credit cards and debit cards, for all department transactions conducted at the office of the county auditor or clerk in the county auditor's or clerk's capacity as deputy registrar. The bureau is not required to pay any costs incurred by a county auditor or clerk that result from accepting payment by means of a financial transaction device for any department transaction.
(I) For persons who reside in counties where tailpipe emissions inspections are required under the motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program, the notice required by division (B) of this section shall also include the toll-free telephone number maintained by the Ohio environmental protection agency to provide information concerning the locations of emissions testing centers. The registrar also shall include a statement in the notice that a battery electric motor vehicle is not required to undergo emissions inspection under the motor vehicle inspection and maintenance program established under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 4503.12. (A) Upon the transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle, the registration of the motor vehicle expires, and the original owner immediately shall remove the license plates from the motor vehicle, except that:
(1) If a statutory merger or consolidation results in the transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle from a constituent corporation to the surviving corporation, or if the incorporation of a proprietorship or partnership results in the transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle from the proprietorship or partnership to the corporation, the registration shall be continued upon the filing by the surviving or new corporation, within thirty days of such transfer, of an application for an amended certificate of registration. Upon a proper filing, the registrar of motor vehicles shall issue an amended certificate of registration in the name of the new owner.
(2) If the death of the owner of a motor vehicle results in the transfer of ownership of the motor vehicle to the surviving spouse of the owner or if a motor vehicle is owned by two persons under joint ownership with right of survivorship established under section 2131.12 of the Revised Code and one of those persons dies, the registration shall be continued upon the filing by the survivor of an application for an amended certificate of registration. In relation to a motor vehicle that is owned by two persons under joint ownership with right of survivorship established under section 2131.12 of the Revised Code, the application shall be accompanied by a copy of the certificate of title that specifies that the vehicle is owned under joint ownership with right of survivorship. Upon a proper filing, the registrar shall issue an amended certificate of registration in the name of the survivor.
(3) If the death of the owner of a motor vehicle results in the transfer of ownership of the motor vehicle to a transfer-on-death beneficiary or beneficiaries designated under section 2131.13 of the Revised Code, the registration shall be continued upon the filing by the transfer-on-death beneficiary or beneficiaries of an application for an amended certificate of registration. The application shall be accompanied by a copy of the certificate of title that specifies that the owner of the motor vehicle has designated the motor vehicle in beneficiary form under section 2131.13 of the Revised Code. Upon a proper filing, the registrar shall issue an amended certificate of registration in the name of the transfer-on-death beneficiary or beneficiaries.
(4) If the original owner of a motor vehicle that has been transferred makes application for the registration of another motor vehicle at any time during the remainder of the registration period for which the transferred motor vehicle was registered, the owner may file an application for transfer of the registration and, where applicable, the license plates. The transfer of the registration and, where applicable, the license plates from the motor vehicle for which they originally were issued to a succeeding motor vehicle purchased by the same person in whose name the original registration and license plates were issued shall be done within a period not to exceed thirty days. During that thirty-day period, the license plates from the motor vehicle for which they originally were issued may be displayed on the succeeding motor vehicle, and the succeeding motor vehicle may be operated on the public roads and highways in this state.
At the time of application for transfer, the registrar shall compute and collect the amount of tax due on the succeeding motor vehicle, based upon the amount that would be due on a new registration as of the date on which the transfer is made less a credit for the unused portion of the original registration beginning on that date. If the credit exceeds the amount of tax due on the new registration, no refund shall be made. In computing the amount of tax due and credits to be allowed under this division, the provisions of division (B)(1)(a) and (b) of section 4503.11 of the Revised Code shall apply. As to passenger cars, noncommercial vehicles, motor homes, and motorcycles, transfers within or between these classes of motor vehicles only shall be allowed. If the succeeding motor vehicle is of a different class than the motor vehicle for which the registration originally was issued, new license plates also shall be issued upon the surrender of the license plates originally issued and payment of the fees provided in divisions (C) and (D) of section 4503.10 of the Revised Code.
(5) The owner of a commercial car having a gross vehicle weight or combined gross vehicle weight of more than ten thousand pounds may transfer the registration of that commercial car to another commercial car the owner owns without transferring ownership of the first commercial car. At any time during the remainder of the registration period for which the first commercial car was registered, the owner may file an application for the transfer of the registration and, where applicable, the license plates, accompanied by the certificate of registration of the first commercial car. The amount of any tax due or credit to be allowed for a transfer of registration under this division shall be computed in accordance with division (A)(4) of this section.
No commercial car to which a registration is transferred under this division shall be operated on a public road or highway in this state until after the transfer of registration is completed in accordance with this division.
(6) Upon application to the registrar or a deputy registrar, a person who owns or leases a motor vehicle may transfer special license plates assigned to that vehicle to any other vehicle that the person owns or leases or that is owned or leased by the person's spouse. As appropriate, the application also shall be accompanied by a power of attorney for the registration of a leased vehicle and a written statement releasing the special plates to the applicant. Upon a proper filing, the registrar or deputy registrar shall assign the special license plates to the motor vehicle owned or leased by the applicant and issue a new certificate of registration for that motor vehicle.
(7) If a corporation transfers the ownership of a motor vehicle to an affiliated corporation, the affiliated corporation may apply to the registrar for the transfer of the registration and any license plates. The registrar may require the applicant to submit documentation of the corporate relationship and shall determine whether the application for registration transfer is made in good faith and not for the purposes of circumventing the provisions of this chapter. Upon a proper filing, the registrar shall issue an amended certificate of registration in the name of the new owner.
(B) An application under division (A) of this section shall be accompanied by a service fee equal to the amount established under section 4503.038 of the Revised Code, a transfer fee of one dollar, and the original certificate of registration, if applicable.
(C) Neither the registrar nor a deputy registrar shall transfer a registration under division (A) of this section if the registration is prohibited by division (D) of section 2935.27, division (A) of section 4503.13, division (D) of section 4503.234, division (B) of section 4510.22, division (D) of section 4511.756, division (B)(1) of section 4521.10, or division (B) of section 5537.041 of the Revised Code.
(D) Whoever violates division (A) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(E) As used in division (A)(6) of this section, "special license plates" means either of the following:
(1) Any license plates for which the person to whom the license plates are issued must pay an additional fee in excess of the fees prescribed in section 4503.04 of the Revised Code, Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, and the service fee prescribed in division (D) or (G) of section 4503.10 of the Revised Code;
(2) License plates issued under section 4503.44 of the Revised Code.
Sec. 4510.036. (A) The bureau of motor vehicles shall record within ten days of conviction or bail forfeiture and shall keep at its main office, all abstracts received under this section or section 4510.03, 4510.031, 4510.032, or 4510.034 of the Revised Code and shall maintain records of convictions and bond forfeitures for any violation of a state law or a municipal ordinance regulating the operation of vehicles, streetcars, and trackless trolleys on highways and streets, except a violation related to parking a motor vehicle.
(B) Every court of record or mayor's court before which a person is charged with a violation for which points are chargeable by this section shall assess and transcribe to the abstract of conviction that is furnished by the bureau to the court the number of points chargeable by this section in the correct space assigned on the reporting form. A United States district court that has jurisdiction within this state and before which a person is charged with a violation for which points are chargeable by this section may assess and transcribe to the abstract of conviction report that is furnished by the bureau the number of points chargeable by this section in the correct space assigned on the reporting form. If the federal court so assesses and transcribes the points chargeable for the offense and furnishes the report to the bureau, the bureau shall record the points in the same manner as those assessed and transcribed by a court of record or mayor's court.
(C) A court shall assess the following points for an offense based on the following formula:
(1) Aggravated vehicular homicide, vehicular homicide, vehicular manslaughter, aggravated vehicular assault, or vehicular assault when the offense involves the operation of a vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley on a highway or street __________ 6 points
(2) A violation of section 2921.331 of the Revised Code or any ordinance prohibiting the willful fleeing or eluding of a law enforcement officer __________ 6 points
(3) A violation of section 4549.02 or 4549.021 of the Revised Code or any ordinance requiring the driver of a vehicle to stop and disclose identity at the scene of an accident __________ 6 points
(4) A violation of section 4511.251 of the Revised Code or any ordinance prohibiting street racing, stunt driving, or street takeover __________ 6 points
(5) A violation of section 4510.037 of the Revised Code or any ordinance prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle while the driver's or commercial driver's license is under a twelve-point suspension __________ 6 points
(6) A violation of section 4510.14 of the Revised Code, or any ordinance prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle upon the public roads or highways within this state while the driver's or commercial driver's license of the person is under suspension and the suspension was imposed under section 4511.19, 4511.191, or 4511.196 of the Revised Code or section 4510.07 of the Revised Code due to a conviction for a violation of a municipal OVI ordinance or any ordinance prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle while the driver's or commercial driver's license is under suspension for an OVI offense __________ 6 points
(7) A violation of division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code, any ordinance prohibiting the operation of a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a drug of abuse, or a combination of them, or any ordinance substantially equivalent to division (A) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code prohibiting the operation of a vehicle with a prohibited concentration of alcohol, a controlled substance, or a metabolite of a controlled substance in the whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine __________ 6 points
(8) A violation of section 2913.03 of the Revised Code that does not involve an aircraft or motorboat or any ordinance prohibiting the operation of a vehicle without the consent of the owner __________ 6 points
(9) Any offense under the motor vehicle laws of this state that is a felony, or any other felony in the commission of which a motor vehicle was used __________ 6 points
(10) A violation of division (B) of section 4511.19 of the Revised Code or any ordinance substantially equivalent to that division prohibiting the operation of a vehicle with a prohibited concentration of alcohol in the whole blood, blood serum or plasma, breath, or urine __________ 4 points
(11) A violation of section 4511.20 of the Revised Code or any ordinance prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property __________ 4 points
(12) A violation of any law or ordinance pertaining to speed:
(a) Notwithstanding divisions (C)(12)(b) and (c) of this section, when the speed exceeds the lawful speed limit by thirty miles per hour or more __________ 4 points
(b) When the speed exceeds the lawful speed limit of fifty-five miles per hour or more by more than ten miles per hour __________ 2 points
(c) When the speed exceeds the lawful speed limit of less than fifty-five miles per hour by more than five miles per hour __________ 2 points
(d) When the speed does not exceed the amounts set forth in divisions (C)(12)(a), (b), or (c) of this section __________ 0 points
(13) A violation of division (A) of section 4511.204 of the Revised Code or any substantially similar municipal ordinance:
(a) For a first offense within any two-year period __________ 2 points
(b) For a second offense within any two-year period __________ 3 points
(c) For a third or subsequent offense within any two-year period __________ 4 points.
(14) A violation of division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code:
(a) For a first offense within any five-year period 2 points
(b) For a second or subsequent offense within any five-year period 4 points.
(15) Operating a motor vehicle in violation of a restriction imposed by the registrar __________ 2 points
(15)
(16)
A
violation of section 4510.11, 4510.111, 4510.16, or 4510.21 of the
Revised Code or any ordinance prohibiting the operation of a motor
vehicle while the driver's or commercial driver's license is under
suspension __________ 2 points
(16)
(17)
With
the exception of violations under section 4510.12 of the Revised Code
where no points shall be assessed, all other moving violations
reported under this section __________ 2 points
(D) Upon receiving notification from the proper court, including a United States district court that has jurisdiction within this state, the bureau shall delete any points entered for a bond forfeiture if the driver is acquitted of the offense for which bond was posted.
(E) If a person is convicted of or forfeits bail for two or more offenses arising out of the same facts and points are chargeable for each of the offenses, points shall be charged for only the conviction or bond forfeiture for which the greater number of points is chargeable, and, if the number of points chargeable for each offense is equal, only one offense shall be recorded, and points shall be charged only for that offense.
Sec.
4511.75. (A)
(A)(1)
The
driver of a vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley upon meeting or
overtaking from either direction any school bus stopped for the
purpose of receiving or discharging any school child, person
attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and
county boards of developmental disabilities, or child attending a
program offered by a head start agency, shall stop at least ten feet
from the front or rear of the school bus and shall not proceed until
such school bus resumes motion, or until signaled by the school bus
driver or
a law enforcement officer to
proceed.
(2)
It
is no defense to a charge under this
division
(A)(1)
of this section that
the school bus involved failed to display or be equipped with an
automatically extended stop warning sign as required by division (B)
of this section.
(B) Every school bus shall be equipped with amber and red visual signals meeting the requirements of section 4511.771 of the Revised Code, and an automatically extended stop warning sign of a type approved by the department of education and workforce, which shall be actuated by the driver of the bus whenever but only whenever the bus is stopped or stopping on the roadway for the purpose of receiving or discharging school children, persons attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and county boards of developmental disabilities, or children attending programs offered by head start agencies. A school bus driver shall not actuate the visual signals or the stop warning sign in designated school bus loading areas where the bus is entirely off the roadway or at school buildings when children or persons attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and county boards of developmental disabilities are loading or unloading at curbside or at buildings when children attending programs offered by head start agencies are loading or unloading at curbside. The visual signals and stop warning sign shall be synchronized or otherwise operated as required by rule of the board.
(C) Where a highway has been divided into four or more traffic lanes, a driver of a vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley need not stop for a school bus approaching from the opposite direction which has stopped for the purpose of receiving or discharging any school child, persons attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and county boards of developmental disabilities, or children attending programs offered by head start agencies. The driver of any vehicle, streetcar, or trackless trolley overtaking the school bus shall comply with division (A) of this section.
(D) School buses operating on divided highways or on highways with four or more traffic lanes shall receive and discharge all school children, persons attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and county boards of developmental disabilities, and children attending programs offered by head start agencies on their residence side of the highway.
(E) No school bus driver shall start the driver's bus until after any child, person attending programs offered by community boards of mental health and county boards of developmental disabilities, or child attending a program offered by a head start agency who may have alighted therefrom has reached a place of safety on the child's or person's residence side of the road.
(F)(1)
Whoever (F)
Except as provided in division (G) of this section, whoever violates
division (A) of this section may
be fined an amount is
guilty of passing a stopped school bus, an unclassified misdemeanor.
The court, including a mayor's court, shall punish the offender in
accordance with divisions (F)(1) to (6) of this section.
(1)(a)
Except as provided in divisions (F)(1)(b) and (c) of this section,
the court shall impose upon the offender a fine of not
to
exceed five less
than two hundred
fifty
and not more than one thousand dollars.
A
(b) If, within five years of the violation, the offender has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a prior violation of this section, the court shall impose upon the offender a fine of not less than three hundred fifty and not more than two thousand dollars.
(c) In lieu of the fine range specified in division (F)(1)(a) of this section, the court may impose a fine of one hundred fifty dollars for an offender who has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a prior violation of this section if the offender attends and successfully completes the school bus safety course described in division (F)(4) of this section within a time frame specified by the court.
(2) A person who is issued a criminal citation for a violation of division (A) of this section is not permitted to enter a written plea of guilty and waive the person's right to contest the citation in a trial but instead must appear in person in the proper court to answer the charge.
(2)
In addition to and independent of any other penalty provided by law,
the (3)(a)
Except as otherwise provided in division (F)(3)(b) of this section,
the court
or
mayor may
impose upon an
the
offender
who
violates this section a
class seven
six
suspension
of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license,
temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident
operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(7)
(A)(6)
of
section 4510.02 of the Revised Code. When
(b) If, within five years of the violation, the offender has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a prior violation of this section, the court shall impose upon the offender a class five suspension of the offender's driver's license, commercial driver's license, temporary instruction permit, probationary license, or nonresident operating privilege from the range specified in division (A)(5) of section 4510.02 of the Revised Code.
(c)
When a
license is suspended under this section, the court or
mayor shall
cause the offender to deliver the license to the court, and the court
or clerk of the court immediately shall forward the license to the
registrar of motor vehicles, together with notice of the court's
action.
(4) If, within five years of the violation, the offender has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a prior violation of this section, the court shall require the offender to attend and successfully complete a school bus safety course. The director of public safety shall develop the contents and determine the duration of the course.
(5)(a) Except as provided in division (F)(5)(b) of this section, the court shall assess points for the violation in accordance with section 4510.036 of the Revised Code.
(b) The court may waive the assessment of points for an offender who has not been convicted of or pleaded guilty to a prior violation of this section if the offender attends and successfully completes the school bus safety course described in division (F)(4) of this section within a time frame specified by the court.
(6) The court may impose any other penalty authorized under sections 2929.21 to 2929.28 of the Revised Code. However, except as provided in division (G) of this section, the court shall not impose a fine or a suspension not otherwise specified in division (F) of this section. The court also shall not impose a jail term or community residential sanction.
(G) If the identity of the driver of a vehicle that is the subject of a violation of division (A) of this section cannot be established through investigation or otherwise, the registered owner of a vehicle may be fined a civil penalty of three hundred dollars in accordance with sections 4511.753 to 4511.757 of the Revised Code when that owner's vehicle is used to commit a violation of division (A) of this section.
(H) Any fine collected under division (F) of this section shall be paid to the school bus safety fund created in section 3327.18 of the Revised Code and shall be used for the purposes established under that section.
(I) As used in this section:
(1) "Head start agency" has the same meaning as in section 3301.32 of the Revised Code.
(2) "School bus," as used in relation to children who attend a program offered by a head start agency, means a bus that is owned and operated by a head start agency, is equipped with an automatically extended stop warning sign of a type approved by the department, is painted the color and displays the markings described in section 4511.77 of the Revised Code, and is equipped with amber and red visual signals meeting the requirements of section 4511.771 of the Revised Code, irrespective of whether or not the bus has fifteen or more children aboard at any time. "School bus" does not include a van owned and operated by a head start agency, irrespective of its color, lights, or markings.
(3) "Registered owner" has the same meaning as in section 4511.752 of the Revised Code.
Sec.
4511.751. (A)
As
used in this section,
"license :
(1) "License plate" includes, but is not limited to, any temporary motor vehicle license registration issued under section 4503.182 of the Revised Code or similar law of another jurisdiction.
(2) "Entity responsible for operation of a school bus," "law enforcement agency," "notice of violation," "registered owner," and "school bus violation detection monitoring system" have the same meanings as in section 4511.752 of the Revised Code.
(B)
When
the operator of a school bus believes that a motorist has violated
division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code, the operator
shall report the license plate number and a general description of
the vehicle and of the operator of the vehicle to the law enforcement
agency exercising jurisdiction over the area where the alleged
violation occurred. The information contained in the report relating
to the license plate number and to the general description of the
vehicle and the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged
violation may be supplied or
corroborated by
any person with first-hand knowledge of the information. Information
of
which the operator of the school bus has first-hand knowledge
contained
in the report also
may be supplied
or corroborated
by any other person,
an entity responsible for operation of a school bus or its contracted
private vendor, or through an image, images, or video captured by a
school bus camera, including a school bus violation detection
monitoring system, installed pursuant to section 4511.76 of the
Revised Code.
(C)(1) Upon receipt of the report of the alleged violation of division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code, the law enforcement agency shall conduct an investigation to attempt to determine or confirm the following:
(a) The license plate number and the make and model of the vehicle;
(b) The date, approximate time, and location of the alleged violation;
(c)
The identity
of the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation.
If
(2) The law enforcement agency may use a sufficiently clear image, images, or video provided by a school bus camera, including a school bus violation detection monitoring system installed pursuant to section 4511.76 of the Revised Code, to determine the information specified in division (C)(1) of this section.
(D)
If the
identity of the operator at the time of the alleged violation is
established, the reporting of the license plate number of the vehicle
shall establish probable cause for the law enforcement agency to
issue a criminal
citation
for the violation of division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised
Code. However,
if
(E)
If the
identity of the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged
violation cannot be established
and the recorded image, images, or video are sufficiently clear to
identify the license plate of the vehicle that is the subject of the
alleged violation,
the law enforcement agency shall
issue a warning may
do one of the following, as applicable:
(1)
Issue a notice of violation for a civil penalty of three hundred
dollars to
the registered
owner
of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation,
except in the case of a leased or rented vehicle when the warning
shall be issued to the lessee at the time of the alleged violationin
accordance with sections 4511.753 to 4511.757 of the Revised Code. A
law enforcement agency shall not issue a notice of violation under
this division unless both of the following apply:
(a) The entity responsible for operation of the school bus that is the subject of the alleged violation has installed and monitors a school bus violation detection monitoring system pursuant to section 4511.76 of the Revised Code on all school buses actively operated by the entity for transportation routes.
(b) The recorded image meets all requirements necessary to issue a ticket under section 4511.753 of the Revised Code.
(2) Issue a warning to the registered owner of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation.
(F) A law enforcement agency shall not issue both a criminal citation and a civil notice of violation for a single instance of a violation of division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code.
(G)(1)
The
registrar of motor vehicles and deputy registrars shall
provide access to,
at the time of issuing license plates or
a driver's license to
any person, include
with the license plate a
summary of the following:
(a)
The requirements
of division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code
and the ;
(b)
The procedures
of,
and penalty in,
division (F) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code.;
(c) The process, described in division (B) of this section, that allows any person with first-hand knowledge of a violation of division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code to corroborate the report made by the operator of a school bus.
(2) The registrar shall make the summaries required under division (G)(1) of this section available on the bureau of motor vehicles' web site.
(H) For purposes of enforcing section 4511.75 of the Revised Code under this section, the state highway patrol may issue a criminal citation under division (D) of this section, but shall not issue a notice of violation for a civil violation under division (E) of this section. If the identity of the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation cannot be established, the state highway patrol may issue a warning to the registered owner of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation.
Sec. 4511.752. As used in sections 4511.752 to 4511.757 and section 4511.76 of the Revised Code:
(A) "Designated party" means the person whom a registered owner of a vehicle identifies as the person who was operating the owner's vehicle at the time of a school bus violation.
(B) "Entity responsible for operation of the school bus" means the applicable board of education of a city, local or exempted village school district, the governing board of an educational service center, a county board of developmental disabilities, or the governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school, community school established under Chapter 3314. of the Revised Code, STEM school established under Chapter 3326. of the Revised Code, or head start program that is responsible for the operation of the school bus on which a school bus violation detection monitoring system is installed.
(C) "Law enforcement officer" means a sheriff, deputy sheriff, marshal, deputy marshal, school resource officer, police officer of a police department of any municipal corporation, police constable of any township, or police officer of a township or joint police district who is employed by a law enforcement agency.
(D) "License plate" includes any temporary motor vehicle license registration issued under section 4503.182 of the Revised Code or similar law of another jurisdiction.
(E) "Motor vehicle dealer" has the same meaning as in section 4517.01 of the Revised Code.
(F) "Motor vehicle renting dealer" has the same meaning as in section 4549.65 of the Revised Code.
(G) "Notice of violation" means a traffic ticket, citation, summons, or other ticket issued in response to an alleged school bus violation detected by a school bus violation detection monitoring system that represents a civil violation.
(H) "Recorded images" means either of the following, recorded by a school bus violation detection monitoring system, when it is sufficiently clear and shows, on at least one image or on a portion of the videotape, the rear of a vehicle and the letters and numerals on the rear license plate of the vehicle:
(1) Two or more photographs, microphotographs, electronic images, or digital images;
(2) Videotape.
(I) "Registered owner" means all of the following:
(1) Any person or entity identified by the bureau of motor vehicles or any other state motor vehicle registration bureau, department, or office as the owner of a vehicle;
(2) The lessee of a vehicle under a lease of six months or longer;
(3) The renter of a vehicle pursuant to a written rental agreement with a motor vehicle renting dealer.
(J) "School bus violation detection monitoring system" means a camera system affixed to a school bus that consists of two or more camera sensors or computers that can produce recorded images.
(K) "School bus violation" means a violation of division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code, or a substantially equivalent municipal ordinance, when division (E) of section 4511.751 of the Revised Code applies.
Sec. 4511.753. (A) When a law enforcement agency receives a report under division (B) of section 4511.751 of the Revised Code, and the identity of the operator of the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation cannot be established, the law enforcement agency may use any lawful means to identify the registered owner for purposes of issuing a notice of violation under this section to that owner if all of the following are shown on the image recorded by a school bus violation detection monitoring system:
(1) The school bus violation;
(2) The date and time of the violation;
(3) The electronic red light visual signals or stop warning sign to demonstrate that such signals and sign were actuated;
(4) The letter and numerals on the license plate of the vehicle involved and the state that issued the license plate.
(B)(1) After the identification of the registered owner under division (A) of this section and within thirty days of the school bus violation, the law enforcement agency or the agency's agent may issue and send by regular mail in a clearly marked envelope that includes the citing law enforcement agency on the envelope a notice of violation charging the registered owner with the violation. Proof of such mailing, conducted through the ordinary course of business, is prima facie evidence of notification to the registered owner.
(2) A school bus violation for which a notice of violation is issued by or on behalf of a law enforcement agency based on evidence recorded by a school bus violation detection monitoring system is a civil violation. The law enforcement agency or the agency's agent shall issue the notice of violation in accordance with the requirements of section 4511.754 of the Revised Code. The civil penalty for the notice of violation shall be three hundred dollars.
(C)(1) A law enforcement agency or the agency's agent that mails a notice of violation charging the registered owner with the school bus violation shall, without unnecessary delay, file a certified copy of the notice of violation with the municipal court or county court with jurisdiction over the civil action.
(2) The municipal court or county court with jurisdiction may designate an agent to collect any civil penalties imposed in accordance with sections 4511.753 to 4511.757 of the Revised Code. The agent may be the private vendor contracted by the entity responsible for operation of a school bus in accordance with section 4511.76 of the Revised Code to purchase, install, operate, and maintain the school bus violation detection monitoring system.
(D) A certified copy of the notice of violation alleging a school bus violation, sworn to or affirmed by a law enforcement officer employed by the law enforcement agency, including by electronic means, and the recorded images produced by the school bus violation detection monitoring system, is prima facie evidence of the facts contained therein and is admissible in a civil action or proceeding concerning the notice of violation issued under this section. Such prima facie evidence creates a rebuttable presumption that the registered owner was the operator of the vehicle at the time of the violation.
Sec. 4511.754. A law enforcement agency or the agency's agent shall ensure that a notice of violation for a school bus violation sent under section 4511.753 of the Revised Code contains all of the following:
(A) The name and address of the registered owner;
(B) The letters and numerals appearing on the license plate issued to the vehicle;
(C) The school bus violation charged;
(D) A statement that the violation was recorded by a school bus violation detection monitoring system;
(E) The date and time of the violation;
(F) A copy of the recorded images;
(G) The amount of the civil penalty imposed, the date by which the civil penalty is required to be paid, and the address of the municipal court or county court with jurisdiction over the civil action or the court's designated agent to which the payment is to be sent;
(H) A statement signed by a law enforcement officer indicating that, based on an inspection of the recorded images, the vehicle was involved in a school bus violation and the recorded images are prima facie evidence of that school bus violation. The law enforcement officer may sign the statement electronically.
(I) Information advising the person or entity alleged to be liable of the options prescribed in section 4511.755 of the Revised Code, including the time, place, and manner in which the person or entity may appear in court to contest the violation and notice of violation and the procedure for disclaiming liability by submitting a notarized affidavit to the municipal court or county court as prescribed in section 4511.755 of the Revised Code;
(J) A warning that failure to exercise one of the options prescribed in section 4511.755 of the Revised Code is deemed to be an admission of liability and waiver of the opportunity to contest the violation.
Sec. 4511.755. A person or entity who receives a notice of violation for a civil violation sent under section 4511.753 of the Revised Code shall elect to do one of the following:
(A) In accordance with instructions on the notice of violation, pay the civil penalty, thereby admitting liability and waiving the opportunity to contest the violation;
(B)(1) Within thirty days after receipt of the notice of violation, provide the municipal court or county court with jurisdiction over the civil action with either of the following affidavits:
(a) A notarized affidavit executed by the registered owner identifying the operator of the vehicle at the time of the violation as the designated party who may be held liable for the violation, and containing at a minimum the name and address of that designated party;
(b) A notarized affidavit executed by the registered owner stating that at the time of the violation, the vehicle or the license plates issued to the vehicle were stolen and therefore were in the care, custody, or control of some person or entity to whom the registered owner did not grant permission to use the vehicle. To demonstrate that the vehicle or the license plates were stolen prior to the school bus violation and therefore were not under the control or possession of the registered owner at the time of the violation, the registered owner shall submit proof that a report about the stolen vehicle or license plates was filed with the appropriate law enforcement agency prior to the violation or within forty-eight hours after the violation occurred.
(2) A registered owner is not responsible for a school bus violation if, within thirty days after the date of mailing of the notice of violation, the registered owner furnishes an affidavit specified in division (B)(1)(a) or (b) of this section to the court with jurisdiction in a form established by the court and the following conditions are met:
(a) If the registered owner submits an affidavit as specified in division (B)(1)(a) of this section and the operator of the vehicle at the time of the violation, as the designated party, either accepts liability for the violation by paying the civil penalty or by failing to request a court hearing within thirty days or is determined liable in a court hearing.
(b) If the registered owner submits an affidavit as specified in division (B)(1)(b) of this section, the affidavit is supported by a stolen vehicle or stolen license plate report as required in that division.
(C) If the registered owner is a motor vehicle dealer or a motor vehicle renting dealer, notify the court with jurisdiction of the name and address of the customer, lessee, or renter of the vehicle at the time of the school bus violation. The court may establish the form of the notice or use a standard form of notice. A motor vehicle dealer or motor vehicle renting dealer who receives a notice of violation for an alleged school bus violation detected by a school bus violation detection monitoring system is not liable for a notice of violation issued for a vehicle that was in the care, custody, or control of a customer, lessee, or renter at the time of the alleged violation. The dealer shall not pay the fine specified on the notice of violation and subsequently attempt to collect a fee or assess the customer, lessee, or renter a charge for any payment of such a notice of violation made on behalf of the customer, lessee, or renter.
(D) If the vehicle involved in the school bus violation is a commercial motor vehicle and the notice of violation is issued to a corporate entity, provide to the court with jurisdiction an affidavit, sworn to or affirmed by an agent of the corporate entity, that provides the name and address of the employee who was operating the vehicle at the time of the alleged violation and who is the designated party;
(E) Contest the notice of violation by filing a written request for a court hearing to review the notice of violation in a form established by the court. The person shall file the written request not later than thirty days after receipt of the notice of violation. The failure to request a hearing within this time period constitutes a waiver of the right to contest the violation and notice of violation and is deemed to constitute an admission of liability.
Sec. 4511.756. (A)(1) A court with jurisdiction that receives an affidavit described in division (B)(1)(a) or (D) of section 4511.755 of the Revised Code or a notification under division (C) of that section from a registered owner may proceed to notify the law enforcement agency to send a notice of violation that conforms with this section and section 4511.754 of the Revised Code to the designated party.
(2) The law enforcement agency shall send the conforming notice of violation to the designated party by ordinary mail not later than thirty days after receipt of the notification from the court.
(B)(1) The person named in the original or any subsequent notice of violation that requests a hearing under division (E) of section 4511.755 of the Revised Code has the burden of proving, by a preponderance of the evidence, that either the alleged school bus violation did not occur or that that person was not the person who was operating the vehicle at the time of the violation.
(2) If, after conducting a hearing requested under division (E) of section 4511.755 of the Revised Code, the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the alleged school bus violation did not occur or did in fact occur but the person named in the original or any subsequent notice of violation is not the person who was operating the vehicle at the time of the violation, the court shall issue a written decision finding that the individual is not liable for the violation and submit it to the law enforcement agency and the person named in the notice of violation.
(3) If the court finds by a preponderance of the evidence that the alleged school bus violation did in fact occur and that the person named in the original or any subsequent notice of violation is or was likely the person who was operating the vehicle at the time of the violation, the court shall issue a written decision imposing liability for the violation upon the individual and submit it to the law enforcement agency and the person named in the notice of violation.
(4) If the person who requested the court hearing fails to appear, the court may determine that the person is liable for the violation or grant a continuance of the hearing. If the court determines that the person is liable, the court shall issue a written decision imposing liability for the violation upon the individual and submit it to the law enforcement agency and the person named in the notice of violation.
(C) The court shall charge the applicable court costs and fees for the civil action to the party that does not prevail in the action.
(D)(1) If a person liable for a school bus violation fails to pay the civil penalty or any applicable court costs and fees, the court may notify the registrar of motor vehicles.
(2) If the registrar receives a notice from a court under division (D)(1) of this section, neither the registrar nor any deputy registrar shall accept any application for the registration or transfer of registration of any motor vehicle owner or leased by the person named in the notice, until the registrar receives notice from the court that the civil penalty and any court costs and fees has been paid or dismissed.
Sec. 4511.757. (A) The civil penalty charged and collected in accordance with sections 4511.753 to 4511.757 of the Revised Code shall be paid as follows:
(1) Fifty dollars to the school bus safety fund created in section 3327.18 of the Revised Code;
(2) Two hundred fifty dollars to the entity responsible for operation of the school bus.
(B) The entity responsible for operation of the school bus shall use the proceeds it receives for school bus safety technology initiatives. As part of those initiatives, the entity may use proceeds for the purpose of defraying the costs of purchasing, installing, operating, and maintaining the school bus violation detection monitoring systems and offsetting a law enforcement agency's costs related to reviewing recorded images and issuing the notices of violation.
Sec.
4511.76. (A)
The department of public safety, by and with the advice of the
department of education and workforce, shall educate
the public regarding the laws pertaining to school bus safety and
shall adopt
and enforce rules relating to the construction, design, and equipment
of all school buses both publicly and privately owned and operated in
this state,
including lighting
rules
governing both of the following:
(1)
Lighting equipment
required by section 4511.771 of the Revised Code,
of all school buses both publicly and privately owned and operated in
this state;
(2) School bus cameras, including school bus violation detection monitoring systems, that provide an image, images, or video for purposes of recording a violation of division (A) of section 4511.75 of the Revised Code.
(B) The department of education and workforce, by and with the advice of the director of public safety, shall adopt and enforce rules relating to the operation of all vehicles used for pupil transportation.
(C) No person shall operate a vehicle used for pupil transportation within this state in violation of the rules of the department of education and workforce or the department of public safety. No person, being the owner thereof or having the supervisory responsibility therefor, shall permit the operation of a vehicle used for pupil transportation within this state in violation of the rules of the department of education and workforce or the department of public safety.
(D) The department of public safety shall adopt and enforce rules relating to the issuance of a license under section 4511.763 of the Revised Code. The rules may relate to the condition of the equipment to be operated; the liability and property damage insurance carried by the applicant; the posting of satisfactory and sufficient bond; and such other rules as the director of public safety determines reasonably necessary for the safety of the pupils to be transported.
(E) A chartered nonpublic school or a community school may own and operate, or contract with a vendor that supplies, alternative vehicles to transport students to and from regularly scheduled school sessions, school-related activities, and school-sanctioned events when one of the following applies:
(1) A student's school district of residence has declared the transportation of the student impractical pursuant to section 3327.02 of the Revised Code;
(2) A student does not live within thirty minutes of the chartered nonpublic school or the community school, as applicable, and the student's school district is not required to transport the student under section 3327.01 of the Revised Code;
(3) The governing authority of the chartered nonpublic school or the community school has offered to provide the transportation for its students in lieu of the students being transported by their school district of residence.
(F) A school district may own and operate, or contract with a vendor that supplies, alternative vehicles to transport students to and from regularly scheduled school sessions, school-related activities, and school-sanctioned events.
(G) A school district or the governing authority of a chartered nonpublic school or community school that uses an alternative vehicle in accordance with division (E) or (F) of this section, shall ensure that all of the following apply to the operation of that vehicle:
(1) A qualified mechanic inspects the vehicle not fewer than two times each year and determines that it is safe for pupil transportation;
(2) The driver of the vehicle does not stop on the roadway to load or unload passengers;
(3) The driver of the vehicle meets the requirements specified for a driver of a school bus or motor van under section 3327.10 of the Revised Code and any corresponding rules adopted by the department of education and workforce. Notwithstanding that section or any department rules to the contrary, the driver is not required to have a commercial driver's license but shall have a current, valid driver's license, and shall be accustomed to operating the vehicle used to transport the students.
(4) The driver and all passengers in the vehicle comply with the requirements of sections 4511.81 and 4513.263 of the Revised Code, as applicable.
(H)(1) A school district, a chartered nonpublic school, or a community school may own and operate, or contract with a vendor that supplies, a multifunction school activity bus to transport students between school and school functions or activities.
(2) A multifunction school activity bus shall not be used to transport students between school and home or between school and designated school bus stops.
(I)(I)(1)
An entity responsible for operation of a school bus may purchase,
install, operate, and maintain school bus cameras, including school
bus violation detection monitoring systems, on its new or currently
owned and operated school buses. Alternatively, the entity may
contract with a private vendor to purchase, install, operate, and
maintain such cameras and systems on the school buses.
(2) An entity that uses school bus violation detection monitoring systems, either on its own or through a contract with a private vendor, shall do all of the following:
(a) Ensure that the contract entered into with a private vendor, if applicable, requires payment of any costs or fees to the vendor for the vendor's services as a whole and is not based exclusively on the number of notices of violation generated or collected from use of the school bus violation detection monitoring systems. If the contract requires that a portion of the costs and fees owed to the vendor are based on the notices of violation generated or collected, those costs and fees shall not exceed one hundred fifty dollars per notice of violation;
(b) Ensure that all of the entity's school buses with a regular transportation route are outfitted with a school bus violation detection monitoring system before commencing a civil penalty system in accordance with sections 4511.753 to 4511.757 of the Revised Code;
(c) Ensure that all of the school bus violation detection monitoring systems equipped on the school buses are regularly monitored for purposes of enforcing the civil penalty system in accordance with sections 4511.753 to 4511.757 of the Revised Code;
(d) Enter into a memorandum of understanding with the appropriate local law enforcement agency to ensure review of the recorded images captured by the school bus violation detection monitoring systems, reimbursement of review expenses, and appropriate enforcement support.
(J) As used in this section:
(1) "Alternative vehicle" means a motor vehicle originally manufactured and designed for not more than twelve passengers, not including the driver.
(2) "Vehicle used for pupil transportation" means any vehicle that is identified as such by the department of education and workforce by rule and that is subject to Chapter 3301-83 of the Administrative Code.
(J)(K)
Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this
section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If the offender previously
has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more violations of
this section or section 4511.63, 4511.761, 4511.762, 4511.764,
4511.77, or 4511.79 of the Revised Code or a municipal ordinance that
is substantially similar to any of those sections, whoever violates
this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
Section 2. That existing sections 4503.03, 4503.10, 4503.102, 4503.12, 4510.036, 4511.75, 4511.751, and 4511.76 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.
Section 3. All items in this act are hereby appropriated as designated out of any moneys in the state treasury to the credit of the designated fund. For all operating appropriations made in this act, those in the first column are for fiscal year 2026 and those in the second column are for fiscal year 2027. The operating appropriations made in this act are in addition to any other operating appropriations made for these fiscal years.
Section 4.
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
A |
EDU DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE |
||||
B |
State Lottery Fund Group |
||||
C |
7017 |
200413 |
School Bus Safety |
$10,000,000 |
$0 |
D |
State Lottery Fund Group Total |
$10,000,000 |
$0 |
||
E |
TOTAL ALL BUDGET FUND GROUPS |
$10,000,000 |
$0 |
||
SCHOOL BUS SAFETY
Of the foregoing appropriation item 200413, School Bus Safety, up to $100,000 in fiscal year 2026 may be used by the Department of Education and Workforce to administer the school bus safety grant program under section 3327.19 of the Revised Code.
The remainder of the foregoing appropriation item 200413, School Bus Safety, shall be used to award school bus safety grants pursuant to section 3327.19 of the Revised Code.
Any unexpended and unencumbered portion of the foregoing appropriation item 200413, School Bus Safety, at the end of fiscal year 2026 is hereby reappropriated for the same purpose in fiscal year 2027.
Section 5. Within the limits set forth in this act, the Director of Budget and Management shall establish accounts indicating the source and amount of funds for each appropriation made in this act, and shall determine the manner in which appropriation accounts shall be maintained. Expenditures from operating appropriations contained in this act shall be accounted for as though made in, and are subject to all applicable provisions of, the main operating appropriations act of the 136th General Assembly.
Section 6. This act shall be known as the School Bus Safety Act.