As Introduced

134th General Assembly

Regular Session H. B. No. 97

2021-2022

A BILL

To amend sections 4503.042 and 4503.103 of the Revised Code to alter the annual registration tax for non-apportioned commercial trailers and semitrailers.

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

Section 1. That sections 4503.042 and 4503.103 of the Revised Code be amended to read as follows:

Sec. 4503.042. The rates established under this section apply to commercial cars, buses, trailers, and semitrailers that are not subject to apportioned rates under the international registration plan.

(A) The rates of the annual registration taxes imposed by section 4503.02 of the Revised Code, based on gross vehicle weight or combined gross vehicle weight, for commercial cars that are not apportionable are as follows:

(1) For not more than two thousand pounds, forty-five dollars;

(2) For more than two thousand but not more than six thousand pounds, seventy dollars;

(3) For more than six thousand but not more than ten thousand pounds, eighty-five dollars;

(4) For more than ten thousand but not more than fourteen thousand pounds, one hundred five dollars;

(5) For more than fourteen thousand but not more than eighteen thousand pounds, one hundred twenty-five dollars;

(6) For more than eighteen thousand but not more than twenty-two thousand pounds, one hundred fifty dollars;

(7) For more than twenty-two thousand but not more than twenty-six thousand pounds, one hundred seventy-five dollars;

(8) For more than twenty-six thousand but not more than thirty thousand pounds, three hundred fifty-five dollars;

(9) For more than thirty thousand but not more than thirty-four thousand pounds, four hundred twenty dollars;

(10) For more than thirty-four thousand but not more than thirty-eight thousand pounds, four hundred eighty dollars;

(11) For more than thirty-eight thousand but not more than forty-two thousand pounds, five hundred forty dollars;

(12) For more than forty-two thousand but not more than forty-six thousand pounds, six hundred dollars;

(13) For more than forty-six thousand but not more than fifty thousand pounds, six hundred sixty dollars;

(14) For more than fifty thousand but not more than fifty-four thousand pounds, seven hundred twenty-five dollars;

(15) For more than fifty-four thousand but not more than fifty-eight thousand pounds, seven hundred eighty-five dollars;

(16) For more than fifty-eight thousand but not more than sixty-two thousand pounds, eight hundred fifty-five dollars;

(17) For more than sixty-two thousand but not more than sixty-six thousand pounds, nine hundred twenty-five dollars;

(18) For more than sixty-six thousand but not more than seventy thousand pounds, nine hundred ninety-five dollars;

(19) For more than seventy thousand but not more than seventy-four thousand pounds, one thousand eighty dollars;

(20) For more than seventy-four thousand but not more than seventy-eight thousand pounds, one thousand two hundred dollars;

(21) For more than seventy-eight thousand pounds, one thousand three hundred forty dollars.

(B) The rates of the annual registration taxes imposed by section 4503.02 of the Revised Code, based on gross vehicle weight or combined gross vehicle weight, for buses that are not apportionable are as follows:

(1) For not more than two thousand pounds, ten dollars;

(2) For more than two thousand but not more than six thousand pounds, forty dollars;

(3) For more than six thousand but not more than ten thousand pounds, one hundred dollars;

(4) For more than ten thousand but not more than fourteen thousand pounds, one hundred eighty dollars;

(5) For more than fourteen thousand but not more than eighteen thousand pounds, two hundred sixty dollars;

(6) For more than eighteen thousand but not more than twenty-two thousand pounds, three hundred forty dollars;

(7) For more than twenty-two thousand but not more than twenty-six thousand pounds, four hundred twenty dollars;

(8) For more than twenty-six thousand but not more than thirty thousand pounds, five hundred dollars;

(9) For more than thirty thousand but not more than thirty-four thousand pounds, five hundred eighty dollars;

(10) For more than thirty-four thousand but not more than thirty-eight thousand pounds, six hundred sixty dollars;

(11) For more than thirty-eight thousand but not more than forty-two thousand pounds, seven hundred forty dollars;

(12) For more than forty-two thousand but not more than forty-six thousand pounds, eight hundred twenty dollars;

(13) For more than forty-six thousand but not more than fifty thousand pounds, nine hundred forty dollars;

(14) For more than fifty thousand but not more than fifty-four thousand pounds, one thousand dollars;

(15) For more than fifty-four thousand but not more than fifty-eight thousand pounds, one thousand ninety dollars;

(16) For more than fifty-eight thousand but not more than sixty-two thousand pounds, one thousand one hundred eighty dollars;

(17) For more than sixty-two thousand but not more than sixty-six thousand pounds, one thousand two hundred seventy dollars;

(18) For more than sixty-six thousand but not more than seventy thousand pounds, one thousand three hundred sixty dollars;

(19) For more than seventy thousand but not more than seventy-four thousand pounds, one thousand four hundred fifty dollars;

(20) For more than seventy-four thousand but not more than seventy-eight thousand pounds, one thousand five hundred forty dollars;

(21) For more than seventy-eight thousand pounds, one thousand six hundred thirty dollars.

(C) The rate of the tax for each trailer and semitrailer is ~~twenty-five~~ fifty dollars for the first year of registration by an applicant. No applicant is required to pay a tax for a trailer or semitrailer under this division for any year after the first year of registration.

(D) If an application for registration renewal is not applied for prior to the expiration date of the registration or within thirty days after that date, the registrar or deputy registrar shall collect a fee of ten dollars for the issuance of the vehicle registration, but may waive the fee for good cause shown if the application is accompanied by supporting evidence as the registrar may require. The fee shall be in addition to all other fees established by this section. A deputy registrar shall retain fifty cents of the fee and shall transmit the remaining amount to the registrar at the time and in the manner provided by section 4503.10 of the Revised Code. The registrar shall deposit all moneys received under this division into the public safety - highway purposes fund established in section 4501.06 of the Revised Code.

(E) The rates established by this section shall not apply to any of the following:

(1) Vehicles equipped, owned, and used by a charitable or nonprofit corporation exclusively for the purpose of administering chest x-rays or receiving blood donations;

(2) Vans used principally for the transportation of handicapped persons that have been modified by being equipped with adaptive equipment to facilitate the movement of such persons into and out of the vans;

(3) Buses used principally for the transportation of handicapped persons or persons sixty-five years of age or older;

(4) Buses used principally for the transportation of persons in a ridesharing arrangement;

(5) Transit buses having motor power;

(6) Noncommercial trailers, mobile homes, or manufactured homes.

Sec. 4503.103. (A)(1) The registrar of motor vehicles may adopt rules to permit any person or lessee, other than a person receiving an apportioned license plate under the international registration plan, who owns or leases one or more motor vehicles to file a written application for registration for no more than five succeeding registration years. The rules adopted by the registrar may designate the classes of motor vehicles that are eligible for such registration. At the time of application, all annual taxes and fees shall be paid for each year for which the person is registering.

(2)(a) The registrar shall adopt rules to permit any person or lessee who owns or leases a trailer or semitrailer that is subject to the tax ~~rates~~ rate prescribed in section 4503.042 of the Revised Code for such trailers or semitrailers to file a written application for registration for any number of succeeding registration years, including a permanent registration. At the time of application, the applicant shall pay the tax required under section 4503.042 of the Revised Code, unless the applicant previously paid the tax for the trailer or semitrailer being registered, plus all annual ~~taxes and~~ fees shall be paid for each year for which the person is registering, provided that the annual taxes due, regardless of the number of years for which the person is registering, shall not exceed two hundred dollars. A person who registers a vehicle under division (A)(2) of this section shall pay for each year of registration the additional fee established required under division (C)(1) of section 4503.10 of the Revised Code for each year of registration~~, provided that the additional fee due, regardless of the number of years for which the person is registering, shall not exceed eighty-eight dollars~~. However, the applicant shall pay not more than eight times the amount of that annual fee regardless of the number of years for which the applicant is registering. The person also shall pay one single deputy registrar service fee in the amount specified in division (D) of section 4503.10 of the Revised Code or one single bureau of motor vehicles service fee in the amount specified in division (G) of that section, as applicable, regardless of the number of years for which the person is registering.

(b) In addition, each person registering a trailer or semitrailer under division (A)(2)(a) of this section shall pay any applicable local motor vehicle license tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code for each year for which the person is registering, provided that not more than eight times any such annual local taxes shall be due upon registration.

(c) The period of registration for a trailer or semitrailer registered under division (A)(2)(a) of this section is exclusive to the trailer or semitrailer for which that certificate of registration is issued and is not transferable to any other trailer or semitrailer if the registration is a permanent registration.

(3) Except as provided in division (A)(4) of this section, the registrar shall adopt rules to permit any person who owns a motor vehicle to file an application for registration for not more than five succeeding registration years. At the time of application, the person shall pay the annual taxes and fees for each registration year, calculated in accordance with division (C) of section 4503.11 of the Revised Code. A person who is registering a vehicle under division (A)(3) of this section shall pay for each year of registration the additional fee established under division (C)(1), (3), or (4) of section 4503.10 of the Revised Code, as applicable. The person shall also pay the deputy registrar service fee or the bureau of motor vehicles service fee equal to the amount established under section 4503.038 of the Revised Code.

(4) Division (A)(3) of this section does not apply to a person receiving an apportioned license plate under the international registration plan, or the owner of a commercial car used solely in intrastate commerce, or the owner of a bus as defined in section 4513.50 of the Revised Code.

(B) No person applying for a multi-year registration under division (A) of this section is entitled to a refund of any taxes or fees paid.

(C) The registrar shall not issue to any applicant who has been issued a final, nonappealable order under division (D) of this section a multi-year registration or renewal thereof under this division or rules adopted under it for any motor vehicle that is required to be inspected under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code the district of registration of which, as determined under section 4503.10 of the Revised Code, is or is located in the county named in the order.

(D) Upon receipt from the director of environmental protection of a notice issued under rules adopted under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code indicating that an owner of a motor vehicle that is required to be inspected under that section who obtained a multi-year registration for the vehicle under division (A) of this section or rules adopted under that division has not obtained a required inspection certificate for the vehicle, the registrar in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code shall issue an order to the owner impounding the certificate of registration and identification license plates for the vehicle. The order also shall prohibit the owner from obtaining or renewing a multi-year registration for any vehicle that is required to be inspected under that section, the district of registration of which is or is located in the same county as the county named in the order during the number of years after expiration of the current multi-year registration that equals the number of years for which the current multi-year registration was issued.

An order issued under this division shall require the owner to surrender to the registrar the certificate of registration and license plates for the vehicle named in the order within five days after its issuance. If the owner fails to do so within that time, the registrar shall certify that fact to the county sheriff or local police officials who shall recover the certificate of registration and license plates for the vehicle.

(E) Upon the occurrence of either of the following circumstances, the registrar in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code shall issue to the owner a modified order rescinding the provisions of the order issued under division (D) of this section impounding the certificate of registration and license plates for the vehicle named in that original order:

(1) Receipt from the director of environmental protection of a subsequent notice under rules adopted under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code that the owner has obtained the inspection certificate for the vehicle as required under those rules;

(2) Presentation to the registrar by the owner of the required inspection certificate for the vehicle.

(F) The owner of a motor vehicle for which the certificate of registration and license plates have been impounded pursuant to an order issued under division (D) of this section, upon issuance of a modified order under division (E) of this section, may apply to the registrar for their return. A fee of two dollars and fifty cents shall be charged for the return of the certificate of registration and license plates for each vehicle named in the application.

Section 2. That existing sections 4503.042 and 4503.103 of the Revised Code are hereby repealed.