As used in this section, "original owner" includes, with respect to any motor vehicle owned by the federal government and loaned to the state or any of its political subdivisions for use in a federal program, the state or the political subdivision to which the motor vehicle has been loaned and in the name of which the vehicle is registered.

Title to motor vehicles acquired by the state or any of its political subdivisions, whether used for either governmental or proprietary functions, shall be registered. Motor vehicles owned by the federal government and loaned to the state or any of its political subdivisions for use in a federal program shall be registered in the name of the state or political subdivision without the presentation of a certificate of title or other evidence of ownership as required by section 4503.10 of the Revised Code, when the registrar is satisfied that the motor vehicles are on loan from the federal government and are being used exclusively in a federal program. Such vehicles that have been registered and that are used exclusively in the performance of the governmental or proprietary functions of the state or any political subdivision thereof shall not be subject to charge of any kind; but this provision does not exempt the operation of such vehicles from any other provision of Chapters 4501., 4503., 4505., 4507., 4509., 4511., 4515., and 4517. of the Revised Code, and the penal laws relating to them.

The registrar of motor vehicles shall accept any application to register a motor vehicle owned by the federal government that may be made by any officer, department, or agent of such government.

The registrar shall issue permanent license plates for motor vehicles acquired by the state or any of its political subdivisions, or loaned to the state or any of its political subdivisions by the federal government for use in a federal program, which have been registered and that are used exclusively in the performance of the governmental or proprietary functions of the state or any political subdivision thereof, or are used exclusively in a federal program. The registrar shall also issue permanent license plates for all motor vehicles owned and registered by the federal government. Such permanent license plates if lost, stolen, or destroyed, shall be replaced gratis with another permanent number.

Upon the transfer of ownership of a motor vehicle or termination by the federal government of any loan of a motor vehicle for which permanent license plates are issued, the registration of such motor vehicle shall expire and the original owner shall immediately remove such license plates from such motor vehicle. Should the original owner at any time make application for the registration of another motor vehicle, he may file an application for transfer of registration accompanied by the original certificate of registration, for which there shall be no transfer fee.

Effective Date: 03-27-1980.