(A)

(1) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, any person who is replacing vehicle license plates, upon request and payment of a fee of ten dollars, may retain the distinctive combination of letters and numerals on license plates previously issued to that person.

A person who is replacing license plates specifically created by law for which the registrar collects a contribution or additional fee, may retain the distinctive combination of letters and numerals on license plates previously issued to that person upon request and payment of a fee of ten dollars, but the person also shall be required to pay the contribution or additional fee required under the Revised Code section authorizing issuance of the license plate.

(2) The registrar of motor vehicles shall charge and collect the ten-dollar fee under this section only when a new set of license plates are issued. The fee is in addition to the license tax established by this chapter and, where applicable, Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code. A deputy registrar who receives an application under this section shall retain one dollar of the ten-dollar fee and shall transmit the remaining nine dollars to the registrar in a manner determined by the registrar. The registrar shall deposit the fees received under this section into the state treasury to the credit of the public safety - highway purposes fund created under section 4501.06 of the Revised Code and shall be used by the bureau of motor vehicles to pay the expenses of producing license plates and validation stickers, including the cost of materials, manufacturing, and administrative costs for required replacement of license plates.

(B) This section does not apply to either of the following:

(1) A person who is replacing license plates originally obtained under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code. Such a person shall pay the additional fee required under the applicable section to retain the distinctive license plates previously issued.

(2) A person who is replacing a single, duplicate license plate due to the loss, mutilation, or destruction of a license plate.

Amended by 132nd General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 26, §101.01, eff. 6/30/2017; however, the modifications to provisions of law requiring the deposit of funds into the Public Safety - Highway Purposes Fund that are made in this section shall take effect not earlier than July 1, 2017.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 25, HB 59, §803.210, eff. 6/30/2013.

Added by 130th General Assembly File No. 7, HB 51, §101.01, eff. 1/1/2014.