As used in this section, "person" includes, but is not limited to, any person engaged in the business of manufacturing or distributing, or selling at retail, displaying, offering for sale, or dealing in, motorized bicycles who is not subject to section 4503.09 of the Revised Code, or an Ohio nonprofit corporation engaged in the business of testing of motor vehicles.

Persons other than manufacturers, dealers, or distributors may register annually with the registrar of motor vehicles and obtain placards to be displayed on motor vehicles as provided by this section. Applications for annual registration shall be made at the time provided for payment of the tax and postage imposed on manufacturers, dealers, or distributors and shall be in the manner to be prescribed by the registrar. The fee for such registration shall be twenty-five dollars and shall not be reduced when the registration is for a part of a year. Applicants may procure a reasonable number of certified copies of such registration upon the payment of a fee of five dollars and appropriate postage as required by the registrar for each copy.

Upon the filing of the application and the payment of the fee and postage prescribed by this section, the registrar shall issue to each applicant a certificate of registration and assign a distinctive number and furnish one placard with the number thereon. With each of the certified copies of the registration provided for in this section the registrar shall furnish one placard with the same numbering assigned in the original registration certificate and shall add thereto such special designation as necessary to distinguish one set of placards from another. All placards furnished by the registrar pursuant to this section shall be so marked as to be distinguishable from placards issued dealers, manufacturers, or distributors. Placards issued pursuant to this section may be used only on motor vehicles or motorized bicycles owned and being used in testing or being demonstrated for purposes of sale or lease; or on motor vehicles subject to the rights and remedies of a secured party being exercised under Chapter 1309. of the Revised Code; or on motor vehicles being held or transported by any insurance company for purposes of salvage disposition; or on motor vehicles being transported by any persons regularly engaged in salvage operations or scrap metal processing from the point of acquisition to their established place of business; or on motor vehicles owned by or in the lawful possession of an Ohio nonprofit corporation while being used in the testing of those motor vehicles.

Placards issued pursuant to this section also may be used by persons regularly engaged in the business of rustproofing, reconditioning, or installing equipment or trim on motor vehicles for motor vehicle dealers and shall be used exclusively when such motor vehicles are being transported to or from the motor vehicle dealer's place of business; and by persons engaged in manufacturing articles for attachment to motor vehicles when such motor vehicles are being transported to or from places where mechanical equipment is attached to the chassis of such new motor vehicles; or on motor vehicles being towed by any persons regularly and primarily engaged in the business of towing motor vehicles while such vehicle is being towed to a point of storage.

Placards issued pursuant to this section also may be used on trailers being transported by persons engaged in the business of selling tangible personal property other than motor vehicles.

No person required to register an apportionable vehicle under the international registration plan shall apply for or receive a placard for that vehicle under this section.

The fees collected by the registrar pursuant to this section shall be paid into the public safety - highway purposes fund established in section 4501.06 of the Revised Code and used for the purposes described in that section.

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.

Effective Date: 07-01-2001.