(A) As used in this section, "collegiate license plate" means a license plate issued under section 4503.51 or 4503.512 of the Revised Code.

(B) If, during calendar year 1998, the total number of motor vehicle registrations involving a particular type of collegiate license plate is less than one hundred, including both new registrations and registration renewals, the registrar of motor vehicles, on or after January 1, 1999, but not later than January 15, 1999, shall send a written notice to the university or college whose name appears on that type of collegiate license plate, informing it of this fact. The registrar also shall inform the university or college that the program involving that type of collegiate license plate is terminated as of the date of the notice and, except as provided in division (D) of this section, no motor vehicle registration application involving either the actual issuance of that type of collegiate license plate or the registration renewal of a motor vehicle displaying that type of collegiate license plate will be accepted by the registrar or a deputy registrar. The registrar also shall inform the university or college that if the program involving its collegiate license plate is terminated under this section, it may be reestablished in the manner provided in section 4503.512 of the Revised Code.

(C) If, during any calendar year commencing with 1999, the total number of motor vehicle registrations involving a particular type of collegiate license plate is less than one hundred fifty, including both new registrations and registration renewals, the registrar, on or after the first day of January but not later than the fifteenth day of January of the following year, shall send a written notice to the university or college whose name appears on that type of collegiate license plate, informing it of this fact. The registrar also shall inform the university or college that the program involving that type of collegiate license plate is terminated as of the date of the notice and, except as provided in division (D) of this section, no motor vehicle registration application involving either the actual issuance of that type of collegiate license plate or the registration renewal of a motor vehicle displaying that type of collegiate license plate will be accepted by the registrar or a deputy registrar. The registrar also shall inform the university or college that if the program involving its collegiate license plate is terminated under this section, it may be reestablished in the manner provided in section 4503.512 of the Revised Code.

(D) If the program involving a particular type of collegiate license plate is terminated under division (B) or (C) of this section, the registration of any motor vehicle displaying that type of collegiate license plate at the time of termination may be renewed so long as the collegiate license plates remain serviceable. If the collegiate license plates of such a motor vehicle become unfit for service, the owner of the motor vehicle may apply for the issuance of collegiate license plates of that same type, but the registrar or deputy registrar shall issue such collegiate license plates only if at the time of application the stock of the bureau of motor vehicles contains license plates of that type of collegiate license plate. If, at the time of such application, the stock of the bureau does not contain license plates of that type of collegiate license plate, the registrar or deputy registrar shall inform the owner of that fact, and the application shall be refused.

If the program involving a particular type of collegiate license plate is terminated under division (B) or (C) of this section and the registration of motor vehicles displaying such license plates continues as permitted by this division, the registrar, for as long as such registrations continue to be issued, shall continue to collect and distribute the contribution that was required to be collected and distributed prior to the termination of that program.

Effective Date: 08-21-1997.