(A) Except as specified in divisions (B), (C), (D), (E), and (F) of this section, whoever violates sections 4737.01 to 4737.11 of the Revised Code, shall be fined not less than twenty-five nor more than one thousand dollars and the costs of prosecution.

(B) Whoever violates division (F)(2) of section 4737.10 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.

(C) Whoever fails to comply with or violates section 4737.01, 4737.012, or 4737.041, division (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), or (I) of section 4737.04, or division (D) of section 4737.045 of the Revised Code is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree. If the offender one time previously has violated or failed to comply with section 4737.01, 4737.012, or 4737.041, division (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), or (I) of section 4737.04, or division (D) of section 4737.045 of the Revised Code, the violation or failure is a felony of the fifth degree. If the offender two or more times previously has violated or failed to comply with section 4737.01, 4737.012, or 4737.041, division (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), or (I) of section 4737.04, or division (D) of section 4737.045 of the Revised Code, the violation or failure is a felony of the fourth degree. For any second or subsequent violation of or failure to comply with section 4737.01, 4737.012, or 4737.041, or division (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), or (I) of section 4737.04, or division (D) of section 4737.045 of the Revised Code, a court may suspend the registration issued to the scrap metal dealer or bulk merchandise container dealer under section 4737.045 of the Revised Code for a period of ninety days, during which time period the person shall not engage in the business of a scrap metal dealer or a bulk merchandise container dealer, as applicable.

(D) Whoever violates division (B)(1) of section 4737.04 of the Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree. The court also shall enjoin the person from engaging in the business of a scrap metal dealer or a bulk merchandise dealer.

(E) Whoever violates division (B)(2) of section 4737.04 of the Revised Code is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree for the first offense and a felony of the third degree for any subsequent offense.

(F) Any motor vehicle used in the theft or illegal transportation of metal shall be impounded for at least thirty days and not more than sixty days. If the same motor vehicle is used in connection with a second or subsequent theft or illegal transportation of metal, the motor vehicle shall be impounded for at least sixty days and not more than one hundred eighty days. Any motor vehicle used in the theft or illegal transportation of a special purchase article or bulk merchandise container shall be impounded for at least ninety days and not more than three hundred sixty days. A motor vehicle impounded pursuant to this division shall be stored at a municipal corporation impound lot, if available, or at a lot owned by a private entity or another governmental unit that the municipal corporation utilizes for the purpose of impounding a motor vehicle. An impounded motor vehicle may be recovered from the impound lot at the end of the impound term upon payment of fees .

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. 7, HB 51, §101.01, eff. 7/1/2013.

Amended by 129th General AssemblyFile No.132, SB 193, §1, eff. 9/28/2012.

Effective Date: 01-01-1964; 10-12-2006; 2008 SB171 09-11-2008 .