(A) Every person, firm, or corporation engaging in the sale of steamship or railroad tickets for transportation to or from foreign countries shall execute and deliver a bond to the state approved by, and filed in the office of, the secretary of state, in the sum of five thousand dollars, conditioned for the selling of genuine and valid steamship or railroad tickets for such transportation.

(B) Such bond shall be executed by such person, firm, or corporation as principal, with at least two sureties who are responsible and owners of real estate within this state. The bond of a surety company may be received or cash or any securities enumerated in section 1111.04 of the Revised Code, may be accepted in lieu thereof. Upon the relation of any party aggrieved, a suit to recover on such bond may be brought.

(C) No person, firm, or corporation shall engage in such business until it has obtained from the secretary of state a certificate of compliance with this section. The certificate shall be conspicuously displayed in the place of business of such person, firm, or corporation.

(D) The secretary of state shall keep a book to be known as a "bond book," in which the secretary of state shall place in alphabetical order all such bonds received by the secretary of state, showing the date of receipt, the name, place of residence, and place of business of the principal, the names of sureties upon the bond, and the name of the officer before whom the bond was executed or acknowledged. Such record shall be open to public inspection. The secretary of state shall collect a fee of five dollars for each bond so filed.

(E) This section does not apply to national banks, to incorporated and qualified railroad, steamship, or express companies, or to banks or trust companies.

(F) Whoever violates division (A), (B), or (C) of section 4965.59 of the Revised Code, shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.

Effective Date: 01-01-1997 .