(A) A person or entity that receives an invoice under section 5531.141 of the Revised Code or a late notice under division (C) of this section shall do one of the following:

(1) Pay the user fee and any administrative fee set forth in the invoice or late notice directly to the toll project operator within thirty-five days after the date of mailing of the invoice or late notice;

(2) File with the toll project operator a notice to contest liability for the unpaid user fee within thirty-five days after the date of the mailing of the invoice or late notice by utilizing the form provided with the invoice or late notice under section 5531.143 of the Revised Code;

(3) If the registered owner is a motor vehicle leasing dealer or a motor vehicle renting dealer, notify the toll project operator within thirty-five days after the date of mailing of the invoice or late notice of the name and address of the person who was the lessee or renter of the motor vehicle at the time the user fee was incurred. A motor vehicle leasing dealer or a motor vehicle renting dealer that receives an invoice or late notice shall not pay a user fee or any administrative fee and subsequently attempt to collect a fee or assess the lessee or renter a charge in excess of the amount actually paid on behalf of the lessee or renter.

(B) Upon receipt of the name and address of the lessee or renter of a motor vehicle provided by a motor vehicle leasing dealer or motor vehicle renting dealer under division (A)(3) of this section, the toll project operator shall send an invoice to the lessee or renter of the motor vehicle as described in section 5531.141 of the Revised Code. The toll project operator shall send all subsequent late notices for the unpaid user fees to the lessee or renter, and the motor vehicle renting or leasing dealer has no further liability for unpaid user fees or administrative fees under this chapter.

(C) If a registered owner fails to pay or contest an invoice within thirty-five days after the date of mailing of the invoice, the toll project operator may send to the registered owner by regular first class mail a late notice containing the information described in section 5531.143 of the Revised Code. The toll project operator may charge an administrative fee for each late notice, the purpose of which is to enable the toll project operator to recover the expenses of collecting the unpaid user fee. The director of transportation shall establish the amount of the administrative fee by rule.

Added by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 533, §1, eff. 9/11/2014.