(A) If the toll project operator sends a late notice to the registered owner and the registered owner, within thirty-five days after the date of mailing of the late notice, fails to pay the user fee and any administrative fee contained in the late notice and fails to submit a notice to contest liability for any of those fees, the toll project operator may do either of the following:

(1) Issue a motor vehicle certificate of registration issuance prevention order to the registrar of motor vehicles and send a copy of the order to the registered owner. If the registered owner resides in another state or jurisdiction, the toll project operator shall send the order to the department, division, bureau, office, or other unit of government that is functionally equivalent to the bureau of motor vehicles. The order shall have the same effect in another state or jurisdiction as in this state.

(2) File a civil suit against the registered owner in the municipal court or county court having jurisdiction over the location of the toll project as provided in section 5531.146 of the Revised Code.

(B) If the toll project operator sends a motor vehicle certificate of registration issuance prevention order to the registrar under division (A)(1) of this section, the registered owner may file a request for a hearing in the municipal court or county having jurisdiction over the location of the toll project within thirty-five days after the date the toll project operator sends the order to the registrar. The order shall remain in effect pending the results of the hearing in the municipal court or county court. If the registered owner fails to file an appeal with the municipal court or county court within that thirty-five-day period, the registered owner is considered to have waived the registered owner's right to appeal the issuance of the motor vehicle certificate of registration issuance prevention order. The toll project operator may file a civil suit against the registered owner in the municipal court or county court having jurisdiction over the location of the toll project as provided in section 5531.146 of the Revised Code.

(C)

(1) If an appeal hearing is requested under division (B) of this section, the municipal court or county court shall determine whether the registered owner is liable for the payment of any user fee or administrative fee and whether the issuance by the toll project operator of the motor vehicle certificate of registration issuance prevention order was valid. If the court finds that the registered owner is not liable for payment of the user fee or administrative fee, the court shall issue a ruling to that effect and dismiss the late notice. The toll project operator immediately shall inform the registrar of the ruling and shall direct the registrar to cancel the motor vehicle certificate of registration issuance prevention order issued under division (A)(1) of this section.

(2) If the court finds that the registered owner is liable for payment of the user fee or any administrative fee and that the issuance by the toll project operator of the motor vehicle certificate of registration issuance prevention order was valid, the court shall issue a ruling to that effect. If the court issues such a ruling and payment in full is not made to the toll project operator upon completion of the appeal hearing, the toll project operator shall inform the registrar of motor vehicles of the ruling and the failure by the registered owner to make payment in full, and the motor vehicle certificate of registration issuance prevention order issued under division (A)(1) of this section remains in effect.

(3) If the court finds that the registered owner is liable for payment of the user fee or any administrative fee but the issuance by the toll project operator of the motor vehicle certificate of registration issuance prevention order was not valid, the court shall issue a ruling to that effect. If the court issues such a ruling, the toll project operator shall inform the registrar of the ruling and direct the registrar to cancel the motor vehicle certificate of registration issuance prevention order. The registered owner remains liable for payment of the user fee or any administrative fee. The toll project operator may reissue the motor vehicle certificate of registration issuance prevention order. If the toll project operator reissues the order, the registered owner may appeal the order as provided in division (B) of this section.

(4) If, upon completion of the appeal hearing, the registered owner pays in full to the toll project operator all user fees and administrative fees for which the court ruled the registered owner was liable, the toll project operator shall inform the registrar of the ruling and the payment in full by the registered owner. The toll project operator also shall direct the registrar to cancel the motor vehicle certificate of registration issuance prevention order.

(5) If the court rules under division (C)(2) or (3) of this section that the registered owner is liable for payment of the user fee or any administrative fee, and the registered owner does not pay all such fees within thirty-five days after the court issues the ruling, the toll project operator may file a civil suit against the registered owner in the municipal court or county court having jurisdiction over the location of the toll project as provided in section 5531.146 of the Revised Code.

(D) At any time after a toll project operator issues an order under division (A)(1) of this section, the registered owner may pay all user fees and administrative fees owed to the toll project operator. If such payment is made, the toll project operator shall inform the registrar of the payment and shall direct the registrar to cancel the motor vehicle certificate of registration prevention order.

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