Section 4503.173. Exemption of boat trailers owned by disabled veterans, certain military honorees or former prisoners of war

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Boat trailer" means any trailer designed and used for the transportation of no more than one watercraft.

(2) "Watercraft" means any of the following when used or capable of being used for transportation on the water:

(a) A boat operated by machinery either permanently or temporarily affixed;

(b) A sailboat other than a sailboard;

(c) An inflatable, manually propelled boat having a hull identification number assigned by and meeting the requirements of the United States coast guard;

(d) A canoe or rowboat.

(3) "Disabled veteran" means a person who falls into any of the following categories:

(a) Has been determined by the United States veterans administration to be permanently and totally disabled, receives a pension or compensation from the veterans administration, and received an honorable discharge from the armed forces of the United States;

(b) Because of a service-connected disability, has been or is awarded funds for the purchase of a motor vehicle under the "Disabled Veterans' and Servicemen's Automobile Assistance Act of 1970," 84 Stat. 1998, 38 U.S.C. 1901, and amendments thereto;

(c) Has a service-connected disability rated at one hundred per cent by the veterans' administration.

(4) "Prisoner of war" means any regularly appointed, enrolled, enlisted, or inducted member of the military forces of the United States who was captured, separated, and incarcerated by an enemy of the United States at any time, and any regularly appointed, enrolled, or enlisted member of the military forces of Great Britain, France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, South Africa, or Yugoslavia who was a citizen of the United States at the time of the appointment, enrollment, or enlistment, and was captured, separated, and incarcerated by an enemy of this country during World War II.

(B) Any owner of a boat trailer who is a disabled veteran, congressional medal of honor awardee, or prisoner of war may apply to the registrar of motor vehicles for the registration of the boat trailer without the payment of any registration tax and service fee as required by sections 4503.02, 4503.10, 4503.102, and 4503.12 of the Revised Code and without the payment of any applicable county, township, or municipal motor vehicle license tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code. The application shall be accompanied by such evidence of disability or by such documentary evidence in support of a congressional medal of honor as the registrar requires by rule. The application for a registration by any person who has been a prisoner of war shall be accompanied by written evidence in the form of a record of separation, a letter from one of the armed forces of the United States or other country as listed in division (A)(4) of this section, or other evidence as the registrar may require by rule, that the person was a prisoner of war and was honorably discharged or is presently residing in this state on active duty with one of the branches of the armed forces of the United States, or was a prisoner of war and was honorably discharged or received an equivalent discharge or release from one of the armed forces of a country listed in division (A)(4) of this section.

Effective Date: 06-30-2003