Section 4503.20. Application for registration to contain statement regarding proof of financial responsibility

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Dealer engaged in the business of leasing motor vehicles" means any person engaged in the business of regularly making available, offering to make available, or arranging for another person to use a motor vehicle pursuant to a bailment, lease, or other contractual arrangement.

(2) "Motor vehicle" has the meaning set forth in section 4509.01 of the Revised Code.

(B) An application for the registration of a motor vehicle shall contain a statement, to be signed by the applicant either manually or by electronic signature, that does all of the following:

(1) States that the applicant maintains, or has maintained on the applicant's behalf, proof of financial responsibility at the time of application, and will not operate a motor vehicle in this state, unless the applicant maintains, with respect to that motor vehicle or the operation of such vehicle, proof of financial responsibility;

(2) Contains a brief summary of the purposes and operation of section 4509.101 of the Revised Code, the rights and duties of the applicant under that section, and the penalties for violation of that section;

(3) Warns the applicant that the financial responsibility law does not prevent the possibility that the applicant may be involved in an accident with an owner or operator of a motor vehicle who is without proof of financial responsibility.

(C)

(1) A person who purchases any motor vehicle from a licensed motor vehicle dealer who agrees to make application for registration of the motor vehicle on behalf of the purchaser shall sign statements that comply with divisions (B) and (F) of this section. The dealer shall submit the statements to the deputy registrar where the dealer has agreed to make application for registration on behalf of the person.

(2) In the case of a person who leases any motor vehicle from a dealer engaged in the business of leasing motor vehicles who agrees to make application for registration of the motor vehicle on behalf of the lessee, the person shall sign a statement that complies with division (B) of this section, and the dealer shall do either of the following:

(a) Submit the statement signed by the person to the deputy registrar where the dealer has agreed to make application for registration on behalf of the person;

(b) Sign and submit a statement to the deputy registrar that certifies that a statement has been signed and filed with the dealer or incorporated into the lease.

The dealer shall submit to the registrar or deputy registrar to whom the dealer submits the application for registration a statement signed by the person that complies with division (F) of this section.

(D) The registrar of motor vehicles shall prescribe the form of the statements required under divisions (B), (C), and (F) of this section, and the manner or manners in which the statements required under divisions (B) and (F) of this section shall be presented to the applicant. Any statement that is required under divisions (B), (C), and (F) of this section shall be designed to enable the applicant to retain a copy of it.

(E) Nothing within this section shall be construed to excuse a violation of section 4509.101 of the Revised Code. A motor vehicle dealer who makes application for the registration of a motor vehicle on behalf of the purchaser or lessee of the motor vehicle is not liable in damages in any civil action on account of the act of making such application for registration or the content of any such application for registration.

(F) In addition to the statements required by divisions (B) and (C) of this section, a person who makes application for registration of a motor vehicle shall be furnished with a form that lists in plain language all the possible penalties to which a person could be subject for a violation of the financial responsibility law, including driver's license suspensions; all fees, including nonvoluntary compliance and reinstatement fees; and vehicle immobilization or impoundment. The person shall read the form and either manually or by electronic signature sign the form, which shall be submitted along with the application for registration as provided in this section. The form shall be retained by the registrar or deputy registrar who issues the motor vehicle registration or the registrar's or deputy registrar's successor for a period of two years from the date of issuance of the registration.

(G) Upon the registration of a motor vehicle, the owner of the motor vehicle is deemed to have agreed to the production of proof of financial responsibility by the owner or the operator of the motor vehicle, upon the request of a peace officer or state highway patrol trooper made in accordance with division (D)(2) of section 4509.101 of the Revised Code.

(H) The registrar shall adopt rules governing the renewal of motor vehicle registrations by electronic means and the completion and submission of statements that comply with divisions (B) and (F) of this section. The registrar shall adopt the rules prescribed by this division in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code.

Amended by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 255, §1, eff. 3/23/2015.

Effective Date: 09-14-2000