Section 4503.51. Collegiate license plates

(A) The owner or lessee of any passenger car, noncommercial motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, or vehicle of a class approved by the registrar of motor vehicles may voluntarily choose to submit an application to the registrar for registration of such motor vehicle and for issuance of collegiate license plates. The request for a collegiate license plate may be combined with a request for a special reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code.

Upon receipt of the completed application for registration of a vehicle in accordance with any rules adopted under this section and upon compliance with division (B) of this section, the registrar shall issue to the applicant appropriate vehicle registration and a set of collegiate license plates with a validation sticker, or a validation sticker alone when required by section 4503.191 of the Revised Code.

In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed thereon, collegiate license plates shall be inscribed with the name of a university or college that is participating with the registrar in the issuance of collegiate license plates, or any other identifying marking or design selected by such a university or college and approved by the registrar. Collegiate license plates shall bear county identification stickers that identify the county of registration by name or number.

(B) The collegiate license plates and validation sticker shall be issued upon receipt of a contribution as provided in division (C) of this section and payment of the regular license fees as prescribed under section 4503.04 of the Revised Code, any applicable motor vehicle tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, a fee not to exceed ten dollars for the purpose of compensating the bureau of motor vehicles for additional services required in the issuing of collegiate license plates, and compliance with all other applicable laws relating to the registration of motor vehicles, including presentation of any inspection certificate required to be obtained for the motor vehicle under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code. If the application for a collegiate license plate is combined with a request for a special reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code, the license plate and validation sticker shall be issued upon payment of the contribution, fees, and taxes referred to in this division, the additional fee prescribed under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code, and compliance with all other laws relating to the registration of motor vehicles, including presentation of any inspection certificate required to be obtained for the motor vehicle under section 3704.14 of the Revised Code.

(C) The registrar shall collect a contribution of twenty-five dollars for each application for registration and registration renewal notice under this section.

The registrar shall transmit this contribution to the treasurer of state for deposit into the license plate contribution fund created by section 4501.21 of the Revised Code. The additional fee not to exceed ten dollars that the applicant for registration voluntarily pays for the purpose of compensating the bureau for the additional services required in the issuing of the applicant's collegiate license plates shall be transmitted into the state treasury to the credit of the state bureau of motor vehicles fund created in section 4501.25 of the Revised Code.

(D) The registrar, in accordance with Chapter 119. of the Revised Code, shall adopt rules necessary for the efficient administration of the collegiate license plate program.

(E) As used in this section, "university or college" means a state university or college or a private university or college located in this state that possesses a certificate of authorization issued by the Ohio board of regents pursuant to Chapter 1713. of the Revised Code. "University or college" also includes community colleges created pursuant to Chapter 3354. of the Revised Code, university branches created pursuant to Chapter 3355. of the Revised Code, technical colleges created pursuant to Chapter 3357. of the Revised Code, and state community colleges created pursuant to Chapter 3358. of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 03-31-2003