Section 4503.54. Retired or honorably discharged veterans license plates

(A) Any person who is on active duty or is a retired or honorably discharged veteran of any branch of the armed forces of the United States may apply to the registrar of motor vehicles for the registration of any passenger car, noncommercial motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, or other vehicle of a class approved by the registrar the person owns or leases. The application shall be accompanied by such written evidence that the applicant is on active duty or is a retired or honorably discharged veteran of a branch of the armed forces of the United States as the registrar shall require by rule.

Upon receipt of an application for registration of a motor vehicle under this section, presentation of satisfactory evidence documenting that the applicant is on active duty or is a retired or honorably discharged veteran of a branch of the armed forces of the United States, and payment of the regular license fees as prescribed under section 4503.04 of the Revised Code and any local motor vehicle license tax levied under Chapter 4504. of the Revised Code, the registrar shall issue to the applicant the appropriate motor vehicle registration and a set of license plates and 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, the license plates shall contain one of the following inscriptions, as appropriate: "U.S. ARMED FORCES ACTIVE DUTY--(BRANCH OF SERVICE)," "U.S. ARMED FORCES RETIRED--(BRANCH OF SERVICE)," or "U.S. ARMED FORCES VETERAN--(BRANCH OF SERVICE)." Depending upon the format of the inscription, the registrar shall determine whether or not the inscription contains the dash. The license plates shall bear county identification stickers that identify the county of registration by name or number.

(B) Sections 4503.77 and 4503.78 of the Revised Code do not apply to license plates issued under this section.

Effective Date: 02-12-2001; 03-23-2005