Section 4505.21. Owner exporting vehicle outside United States

(A) As used in this section:

(1) "Certified receipt of title cancellation" means a form prescribed by the registrar of motor vehicles for use under this section that shall include all of the following:

(a) The name of the owner who surrenders a certificate of title to a vehicle intended to be exported;

(b) A description of the motor vehicle that shall include the year, make, model, style, vehicle identification number, color, license registration number, and the state of registration;

(c) The destination of the motor vehicle;

(d) Whether the purpose of the export is for sale, lease, personal use, or other specified use;

(e) Such other information as the registrar determines to be appropriate.

(2) A "declaration of temporary export" means a form prescribed by the registrar that includes all of the following:

(a) The items specified in divisions (A)(1)(a) to (e) of this section;

(b) A statement that the vehicle will not be permanently located outside of the United States and that the owner intends to return the vehicle to the United States;

(c) The period of time for which it is anticipated that the motor vehicle will be located outside of the United States.

(3) "Export" means the shipping or transportation of a motor vehicle from any point inside the United States to a point outside of the United States. "Export" does not include operating the motor vehicle by means of its own power or that of a motor vehicle drawing or towing it unless the purpose of the owner is to avoid compliance with division (B) or (C) of this section.

(4) "Owner" means the person named on a certificate of title issued by this state as the owner or assignee of the owner of the motor vehicle for which the certificate of title has been issued and includes any person who is lawfully entitled to the issuance of a new certificate of title to the motor vehicle naming the person as owner of the vehicle or who is lawfully entitled to surrender the certificate of title under this section. "Owner" includes a secured party who exports or permits the export of a motor vehicle in the exercise of the secured party's rights and powers under the security agreement.

(B) No owner of a motor vehicle who exports or permits the export of the motor vehicle for permanent location outside of the United States shall do any of the following:

(1) Fail to surrender the certificate of title to the motor vehicle to the registrar prior to the date that the motor vehicle is delivered to any person for export;

(2) Knowingly fail to surrender the certificate of title to the motor vehicle to the registrar prior to the date that the motor vehicle is delivered to any person for export.

(C) No owner of a motor vehicle who exports or permits the export of the motor vehicle for temporary location outside of the United States shall do any of the following:

(1) Fail to file a declaration of temporary export with the registrar prior to the date that the motor vehicle is delivered to any person for export;

(2) Purposely fail to file a declaration of temporary export with the registrar prior to the date that the motor vehicle is delivered to any person for export in order to facilitate the commission of a conspiracy, attempt, complicity, or theft offense related to the title of a motor vehicle or the proceeds of a motor vehicle insurance policy.

(D)

(1) Proof that the defendant acted in good faith and surrendered the certificate of title to the registrar within a reasonable time after delivery of the motor vehicle for export is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under division (B)(1) of this section.

(2) Proof that the defendant acted in good faith and filed a declaration of temporary export with the registrar within a reasonable time after delivery of the motor vehicle for export is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under division (C)(1) of this section.

(E) The registrar shall prescribe forms to be signed by the owner who surrenders a certificate of title for cancellation under this section and by all secured parties whose uncanceled security interests are noted on the certificate. The form shall indicate the person to whom a certified receipt of title cancellation is to be delivered and any security interests that are to be noted on the certified receipt of title cancellation. The registrar shall inspect the title surrender form and the certificate of title to determine whether any uncanceled security interests have been noted on the title under section 4505.13 of the Revised Code and whether the person exporting the vehicle is the lawful owner. If the registrar determines that the certificate is in proper order and that all secured parties having uncanceled security interests noted on the certificate have consented to the surrender of the certificate, the registrar shall issue a certified receipt of title to the owner with such notation of security interests as shall be requested upon the title surrender form.

(F) The registrar shall record a declaration of temporary export filed under division (B)(2) of this section and retain it with the records of the certificate of title until the owner notifies the registrar, on a form prescribed by the registrar, that the motor vehicle has been returned to the United States.

(G)

(1) Whoever violates division (B)(1) or (C)(1) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(2) Whoever violates division (B)(2) or (C)(2) of this section is guilty of a felony of the fifth degree.

Effective Date: 01-01-2004