Section 4513.69. Storage facilities; business hours; notice

(A) The owner of a storage facility shall ensure that the facility remains open during both of the following periods of time to allow a vehicle owner or lienholder to retrieve a vehicle in the possession of the storage facility:

(1) Any time during which a towing service is towing a vehicle pursuant to section 4513.60, 4513.601, or 4513.61 of the Revised Code and the vehicle will be held by the storage facility;

(2) Between nine o'clock in the morning and noon on the day after any day during which the storage facility accepted for storage a vehicle towed under section 4513.60, 4513.601, or 4513.61 of the Revised Code.

(B)

(1) The owner of a storage facility that accepts for storage vehicles towed under section 4513.60, 4513.601, or 4513.61 of the Revised Code shall ensure that a notice is conspicuously posted at the entrance to the storage facility that states the telephone number at which the owner or lienholder of a vehicle may contact the owner or a representative of the storage facility for the purpose of retrieving a vehicle when the storage facility is closed. The owner of the storage facility also shall provide that telephone number to the sheriff of a county or chief of police of a municipal corporation, township, or township or joint police district. The owner of the storage facility shall ensure that a process is in place for purposes of answering calls at all times day or night.

(2) After receiving a call from the owner or lienholder of a vehicle who seeks to recover the vehicle, the owner of the storage facility shall ensure that, within three hours of receiving the phone call, a representative of the storage facility is available to release the vehicle upon being presented with proof of ownership of the vehicle, which may be evidenced by a certificate of title to the vehicle, a certificate of registration for the motor vehicle, or a lease agreement, and payment of an after-hours vehicle retrieval fee established under section 4921.25 of the Revised Code and all other applicable fees.

(C) No owner of a storage facility shall fail to comply with division (A) or (B) of this section.

Amended by 131st General Assembly File No. TBD, HB 53, §101.01, eff. 7/1/2015.

Added by 130th General Assembly File No. TBD, SB 274, §1, eff. 3/23/2015.