Ohio Admin. Code 4501-27-02 - License plate service life specifications

(A) A person who is the owner or operator of a motor vehicle may continue to display a license plate issued to that vehicle under sections 4503.19 and 4503.191 of the Revised Code until the license plate is lost, mutilated, or destroyed; becomes illegible; loses its reflectivity; or is declared obsolete under this rule, provided that the plate also displays a current and valid validation sticker and county identification sticker.

(B) No person who is the owner or operator of a motor vehicle shall display a license plate issued to a vehicle under sections 4503.19 and 4503.191 of the Revised Code if the license plate is mutilated or destroyed, becomes illegible, loses its reflectivity, or is declared obsolete under this rule.

(C) As used in this rule:

(1) "Becomes illegible" means that any feature of the license plate is difficult or impossible to read from a reasonable distance because the feature is damaged, deteriorated, faded, or obscured in any significant way;

(2) "Loses its reflectivity" means that the retroreflectivity becomes less than the minimum of twenty-five candlepower/per foot-candle/square foot as specified and as measured in accordance with rule 4501-27-01 of the Administrative Code.

(D) The owner of a motor vehicle for which a license plate is lost, mutilated, or destroyed; becomes illegible; or loses its reflectivity may apply for a duplicate thereof or new license plates pursuant to section 4503.19 of the Revised Code.

(E) An owner who wishes to renew the registration of a motor vehicle for which a license plate has been declared obsolete under this rule shall apply for new license plates pursuant to section 4503.10 of the Revised Code.

(F) All license plates having a white background with blue characters are determined to have exceeded their useful service life and are hereby declared obsolete effective upon the first registration expiration date occurring after the thirtieth day of September 2001.

(G) (F) Any license plate having a white and gold blended background with blue characters issued by the state of Ohio that has not yet exceeded its useful service life and may continue to be displayed until it is lost, mutilated, or destroyed; becomes illegible; loses its reflectivity; or is declared obsolete under this rule, provided that the plate also displays a current and valid validation sticker and county identification sticker.

Notes

Ohio Admin. Code 4501-27-02

Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 11/10/2021 and 11/01/2026
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4503.22, 4503.191
Rule Amplifies: 4503.22, 4503.191
Prior Effective Dates: 07/16/2011, 10/22/2011, 06/23/2016

Effective: 6/23/2016
Five Year Review (FYR) Dates: 04/08/2016 and 04/08/2021
Promulgated Under: 119.03
Statutory Authority: 4503.22, 4503.191
Rule Amplifies: 4503.22, 4503.191
Prior Effective Dates: 7/16/01, 10/22/11