In the latest transportation budget bill, H.B. 62, the General Assembly enacted several miscellaneous Ohio motor vehicle law changes. Some of the new laws are effective now and some starting July 1, 2020. The law changes are summarized below.
H.B. 62 – Motor Vehicle Law Changes
In Effect Now
R.C. 4507.13(A)(7) / R.C. 4506.11 – Driver’s licenses, including Commercial Driver’s licenses, will no longer be required to be laminated.
R.C. 4506.17(A)(2) – A CDL holder, operating any kind of motor vehicle, is deemed to have given consent to test for alcohol, controlled substances, and the metabolites of any controlled substance.
R.C. 4509.101(A)(3)(c) – This code section has been deleted. The BMV will no longer be permitted to “randomly select” persons to request proof of insurance from, by mail. Various enforcement provisions related to this code section have also been deleted.
Going forward, proof of insurance under the Financial Responsibility Act may only be required (a) in connection with a traffic accident that requires filing a report, and (b) in connection with a traffic ticket where proof was not produced upon the lawful request of a police officer. R.C. 4509.101(A)(3)(a) and (b), (D)(2).
In Effect Starting July 1, 2020
R.C. 4503.193 – Beginning July 1, 2020, only one license plate and validation sticker will be required to sufficiently indicate a motor vehicle is registered in Ohio. Any references in the Ohio Revised Code to multiple license plates or stickers “is deemed to be a reference to the single license plate and validation sticker required by that section.”
R.C. 4503.21(A)(1) – The single license plate and validation sticker must be displayed in the rear of the motor vehicle.
R.C. 4503.21(B) – Police officers will no longer be prohibited from issuing a citation for failure to display a license plate and/or validation sticker except when also issuing a citation for a separate violation. Police may now issue a citation solely for failure to display a license plate and/or validation sticker.
