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This website publishes administrative rules on their effective dates, as designated by the adopting state agencies, colleges, and universities.

Rule 4501:1-7-13 | Specialized plates.

 

[Comment: For dates and availability of material incorporated by reference in this rule, see paragraph (A) in rule 4501:1-7-15 of the Administrative Code.]

(A) Definitions.

(1) "Applicant" means any veteran, service member or reservist, as defined in section 5903.01 of the Revised Code, who applies to the registrar of motor vehicles for the registration of any passenger car, noncommercial motor vehicle, or recreational vehicle, or other motor vehicle eligible under the Revised Code that the person owns or leases, either singly or jointly, for the purpose of obtaining specialty license plates for a service member, reservist or a veteran renewal thereof.

(2) "Reservist" means any person who at the time of verification is a member of the reserves of the armed forces of the United States or the national guard of any state.

(3) "Service Star" means a military award approved by the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff for service members who were engaged in actual combat against the enemy under certain circumstances.

(4) "Veteran" has the same meaning as in section 5903.01 of the Revised Code.

(5) "Wartime military service" means military service in the armed forces of the United States during the following:

(a) World War I includes only the following periods: April 6, 1917, through November 11, 1918; for veterans who served in Russia, April 6, 1917, through April 1, 1920, extended through July 1, 1921, for veterans who had one day of service between April 7, 1917, and November 11, 1918.

(b) World War II includes only the period December 7, 1941, through December 31, 1946.

(c) The Korean conflict includes only the period June 27, 1950, through January 31, 1955.

(d) The Korean defense service that includes July 28, 1954, through date to be set by law or presidential proclamation.

(e) The Vietnam conflict includes only the period August 5, 1964, through May 7, 1975.

(f) "Mission of 1982" (Lebanon) means the period August 25, 1982, through August 1, 1984.

(g) "Invasion of 1983" (Grenada) means the period October 23, 1983, through November 23, 1983.

(h) "Invasion of 1989" (Panama) means the period December 20, 1989, through January 31, 1990.

(i) The Persian gulf war includes only the period August 2, 1990, through a date to be set by law or presidential proclamation.

(j) The Kosovo campaign means the following periods:

(i) Kosovo air - March 24, 1999 through June 10, 1999.

(ii) Kosovo defense - June 11, 1999 through December 31, 2013.

(k) Inherent resolve campaign means the following periods:

(i) Abeyance - June 15, 2014 through November 24, 2015.

(ii) Intensification - November 25, 2015 to a date to be set by law or presidential proclamation.

(B) "Military Specialty License Plate program" as defined in section 4503.29 of the Revised Code.

(1) The director of the Ohio department of veterans services specifies guidelines for establishment of the military specialty license plate program pursuant to division (B) of section 4503.29 of the Revised Code.

The list of military specialty license plates shall be available electronically on the bureau of motor vehicles public facing website.

(2) The registrar shall establish guidelines for the implementation and issuance of military specialty license plates as recommended in writing by the Ohio department of veterans services pursuant to division (B) of section 4503.29 of the Revised Code.

(3) Any application for a military specialty license plate shall be via BMV form 4507 "Gratis Registration Application for Disabled Veterans, Former Prisoners of War, Spouses of Deceased Prisoners of War & Free Boat Trailer License Plates," BMV form 4705 "Request for Specialty License Plates" or BMV form 4625 "Application for Registration by Mail" and accompanied by appropriate documentation, as annotated in rule 5902-6-03 of the Administrative Code, demonstrating eligibility for the applicable license plate. Documents or subsequent verification shall be submitted as directed by the registrar.

(4) The specialty license plate shall be manufactured in accordance with rule 4501-27-01 of the Administrative Code. The registrar shall, with the assistance of the Ohio department of veteran services and the institute of heraldry, design the license plate.

(5) An applicant shall be entitled to license plates or a validation sticker for any number of vehicles.

(6) A veteran may apply for designation of wartime military service in only one wartime period for each set of license plates.

(7) Only one military designation can be displayed on each set of license plates.

(8) The registrar may cancel the registration and seize the specialty license plates and sticker of any reservist, veteran or person on active duty who is no longer eligible for such plates at the beginning of the next succeeding registration period, or of any reservist, veteran or person on active duty whose driver's license is suspended for violation of any law or rule.

(9) Each service star medal license plate shall be inscribed with identifying words or markings as prescribed by the registrar and approved by institute of heraldry indicating receipt of the award with the corresponding ribbon and number of service stars as evidenced in the applicant's DD-214.

Any application for the display of service star medal license plates shall be made via BMV 4508 "Application for Service Star Medal License Plates" or BMV form 4625 "Application for Registration by Mail" and must be accompanied by appropriate documentation as annotated in rule 5902-6-03 of the Administrative Code, demonstrating eligibility for the service star medal license plate.

(a) The ribbon on the service star license plate for the "Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and National Defense Service Medal" shall represent the first award. Subsequent awards shall be represented with a bronze service star for a single campaign.

(b) The ribbon on the service star license plate for "Korean Service Medal, Southwest Asian Service Medal," and "Vietnam Service Medal" may be represented by a bronze service star for each campaign the veteran participated in as evidenced in applicant's DD-214.

(c) In lieu of five bronze service stars, one silver service star shall be represented.

Last updated August 1, 2022 at 8:49 AM

Supplemental Information

Authorized By: 4501.02, 4503.29
Amplifies: 4503.29
Five Year Review Date: 5/1/2027
Prior Effective Dates: 12/5/1992, 4/20/1996, 11/3/2003, 8/11/2005, 8/24/2006, 2/15/2009, 4/9/2012, 3/1/2017, 3/1/2019