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The Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation.
 
 
 
Section
Section 4583.01 | License of ferries.
 

(A) No person shall keep a ferry across a stream running through or bounding on a county in this state, without having obtained a license therefor from the court of common pleas of such county.

(B) Whoever violates this section shall be fined not more than thirty dollars.

Section 4583.02 | Notice.
 

The person applying for a ferry license shall produce satisfactory evidence to the court of common pleas, by the affidavit of the applicant or otherwise, that he has given notice by advertisement posted in at least three public places in the township or neighborhood where a ferry is proposed to be kept, twenty days prior to the sitting of such court, of his intention to apply to such court for a license to keep such ferry.

Section 4583.03 | Court to grant license.
 

The court of common pleas, upon being satisfied that the notice required by section 4583.02 of the Revised Code, has been given, that a ferry is needed at such place, and that the applicant for a ferry license is a suitable person, may grant to such applicant a license to keep such ferry for the term of one year, on his paying into the county treasury a sum fixed by the court of not less than two nor more than fifty dollars. On production by such applicant of the county treasurer's receipt for the payment of such sum, he shall receive from the clerk of the court of common pleas a license, under the seal of the court for such term. He shall pay such clerk fifty cents therefor.

Section 4583.04 | Exclusive right of license.
 

The person owning land on both sides of a stream where a ferry is proposed to be established shall have exclusive right of a license for a ferry at such place. When the opposit banks are owned by different persons, the right to the ferry shall be mutual. If such owner does not apply, the court of common pleas shall grant a license to a person applying for it. If either of the landings is not on a public highway, the consent of the owner of the ground shall be first had in writing.

Section 4583.05 | Renewal of license.
 

When a person applies for a renewal of his ferry license at the same place where he kept a ferry the preceding year, it may be granted or renewed without notice or petition.

Section 4583.06 | License expiring in vacation.
 

When a ferry license expires in vacation, and the person obtaining it procures a renewal thereof, the renewal license shall include the time from the expiration of the former in addition to the time to which it shall extend in the future. The applicant shall pay a ratable proportion for the whole time therein mentioned, and be exonerated from any penalty to which he would be otherwise liable. In applications for a license, when objections are made, the court of common pleas may grant or refuse it.

Section 4583.07 | Permit in lieu of license.
 

A person may ferry passengers across a small stream in high water, and the court of common pleas may direct the clerk of the court of common pleas to give a person a permit for that purpose, when in its opinion, the stream is too small to justify the expense of a license.

Section 4583.08 | Court to fix rate of ferriage.
 

At the time it grants a license to keep a ferry, the court of common pleas shall fix the rate of ferriages which the ferrykeeper may demand and receive for the transportation of persons and property. The clerk of the court of common pleas shall furnish a person taking out a license to keep a ferry with a list of the rate of ferriages. The ferrykeeper shall post such list at the door of his ferryhouse, or at a conspicuous place convenient to the ferry.

Section 4583.10 | Duties of ferrymen.
 

A person obtaining a license to keep a ferry shall provide and keep in complete repair a sufficient boat for the safe conveyance of persons and property. When the stream over which such ferry is kept is passable, he shall give due attendance from daylight in the morning until dark in the evening with sufficient hands to manage such boat. During the day he shall cross the stream at intervals of not longer than fifteen minutes when a person desires passage. At any hour in the night or day that the river can be passed, when called upon therefor, he shall convey the United States mail or other public express across such ferry.

Section 4583.11 | Duty of county auditor.
 

The county auditor shall inform against offenders and prosecute violations of sections 4583.01 to 4583.17, inclusive, of the Revised Code.

Section 4583.12 | Enforcement.
 

Actions brought under sections 4583.01 to 4583.17, inclusive, of the Revised Code, shall be in the name of the state and the court taking cognizance thereof shall keep a record of all fines and forfeitures recovered thereunder. Sheriffs, constables, and other officers shall pay all moneys within thirty days after receiving them into the county treasury.

Section 4583.13 | Penalty for overcharging.
 

A keeper of a ferry demanding and receiving a higher rate or sum for ferriage than that allowed by the court of common pleas of the county in which such ferry is kept shall forfeit and pay for each offense not exceeding ten dollars, recoverable before a judge of a county court or judge of a municipal court having jurisdiction, by a person making due proof thereof.

Section 4583.14 | Penalty for failing to perform duties of ferryman.
 

A person having obtained a ferry license, and failing or neglecting to perform the duties provided in section 4583.10 of the Revised Code, shall forfeit and pay for each offense not exceeding five dollars, to be recovered before a judge of a county court or judge of a municipal court having jurisdiction, by a person prosecuting for, and making due proof of such failure or neglect.

Section 4583.15 | Ferryman may be exonerated from penalties.
 

If the court of common pleas refuses to renew the license of a ferryman, he shall be exonerated from the penalties of sections 4583.01 to 4583.17, inclusive, of the Revised Code, by paying into the county treasury, previous to a prosecution being commenced against him, such sum, for the time which has elapsed between the expiration of his license and the next term of the court, as bears a ratable proportion to the amount charged for the previous year.

Section 4583.16 | Penalty for failing to comply with chapter.
 

Any officer neglecting or failing to comply with sections 4583.01 to 4583.17, inclusive, of the Revised Code, shall forfeit and pay for each offense not exceeding fifty dollars, at the discretion of any judge before whom it may be recovered, for the use of the county.

Section 4583.17 | Account of fines.
 

County court judges, municipal court judges, and clerks of the courts of common pleas before whom the fines provided for in sections 4583.01 to 4583.17, inclusive, of the Revised Code, are recovered, shall present an accurate account thereof to the county auditor on or before the first day of June annually. Clerks shall also return a list of all licenses issued by them, and to whom, and the price of each respectively.