Section 3743.44 | Selling to nonresidents.
(A) Any person who resides in another state and who intends to obtain possession in this state of fireworks purchased in this state shall obtain possession of the fireworks only from a licensed manufacturer or licensed wholesaler and only possess the fireworks in this state while in the course of directly transporting them out of this state. No licensed manufacturer or licensed wholesaler shall sell 1.3G fireworks to a person who resides in another state unless that person has been issued a license or permit in the state of the person's residence that authorizes the person to engage in the manufacture, wholesale sale, or retail sale of 1.3G fireworks or that authorizes the person to conduct 1.3G fireworks exhibitions in that state and that person presents a certified copy of the license. No licensed manufacturer or licensed wholesaler shall sell fireworks to a person who resides in another state unless that person has been issued a license or permit in the state of the person's residence that authorizes the person to engage in the manufacture, wholesale sale, or retail sale of fireworks in that state or that authorizes the person to conduct fireworks exhibitions in that state and that person presents a certified copy of the license, or, if that person does not possess a license or permit of that nature, only if the person presents a current valid motor vehicle operator's license issued to the person in the person's state of residence, or, if that person does not possess a motor vehicle operator's license issued in that state, an identification card issued to the person by a governmental agency in the person's state of residence indicating that the person is a resident of that state. If a person who is required to present a motor vehicle operator's license or other identification card intends to transport the fireworks purchased directly out of this state by a motor vehicle and the person will not also be the operator of that motor vehicle while so transporting the fireworks, the operator of the motor vehicle also shall present the operator's motor vehicle operator's license.
(B) A licensed manufacturer or licensed wholesaler selling fireworks under this section shall require the purchaser to complete a purchaser's form. The fire marshal shall prescribe the form, and the licensed manufacturer or licensed wholesaler shall furnish the form. On this form the purchaser shall include the purchaser's name and address; the date of the purchase; a statement that the purchaser acknowledges that the purchaser is responsible for any illegal use of the fireworks, including any damages caused by improper use; the number of the purchaser's license or permit authorizing the purchaser to manufacture, sell at wholesale, or sell at retail fireworks or to conduct fireworks exhibitions, or the number of the purchaser's motor vehicle operator's license or other identification card, as applicable; such other information as the fire marshal may require; and the purchaser's signature. Each purchaser's form shall contain a statement printed in bold letters indicating that knowingly making a false statement on the form is falsification under section 2921.13 of the Revised Code and is a misdemeanor of the first degree.
Each licensed manufacturer and licensed wholesaler shall keep each purchaser's form for a period of three years after the date of the purchase, and such forms shall be open to inspection by the fire marshal or the fire marshal's designated authority.
(C) Each purchaser of fireworks under this section shall transport the fireworks so purchased directly out of this state within forty-eight hours after the time of their purchase.
This section regulates wholesale sales and retail sales of fireworks in this state only insofar as purchasers of fireworks are residents of other states and will be obtaining possession in this state of purchased fireworks. This section does not prohibit licensed manufacturers or wholesalers from selling fireworks, in accordance with section 3743.04 or sections 3743.17 and 3743.25 of the Revised Code, to a resident of another state and from shipping the purchased fireworks directly out of this state to the purchaser.
Available Versions of this Section
- September 23, 2008 – House Bill 562 - 127th General Assembly [ View September 23, 2008 Version ]
- September 29, 2015 – House Bill 64 - 131st General Assembly [ View September 29, 2015 Version ]
- July 1, 2022 – Amended by House Bill 172 - 134th General Assembly [ View July 1, 2022 Version ]