§ 2135.08. Use of unauthorized plates.

(a)

No person shall operate or drive a motor vehicle upon the streets and highways of this City if it displays a license plate or a distinctive number or identification mark that meets any of the following criteria:

(1)

Is fictitious;

(2)

Is a counterfeit or an unlawfully made copy of any distinctive number or identification mark;

(3)

Belongs to another motor vehicle; provided that this section does not apply to a motor vehicle that is operated on the streets and highways in this City when the motor vehicle displays license plates that originally were issued for a motor vehicle that previously was owned by the same person who owns the motor vehicle that is operated on the streets and highways in this City, during the thirty-day period described in division (A)(4) of Section 4503.12 of the Ohio Revised Code;

(b)

A person who fails to comply with the transfer of registration provisions of Section 4503.12 of the Ohio Revised Code and is charged with a violation of that section shall not be charged with a violation of this section.

(c)

Whoever violates this section is guilty of operating a motor vehicle bearing an invalid license plate or identification mark, a misdemeanor of the fourth degree on a first offense; on each subsequent offense the offender is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.

(ORC 4549.08; Ord. 1679-94: Ord. 2120-03 § 1 (part).)