Ohio Code 4501.025 – Programs to enhance convenience via electronic and online transactions
(A) As used in this section, “convenience fee” means a fee charged for the benefit of using a service provided electronically, digitally, through online means, or through similar technology.
Terms Used In Ohio Code 4501.025
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Electronic: includes electrical, digital, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or any other form of technology that entails capabilities similar to these technologies. See Ohio Code 4501.01
- Motor vehicle: means any vehicle, including mobile homes and recreational vehicles, that is propelled or drawn by power other than muscular power or power collected from overhead electric trolley wires. See Ohio Code 4501.01
- Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
- Vehicles: means everything on wheels or runners, including motorized bicycles, but does not mean electric personal assistive mobility devices, low-speed micromobility devices, vehicles that are operated exclusively on rails or tracks or from overhead electric trolley wires, and vehicles that belong to any police department, municipal fire department, or volunteer fire department, or that are used by such a department in the discharge of its functions. See Ohio Code 4501.01
(B) The registrar of motor vehicles may develop and implement, or may permit a deputy registrar to implement, one or more programs that enhance the convenience and availability of bureau of motor vehicle services through the use of electronic, digital, online, or other similar technology. The registrar shall establish the amount of any convenience fee to be paid for using the services provided by the program or programs. The convenience fee may cover the cost to the registrar or deputy registrar of providing the service. The registrar shall deposit all convenience fees received by the registrar into the public safety – highway purposes fund created in section 4501.06 of the Revised Code.
(C) The registrar or deputy registrar may accept payment for the services provided by the program or programs offered under this section, including payment of the convenience fee, by a financial transaction device. The registrar or deputy registrar is not required to pay any costs that result from accepting payment by a financial transaction device. The registrar or deputy registrar may charge a person who tenders payment by a financial transaction device any cost incurred from accepting payment by the financial transaction device, but shall not charge any other fee for the person’s use of the device.
(D)(1) Except as provided in division (D)(2) of this section, any convenience fee established under this section is in addition to any other fee or tax required or otherwise authorized by law for the services provided by the program or programs and may be itemized separately.
(2) A convenience fee shall not be charged under this section for a bureau of motor vehicles service for which the registrar or a deputy registrar is already authorized to charge a separate convenience fee under any other provision in Title XLV of the Revised Code.
(E) Any convenience fee established by the registrar under this section may be charged by a seller to a buyer in a transaction that is evidenced by a written instrument or contract under section 4517.26 of the Revised Code.
Last updated June 6, 2022 at 2:30 PM