(A) Notwithstanding sections 149.33 to 149.34 of the Revised Code, the registrar of motor vehicles shall determine the methods for obtaining, collecting, recording, and maintaining the records of the bureau of motor vehicles and of deputy registrars that pertain to driver's or commercial driver's licenses, identification cards, and vehicle registrations, including photographic or digitalized images, and electronic or digitalized signatures. The registrar may choose methods including paper, film, digital or other electronic media, or any other media that reasonably allows for recording, maintaining, and retrieving the records in a reliable manner.

(B) The registrar of motor vehicles may dispose of all records of the bureau of motor vehicles pursuant to section 149.34 of the Revised Code.

The disposal of all records shall not take place when the registrar has received notice that a court case or other legal action is pending involving such records.

Any surplus from the sale of such records, after paying the cost of administering the destruction or sale of such records, shall be paid into the state treasury.

(C) Each deputy registrar shall retain in the deputy registrar's office a file containing copies of all records and transactions performed for the bureau. Copies of motor vehicle registration applications shall be retained for a period of eighteen months from the date of the record or transaction, whichever is later; copies of driver's license or identification card applications shall be retained for a period of four years from the date of the record or transaction, whichever is later; and all other records shall be retained for a period of three years from the date of the record or transaction, whichever is later. The retained records shall be available for public examination, but no person may make copies of the records for sale or distribution.

Effective Date: 10-21-1997; 09-16-2004.