(A) As part of the motor vehicle inspection conducted pursuant to section 4513.02 of the Revised Code, the state highway patrol trooper shall request that the owner or operator of the motor vehicle produce proof that the owner maintains or has maintained on the owner's behalf, proof of financial responsibility as required by section 4509.101 of the Revised Code.

(B) A state highway patrol trooper shall indicate on every traffic ticket issued pursuant to a motor vehicle inspection whether the person receiving the traffic ticket produced proof of the maintenance of financial responsibility in response to the state highway patrol trooper's request. The state highway patrol trooper shall inform every person who receives a traffic ticket and who has failed to produce proof of the maintenance of financial responsibility at the time of the motor vehicle inspection that the person must submit proof to the traffic violations bureau with any payment of a fine and costs for the ticketed violation or, if the person is to appear in court for the violation, the person must submit proof to the court.

(C)

(1) If a person who has failed to produce proof of the maintenance of financial responsibility appears in court for a ticketed violation, the court may permit the defendant to present evidence of proof of financial responsibility to the court at such time and in such manner as the court determines to be necessary or appropriate. The clerk of courts shall provide the registrar with the identity of any person who fails to submit proof of the maintenance of financial responsibility pursuant to division (B) of this section.

(2) If a person who has failed to present proof of the maintenance of financial responsibility also fails to submit that proof to the traffic violations bureau, the traffic violations bureau shall notify the registrar of the identity of that person.

(3) Upon receiving notice from a clerk of courts or a traffic violation bureau pursuant to division (C) of this section, the registrar shall proceed against these persons under division (D) of section 4509.101 of the Revised Code in the same manner as the registrar proceeds against persons identified by the clerk of courts under division (D)(4) of section 4509.101 of the Revised Code.

(D) A state highway patrol trooper may charge an owner or operator of a motor vehicle with a violation of section 4510.16 of the Revised Code when the operator fails to produce proof of the maintenance of financial responsibility upon the state highway patrol trooper's request under division (A) of this section, if a check of the owner or operator's driving record indicates that the owner or operator, at the time of the motor vehicle inspection, is required to file and maintain proof of financial responsibility under section 4509.45 of the Revised Code for a previous violation of Chapter 4509. of the Revised Code.

Effective Date: 01-01-2004.