Ohio House votes to no longer require a front license plate on vehicles

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Ohio drivers may no longer be required to have a front license plate on their vehicles if an amendment added to the state transportation budget gets approved.

The issue moved a step closer to reality Thursday after the full House of Representatives voted for the new state transportation budget. The bill now heads to the Ohio Senate.

Ohio has required a front plate since 1908, except 1944-46 when Ohio wanted to conserve steel for the war effort. Owners of specialty cars have lobbied for dropping the front plate for several years.

An effort to do away with front license plates failed in Ohio in 2017.

When the issue was in front of lawmakers before, it was opposed by the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Buckeye State Sheriff’s Association and the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio.

Ohio is one of 36 states that require a front license plate. None of the states that border Ohio have a front license plate requirement.

The bill must be adopted by March 31 to take effect July 1 when the state fiscal year begins.

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