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Front license plate change in Ohio could be reversed

Safety and suspect apprehension are the driving reasons behind an effort across the state to reverse part of this spring’s transportation bill.

As of July 2020, front license plates will no longer be required on vehicles in Ohio as part of that bill which was primarily passed as a budget measure for state transportation funding and increasing the fuel tax on gasoline and diesel.

The bill was touted as a significant compromise by state legislators, with 70 representatives and 22 senators in support but 10 senators and 27 representatives against during final votes in April.

But some are now hoping to roll back the license plate provision to the status quo. A new senate bill was introduced in July and will be discussed in its first hearing today at 10 a.m. in the Columbus statehouse.

Senate Bill 179 was introduced and primarily sponsored by Joe Uecker, R-Miami Township, who left the senate at the close of August to work for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

But the bill was co-sponsored by Sen. Frank Hoagland, R-Mingo Junction.

“When the license plate issue first came about I had car dealership owners call me up because they say it’s too hard to drill into the front bumper of a car and they say they have a hard time selling cars to other states’ residents,” recalled Hoagland. “Frankly, those are lame reasons.”

Marietta Police Chief Rodney Hupp agreed, saying that the car sales’ reasoning is “shameful.”

“A lot of what we (in law enforcement) do is connect the dots (and) getting even just the first numbers of a passing license plate after witnessing a crime is a complete benefit to the citizenry,” said Hupp. “Imagine it was your child kidnapped in a red Buick or your mother mugged by someone driving a green Honda, or your car was stolen–front license plates are crucial.”

Hoagland said he still recalls the testimony of a Cincinnati police officer who presented against the license plate section of the transportation bill early this year.

“Her testimony was so impactful. She explained how a murder investigation was helped because someone caught the numbers of a front license plate,” said the state senator.

Hoagland said Heather Whitton’s testimony only solidified his view against losing the second license plate.

Cost of producing the second license plate is not a factor being debated, as Ohio drivers would see the same registration costs for one plate as two.

Now, if the new bill makes it to the Ohio Senate floor for a vote, passes and is also supported in the Ohio House of Representatives (as it is currently written) Section 812.40 of House Bill 62, would be repealed.

Rideshare companies have also joined the ranks of law enforcement still opposing the provision in House Bill 62 and in support of Senate Bill 179.

“We’ve consistently found that one of our strongest tools to enhance rider safety is making sure they are getting in the right car and have the correct driver,” said Kevin Kerr, senior public policy associate for Uber in a letter to the president of the Ohio Senate, Larry Obhof, R-Medina.

In a similar letter penned by Lyft’s Ohio public policy manager, Matt Patton explained the company’s position rests in more verification and safeguards to prevent tragedy.

“We believe government-issued license plates are the most secure and effective means for ride identification, giving Lyft passengers the peace of mind that they are entering the correct vehicle each time,” said Patton. “License plate verification supplements the many other in-ride features designed to protect passenger safety, including: a two-way rating system that allows drivers and passengers to flag concerning behavior for follow-up after every ride; the ability for passengers to send their trip, route and (estimated time of arrival) to friends and family; an in-app emergency 911 button for drivers and passengers; and other features.”

The Ohio Senate Transportation, Commerce and Workforce Committee will host its first hearing with testimony from the sponsors on Senate Bill 179 today at 10 a.m.

Janelle Patterson can be reached at jpatterson@mariettatimes.com.

What’s next:

• The Ohio Senate Transportation, Commerce and Workforce Committee will host its first hearing on Senate Bill 179 today at 10 a.m.

• The hearing is scheduled to take place in the south hearing room, located on the second floor of the senate building behind the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus.

Source: Ohio Senate.

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