(A) A law enforcement officer may seize and take possession of a vehicle or vehicle part if the officer has probable cause to believe that any vehicle identification number or derivative thereof on the vehicle or part has been removed, defaced, covered, altered, or destroyed in such a manner that the identity of the vehicle or part cannot be determined by visual examination of the number at the site where the manufacturer placed the number. The seizure shall be pursuant to a warrant, unless the circumstances are within one of the exceptions to the warrant requirement that have been established by the supreme court of the United States or of the supreme court of this state.
(B) A vehicle or vehicle part seized under division (A) of this section shall be held in custody pursuant to section 2981.11 of the Revised Code or any applicable municipal ordinance.
(C) A law enforcement officer who acts in good faith in the belief that the seizure of a vehicle or vehicle part is justified under division (A) of this section is immune from any civil or criminal liability for such seizure.
(D) The lawful owner of a vehicle or vehicle part seized under this section that is not needed as evidence and is not subject to forfeiture under division (D)(2) of section 4549.62 of the Revised Code may reclaim the property by submitting satisfactory proof of ownership to the law enforcement agency or court holding the property.
Effective Date: 03-28-1985; 07-01-2007
Section: Previous 4549.45 4549.451 4549.46 4549.47 4549.48 4549.49 4549.50 4549.51 4549.52 4549.61 4549.62 4549.63 4549.65 4549.99 NextLast modified: October 10, 2016