(A) Except as provided in division (B) of this section, no person who is the owner of a bus that previously was registered as a school bus that is used or is to be used exclusively for purposes other than the transportation of children shall operate the bus or permit it to be operated within this municipality unless the bus has been painted a color different from that prescribed for school buses by R.C. § 4511.77 or a substantially
equivalent
municipal ordinance and painted in such a way that the words “stop” and “school bus” are obliterated.
(B) Any church bus that previously was registered as a school bus and is registered under R.C. § 4503.07 may retain the paint color prescribed for school buses by R.C. § 4511.77 or a substantially
equivalent
municipal ordinance if the bus complies with all of the following:
(1) The words “school bus” required by R.C. § 4511.77 or a substantially
equivalent
municipal ordinance are covered or obliterated and the bus is marked on the front and rear with the words “church bus” painted in black lettering not less than ten inches in height.
(2) The automatically extending stop warning sign required by R.C. § 4511.75 or a substantially
equivalent
municipal ordinance is removed and the word “stop” required by R.C. § 4511.77 or a substantially
equivalent
municipal ordinance is covered or obliterated.
(3) The flashing red and amber lights required by R.C. § 4511.771 or a substantially
equivalent
municipal ordinance are covered or removed.
(4) The inspection decal required by R.C. § 4511.761 or a substantially
equivalent
municipal ordinance is covered or removed.
(5) The identification number assigned under R.C. § 4511.764 or a substantially
equivalent
municipal ordinance and marked in black lettering on the front and rear of the bus is covered or obliterated.
(C) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one or more violations of this section or R.C. § 4511.762, or R.C. §§ 4511.63, 4511.76, 4511.761, 4511.764, 4511.77, or 4511.79 or a municipal ordinance that is substantially
equivalent
to any of those sections, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree.
(D) Whenever a person is found guilty in a court of record of a violation of this section, the trial judge, in addition to or independent of all other penalties provided by law, may suspend for any period of time not exceeding three years, or cancel the license of any person, partnership, association, or corporation, issued under R.C. § 4511.763.
(R.C. § 4511.762) Penalty, see § 70.99