(a) The Chief of Police is hereby authorized to establish a motor vehicle theft prevention program within the Division of Police which shall have trained motor vehicle investigators and/or police officers participating in it.
(b) The Chief of Police may establish a motor vehicle theft prevention program which may include the issuance of official decals to identify motor vehicles that are not normally operated between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. Participation in the program shall be voluntary in nature and shall involve the following:
(1) In the presence of a duly authorized police officer in any Municipality participating in such program, the registered owner of a motor vehicle shall sign an informed consent statement indicating that the motor vehicle registered to such owner is not normally operated between the hours of 1:00 am. and 5:00 a.m. and releasing the City from liability if such vehicle is stopped by police during those hours.
(2) A. Upon signing such informed consent statement, the registered owner may be issued a decal approved by the Division of Police and such decal may be affixed to the owner's vehicle in a conspicuous place as prescribed by the Division of Police. The decal shall be issued and affixed only by a duly authorized police officer.
B. The police officer issuing the decal shall make a record of the decal issued to each registered owner. Such records shall be maintained by the Division of Police and shall be available to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles, to the Superintendent of the Ohio Highway Patrol and to the several local law enforcement agencies of the State.
C. The display of such an official decal as described and authorized by this section on any motor vehicle being operated between the hours of 1:00 am. and 5:00 a.m. shall constitute probable cause upon which any police officer may stop such vehicle for the purpose of investigating whether the vehicle is stolen.
(Ord. 958-92. Passed 1-23-92.)