(A) Nonresidents, permitted to drive upon the highways of their own state, may operate any motor vehicle upon any highway in this state without examination or license under R.C. §§ 4507.01 through 4507.39, inclusive, upon condition that such nonresident may be required at any time or place to prove lawful possession or their right to operate such motor vehicle, and to establish proper identity.
(R.C. § 4507.04)
(B) Surrender of driver’s license from another state.
(1) Any person who becomes a resident of this state, within 30 days of becoming a resident, shall surrender any driver’s license, temporary instruction permit or identification card issued by another state to the Registrar of Motor Vehicles or a deputy registrar. If such a person intends to operate a motor vehicle upon the public roads or highways, the person shall apply for a temporary instruction permit or driver’s license in this state. If the person fails to apply for a driver’s license or temporary instruction permit or within 30 days of becoming a resident, the person shall not operate any motor vehicle in this state under a license or permit issued by another state.
(2) (a) Whoever violates division (B)(1) above is guilty of a minor misdemeanor.
(b) The offense established under division (B)(2)(a) above is a strict liability offense and strict liability is a culpable mental state for purposes of R.C. § 2901.20.
(c) The designation of this offense as a strict liability offense shall not be construed to imply that any other offense, for which there is no specified degree of culpability, is not a strict liability offense.
(3) For purposes of division (B)(1) above, RESIDENT means any person to whom any of the following applies.
(a) The person maintains their principal residence in this state and does not reside in this state as a result of the person’s active service in the United States armed forces.
(b) The person is determined by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles to be a resident in accordance with standards adopted by the Registrar under R.C. § 4507.01.
(R.C. § 4507.213) (Prior Code, § 7.03.14)