(A) As used in this section, “sportsmen’s license plate” means any of four license plates created by this section, featuring either the walleye (Stizostedion vitreum), smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), or wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo).

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(B) The owner or lessee of any passenger car, noncommercial motor vehicle, recreational vehicle, or other vehicle of a class approved by the registrar of motor vehicles may apply to the registrar for the registration of the vehicle and issuance of sportsmen’s license plates. The application for sportsmen’s license plates shall specify which of the four sportsmen’s license plates the applicant is requesting. The application also may be combined with a request for a special reserved license plate under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code. Upon receipt of the completed application and compliance with division (C) of this section, the registrar shall issue to the applicant the appropriate vehicle registration, a set of the specifically requested sportsmen’s license plates, and a validation sticker, or a validation sticker alone when required by section 4503.191 of the Revised Code.

In addition to the letters and numbers ordinarily inscribed thereon, sportsmen’s license plates shall be inscribed with identifying words and the figure of either a walleye, smallmouth bass, white-tailed deer, or wild turkey. Each kind of sportsmen’s license plate shall be designed by the division of wildlife and approved by the registrar. Sportsmen’s license plates shall bear county identification stickers that identify the county of registration as required under section 4503.19 of the Revised Code.

(C) The sportsmen’s license plates and validation sticker shall be issued upon the receipt of a contribution as provided in division (D) of this section and upon payment of the regular license tax prescribed under section 4503.04 of the Revised Code, any applicable motor vehicle tax levied under Chapter 4504 of the Revised Code, any additional applicable fee prescribed under section 4503.40 or 4503.42 of the Revised Code, and a bureau of motor vehicles fee not to exceed ten dollars, and compliance with all other applicable laws relating to the registration of motor vehicles.

The purpose of the bureau of motor vehicles fee specified in division (C) of this section is to compensate the bureau for additional services required in the issuing of sportsmen’s license plates, and the registrar shall deposit all such fees into the public safety – highway purposes fund created in section 4501.06 of the Revised Code.

(D) For each application for registration and registration renewal the registrar receives under this section, the registrar shall collect a contribution in an amount not to exceed forty dollars, as determined by the division of wildlife. The registrar shall transmit this contribution to the treasurer of state for deposit in the wildlife fund created in section 1531.17 of the Revised Code.