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2000 SESSION

005713420
SENATE BILL NO. 354
Offered January 20, 2000
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-749.27:1, relating to special identification license plates; members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES).
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Patrons-- Edwards and Miller, Y.B.; Delegates: Councill, May, Morgan and Stump
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Referred to Committee on Transportation
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 46.2-749.27:1 as follows:

§ 46.2-749.27:1. Special identification license plates; members of the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES); qualifications, terms and conditions; fees.

On receipt of an application therefor and presentation of written evidence issued by the ARES/RACES Section Emergency Coordinator and State RACES Officer that the applicant is a qualified member of both the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES), the Commissioner shall issue to the applicant special identification license plates bearing the RACES reflective emblem in common nationwide use at the time. ARES/RACES license plates shall be valid for two years, and renewable upon written certification that the applicant has met annual continuing education requirements and has actively participated in annual Simulated Emergency Tests as set forth by the ARES/RACES State Section Emergency Coordinator and State RACES Office. For issuance of each set of such license plates, the Commissioner shall charge, in addition to the prescribed fee for state license plates, a one-time processing fee of twenty-five dollars. For each two-year renewal of license plates issued under this section, the Commissioner shall charge the prescribed fee for state license plates plus two dollars.

The Commissioner shall provide a method of identifying the special identification license plate of each State RACES Official by his official title (State RACES Officer, District RACES Officer, Virginia EOC Radio Officer, Assistant State RACES Officer, District RACES Officer, and Local RACES Officer) as may be applicable for each locality. License plates issued under this section to nonofficials shall bear the amateur radio call sign of the applicant as issued by the Federal Communications Commission. The Commissioner shall further provide a method of distinguishing license plates issued under this section from amateur radio operator license plates issued pursuant to § 46.2-738, allowing the issuance of license plates under this section and under § 46.2-738 to the same applicant, should such applicant have more than one licensed vehicle with amateur radio equipment properly installed therein. Should the Commissioner for any reason be requested to reissue any license plate issued under this section, he shall charge a fee of twenty-five dollars therefor. Each applicant for any such reissue of any license plate issued under this section shall present the Commissioner with a current RACES identification card and certify that the vehicle for which license plates are to be issued is equipped with permanent amateur radio equipment capable of transmitting and receiving a radio signal within amateur radio frequencies allocated by the Federal Communications Commission.