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2005 SESSION

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Senate Committee on Transportation

Chairman: Martin E. Williams

Clerk: Bonnie W. Shelhorse
Staff: Alan Wambold, Stephanie Bishop
Date of Meeting: February 10, 2005
Time and Place: 2:00pm, Senate Room B, GAB

H.B. 1494 DMV records; free abstracts for certain volunteer vehicle operators.

Patron: Sherwood

Access to records of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Requires the DMV Commissioner, on the written request of any person who has applied to be a volunteer vehicle operator with a Virginia chapter of the American Red Cross, to (i) compare personal information supplied by a Virginia chapter of the American Red Cross with that contained in the Department's records and, when the information supplied by a Virginia chapter of the American Red Cross is different from that contained in the Department's records, provide the Virginia chapter of the American Red Cross with correct information as contained in the Department's records and (ii) provide driver information in the form of an abstract of the applicant's record showing all convictions, accidents, license suspensions or revocations, and any type of driver's license that the individual currently possesses. The abstract is to be provided free of charge if the request is accompanied by appropriate written evidence that the person has applied to be a volunteer vehicle operator with a Virginia chapter of the American Red Cross.

H.B. 1501 License plates, special; issuance to members of U.S. Naval Construction Force (Seabees).

Patron: Cosgrove

Special license plates; members and former members of the U.S. Naval Construction Force (Seabees). Authorizes the issuance of special license plates to members and former members of the U.S. Naval Construction Force (Seabees).

H.B. 1519 Accidents; rewords penalty for leaving scene.

Patron: Reese

Leaving scene of accident. Rewords the penalty portion of the law on leaving the scene of an accident to clarify that, in cases where property is damaged in an accident, the severity of the penalty depends on the amount of the damage caused, not the value of the property that was damaged.

H.B. 1539 Disabled parking license plates and placards; issuance by podiatrists and chiropractors.

Patron: Cosgrove

Disabled parking license plates and placards.  Provides that "physicians' certificates" required as a precondition for issuance of disabled parking license plates and placards may be in certain instances issued by podiatrists and chiropractors as well.

H.B. 1576 Accidents; requires persons involved to provide license plate number and state of registration.

Patron: Reese

Stopping for accidents.  Requires persons involved in accidents to provide their license plate numbers and states of registration. Present law requires them to provide their vehicle registration numbers.

H.B. 1587 Accidents; procedure when involving unattended property.

Patron: Reese

Duties of driver in event of accident involving damage only to unattended property.  Provides that when a driver has an accident with an unattended vehicle, he may leave identifying and descriptive information at the scene other than a note, which is now required. The bill also provides that the written report of the accident shall contain a description of the property damage by the driver rather than his estimate of the damage.

H.B. 1597 Roanoke Regional Airport Commission; allows Commission to change name.

Patron: Fralin

Roanoke Regional Airport Commission.  Allows the Commission to change the name of Roanoke Regional Airport, Woodrum Field to another name, provided the words "Woodrum Field" are part of the new name. The bill makes other technical and editorial corrections as well.

H.B. 1600 License plates, special ; issuance to members of United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Patron: Hargrove

Special license plates; United Daughters of the Confederacy.  Authorizes the issuance of special license plates to members of the Virginia Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

H.B. 1601 U.S. Mail signs on U.S. mail vehicles; use.

Patron: Hargrove

U.S. mail vehicles.  Provides for optional use of rear-mounted "U.S.MAIL" signs on vehicles used to collect and deliver the mail.

H.B. 1611 Special identification cards; fees.

Patron: Cole

Special identification cards; fees.  Allows persons who are 70 years old or older to exchange their valid driver's license for free.  Also reduces the fee for issuance of subsequent special identification cards from $10 to $5.

H.B. 1613 License plates, special ; local government logos, fees.

Patron: Cole

Special license plates; local government logos; fees.  Provides for issuance of plates with or without local revenue sharing at the option of the locality.

H.B. 1614 License plates, special ; issuance to persons awarded Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Patron: Cole

Special license plates; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.  Authorizes issuance of special license plates to persons awarded the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

H.B. 1663 Unregistered motor vehicles; requirements for insurance.

Patron: Lingamfelter

Insurance for unregistered motor vehicles.  Authorizes insurance on any motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer that is exempt from motor vehicle registration requirements to be written under a policy other than a motor vehicle insurance policy. Such registration-exempt vehicles remain exempt from the liability insurance requirements that apply to registered motor vehicles. Currently, an owner who elects to insure a registration-exempt vehicle that is designed for use on public roads must, with some exceptions, insure it under a motor vehicle insurance policy. This measure, by providing that policies covering such vehicles are exempt from the requirements applicable to motor vehicle insurance generally, allows such vehicles to be insured under a general liability policy or farm policy.

H.B. 1672 Motor vehicle titling; allows correction of errors in titling process.

Patron: Cosgrove

Vehicle titles. Provides a mechanism for correcting errors made in the title process.

H.B. 1722 Reckless driving; restricted license.

Patron: McDougle

Reckless driving; restricted license. Allows the issuance of a restricted license by a judge who has suspended the license of someone convicted of certain reckless driving offenses. Under current law there is no provision for the issuance of a restricted license for the following reckless driving offenses: faulty brakes, passing on a crest, grade or curve, obstructed view, impaired control, passing two vehicles abreast, driving two abreast in a single lane, passing at a railroad crossing, passing a stopped school bus, failing to give a signal, driving too fast for conditions, exceeding the speed limit, failure to yield right-of-way, and reckless driving on parking lots. Although discretionary with the judge, the period of suspension for these offenses is not less than 60 days nor more than six months. Another statute (§ 46.2-392) provides for a period of suspension of not less than 10 days nor more than six months for reckless driving and allows restricted licenses. This bill is a recommendation of the Committee on District Courts.

H.B. 1724 License plates, special; issuance to contributors of Va Housing Partnership Revolving Fund.

Patron: Oder

Special license plates for persons who desire to contribute to the Virginia Housing Partnership Revolving Fund; fees.  Authorizes the issuance of "revenue-sharing" special license plates to persons who desire to contribute to the Virginia Housing Partnership Revolving Fund.  The annual surcharge for these plates would be $25, instead of the standard $10 for most other nonrevenue-sharing special license plates. For each set of plates issued (after the first 1,000 sets), $15 will go to the Virginia Housing Partnership Revolving Fund.

H.B. 1725 License plates, special; bearing legend: DRIVE SMART.

Patron: Oder

Special license plates; DRIVE SMART.  Credits revenue-sharing revenues generated by the DRIVE SMART special license plates to Drive Smart Virginia instead of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

H.B. 1736 Motor vehicle dealers; prohibits coercion by motor vehicle manufacturers and distributors.

Patron: Cosgrove

Coercion of motor vehicle dealers.  Prohibits motor vehicle manufacturers and distributors from requiring retail dealers to offer to sell or sell any extended service contract or extended maintenance plan offered, sold, backed by, or sponsored by the manufacturer or distributor. The bill also eliminates the Class 1 misdemeanor penalty for violation and provides for holding hearings at the request of aggrieved parties instead.

H.B. 1749 Special license plates; expired authorizations.

Patron: Landes

Special license plates; expired authorizations.  Repeals authorization for issuance of special license plates that have failed to meet the deadline for receipt of the minimum number of prepaid applications. The affected plates are those for:  1600 Communications Association, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Blue Knights, Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation, Optimist International, Big Brother and Sisters of America, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, U.S. Pony Clubs, Mariner's Museum, Shenandoah National Park Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Town of Occoquan, County of New Kent, Burke's Station, Town of Smithfield, City of Salem, City of Portsmouth, values of diversity, Virginia Indian tribes, proud to be an American, Virginia zoos, crime prevention, first Africans in Virginia, Relay for Life, "God Bless America," Project Lifesaver, Interdenominational Children's Foundation, court-appointed special advocates, American Legion, U.S. Navy chief petty officers, Langley Air Force Base, paratroopers, Washington, D.C. United soccer, youth soccer, POW/MIA logo, children with special needs, childhood cancer awareness, American Cancer Society, retired law-enforcement officers, printers, beekeepers, motorcycle rider safety training program, barbershop quartet singing enthusiasts, professional stock car drivers, motor vehicle hobbyists, and Holstein dairy cow.

H.B. 1758 License plates, special; issuance to supporters of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Patron: Dillard

Special license plates; supporters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Authorizes the issuance of special license plates to supporters of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. The bill also repeals the 2002 statute that authorized issuance of special license plates for Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation volunteers.

H.B. 1891 Automobile graveyard; definition.

Patron: Carrico

Junkyards.  Amends the definition of "automobile graveyard" to provide that a facility is an "automobile graveyard" even if the vehicles stored there are rearranged within the existing lot.

H.B. 1895 License plates, special; issuance commemorating 100th anniversary of City of Galax.

Patron: Carrico

Special license plates;100th anniversary of the City of Galax. Authorizes the issuance of special license plates for the 100th anniversary of the City of Galax.

H.B. 1990 License plates, special; issuance to members and supporters of Mustang Club of America.

Patron: Griffith

Mustang Club of America.  Authorizes the issuance of special license plates for members and supporters of the Mustang Club of America.

H.B. 1999 License plates, special; issuance to supporters of Salem Avalanche baseball team.

Patron: Griffith

Special license plates; supporters of the Salem Avalanche baseball team.  Authorizes the issuance of special license plates to supporters of the Salem Avalanche baseball team.

H.B. 2013 Heritage Music Trail: The Crooked Road; designating as certain highways in Southwest Virginia.

Patron: Armstrong

Virginia's Heritage Music Trail: The Crooked Road.  Adds to "Virginia's Heritage Music Trail: The Crooked Road," designated in 2004, additional road mileage in Patrick County.

H.B. 2049 Virginia Capital Trail; designating portion of Route 5 between City of Richmond and Jamestown.

Patron: Miles

Virginia Capital Trail.  Designates the bicycle and pedestrian transportation facilities within the Virginia Route 5 corridor between the City of Richmond and Jamestown the “Virginia Capital Trail.”

H.B. 2068 Law-enforcement officers of Marine Resources Commission; free use of certain toll facilities.

Patron: Lewis

Free use of certain toll facilities.  Allows free use of toll facilities by law-enforcement officers of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission. This privilege does not extend to the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel or facilities controlled by the Richmond Metropolitan Authority.

H.B. 2084 Highway construction, maintenance, & improvmt.; Comm. to let all Dept. of Transportation contracts.

Patron: Watts

Commonwealth Transportation Board.  Clarifies the roles of the Commonwealth Transportation Board and local governing bodies when the latter administer VDOT-financed projects. The bill also corrects obsolete cross-references.

H.B. 2156 Speed limits; may be set on nonsurface treated highways in Montgomery County.

Patron: Nutter

Speed limits. Adds Montgomery County to the list of counties within which the maximum speed limits on nonsurfaced treated roads is 35 miles per hour, unless increased or decreased by the Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner.

H.B. 2178 License plates, special; issuance to supporters of Shenandoah National Park Association.

Patron: Louderback

Special license plates; Shenandoah National Park Association.  Reauthorizes issuance of special license plates for supporters of the Shenandoah National Park Association.

H.B. 2187 License plates, special; increases fee for certain officials and constitutional officers.

Patron: Wardrup

Special license plates; certain officials and constitutional officers; fees.  Increases the fee for issuance of special license plates to the Speaker of the House of Delegates, members of the House of Delegates, members of the Virginia Senate, the Clerk of the House of Delegates, the Clerk of the Virginia Senate, the Governor of Virginia, the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, the Attorney General of Virginia, United States Congressmen, United States Senators, sheriffs, county and city treasurers and commissioners of the revenue, attorneys for the Commonwealth, circuit court clerks, and general registrars to $25 plus the vehicle registration fee and the reserved numbers or letters fee.

H.B. 2189 Motor vehicle registration; requires permanent registration for buses.

Patron: Wardrup

Motor vehicle registration.  Authorizes permanent registration for buses.

H.B. 2193 Driver's licenses; reduction in number of written tests given for renewal.

Patron: Abbitt

Renewal of driver's licenses.  Reduces the number of applicants for driver's license renewal that have to retake the rules-of-the-road written test.

H.B. 2196 License plates, special; issuance to supporters of Robert Russa Moton Museum.

Patron: Abbitt

Special license plates; supporters of the Robert Russa Moton Museum; fees.  Authorizes the issuance of "revenue sharing" special license plates to supporters of the Robert Russa Moton Museum. The annual surcharge for these plates would be $25, instead of the standard $10 for most other nonrevenue-sharing special license plates. For each set of plates issued (after the first 1,000 sets), $15 will go to the Robert Russa Moton Museum to support its programs and activities in Virginia.

H.B. 2270 License plates, special; issuance of those bearing legend: VIRGINIA WINES.

Patron: Bell

Special license plates; VIRGINIA WINES.  Authorizes the issuance of revenue sharing special license plates bearing the legend VIRGINIA WINES. The annual surcharge for these plates would be $25, instead of the standard $10 for most other nonrevenue sharing special license plates. For each set of plates issued (after the first 1,000 sets), $15 will go to the Virginia Tech Food Services and Oenology Laboratory to support its programs and activities in Virginia.

H.B. 2271 License plates, special; issuance of those promoting lung cancer research and awareness.

Patron: Bell

Special license plates promoting lung cancer research and awareness; fees.  Authorizes the issuance of "revenue sharing" special license plates promoting lung cancer research and awareness. The annual surcharge for these plates would be $25, instead of the standard $10 for most other nonrevenue-sharing special license plates. For each set of plates issued (after the first 1,000 sets), $15 will go to the American Lung Association of Virginia to support lung cancer research, awareness, and prevention.

H.B. 2272 License plates, special; issuance to scuba divers.

Patron: Bell

Special license plates; Virginia scuba divers. Reauthorizes issuance of special license plates for Virginia scuba divers.

H.B. 2293 Motor vehicle titles; allows creation of electronic certificates of title.

Patron: Lingamfelter

Vehicle titles.  Authorizes creation of electronic certificates of title.

H.B. 2330 Highway improvement funds; revenue sharing fund program to include cities and towns.

Patron: Athey

Special funds for highway improvements in localities.  Expands the present revenue sharing fund program for counties to include cities and towns as well. The annual match limit is raised to $2 million per locality, and the total limit on state funds is raised to $50 million. Up to half of local contributions may take the form of proffers. Since the program now applies to all localities (not just counties), the present section embodying the program is repealed, and the new program is relocated to the article of Chapter 1 of Title 33.1 dealing with overall allocations of highway improvement funds.

H.B. 2387 License plates, special; issuance to Veterans of Foreign Wars members.

Patron: Barlow

Special license plates; VFW members.  Authorizes the issuance of special license plates to members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW) organization.

H.B. 2418 Speed limits; definition of in residence and business districts.

Patron: Armstrong

Definition of "residence district"; speed limits.  Includes residential subdivisions and territory in the definition of residence district for purposes of Title 46.2 (Motor Vehicles). The bill also excludes nonlimited access highways with four or more lanes and primary highways located in residence districts from having 25 miles per hour speed limits.

H.B. 2434 Motor vehicle safety inspection stations; garage liability insurance.

Patron: Carrico

Vehicle safety inspection stations.  Exempts "private" inspection stations that inspect only company-owned or leased or government-owned or leased vehicles from the requirement that inspection stations carry at least $500,000 garage liability insurance coverage.

H.B. 2501 License plates, special; issuance to members and supporters of Northern Virginia Swim League.

Patron: Amundson

Special license plates; members and supporters of the Northern Virginia Swim League.  Authorizes the issuance of special license plates to members and supporters of the Northern Virginia Swim League.

H.B. 2502 Motor vehicle license fees; changes in provisions.

Patron: Johnson

Local vehicle license fees.  Provides that a town cannot charge a license fee to any new resident of the town, previously a resident of a county within which all or part of the town is situated, who previously paid a license fee for the same tax year to such county.

H.B. 2530 License plates, special; issuance to U.S. Marine Corps veterans.

Patron: Melvin

Special license plates; U.S. Marine Corps veterans.  Allows unremarried surviving spouses of deceased Marine Corps veterans to receive Marine Corps veterans special license plates.

H.B. 2554 Interstate Route 81 Safety Taskforce; created.

Patron: Cline

Interstate Route 81 Safety Taskforce.  Requires the Commonwealth Transportation Commissioner to establish an Interstate Route 81 Safety Committee.

H.B. 2581 Motor vehicle dealers; requirements.

Patron: Stump

Motor vehicle dealers.  Requires applicant for original licensure as an independent motor vehicle dealer to satisfactorily complete courses of study prescribed by the Board.

H.B. 2597 License plates, special; issuance to recipients of National Defense Service Medal.

Patron: Black

Special license plates; National Defense Service Medal.  Authorizes issuance of special license plates to recipients of the Defense Service Medal.

H.B. 2666 Public-Private Transportation Act ; provisions for streamlining and enhancing.

Patron: McDonnell

Public-Private Transportation Act.  Makes several revisions to the Public Private Transportation Act (PPTA).  The bill authorizes the establishment of an interim agreement to provide for partial planning and development activities while other aspects of a qualifying transportation project are being negotiated and analyzed.  The bill also (i) authorizes a private entity to request approval of multiple responsible public entities (RPEs) in proposed projects involving multimodal transportation facilities, (ii) authorizes RPE's to enter into comprehensive agreements with multiple private entities, (iii) requires the responsible public entity to protect confidential information submitted by a private entity, and (iv) adds factors that an RPE may consider when selecting proposals.  The bill requires the Secretary of Transportation to revise existing state guidelines pertaining to the PPTA by October 1, 2005 and includes a provision allowing application of the revisions made by the legislation to certain existing qualifying transportation facilities.

H.B. 2772 Suspension or revocation of driver's licenses, etc. ; begins on date conviction is final.

Patron: Van Yahres

Commencement of periods for suspension or revocation of driver's licenses, registration cards, or license plates.  Provides that periods of suspension begin on the date the conviction becomes final or after the order of the DMV Commissioner becomes final (rather than 180 days after such dates).

H.B. 2781 License plates, special; issuance to Master Gardeners.

Patron: Alexander

Special license plates; Master Gardeners.  Authorizes the issuance of special license plates to Master Gardeners.

H.B. 2792 License plates, special; issuance to quilters.

Patron: O'Bannon

Special license plates; Virginia quilters.  Authorizes the issuance of special license plates to Virginia quilters.

H.B. 2875 License plates, special; issuance of those bearing legend: SURF RIDER.

Patron: Miller

Special license plates; supporters of the Surfrider Foundation.  Authorizes the issuance of special license plates for supporters of the Surfrider Foundation.