SEARCH SITE
VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL
- Code of Virginia
- Virginia Administrative Code
- Constitution of Virginia
- Charters
- Authorities
- Compacts
- Uncodified Acts
- RIS Users (account required)
SEARCHABLE DATABASES
- Bills & Resolutions
session legislation - Bill Summaries
session summaries - Reports to the General Assembly
House and Senate documents - Legislative Liaisons
State agency contacts
ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
- Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
- Summaries: Since 1994
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
2005 SESSION
053488536Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 46.2-712 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 46.2-712. Requirements of license plates and decals.
A. Every license plate shall display the registration number assigned to the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer and to the owner thereof, the name of the Commonwealth, which may be abbreviated, and the year or the month and year, which may be abbreviated and in the form of decals, for which it is issued. Subject to the need for legibility, the size of the plate, the letters, numerals, and decals thereon, and the color of the plate, letters, numerals, and decals shall be in the discretion of the Commissioner. Decals shall be placed on the license plates in the manner prescribed by the Commissioner, and shall indicate the month and year of expiration. On the issuance of the decals, a new registration card shall be issued with the same date of expiration as the decals.
B. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the
Department may issue permanent license plates without decals and without a
month and year of expiration for all trailers and semitrailers, regardless of
weight,; trucks
and tractor trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combination
weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds,; and
taxicabs or other motor vehicles performing a taxicab service; and common
carrier vehicles operated for hire, both of the latter
as defined in § 46.2-2000 that are in compliance with the requirements of
Chapter 20 (§ 46.2-2000 et seq.) of this title. In addition, the Department may
issue permanent license plates without decals and without a month and year of
expiration for trucks and tractor trucks with gross vehicle weight ratings or
gross combination weight ratings of at least 7,501 pounds but not more than
26,000 pounds, provided that such vehicles are for business use only, and for
farm vehicles registered with the Department pursuant to § 46.2-698.
C. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this section, any person who, pursuant to former § 56-304.3, repealed by Chapters 744 and 803 of the Acts of Assembly of 1995, obtained from the State Corporation Commission an exemption from the marker or decal requirements of former §§ 56-304, 56-304.1 or § 56-304.2, and who has painted or, in the case of newly acquired vehicles, who paints an identifying number on the sides of any vehicle with respect to which such exemption applies and, in all other respects, continues to comply with the requirements of former § 56-304.3, shall be deemed to be in compliance with § 46.2-2011.23 and subdivision 18 of § 46.2-2011.24.