General Assembly>Division of Legislative Services>Publications>Session Summaries>2007>Motor Vehicles


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Motor Vehicles

Passed

P HB 1645

Overweight permits for underground pipe cleaning, hydroexcavating, and water blasting machinery. Provides for special overweight permits to be issued by the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles for the operation of underground pipe cleaning, hydroexcavating, and water blasting machinery on the highway. In addition, the bill directs the Department of Transportation to recommend legislation regarding the operation of overweight vehicles.
Patron - Cole

P HB 1653

Smoking in proximity to gas pumps; penalty. Provides that any person who smokes or uses an open flame within 20 feet of a pump used to fuel motor vehicles or a fueling tanker being used to deliver gasoline to a gasoline station, where smoking or the use of an open flame is prohibited by a posted sign, is guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor, and is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor if the person causes a fire or explosion.
Patron - Armstrong

P HB 1679

Bridges and culverts. Exempts fire and emergency medical apparatus responding to or returning from emergency calls from weight limits on bridges and culverts, provided the vehicles are not so heavy as to cause immediate structural damage.
Patron - Cosgrove

P HB 1704

Driver's licenses; extension of period of validity. Grants to civilian employees of the U.S. government and contractors with the U.S. government extensions of the period of validity of their driver's licenses while serving or providing services under contract outside the Commonwealth.
Patron - Lingamfelter

P HB 1708

Alcohol-related reckless driving. Provides that the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles shall not reinstate the driver's license of a defendant required to complete an alcohol safety action program for a conviction of reckless driving until notification of enrollment is received.
Patron - Lingamfelter

P HB 1729

Maximum speed limit for school buses. Increases the maximum speed limit to 60 miles per hour for school buses traveling on interstates and highways where the speed limit is greater than 55 miles per hour.
Patron - Lohr

P HB 1765

Driver improvement clinic fees. Provides that neither the annual license fees for additional clinic locations nor the annual license fees for clinic instructor licenses will be required of or collected from the Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads or its members in connection with clinics that are provided for emergency vehicle operation training.
Patron - Brink

P HB 1779

Motor Vehicle Transaction Recovery Fund. Provides criteria for the awarding of attorney fees from the Fund.
Patron - Cosgrove

P HB 1782

Special license plates; Fraternal Order of Police of Virginia; fees. Authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue revenue-sharing license plates to members of the Fraternal Order of Police of Virginia. This bill is identical to SB 1350.
Patron - Cosgrove

P HB 1817

Vehicle titling and registration. Provides that if a vehicle is registered and titled elsewhere in the United States, nothing is to be construed to require titling or registration in the Commonwealth of any vehicle located in the Commonwealth if that vehicle is registered to a non-Virginia resident active duty military service member, activated reserve or national guard member, or mobilized reserve or national guard member living in Virginia.
Patron - Suit

P HB 1848

Motor vehicle dealerships. Affords the buyer of a motor vehicle dealership the means to contest the failure of a manufacturer to approve the transfer of the dealership.
Patron - Saxman

P HB 1908

Child restraint devices. Increases the age that children must be secured in a child restraint device from five to eight and requires that rear-facing child restraint devices for infants from birth to one year shall be secured only in the back seat of motor vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1968. The bill also removes the exemption from required child restraint device use for the rear cargo area of vehicles other than pickup trucks and increases the age from less than six years old to eight years old for the permitted use of standard seat belt equipment for certain children.
Patron - Albo

P HB 1930

DMV fees. Exempts federal, state, and local officials from fees charged by DMV for obtaining data from DMV records.
Patron - Rapp

P HB 1964

Special license plates; nurses. Authorizes the issuance of revenue-sharing special license plates for nurses.
Patron - O'Bannon

P HB 1986

Parking; VDOT commuter parking lots. Provides that parking a vehicle in a VDOT-owned commuter parking lot in a way not in conformance with posted signs and pavement markings is a traffic infraction.
Patron - Cox

P HB 2025

Law enforcement on private roads. Provides that for law-enforcement purposes certification of road signs and speed limits by private licensed professional engineers shall have the same effect as if certified by VDOT.
Patron - Sherwood

P HB 2027

DMV driver record abstracts. Provides for half-price copies of driver record abstracts for volunteer drivers for Faith in Action.
Patron - Sherwood

P HB 2084

Law-enforcement escorts. Provides that any federal, state, or local law-enforcement vehicle used in conducting a funeral escort, wide load escort, dignitary escort, or any other escort shall be considered an emergency vehicle and is exempt from obeying certain regulations such as speed limit and traffic signals and signs.
Patron - Eisenberg

P HB 2108

Visual displays in motor vehicles. Permits visual displays forward of the driver's seat or within view of the driver if used to enhance the driver's view forward, behind, or to the sides of a motor vehicle for the purpose of maneuvering the vehicle.
Patron - Carrico

P HB 2113

Stickers on mopeds. Amends the statute requiring stickers on mopeds to reflect the increase in maximum allowable speed of mopeds enacted by the 2006 Session.
Patron - Carrico

P HB 2132

HOV lanes; exemption for clean special fuel vehicles. Extends the "sunset" to 2008 authorizing the use of certain HOV lanes by vehicles bearing clean special fuel vehicle license plates.
Patron - Hugo

P HB 2163

Incident management. Provides that vehicles owned or controlled by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are exempt from provisions related to stopping on highways while performing emergency road clearance duties. The bill also provides that, in addition to tow truck operators, VDOT vehicles may perform certain incident management duties.
Patron - Valentine

P HB 2177

Issuance of a license to operate a motorcycle. Changes "endorsement" to "classification"; allows an individual with a Virginia driver's license who successfully completes a motorcycle rider safety training course to use the documentation as a temporary motorcycle classification for 30 days; requires persons applying for a motorcycle classification who fail the road test twice to complete a motorcycle rider safety training course; allows DMV to exempt those who have completed a motorcycle safety training course from either the written materials or the road test or both; and requires the minimum paved range area used for motorcycle rider safety training courses to be consistent with the minimum range requirements established by the DMV-approved curriculum.
Patron - BaCote

P HB 2270

Motor vehicle salespersons. Sets forth conditions under which motor vehicle salespersons can be licensed even if they are not employed by a dealer.
Patron - Ebbin

P HB 2316

Motor vehicle dealers. Provides for the repurchase of certain dealer assets in the event of the termination of the dealer's franchise.
Patron - Welch

P HB 2357

Speed determination devices. Repeals the provision that allows law-enforcement officers using vehicle-based microcomputer devices to perform speed limit enforcement, upon request of any affected motorist, to show the motorist the reading on the device.
Patron - Cosgrove

P HB 2362

Exemption from local tax and license fees for certain law-enforcement officials. Allows local governments to exempt deputy sheriffs, police officers, and officers of the State Police from the local tax and license fees for one owned or leased vehicle.
Patron - Scott, E.T.

P HB 2387

Local parking ordinances. Allows local governing bodies by ordinance to limit to no more than two hours the parking on streets adjacent to commercial business areas of vehicles with gross weights in excess of 12,000 pounds or lengths of 30 feet or more, unless actively engaged in loading or unloading operations.
Patron - May

P HB 2409

Motor vehicle dealers; compensation for warranty repairs, etc. Prohibits failure of manufacturers to fully compensate licensed motor vehicle dealers for warranty parts, work, and service either by reduction in the amount due to the dealer or by separate charge, surcharge, or other imposition.
Patron - Athey

P HB 2462

Operation of photo-monitoring or automatic vehicle identification systems. Changes the definition of "operator of a toll facility other than the Virginia Department of Transportation" from facilities authorized by the Code to any entity "that operates a toll facility." The bill also provides that the suspension of a driver's license for failure or refusal to pay these fines or costs is not applicable.
Patron - Rust

P HB 2465

License plates for antique motor vehicles and antique trailers; penalties. Provides that applicants for antique license plates show evidence of ownership or regular use of another passenger car or motorcycle. The bill also changes the fee for registration and license plates from $10 to a one-time fee of $50; corrects the dates for issuance of metal tabs; permits use of these plates to carry or transport passengers, personal effects, or other antique motor vehicles being transported for show; and requires that vehicles must meet safety equipment requirements for the model year in which they were manufactured. In addition, the bill (i) provides that DMV shall suspend the registration of vehicles registered with antique plates if the vehicle is not properly equipped or is otherwise unsafe to operate, (ii) establishes a Class 4 misdemeanor for violations of this act, and (iii) requires that DMV revoke and not reinstate the owner's privilege to register the vehicle with antique license plates for a period of five years. Lastly, the bill provides for the cancellation of antique vehicle plates issued prior to July 1, 2007 if, prior to January 1, 2008, registrants do not provide the Department with evidence of owning or having regular use of another passenger car or motorcycle and do not have the required safety certification.
Patron - Marshall, D.W.

P HB 2471

Renewal, duplication, or reissuance of special identification cards. Provides that renewal, duplication, or reissuance of special identification cards does not require proof of legal presence if the applicant's date of birth is 1937 or earlier and has previously held a Virginia-issued driver's license or special identification card if such license or identification card has not been expired for more than five years.
Patron - Marshall, D.W.

P HB 2501

Specially constructed, reconstructed, and replica vehicles. Revises procedures whereby specially constructed, reconstructed, and replica vehicles are titled and registered by DMV. The bill also provides that these vehicles meet safety and emission standards for the year of which the vehicle is a replica.
Patron - Rust

P HB 2518

Driver's licenses issued to persons convicted of driving under the influence. Prohibits the Department of Motor Vehicles from issuing or reinstating the driver's license of a person who has been convicted of driving under the influence or a related offense during the three-year period following the conviction, unless the person provides proof that he has in effect a motor vehicle liability insurance policy with limits that are double the minimum limits required generally for motor vehicle liability insurance policies. The bill will apply only to policies issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2008.
Patron - Iaquinto

P HB 2534

Truck climbing lanes. Requires VDOT to post signs requiring trucks and combination vehicles to keep to the right on Interstate Highway System components with no more than two travel lanes in each direction where terrain is likely to slow the speed of such vehicles climbing hills and inclines.
Patron - Landes

P HB 2536

Special license plates; repeal of authorizations. Repeals 2006 Session authorizations of special license plates that failed to obtain the required number of prepaid orders. These are special license plates for members of the Virginia State Defense Force, supporters of childhood cancer awareness, supporters of youth soccer, honoring Robert E. Lee, bearing the legend "I VOTED," supporters of the USO, supporters of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation, supporters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, veterans of U.S. military operations since September 11, 2001, in Afghanistan and Iraq, supporters of the Boy Scouts of America, and supporters of 9-1-1 communications professionals.
Patron - Landes

P HB 2594

Penalty for failure to pay motor vehicle fines and costs. Removes the provision that a suspension of a driver's license for failure to pay fines and costs must run consecutively with any other suspension.
Patron - Rapp

P HB 2640

Local vehicle license taxes and fees. Prohibits imposition of local vehicle license taxes and fees on inoperable vehicles and unlicensed as reconstructed or specially constructed vehicles.
Patron - Gear

P HB 2674

Toy vehicles. Provides a definition of "toy vehicle" and limits use of toy vehicles to (i) highways within residence districts that have no more than two travel lanes and where the speed limits are no more than 25 miles per hour and (ii) highways where play is permitted. The bill also requires that electrically powered toy vehicles have spill-proof, sealed, or gelled electrolyte batteries.
Patron - Toscano

P HB 2787

Special license plates; U.S. Coast Guard. Authorizes the issuance of special license plates for members and unremarried surviving spouses of members of the U.S. Coast Guard.
Patron - Joannou

P HB 2793

Local vehicle license. Exempts vehicles owned by a public service company having a fleet of at least 2,500 vehicles garaged in the Commonwealth from having to display any local license, decal, or sticker. Furthermore, no person who has purchased a local vehicle license, decal, or sticker for a vehicle in one county, city, or town and then moves to and garages his vehicle in another county, city, or town can be required to purchase another local license, decal, or sticker from the county, city, or town to which he has moved and wherein his vehicle in now garaged until the expiration date of the local license, decal, or sticker issued by the county, city, or town from which he moved.
Patron - Saxman

P HB 2917

Weight limits for gravel trucks. Extends from July 1, 2007, to July 1, 2009, the sunset on the statute granting trucks hauling gravel, sand, or crushed stone no more than 50 miles from origin to destination in counties that impose a severance tax on coal and gases the same weight limits prescribed for coal trucks. The bill also requires the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Commonwealth Transportation Board, to recommend legislation regarding the operation of these overweight vehicles.
Patron - Bowling

P HB 3024

Speed limits. Provides that the maximum speed limit will be 60 miles per hour where indicated by lawfully placed signs, erected subsequent to a traffic engineering study and analysis of accident and law-enforcement data, on U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 58, U.S. Route 360, U.S. Route 460, and on U.S. Route 17 between Port Royal and Saluda where they are nonlimited access, multilane, divided highways.
Patron - Fralin

P HB 3028

CDL examination fees. Provides for a fee of $50 to be charged by DMV every time an applicant for a commercial driver's license (CDL) fails to attend a scheduled skills test appointment, unless such applicant cancels his appointment with the assigned driver's license examiner at least 24 hours in advance of the scheduled appointment. The Commissioner may, on a case-by-case basis, waive such fee for good cause shown.
Patron - May

P HB 3045

Vehicle safety inspection stickers. Requires vehicles parked on the highways to display vehicle safety inspection stickers.
Patron - Miller, J.H.

P HB 3046

Designation of private roads as highways. Provides that the governing body of any county, city, or town may adopt ordinances designating private roads as highways for law-enforcement purposes within any residential development containing 100 or more dwelling units.
Patron - Miller, J.H.

P HB 3071

Odometer readings. Exempts vehicles that were manufactured for a model year at least 10 years earlier than the calendar year in which a sale or transfer occurs and were previously exempt from recording an odometer reading on the certificate of title in another state from odometer reading certifications.
Patron - Oder

P HB 3075

Regulation of traffic; authority of Wildlife Center of Virginia. Authorizes vehicles owned or controlled by the Wildlife Center of Virginia when specifically requested by a law-enforcement agency to rescue or euthanize injured wildlife to (i) cross medians of divided highways; (ii) use cross-overs and turn-arounds otherwise reserved for use only by authorized vehicles; (iii) drive on a portion of the highway other than the roadway; (iv) stop or stand on any portion of the highway; and (v) operate in any other manner as directed by a law-enforcement officer at the scene. The bill provides that a driver of any such vehicle is not immune from liability, criminal or civil, for reckless behavior.
Patron - Landes

P HB 3084

School bus warning devices. Requires that any new bus placed into service on or after July 1, 2007, shall be equipped with warning devices that, at a minimum, include a nonsequential system of red traffic warning lights, a warning sign with flashing lights, and a crossing control arm such that when the bus door is opened, the red warning lights, warning sign with flashing lights, and crossing control arm are automatically activated.
Patron - Peace

P HB 3122

Driving without a license; penalties. Provides that a second offense of driving without a license is a Class 1 misdemeanor. Under current law all violations are Class 2 misdemeanors.
Patron - Rust

P HB 3143

Local vehicle license taxes and fees. Restates the limitation on the amount of any such taxes and fees by replacing the phrase "amount of the license tax" with "annual or one-year fee."
Patron - Reid

P SB 742

Bridges and culverts. Exempts fire and emergency medical apparatus responding to or returning from emergency calls from weight limits on bridges and culverts, provided the vehicles are not so heavy as to cause immediate structural damage.
Patron - Miller

P SB 783

Speed limits. Provides that the maximum speed limit will be 60 miles per hour where indicated by lawfully placed signs, erected subsequent to a traffic engineering study and analysis of accident and law-enforcement data, on U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 58, U.S. Route 360, U.S. Route 460, and on U.S. Route 17 between Port Royal and Saluda where they are nonlimited access, multilane, divided highways.
Patron - Bell

P SB 803

Special license plates; Robert E. Lee. Authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue special license plates honoring Robert E. Lee.
Patron - Ruff

P SB 816

Driver's licenses; extension of period of validity. Grants to civilian employees of the U.S. government and contractors with the U.S. government extensions of the period of validity of their driver's licenses while serving or providing services under contract outside the Commonwealth.
Patron - Cuccinelli

P SB 898

Toy vehicles. Provides a definition of "toy vehicle" and limits use of toy vehicles to (i) highways within residence districts that have no more than two travel lanes and where the speed limits are no more than 25 miles per hour and (ii) highways where play is permitted. The bill also requires that electrically powered toy vehicles have spill-proof, sealed, or gelled electrolyte batteries.
Patron - Deeds

P SB 924

Law-enforcement escorts. Provides that any federal, state, or local law-enforcement vehicle used in conducting a funeral escort, wide-load escort, dignitary escort, or any other escort shall be considered an emergency vehicle and is exempt from obeying certain regulations such as speed limit and traffic signals and signs.
Patron - Ticer

P SB 993

Disabled parking. Allows licensed physician assistants, licensed podiatrists, licensed chiropractors, or licensed nurse practitioners the same certification powers granted licensed physicians and certain other health care professionals in connection with obtaining various indicia associated with disabled parking privileges.
Patron - Blevins

P SB 1000

Regulation of taxicab service by localities; public access to financial records. Provides that financial data collected by local governing bodies shall be used only for consideration of rates or charges, or to determine financial responsibility, and shall be kept confidential by the governing body. The bill provides, however, that any certificate of insurance, bond, letter of credit, or other certification that the owner or operator has met the requirements of this chapter or of any local ordinance with regard to financial responsibility is not confidential.
Patron - Houck

P SB 1039

Driver's license applicable to holders of provisional driver's licenses. Prohibits the use of wireless telecommunication devices for such drivers while operating a motor vehicle, except in an emergency or when parked or stopped.
Patron - O'Brien

P SB 1042

Towing and recovery operators; exemption from liability. Provides that towing and recovery operators are exempt from liability in civil actions when they are responding in good faith to the lawful direction of rescue or fire agencies, in the case that life, limb, or property is endangered, to tow, recover, or store a vehicle or its contents. Current law only provides for such an exemption from liability when the towing and recovery operator is responding to the direction of a law-enforcement agency.
Patron - O'Brien

P SB 1060

Child restraint devices. Increases the age that children must be secured in a child restraint device from five to eight and requires that rear-facing child restraint devices for infants from birth to one year shall be secured only in the back seat of motor vehicles manufactured after January 1, 1968. The bill also removes the exemption from required child restraint device use for the rear cargo area of vehicles other than pickup trucks and increases the age from less than six years old to eight years old for the permitted use of standard seat belt equipment for certain children.
Patron - Watkins

P SB 1097

Records of the Department of Motor Vehicles. Eliminates the fee to receive driving record abstracts from the Department of Motor Vehicles for (i) local government group self-insurance pools, (ii) law-enforcement officers, (iii) attorneys and court officials for the Commonwealth, (iv) officials of counties, cities, and towns, and (v) court, police, and licensing officials of other states and of the federal government.
Patron - Williams

P SB 1100

Operation of photo-monitoring or automatic vehicle identification systems. Changes the definition of "operator of a toll facility other than the Virginia Department of Transportation" from facilities authorized by the Code to any entity "that operates a toll facility." The bill also provides that the suspension of a driver's license for failure or refusal to pay these fines or costs is not applicable.
Patron - Williams

P SB 1144

Incident management. Provides that vehicles owned or controlled by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) are exempt from provisions related to stopping on highways while performing emergency road clearance duties. The bill also provides that, in addition to tow truck operators, VDOT vehicles may perform certain incident management duties.
Patron - Wagner

P SB 1153

DMV driver record abstracts. Provides for half-price copies of driver record abstracts for volunteer drivers for Faith in Action.
Patron - Potts

P SB 1321

Overweight permits for tank wagons. Authorizes issuance of overweight permits for tank wagons.
Patron - Houck

P SB 1350

Special license plates; Fraternal Order of Police of Virginia; fees. Authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue revenue-sharing license plates to members of the Fraternal Order of Police of Virginia. This bill is identical to HB 1782.
Patron - Blevins

P SB 1360

Designation of private roads as highways. Provides that the governing body of any county, city, or town may adopt ordinances designating private roads as highways for law-enforcement purposes within any residential development containing 100 or more dwelling units.
Patron - Colgan

P SB 1363

Vehicle safety inspection stickers. Requires vehicles parked on the highways to display vehicle safety inspection stickers.
Patron - Colgan

P SB 1383

Specially constructed, reconstructed, and replica vehicles. Revises procedures whereby specially constructed, reconstructed, and replica vehicles are titled and registered by DMV.
Patron - Williams

Failed

F HB 1646

Motor carriers of passengers; insurance. Provides that all motor carriers shall keep in force at all times insurance, a bond or bonds in an amount based on the number of passenger-carrying vehicles operated by the carrier: one to nine passenger-carrying vehicles: $1,500,000; 10 or more passenger-carrying vehicles: $5,000,000.
Patron - Cole

F HB 1655

Required driving hours for holders of learner's permits. Increases the minimum driving hours from 40 to 50 hours, at least 15 of which shall be after sunset.
Patron - Lohr

F HB 1676

Possession of open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle; penalty. Provides that no person shall possess an alcoholic beverage in the passenger area of a motor vehicle upon a public highway of the Commonwealth in other than the manufacturer's unopened, original container. The bill punishes violators with a civil penalty of $25.
Patron - Purkey

F HB 1686

Suspension of driver's license pending appeal of DUI conviction. Provides that when a person is found guilty of DUI and appeals the judgment to the circuit court, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall not revoke that person's license until the appeal is withdrawn or the person is convicted in the circuit court. The bill also provides that when a person appeals a judgment from the circuit court to the Court of Appeals and the circuit court provides that the execution of the sentence is suspended pending the outcome of the appeal, the Commissioner shall not revoke that person's license until the appeal is withdrawn or the judgment is affirmed at the completion of the appeals process.
Patron - Toscano

F HB 1699

Local vehicle license fees and taxes. Repeals authority of imposition and collection of local vehicle license fees and taxes. This does not affect the ability of localities to impose personal property taxes on vehicles.
Patron - Lingamfelter

F HB 1750

Special license plates; Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag. Authorizes the issuance of special license plates bearing the Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag.
Patron - Marshall, R.G.

F HB 1751

Special license plates; brain tumor awareness. Authorizes the issuance of special license plates to promote brain tumor awareness. The bill has an emergency clause making it effective upon its passage.
Patron - Marshall, R.G.

F HB 1772

Law-enforcement officer uniform requirement for arrests for speeding. Allows a law-enforcement officer to arrest a person for speeding without the requirement that he wear a uniform, only that he display a badge.
Patron - Cosgrove

F HB 1806

Special license plates; VIRGINIA RECYCLES. Authorizes the issuance of special license plates bearing the legend: VIRGINIA RECYCLES.
Patron - Poisson

F HB 1808

Motorcycles; driving two abreast in a single lane. Allows two motorcycles to travel abreast in a single lane.
Patron - Poisson

F HB 1818

Safety inspection; exemptions. Provides that periodic safety inspection requirements do not apply to Virginia-registered vehicles (i) owned in full by an active duty military service member, activated reservist, or temporarily mobilized reserve or national guard member stationed or living outside Virginia or (ii) jointly owned by an active duty military service member, activated reservist, or temporarily mobilized reserve or national guard member stationed or living outside Virginia and a dependent. The bill also exempts these vehicles from having to display a safety inspection approval sticker.
Patron - Suit

F HB 1831

Special license plates; National D-Day Memorial Foundation; fees. Authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue revenue-sharing license plates to supporters of the National D-Day Memorial Foundation.
Patron - Putney

F HB 1832

Golf carts. Allows persons with disabled parking placards to cross public highways in golf carts, regardless of the speed limit on the highway, without having driver's licenses.
Patron - Putney

F HB 1874

Temporary driver's permits. Provides that 90-day limitation on validity of temporary driver's permits does not apply to first-time driver's licenses issued to minors pending presentation of driver's licenses in a court ceremony.
Patron - Caputo

F HB 1876

Wireless telecommunications devices; use by certain drivers. Prohibits use of wireless telecommunications devices by holders of provisional licenses, learner's permits, and motorcycle learner's permits, except in an emergency, when the vehicle is parked, or when the vehicle is stationary on that portion of a highway improved, designed, and ordinarily used for vehicular travel. This bill incorporates HB 2510.
Patron - Caputo

F HB 1927

Antique vehicles. Imposes additional limitations and conditions on certain vehicles registered as antique vehicles. This bill was incorporated into HB 2465.
Patron - Griffith

F HB 1929

Abandoned vehicles. Allows property owners to have vehicles found abandoned on their property removed.
Patron - Griffith

F HB 1933

Failure to give way to overtaking traffic; penalty. Provides for a mandatory minimum fine of $250 for failure to give way to an overtaking vehicle when driving a motor vehicle to the left and abreast of another vehicle.
Patron - Rapp

F HB 1934

Overtaking and passing vehicles on certain highways. Prohibits travel in the left-most lane of any limited access highway except to pass another vehicle traveling in the same direction. There are exceptions made for exiting to the left, avoiding a collision, traffic and inclement weather, and entering a toll facility.
Patron - Rapp

F HB 1983

Dealer's license plates. Repeals the prohibition on use of dealer's license plates on trailers.
Patron - Lohr

F HB 1987

Eluding police and causing injury or death; eluding while under the influence; penalties. Provides that any person who feloniously eludes police while also in violation of § 18.2-266 (DUI) or when a pursuit of the person by a law-enforcement officer results in bodily injury to another person is guilty of a Class 5 felony, punishment for which shall include a mandatory minimum sentence of six months' incarceration. The bill also provides that any person who feloniously eludes police when a pursuit of the person by a law-enforcement officer results in the death of another person is guilty of a violation of § 18.2-33.
Patron - Cox

F HB 2003

DMV vehicle data. Provides that law-enforcement personnel may provide the fire/rescue officer in charge at an accident scene DMV vehicle information when that information pertains to vehicles damaged in the accident.
Patron - Kilgore

F HB 2052

Improper driving charged by law-enforcement officer. Provides that a person may be charged with improper driving who has engaged in reckless driving where the degree of culpability is slight. Improper driving is punishable as a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $500. Currently, only a charge of reckless driving may be reduced to improper driving by the court or the attorney for the Commonwealth.
Patron - McQuigg

F HB 2054

Use of headlights when operating windshield wipers. Provides that headlights must be lighted when using windshield wipers intermittently in misting rain, sleet, or snow. An exception is made for using wipers when cleaning the windshield.
Patron - McQuigg

F HB 2129

Board for Towing and Recovery Operators; review of contracts. Requires state agencies, instrumentalities, and subdivisions to submit to the Board for Towing and Recovery Operators copies of contracts for towing services at least 30 days prior to the dates on which they are to become effective.
Patron - Hugo

F HB 2183

Suspension of license for failure to pay jail fees. Allows for the suspension of a driver's license for failure to pay jail fees related to a prisoner's keep.
Patron - Miller, P.J.

F HB 2248

Yielding right-of-way when approaching certain vehicles. Provides that the driver of any motor vehicle shall yield the right-of-way when approaching vehicles used to collect and deliver the United States mail.
Patron - Hogan

F HB 2257

Assessment of fees by Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) on certain drivers; use of fees collected for transportation. Requires the DMV Commissioner to impose and collect fees on drivers who have accumulated more than four net driver demerit points or have been convicted of driving on a suspended or revoked license, reckless or aggressive driving, DUI, or any other misdemeanor or felony involving operation of a motor vehicle. Annually, the first $35 million of these fees, minus cost of collection, will be directed to the special matching fund established by § 33.1-23.05; the next $25 million will be directed to the Transportation Partnership Opportunity Fund; and the remainder will be directed to the Local Congestion Mitigation Incentive Fund. This bill was incorporated into HB 2376.
Patron - Rust

F HB 2260

Removal of trespassing vehicles by towing and recovery operators. Eliminates the requirement that towing and recovery operators obtain a second written authorization from the owner of the property from which the vehicle is towed.
Patron - Rust

F HB 2285

Special license plates; DRIVING AMERICA'S FUTURE. Authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue to licensed and former school bus drivers special license plates bearing the legend: DRIVING AMERICA'S FUTURE.
Patron - Watts

F HB 2286

Loitering in the rights-of-way of certain highways. Prohibits loitering in the right-of-way of any highway on which the Commissioner has posted signs prohibiting such activity.
Patron - Watts

F HB 2289

Revocation of driver's license; notice. Provides that a court shall order a person convicted of driving after the forfeiture of his driver's license to surrender his license and that such a conviction constitutes notice of the administrative revocation of his driver's license.
Patron - Watts

F HB 2320

Accident reports by law-enforcement officers; amount of property damage. Increases the property damage amount requiring a mandatory accident report from $1,000 to $2,500.
Patron - Welch

F HB 2375

Special license plates; "The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail." Authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue special license plates to supporters of "The Crooked Road: Virginia's Heritage Music Trail."
Patron - Dudley

F HB 2376

Assessment of fees on certain drivers; use of fees collected. Requires the courts to impose, in addition to any other penalties imposed, an initial additional fee for certain motor vehicle law offenses. The bill also requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to assess certain fees on any person who has eight or more driver demerit points. These fees, minus cost of collection, will be deposited into the Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund for highway maintenance purposes.
Patron - Rust

F HB 2383

Speed limits; Lucketts. Provides that the maximum speed limit in the Village of Lucketts is 25 mph.
Patron - May

F HB 2421

Special license plates; Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation. Authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue revenue-sharing special license plates to supporters of the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation.
Patron - Griffith

F HB 2434

Supplemental funding for primary and secondary road construction. Dedicates to primary and secondary road construction (i) current state recordation tax revenues, pro rata to each highway construction district based on the number of registered vehicles in each district; (ii) newly imposed state fees on drivers who have accumulated more than four net driver demerit points or have been convicted of driving on a suspended or revoked license, reckless or aggressive driving, DUI, or any other misdemeanor or felony involving operation of a motor vehicle, pro rata to each highway construction district based on the number of registered vehicles in each district; (iii) current local vehicle registration fees; and (iv) a newly authorized commercial real property tax in Northern Virginia. The bill is effective July 1, 2008. This bill was incorporated into HB 3202.
Patron - Albo

F HB 2452

Operation of vehicles by foreign licensees. Consolidates provisions relating to operation of motor vehicles in Virginia by nonresidents holding licenses from other states or foreign countries.
Patron - Cline

F HB 2453

Driving without a license; penalty. Provides for enhanced penalties for persons convicted multiple times of driving without a license (as distinct from driving on a suspended or revoked license). The enhanced penalties are patterned after present penalties for persons driving on revoked or suspended licenses. This bill was incorporated into HB 3122.
Patron - Cline

F HB 2482

Antique motor vehicles; driving distance. Removes the 250-mile driving limitation for vehicles registered with antique motor vehicle license plates. This bill was incorporated into HB 2465.
Patron - Crockett-Stark

F HB 2510

Provisional driver's licenses; restriction on using cellular phones and wireless devices. Places a restriction on persons with a provisional driver's license from using a cellular phone or other wireless device while driving on the highways of the Commonwealth. The bill also removes a subsection that makes offenses in the rest of the section secondary offenses, which would make all offenses in this section primary offenses. This bill was incorporated into HB 1876.
Patron - Jones, D.C.

F HB 2585

Motorcycle helmets. Exempts motorcyclists operating on scenic highways and Virginia byways from the motorcycle helmet law. The bill also makes failure to wear a helmet a secondary offense.
Patron - Janis

F HB 2587

Penalty for running a red light. Provides that the offense of running a red light is charged as reckless driving. The current penalty is a $350 fine.
Patron - Janis

F HB 2597

Travel in the left lane by commercial motor vehicles. Prohibits drivers of commercial vehicles from travel in the left lane on Interstate Route 64 between the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and the City of Richmond.
Patron - Rapp

F HB 2610

Vehicle registration fees. Increases fees for registration of vehicles not designed and used to transport passengers, and increases the minimum registration fee for farm vehicles.
Patron - Watts

F HB 2665

Driver's license expirations. Grants to civilian employees of the U.S. government serving outside the country the same extension of their driver's license expiration granted to members of the military and diplomatic corps. This bill was incorporated into HB 1704.
Patron - Marsden

F HB 2700

Driver's licenses. Requires all first-time applicants for Virginia driver's licenses to prove that they have successfully completed either a driver education program approved by the State Department of Education or a course offered by a licensed driver training school and increases the minimum time required for first-time applicants over the age of 19 to hold a learner's permit from 30 days to 90 days.
Patron - Hugo

F HB 2701

Temporary driver's permits. Provides that the 90-day limitation on validity of temporary driver's permits does not apply to first-time driver's licenses issued to minors pending presentation of driver's licenses in a court ceremony.
Patron - Hugo

F HB 2702

Professional driver training schools and professional driver training instructors. Changes the terms "driver training school" and "instructor" to "professional driver training school" and "professional driving instructor" and requires driving instructors, as a precondition to licensure by the DMV, to pass a course of instruction offered by the DMV.
Patron - Hugo

F HB 2715

Provisional driver's licenses. Allows the holder of provisional driver's license to drive between midnight and 4:00 a.m. when driving to or from a residence where acting as a babysitter.
Patron - Barlow

F HB 2733

Driver's licenses and special identification cards; contents. Provides that, when requested by the applicant, the Department must indicate on driver's licenses and special identification card the names of no more than five "emergency contact persons." Contact information pertaining to such "emergency contact persons," such as addresses and telephone numbers, as supplied by the applicant, is to be maintained by the Department and released to law-enforcement and other emergency services personnel as provided in regulations.
Patron - Englin

F HB 2761

Stopping on highways. Makes running a red light reckless driving statewide. It also makes running a red light in localities formerly authorized to have photo-red programs punishable as reckless driving with a mandatory minimum fine of $500. This bill was incorporated into HB 2587.
Patron - Hurt

F HB 2762

Stopping on highways. Makes illegal stopping in intersections in localities formerly authorized to have photo-red programs punishable by a mandatory minimum fine of $500.
Patron - Hurt

F HB 2763

Highway safety corridors; speeding. Provides for a mandatory minimum fine of $500 for persons convicted of driving 20 miles per hour or more in excess of the speed limit in highway safety corridors.
Patron - Hurt

F HB 2773

Unlawful possession of license plate or decal; penalty. Provides that any person who unlawfully possesses a license plate or decal issued to a vehicle other than his own is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.
Patron - Hurt

F HB 2794

Special license plates; Purple Heart. Provides for issuance of Purple Heart special license plates free of charge to persons who are members in good standing of the Department of Virginia Military Order of the Purple Heart.
Patron - Wright

F HB 2863

Stopping for pedestrians. Amends the statute that presently requires motorists to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians to require that motorists stop for pedestrians.
Patron - Moran

F HB 2884

Overweight coal trucks. Provides that penalties for overweight coal trucks are imposed on the owners of the vehicles, and not on their drivers.
Patron - Phillips

F HB 2899

Special conservators of the peace. Authorizes special conservators of the peace employed by a locality to use flashing blue lights in their vehicles, like other law-enforcement vehicles. The law currently allows special conservators of the peace to use flashing red lights. The bill also exempts special conservators of the peace employed by a locality from the prohibition against wearing a uniform with an insignia containing the seal of Virginia.
Patron - Phillips

F HB 2902

License plates. Provides for single license plates for all vehicles presently required to display two license plates, but allows owners of these vehicles to be issued two license plates if they so request.
Patron - Dance

F HB 2907

Driving with special license plates after conviction of DUI. Requires persons convicted of drunk driving a third or subsequent time who have registered motor vehicles in Virginia to use yellow license plates with red letters and numbers for a five-year period.
Patron - Spruill

F HB 2912

Cell phones. Bans use of cell phones by drivers of school buses and passenger-carrying commercial vehicles, except in emergencies.
Patron - Bowling

F HB 2916

Traffic lights; vehicle detection devices. Allows motorcycles, under certain conditions, to proceed through steady red signals if the traffic light is controlled by a vehicle detection device.
Patron - Bowling

F HB 2945

Stopping for pedestrians. Amends the statute that presently requires motorists to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians to require that motorists stop for pedestrians. The bill also gives all localities the option to provide for the installation of signs at marked crosswalks and to increase fines.
Patron - Miller, J.H.

F HB 2972

DUI administrative license suspension at time of charge. Clarifies that immediate administrative driver's license suspension occurs upon issuance of a warrant for arrest by a magistrate for a DUI, without regard to the probable cause for the arrest (eliminates reliance on 0.08% blood alcohol content).
Patron - Bell

F HB 3010

Motor vehicle, T&M vehicle, trailer, and motorcycle dealers. Imposes fees by the Department of Motor Vehicles on certain motor vehicle dealers, T&M vehicle dealers, trailer dealers, and motorcycle dealers.
Patron - Janis

F HB 3032

Vehicle safety inspections. Provides that vehicle owners may make appointments to have their vehicles inspected but that they cannot be required to do so.
Patron - Bell

F HB 3040

Motor fuel; failure to pay. Provides that for the purposes of the $250 civil penalty for driving off and failing to pay for motor fuel, there is a rebuttable presumption that the owner, lessee, or renter of the vehicle that was involved was the operator of the vehicle.
Patron - BaCote

F HB 3066

Wireless telecommunications devices; use by certain drivers. Prohibits use of wireless telecommunications devices by holders of provisional licenses, learner's permits, and motorcycle learner's permits, except in an emergency, when the vehicle is parked, or when the vehicle is stationary on that portion of a highway improved, designed, and ordinarily used for vehicular travel.
Patron - Miller, P.J.

F HB 3072

Local vehicle license taxes and fees. Allows counties that assume responsibility for maintenance of certain subdivision streets to charge an additional annual local vehicle license fee of no more than $10 per motor vehicle. This bill was incorporated into HB 2227.
Patron - Orrock

F HB 3073

Off-road motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, and similar vehicle. Prohibits operation of any off-road motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, or similar vehicle within 500 feet of any dwelling. Violation is punishable as a Class 4 misdemeanor (fine up to $250). If a violation is committed by a juvenile, the parent or other person standing in loco parentis to that person shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. A second or subsequent conviction within one year of a first conviction shall be punishable as a Class 3 misdemeanor (fine up to $500). This bill does not apply to vehicles while being used for agricultural or silvicultural purposes.
Patron - Ware, R.L.

F HB 3077

Motorcycle helmets. Provides for a $25 civil penalty for the conviction of a motorcyclist who fails to wear a helmet. At present, a violation is a traffic infraction and punishable by a fine of up to $250.
Patron - Abbitt

F HB 3092

Driver's license numbers. Provides for nonissuance of driver's license numbers to persons with bona fide religious objections to issuance of such numbers.
Patron - Johnson

F HB 3149

DMV fees; issuance of driver's licenses and learner's permits. Requires DMV to impose an additional fee of up to $20 for any transaction carried out in one of its customer service centers if the transaction does not involve a driver's license or learner's permit or some other service that cannot be carried out electronically or by other alternative means. The bill also requires the DMV Commissioner shall prepare a plan whereby all Virginia driver's licenses and learner's permits will be centrally manufactured and sent to the licensee or permittee by mail. He must submit a progress report to the General Assembly on the preparation of the plan and a schedule for implementation on or before September 1, 2007, and a final report no later than December 31, 2007.
Patron - Saxman

F HB 3152

Vehicle registration fees. Increases vehicle registration fees, removes certain fees based on weight, and dedicates the proceeds to transportation purposes.
Patron - Callahan

F HB 3187

Registration of certain taxicabs. Requires that every taxicab registered in another state that is regularly parked on the public streets of the Commonwealth or is regularly garaged in the Commonwealth, regardless of its registration in another state, also be registered in Virginia.
Patron - Sickles

F HB 3203

Special license plates for certain veterans. Provides that South Korean or allied national veterans as well as U.S. veterans of the Korean War may apply for special license plates for Korean War veterans and that South Vietnamese or allied national veterans as well as U.S. veterans of the Vietnam War may apply for special license plates for Vietnam War veterans.
Patron - Hull

F SB 733

Special license plates; supporters of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. Authorizes the issuance of revenue-sharing special license plates to supporters of the Virginia Museum of Natural History. 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 Museum of Natural History Foundation to support the operation and programs of the Virginia Museum of Natural History.
Patron - Reynolds

F SB 746

All-terrain vehicles. Amends statutes relating to all-terrain vehicles and titling all-terrain vehicles to make it clear that all-terrain vehicle dealers need not be licensed as motorcycle dealers.
Patron - Williams

F SB 764

Driver's licenses; persons who use bioptic telescopic lenses. Allows persons who use bioptic telescopic lenses to receive driver's licenses with motorcycle classifications if they have lawfully driven a motor vehicle for a year immediately prior to the issuance of such an endorsed license.
Patron - Cuccinelli

F SB 784

Special license plates; members of the American Poolplayers Association. Authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue special license plates to members of the American Poolplayers Association.
Patron - Bell

F SB 801

Reckless driving; speeding. Raises from 80 to 85 miles per hour the speed that constitutes reckless driving regardless of the speed limit.
Patron - Ruff

F SB 909

Reckless driving; violation of right-of-way resulting in death of another. Provides that a person is guilty of reckless driving if he violates the right-of-way of any motor vehicle causing the death of another. The court must sentence the driver to 90 days in jail and suspend his driver's license for not less than six months or more than three years, although the court may suspend the penalties if the person completes 24 or more hours of community service.
Patron - Obenshain

F SB 926

Regulation of parking of certain vehicles. Allows localities to regulate or prohibit the parking of any truck in any residence district.
Patron - Ticer

F SB 1032

Accident reports; cellular phones. Requires law-enforcement officers to report whether the use of a cellular phone or other wireless communication device was a factor in an accident.
Patron - O'Brien

F SB 1035

Child restraint devices; booster seat age; rear-facing child restraint devices; civil penalty. Raises the booster seat age requirement from through age five to through age seven and prohibits any person from securing a child in the front passenger seat with rear-facing child restraint device unless the vehicle is not equipped with a passenger side airbag or the airbag has been deactivated. The bill also removes an exception that allows children to ride unrestrained in the rear cargo area of vehicles other than pickup trucks. This bill was incorporated into SB 1060.
Patron - O'Brien

F SB 1040

Driver's license for those under 19 years old. Makes a violation of the various restrictions, such as passenger and curfew limitations, that are applicable to drivers under 19 years of age a primary offense, rather than a secondary offense as currently provided by law.
Patron - O'Brien

F SB 1043

DMV to develop and distribute materials for parents of certain minors. Requires the Department of Motor Vehicles, in cooperation with the Department of Education, to develop, produce, and make available instructional materials for use by parents of minors who hold learner's permits or provisional driver's licenses. These materials are to be designed to assist parents in ensuring that their children develop the skills, knowledge, habits, and awareness necessary for becoming safe drivers. They are, further, to be made available free of charge in the Department's Customer Service Centers.
Patron - O'Brien

F SB 1094

Vehicle warning lights. Allows chaplains to equip their vehicles with colored warning lights and operate those vehicles in the same manner as those of volunteer firefighters, etc.
Patron - Puckett

F SB 1107

Special license plates; Fraternal Order of Police of Virginia; fees. Authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue revenue-sharing license plates to members of the Fraternal Order of Police of Virginia. This bill was incorporated into SB 1350.
Patron - Miller

F SB 1119

Learner's permits, driver's licenses, and special identification cards. Provides that learner's permits, driver's licenses, and special identification cards issued to persons who are 25 years old or older must not show the age of the person to whom they are issued.
Patron - Cuccinelli

F SB 1124

Provisional driver's licenses; use of wireless telecommunications devices. Prohibits persons under the age of 18 from using any cellular telephone or any other wireless telecommunications device while driving, regardless of whether such device is or is not handheld. A violation of this provision is a secondary offense. This bill was incorporated into SB 1039.
Patron - Cuccinelli

F SB 1142

Dealer's license plates. Allows dealer's license plates to be used on vehicles in the inventory of licensed motor vehicle manufacturers, distributors, and dealers in the Commonwealth when the vehicles are operated by dealers or dealer-operators, their spouses, or employees of manufacturers, distributors, and dealers.
Patron - Wagner

F SB 1196

Assessment of fees on certain drivers; use of fees collected. Requires the courts to impose, in addition to any other penalties imposed, an initial additional fee for certain motor vehicle law offenses. The bill also requires the Department of Motor Vehicles to assess certain fees on any person who has eight or more driver demerit points. These fees, minus cost of collection, will be deposited into the Highway Maintenance and Operating Fund for highway maintenance purposes.
Patron - Reynolds

F SB 1315

Driver's license numbers. Provides for nonissuance of driver's license numbers to persons with bona fide religious objections to issuance of such numbers.
Patron - Wampler

F SB 1337

DMV fees; issuance of driver's licenses and learner's permits. Requires DMV to impose an additional fee for certain transactions carried out in one of its customer service centers. The bill also requires the DMV Commissioner shall prepare a plan whereby all Virginia driver's licenses and learner's permits will be centrally manufactured and sent to the licensee or permittee by mail.
Patron - McDougle

F SB 1358

Special license plates; DIG WITH CARE. Authorizes the issuance of special license plates bearing the legend "DIG WITH CARE."
Patron - Devolites Davis

F SB 1401

Motor vehicle stops. Requires a law-enforcement officer to inform the person stopped of the reason for the stop.
Patron - Marsh

F SB 1417

Transportation funding and reform. Provides statewide funding of transportation projects through current funds and additional funds. The bill also authorizes the Commonwealth Transportation Board to issue bonds in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2 billion for statewide transportation funding.
Patron - Norment

F SB 1422

Special license plates; Bide-A-Wee Golf Course. Authorizes the issuance of special license plates for supporters of the Bide-A-Wee Golf Course in the City of Portsmouth.
Patron - Lucas

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