46.2-712 - Requirements of license plates and decals.
§ 46.2-712. Requirements of license plates and decals.
A. Every license plate shall display the registration number assigned to themotor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer and to the owner thereof, the name ofthe Commonwealth, which may be abbreviated, and the year or the month andyear, which may be abbreviated and in the form of decals, for which it isissued. Subject to the need for legibility, the size of the plate, theletters, numerals, and decals thereon, and the color of the plate, letters,numerals, and decals shall be in the discretion of the Commissioner. Decalsshall be placed on the license plates in the manner prescribed by theCommissioner, and shall indicate the month and year of expiration. On theissuance of the decals, a new registration card shall be issued with the samedate of expiration as the decals.
B. Notwithstanding any other provision of this title, the Department mayissue permanent license plates without decals and without a month and year ofexpiration for all trailers and semitrailers, regardless of weight; trucksand tractor trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating or gross combinationweight rating of more than 26,000 pounds; taxicabs or other motor vehiclesperforming 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 therequirements of Chapter 20 (§ 46.2-2000 et seq.) of this title. In addition,the Department may issue permanent license plates without decals and withouta month and year of expiration for trucks and tractor trucks with grossvehicle weight ratings or gross combination weight ratings of at least 7,501pounds but not more than 26,000 pounds, provided that such vehicles are forbusiness use only, and for farm vehicles registered with the Departmentpursuant 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C. Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this section, any person who,pursuant to former § 56-304.3, repealed by Chapters 744 and 803 of the Actsof Assembly of 1995, obtained from the State Corporation Commission anexemption from the marker or decal requirements of former § 56-304, 56-304.1or 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 towhich such exemption applies and, in all other respects, continues to complywith the requirements of former § 56-304.3, shall be deemed to be incompliance with § 46.2-2011.23 and subdivision 18 of § 46.2-2011.24.
(Code 1950, § 46-97; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-101; 1972, c. 609; 1974, c. 170;1988, c. 701; 1989, c. 727; 1997, c. 283; 1999, c. 593; 2000, c. 133; 2005,c. 301.)