CHAPTER 246

An Act to amend and reenact §§ 46.1-118 and 46.1-115 as amended, of the
Code of Virginia, relating to issuance and use of dealer’s motor ve-
hicle license plates.

[H 878]

Approved March 18, 1968

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 46.1-113 and 46.1-115 as amended, of the Code of Virginia
be amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 46.1-113. Transferable dealer’s license plates—(a) A manufac-
turer of or dealer in motor vehicles, trailers or semitrailers, owning and
operating any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer upon any highway, in
lieu of registering each such motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, or a
manufacturer or installer of fifth wheels, bodies or special permanent
mounted equipment for tractor trucks, trucks, trailers or semitrailers,
may obtain from the Division, upon application therefor upon the proper
official form and upon payment of the fees required by law, and attach
to each such vehicle one or duplicate license plates as required for different
classes of such vehicles by § 46.1-99 (a). Such plate or set of plates shall
each bear thereon a distinctive number, also the name of this State, which
may be abbreviated, and the year for which issued, together with the word
“dealer” or a distinguishing symbol indicating that such plate or plates
are issued to a manufacturer or dealer. Any plates so issued may, during
the calendar year for which they have been issued, be transferred from one
motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer to another, used or operated by such
manufacturer or dealer, who shall keep a written record of the motor
vehicle, trailer or semitrailer upon which such dealer’s license plates are
used. Such record shall be open to inspection by any police officer or any
officer or employee of the Division.

(b) Display of a transferable manufacturer’s or dealer’s license plate
or plates upon a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer shall subject such
vehicle to the requirements of §§ 46.1-293 and 46.1-298 of this title.

§ 46.1-115. Permissible use of dealer’s license plates; generally.—
(a) Such dealer’s license plates may be used on motor vehicles, trailers and
semitrailers owned by, or assigned to, duly licensed motor vehicle dealers
of this State when operated on the highways of this State by such dealers
or their authorized representatives. Dealers’ license plates shall not be
used on motor vehicles such as wrecking cranes or other service motor
vehicles for the use or operation of which dealers charge or receive
compensation.

(b) A dealer may permit such license plates to be used in the opera-
tion of a motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer by a bona fide prospective
purchaser thereof where such dealer issues to such prospective purchaser
a certificate on forms provided by the Division, a copy of which shall be
retained by such dealer and open at all times to the inspection of the
Commissioner or any of the officers or agents of the Division. Such cer-
tificate shall show the date of issuance, the person to whom issued, the
motor or serial number of the vehicle for the use of which it is issued and
the dealer’s license number, and shall be in the immediate possession of
the person operating or authorized to operate such vehicle. Such certificate
shall entitle such person to operate with dealers’ license plates for a period
of five days. Not more than two such certificates may be issued by a
dealer to the same person for successive periods.

(c) Such dealer’s license plates may be used upon tractor trucks,
trucks, trailers or semitrailers for the purpose of delivering such ve-
hicles to another establishment for the purpose of having a fifth wheel,
body or special permanent mounted equipment installed upon such vehicles,
and for the purpose of returning such vehicles to such dealer, regardless of
whether or not titles of such vehicles have been retained by such dealer
in the meanwhile, and no other tag or permit from any other agency of
the State shall be required under such circumstances.

(d) Such dealer’s license plates may be used upon tractor trucks,
trucks, trailers or semitrailers which are owned and operated outside of
this State for the purpose of delivering such vehicles into this State from
without the State for the purpose of having a fifth wheel, body or special
permanent mounted equipment installed upon such vehicle and for the
purpose of returning such vehicle out of this State, regardless of whether
or not titles of such vehicles have been retained by such dealer in the
meantime, and no other tag or permit from any other agency of the State
shall be required under such circumstances, but the operator of any vehicle
operated under the provisions of this subsection shall carry on his person
a bill of sale for the fifth wheel, body or special equipment when 80
operating.