Chap. 470.—An ACT to amend and reenact Sections 22 and 35-d, as amended, of
Chapter 342 of the Acts of Assembly of 1932, approved March 26, 1932, and
known as the Motor Vehicle Code of Virginia, relating to registration of
motor vehicles by manufacturers and dealers and the fees to be charged
therefor. [H 314]

Approved April 2, 1948

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That sections twenty-two and thirty-five-d, as amended, of chap-
ter three hundred forty-two of the Acts of Assembly of nineteen hundred
thirty-two, approved March twenty-six, nineteen hundred thirty-two, and
known as the Motor Vehicle Code of Virginia, be amended and reenacted
as follows:

Section 22. Registration by manufacturers and dealers—(a) A
manufacturer of or dealer in motor vehicles, trailers, or semi-trailers,
owning and operating any motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer upon
any highway, in lieu of registering each such motor vehicle, trailer or
semi-trailer, 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 section twenty of this
act, which plate or set of plates shall each bear thereon a distinctive num-
ber, 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
issued, be transferred from one motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer
to another, used or operated by such manufacturer or dealer, who shall
keep a written record of the motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer upon
which such dealer’s number plates are used, which record shall be open
to inspection by any police officer or any officer or employee of the
division.

Such dealer’s license plates may be used on motor vehicles, trailers
and semi-trailers 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 duly authorized representatives ; provided that deal-
ers’ tags shall not be used on motor vehicles for the use or operation of
which dealers charge or receive compensation, such as wrecking cranes
or other service motor vehicles.

Provided, however, a dealer may permit such tags to be used in the
operation of a motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer by a bona fide pro-
spective 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 director or any of the officers or agents of the division. Such
certificate 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 such vehicle at all times while so
operating same. Such certificate shall entitle such person to operate
with dealer’s tags only on the day mentioned therein and not more than
two such certificates may be issued by a dealer to the same person on
successive days.

Every manufacturer of or dealer in motor vehicles, trailers
or semi-trailers, shall obtain and have in possession a certificate of title
issued by the division to such manufacturer or dealer, or to the immediate
vendor of such manufacturer or dealer for each motor vehicle, trailer
and semi-trailer operated upon the highways by such manufacturer or
dealer, except that a certificate of title shall not be required, but upon
application therefor by such manufacturer or dealer, the division shall
issue a certificate of title, for any new motor vehicle, trailer or semi-
trailer to be sold as such by a manufacturer or dealer.

(c) No manufacturer of or dealer in motor vehicles, trailers or
semi-trailers shall cause or permit any such motor vehicle, trailer or semi-
trailer owned by such person to be operated or moved upon a public
highway without there being displayed upon such motor vehicle, trailer
or semi-trailer a number plate or plates issued to such person, either
under section twenty of this act or under this section, except as otherwise
authorized in subsection (d) and (e) of this section.

(d) Any manufacturer of motor vehicles, trailers or semi-trailers
may operate or move or cause to be moved or operated upon the high-
ways for a distance of not exceeding twenty-five miles any such motor
vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer from the factory where manufactured or as-
sembled, to a railway depot, vessel or place of shipment or delivery, with-
out registering the same and without number plates attached thereto
under a written permit first obtained from the local police authorities hav-
ing jurisdiction over such highways and upon displaying in plain sight
upon such motor vehicle, trailer and semi-trailer a placard bearing the
name and address of the manufacturer authorizing or directing such
movement.

(e) Any dealer in motor vehicles, trailers or semi-trailers may
operate or move, or cause to be operated or moved, any such motor
vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer upon the highways for a distance not
exceeding twenty-five miles from a vessel, railway depot, warehouse or
any place of shipment or from a factory where manufactured or assembled
to a sales room, warehouse or place of shipment, or transshipment,
without registering such motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer and with-
out number plates attached thereto, under a written permit first obtained
from the local police authorities having jurisdiction over such highways
and upon displaying in plain sight upon each motor vehicle, trailer or
semi-trailer a placard bearing the name and address of the dealer author-
izing or directing such movement.

Section 35-d. Registration of dealers, et cetera; fees therefor.—
Every manufacturer, agent or dealer in motor vehicles, trailers or semi-
trailers, on or before the first day of April in each year, or before he
commences to operate vehicles to be sold by him, shall make application
to the Commissioner for a dealer’s certificate of registration and license.
The application shall state the make of the machine handled by the
manufacturer, agent or dealer. On the payment of the fee of twenty-
five dollars a certificate of registration and license shall be issued to
the dealer in such form as may be prescribed by the Commissioner. For
such fee the Commissioner shall issue to such dealer two (2) sets of
license plates, and for each additional set in excess of two (2) a fee of
eight dollars ($8.00) per set shall be paid provided that the fee for a
motorcycle dealer shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00) for the first three (3)
sets of plates and four dollars ($4.00) for each additional set of plates.
If the application of such manufacturer, agent, or dealer in motor
vehicles, as herein provided, be made after the first day of December of
any year, then the amount or amounts he shall be required to pay for the
certificate of registration and license, provided for hereunder, shall be
half, only, of the fee herein prescribed.
It shall be unlawful for any such manufacturer, dealer, agent, or
any other person to use such license plates otherwise than on motor
vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers used in connection with their business;
provided that dealer’s tags shall not be used on motor vehicles for the
use or operation of which dealers charge or receive compensation, such
as wrecking cranes or other service motor vehicles. Any person who
violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and,
upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not less than
(S106 00)" dollars ($25.00), and not more than one hundred dollars