CHAPTER 46

An Act to amend and reenact § 46.1-45, as amended, of the Code of
Virginia, relating to exemption of certain motor vehicles from reqis-
tration and licenses when used for certain purposes.

[H 123]

Approved February 21, 1968

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 46.1-45, as amended, of the Code of Virginia be amended and
reenacted as follows:
§ 46.1-45. Exemption of motor vehicles, tractors, etc., used for agri-
cultural, horticultural, mining, etc., purposes.—(a) No person shall be
required to obtain the annual registration certificate and license plates or
to pay the fee prescribed therefor, pursuant to the provisions of this

chapter, for any backhoe operated on any highway a distance not in
excess of ten miles from the operating base of such backhoe, for any truck
upon which is securely attached a machine for spraying fruit trees and
plants of the owner or lessee of the truck or for any motor vehicle, trailer
or semitrailer, which is used exclusively for agricultural or horticultural
purposes on lands owned or leased by the owner thereof and which is not
operated on or over any public highway of this State for any other pur-
pose other than for the purpose of operating it across a highway or along
a highway from one point of the owner’s land to another part thereof,
irrespective of whether or not the tracts adjoin, provided that the distance
between the points shall not exceed ten miles, or for the purpose of taking
it or other fixtures thereto attached, to and from a repair shop for
repairs. The foregoing exemption from registration and license require-
ments shall also apply to any vehicle hereinbefore described or to any farm
trailer owned by the owner or lessee of the farm on which such trailer
is used, when such trailer is used by the owner thereof for the purpose
of moving farm produce and livestock from such farm along a public high-
way for a distance not to exceed ten miles to a storage house or packing
plant, when such use is a seasonal operation.

(b) The exemptions contained in this section shall also apply to farm
machinery and tractors; provided further that such machinery and trac-
tors may use the highways in going from one tract of land to another
tract of land regardless of whether such land be owned by the same or
different persons.

(c) The exemptions contained in this section shall also apply to any
motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer validly registered in another state and
bearing valid license plates issued by such state, for the use of which
the owner or lessee of a farm has contracted as an incidental part of the
harvesting of a crop from such farm, while such vehicle is engaged in
moving farm produce from such farm as an incidental part of such har-
vesting operations, along a public highway for a distance not to exceed
ten miles to a storage house, packing plant, market, or transportation
terminal, when such use is a seasonal operation and when the owner of
such vehicle has secured from the Commissioner an exemption permit for
each such vehicle. The Commissioner, upon receipt of certification by the
Superintendent of the State Police that such vehicle is entitled to the
exemption set forth in this paragraph shall issue such exemption permit
on a form to be prescribed by him, which shall be carried at all times by
the operator of the vehicle, for which it is issued or in a conspicuous place
on such vehicle. Such exemption permit shall be valid for a period of
ninety days from date of issue and shall be renewable by the procedure
set forth above.

(d) Any vehicle exempted hereunder from the requirements of annual
registration certificate and license plates and fees therefor shall not be
permitted to use the highways as above provided between sunset and
sunrise unless said vehicle is equipped with headlights, taillights and other
lights required by law.

(e) The exemptions contained in this section shall also apply to any
farm or other tractor, trailer, log cart or similar vehicles owned by a
sawmill operator when operated on a highway while being moved from
one site to another, or being taken to or from a repair shop for repairs,
or while crossing a highway from one contiguous tract of land to another.

f) The exemptions contained in this section shall also apply to any
motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, so as to permit its operation on the
highway between a sawmill or sawmill site and the farm of the owner
of such motor vehicle for a distance not to exceed ten miles for the pur-
pose of hauling sawdust, shavings, slab wood, and other wood wastes.

(g) The exemptions contained in this section shall also apply to any
motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer used at mines, so as to permit the
operation thereof on the highway between such mines, or when being
taken to or from a repair shop for repairs; provided, that the exemption
contained in this subsection shall not apply to such motor vehicles when
carrying cargo, and provided further that said exemption shall not apply
to any such motor vehicles traveling a distance of more than ten miles.
(h) The exemptions contained in this section shall also apply to any
trailer or semitrailer drawn by a farm tractor, or any properly licensed
motor vehicle when used by a farmer, his tenant, agent or employee, or
cotton ginner or peanut buyer in transporting unginned cotton or peanuts
owned by such farmer, cotton ginner or peanut buyer from place to place
on the same farm, from one farm to another, from farm to gin, from farm
to dryer, or from farm to market, when not operated on a for-hire basis.