§ 46.2-743 Special license plates for active duty members of the Armed Forces of the United States and certain veterans; fees
A. On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is an honorably discharged former member of one of the Armed Forces of the United States, the Commissioner shall issue to the applicant special license plates. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this subsection may also be issued special license plates under this subsection.
B. On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is on active duty with, has been honorably discharged after at least six months of active duty service in, or has retired from the United States Marine Corps, the Commissioner shall issue to the applicant special license plates whose design incorporates an emblem of the United States Marine Corps. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this subsection may also be issued special license plates under this subsection.
C. On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is on active duty with, has been honorably discharged after at least six months of active duty service in, or has retired from the United States Army, the Commissioner shall issue to the applicant special license plates whose design incorporates an emblem of the United States Army. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this subsection may also be issued special license plates under this subsection.
D. On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is on active duty with, has been honorably discharged after at least six months of active duty service in, or has retired from the United States Coast Guard, the Commissioner shall issue to the applicant special license plates whose design incorporates an emblem of the United States Coast Guard. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this subsection may also be issued special license plates under this subsection.
E. On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is on active duty with, has been honorably discharged after at least six months of active duty service in, or has retired from the United States Navy, the Commissioner shall issue to the applicant special license plates whose design incorporates an emblem of the United States Navy. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this subsection may also be issued special license plates under this subsection. The annual fee for plates issued pursuant to this subsection shall be $25 in addition to the prescribed fee for state license plates. For each such $25 fee collected in excess of 1,000 registrations pursuant to this subsection, $15 shall be paid into the state treasury and credited to a special nonreverting fund known as the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society Fund established within the Department of Accounts. These funds shall be paid annually to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society and used to support its operation and programs in Virginia. All other fees imposed under the provisions of this subsection shall be paid to, and received by, the Commissioner of the Department of Motor Vehicles and paid by him into the state treasury and set aside as a special fund to be used to meet the necessary expenses incurred by the Department of Motor Vehicles.
F. On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is on active duty with, has been honorably discharged after at least six months of active duty service in, or has retired from the United States Air Force, the Commissioner shall issue to the applicant special license plates whose design incorporates an emblem of the United States Air Force. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this subsection may also be issued special license plates under this subsection.
G. All special license plates that have been developed and issued pursuant to subsection B, C, D, E, or F shall also be issued to applicants who can provide documentation from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs indicating that the applicant has been designated disabled, and that his disability is service-connected, and that he has been honorably discharged from a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States.
H. On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is a veteran of World War II, the Commissioner shall issue special license plates to veterans of World War II. For each set of license plates issued under this subsection, the Commissioner shall charge, in addition to the prescribed cost of state license plates, a one-time fee of $10 at the time the plates are issued. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this subsection may also be issued special license plates under this subsection.
I. On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is a veteran of the Korean War, the Commissioner shall issue special license plates to veterans of the Korean War. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this subsection may also be issued special license plates under this subsection.
J. On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is a veteran of the Vietnam War, the Commissioner shall issue special license plates to veterans of the Vietnam War. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this subsection may also be issued special license plates under this subsection.
K. On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is a veteran of the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign, the Commissioner shall issue special license plates to veterans of that campaign. For each set of license plates issued under this subsection, the Commissioner shall charge, in addition to the prescribed cost of state license plates, a one-time fee of $10 at the time the plates are issued. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this subsection may also be issued special license plates under this subsection.
L. On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the Commissioner shall issue special license plates to veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this subsection may also be issued special license plates under this subsection.
M. On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, the Commissioner shall issue special license plates to veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this subsection may also be issued special license plates under this subsection.
N. On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is a member of the Virginia Defense Force, the Commissioner shall issue special license plates to members of the Virginia Defense Force. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this subsection may also be issued special license plates under this subsection.
O. On receipt of an application and written evidence that the applicant is a veteran of Operation Desert Shield or Operation Desert Storm, the Commissioner shall issue special license plates to veterans of those military operations. Unremarried surviving spouses of persons eligible to receive special license plates under this subsection may also be issued special license plates under this subsection.
P. The provisions of subdivisions B 1 and 2 of § 46.2-725 shall not apply to license plates issued under subsections F, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, and O.
History
This law was first created in 1985. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 162 of that year’s edition of “Acts of Assembly,” the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1985 “Acts” aren’t available online. It has been modified 18 times. Those modifications are cataloged by “The Acts of Assembly,” a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly’s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1987, chapter 696; in 1989, chapter 727; in 1995, chapter 747; in 1996, chapter 1026; in 1997, chapters 774 and 816; in 1999, chapters 883 and 907; in 2000, chapters 75 and 190; in 2002, chapters 90 and 864; in 2005, chapters 264, 273, and 929; in 2006, chapter 437; in 2009, chapter 679; in 2011, chapters 572 and 586; in 2012, chapter 379; in 2013, chapter 478; in 2014, chapters 270 and 483; in 2022, chapter 107; in 2023, chapter 539; in 2024, chapter 188.
1985, c. 162, § 46.1-105.11; 1987, c. 696; 1989, c. 727; 1995, c. 747; 1996, c. 1026; 1997, cc. 774, 816; 1999, cc. 883, 907; 2000, cc. 75, 190; 2002, cc. 90, 864; 2005, cc. 264, 273, 929; 2006, c. 437; 2008, Sp. Sess. II, c. 4; 2009, c. 679; 2011, cc. 572, 586; 2012, c. 379; 2013, c. 478; 2014, cc. 270, 483; 2022, c. 107; 2023, c. 539; 2024, c. 188.