<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>59128</law_id><section_number>46.2-104</section_number><catch_line>Possession of registration cards; exhibiting registration card and licenses; failure to carry license or registration card</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-69.48:1</reference><reference>17.1-275.7</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="I">General Provisions; Department of Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">General Provisions</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">operator</span> of any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, or <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> being operated on the <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">highways</span></span> in the Commonwealth shall have in his <span class="dictionary">possession</span>: (i) the physical registration card issued by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> or the registration card issued by the state or country in which the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, or <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> is registered and (ii) his <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license, learner&#x2019;s permit, or temporary <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s permit.
		The <span class="dictionary">owner</span> or <span class="dictionary">operator</span> of any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, or <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> shall stop on the signal of any <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> who is in uniform or shows his badge or other sign of authority and shall, on the officer&#x2019;s request, exhibit his registration card, <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s license, learner&#x2019;s permit, or temporary <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s permit and write his name in the presence of the officer, if so required, for the purpose of establishing his identity.
		Every person licensed by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> as a <span class="dictionary">driver</span> or issued a learner&#x2019;s or temporary <span class="dictionary">driver</span>&#x2019;s permit who fails to carry his license or permit, and the registration card for the vehicle which he operates, is guilty of a <span class="dictionary">traffic infraction</span> and upon <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> punished by a fine of $10. However, if any person summoned to appear before a <span class="dictionary">court</span> for failure to display his license, permit, or registration card presents, before the return date of the <span class="dictionary">summons</span>, to the <span class="dictionary">court</span> a license or permit issued to him prior to the time the <span class="dictionary">summons</span> was issued or a registration card, as the case may be, or appears pursuant to the <span class="dictionary">summons</span> and produces before the <span class="dictionary">court</span> a license or permit issued to him prior to the time the <span class="dictionary">summons</span> was issued or a registration card, as the case may be, he shall, upon payment of all applicable <span class="dictionary">court</span> costs, have complied with the provisions of this section.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 46-15, 46-80; 1958, c. 541, &#xA7; 46.1-7; 1964, c. 205; 1972, c. 362; 1978, cc. 500, 605; 1984, c. 780; 1988, c. 74; 1989, c. 727; 2008, cc. 551, 691; 2009, c. 756; 2022, c. 183.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
