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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>60166</law_id><section_number>46.2-2011.21</section_number><catch_line>Registration and identification violations; penalties</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="V">Motor Carriers</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="20">Regulation of Passenger Carriers</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Motor Carriers of Passengers -- Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The following violations of <span class="dictionary">laws</span> shall be punished as follows: <a id="paragraph-220117" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-2011.21/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who does not obtain a proper registration card, <span class="dictionary">identification marker</span>, or other <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of registration as required by this chapter shall be guilty of a Class 4 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-220118" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-2011.21/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who operates or causes to be operated on any <span class="dictionary">highway</span> in the Commonwealth any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> that does not carry the proper registration and identification that this article requires or any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> that does not display (i) an <span class="dictionary">identification marker</span> in such manner as is prescribed by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> or (ii) other identifying information that this article requires it to display shall be guilty of a Class 4 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-220119" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-2011.21/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who knowingly displays or uses on any vehicle operated by him any <span class="dictionary">identification marker</span> or other identification that has not been issued to the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> or <span class="dictionary">operator</span> thereof for such vehicle and any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who knowingly assists him to do so shall be guilty of a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-220120" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-2011.21/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who operates or causes to be operated on any <span class="dictionary">highway</span> in the Commonwealth any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> requiring registration from the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> under this title after such registration cards or <span class="dictionary">identification markers</span> have been revoked, canceled or suspended shall be guilty of a Class 3 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-220121" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-2011.21/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> The officer charging the violation under this section shall serve a <span class="dictionary">citation</span> on the <span class="dictionary">operator</span> of the vehicle in violation. Such <span class="dictionary">citation</span> shall be directed to the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, <span class="dictionary">operator</span> or other <span class="dictionary">person</span> responsible for the violation as determined by the officer. Service of the <span class="dictionary">citation</span> on the vehicle <span class="dictionary">operator</span> shall constitute <span class="dictionary">service of process</span> upon the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, <span class="dictionary">operator</span>, or other <span class="dictionary">person</span> charged with the violation under this article, and shall have the same legal force as if served within the Commonwealth personally upon the <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, <span class="dictionary">operator</span>, or other <span class="dictionary">person</span> charged with the violation, whether such <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, <span class="dictionary">operator</span>, or other <span class="dictionary">person</span> charged is a resident or <span class="dictionary">nonresident</span>. <a id="paragraph-220122" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-2011.21/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2001, c. 596.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
