                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

ELECTRONIC FILINGS OR SUBMISSIONS TO DEPARTMENT; PROVISION OF ELECTRONIC
DOCUMENTS BY DEPARTMENT (§ 46.2-216.1)

A. Whenever this title or Title 58.1 provides that applications, certificates,
fees, letters of credit, notices, penalties, records, reports, surety bonds,
tariffs, taxes, time schedules, or any other documents or payments be filed or
submitted to the Department in written form or otherwise, the Commissioner may,
after providing 12-months&#8217; written notification to impacted applicants,
licensees, or any other person or entity, require that all or certain
applicants, licensees, or any other person or entity engaged in business with
the Department, make such filings or submissions electronically in a format
prescribed by the Commissioner. Any such requirement shall not apply to an
individual application for a credential issued under Chapter 3 (&#xA7; 46.2-300
et seq.), or the titling or registration of 12 or fewer vehicles during a period
of one year. The Commissioner shall develop a method to ensure that the
electronic filing is received and stored accurately and that it is readily
available to satisfy the requirements of the statutes that call for a written
document. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Commissioner may
accept, in lieu of paper documents, a filing or submission made by electronic
means for any document not required to be filed or submitted electronically
pursuant to the provisions of this title or Title 58.1.

B. Whenever this title or Title 58.1 provides that a written certificate or
other document is to be delivered to an owner, registrant, licensee, lien
holder, or any other person or entity by the Department or the Commissioner, the
Commissioner may provide the written certificate or other document by electronic
means. The electronic document may consist of all of the information included in
the paper certificate or document or it may be an abstract or listing of the
information held in electronic form by the Department. Whenever a certificate or
other document is provided by electronic means, the Department will not be
required to produce a written certificate or document until requested to do so
by the owner, registrant, licensee, lien holder, or other party.

C. The Commissioner is authorized to establish, where feasible and cost
efficient, contracts with public-private partnerships with commercial operations
to provide for simplification and streamlining of services to citizens through
electronic means. Such electronic services shall include (i) an electronic lien
and titling program, (ii) an online dealer program, and (iii) a print-on-demand
license plate program.

   1. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A of &#xA7; 46.2-208, to
   conduct customer-initiated transactions through electronic means the
   Commissioner may provide a customer&#8217;s personal, driver, or vehicle
   information relating to the operation or theft of a motor vehicle or to public
   safety to the following entities: (i) lending institutions; (ii) motor vehicle
   dealers; or (iii) third-party vendors that enter into contracts with the
   Department. Pursuant to subsection A, the Commissioner may require such
   entities engaged in business with the Department to submit electronic filings
   using the third-party vendors that have contracts with the Department.
   Customer information obtained by such entities conducting customer-initiated
   transactions, including third-party vendors that enter into contracts with the
   Department, is subject to the restrictions upon use and dissemination imposed
   by (a) the federal Drivers Privacy Protection Act at 18 U.S.C. &#xA7; 2721 et
   seq., (b) the Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act
   (&#xA7; 2.2-3800 et seq.) and &#xA7;&#xA7; 46.2-208 and 58.1-3, and (c) any
   rules, regulations, or guidelines adopted by the Department with regard to
   disclosure or dissemination of any information obtained from the Department.

   2. The Department may impose a reasonable fee in accordance with fair market
   prices on such entities, including third-party vendors that enter into
   contracts with the Department, for customer-initiated transactions conducted
   through electronic means. Such fees shall be used to defray the costs of the
   transaction to the Department. Any transaction fees imposed and collected by
   the Department shall be paid into the state treasury and set aside as a
   special fund to be used to meet the expenses of the Department.

HISTORY: 1991, c. 115; 2009, c. 419; 2018, c. 361; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 421,
544.