                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

ABANDONING MOTOR VEHICLES PROHIBITED; PENALTY (§ 46.2-1200.1)

No person shall cause any motor vehicle to become an abandoned motor vehicle as
defined in § 46.2-1200. In any prosecution for a violation of this section,
proof that the defendant was, at the time that the vehicle was found abandoned,
the owner of the vehicle shall constitute in evidence a rebuttable presumption
that the owner was the person who committed the violation. Such presumption,
however, shall not arise if the owner of the vehicle provided notice to the
Department, as provided in § 46.2-604, that he had sold or otherwise
transferred the ownership of the vehicle.
		A summons for a violation of this section shall be executed by mailing a copy
of the summons by first-class mail to the address of the owner of the vehicle as
shown on the records of the Department of Motor Vehicles. If the person fails to
appear on the date of return set out in the summons, a new summons shall be
issued and delivered to the sheriff of the county, city, or town for service on
the accused personally. If the person so served then fails to appear on the date
of return set out in the summons, proceedings for contempt shall be instituted.
		Any person convicted of a violation of this section shall be subject to a
civil penalty of no more than $500.
		All penalties collected under this section shall be paid into the state
treasury to be credited to the Literary Fund as provided in § 46.2-114.

HISTORY: 1990, c. 725; 2020, cc. 964, 965.