                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

SPECIAL LICENSE PLATES, GENERALLY (§ 46.2-725)

A. No series of special license plates shall be created or issued by the
Commissioner or the Department except as authorized pursuant to this article. No
special license plates in any series not provided for pursuant to this article
and no registration decal for any such license plate shall be issued, reissued,
or renewed on or after July 1, 1995. However, subject to the limitations
contained in subdivisions 1 and 2 of subsection B of this section, the
Commissioner may issue, when feasible, special license plates that are
combinations of no more than two series of special license plates authorized
pursuant to this article and currently issued by the Department; in addition to
the state registration fee, the fee for any such combination shall be equal to
the sum of the fees for the two series plus the fee for reserved numbers and
letters, if applicable. The provisions of subdivisions 1 and 2 of subsection B
of this section shall not apply to special license plates that are combinations
of two series of special license plates authorized pursuant to this article and
currently issued by the Department if one of the two combined designs, when
feasible, incorporates or includes the international symbol of access.

B. Except as otherwise provided in this article:

   1. No special license plates shall be considered for authorization by the
   General Assembly unless and until the individual, group, entity, organization,
   or other entity seeking the authorization of such special license plates shall
   have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the General Assembly that they meet
   the issuance requirements set forth in this subdivision. For the purposes of
   this article, each prepaid application shall be on a form prescribed by the
   Department and, excluding the vehicle registration fee, shall include the
   proposed or authorized fee for the issuance of the proposed or authorized
   special license plates and, if applicable, the annual fee for reserved numbers
   or letters prescribed under &#xA7; 46.2-726. Once authorized by the General
   Assembly, no license plates provided for in this article shall be developed
   and issued by the Department until the Commissioner receives at least 450
   prepaid applications therefor within 30 days of the effective date of the
   authorization associated with the applications. If the end of the 30-day
   period falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, the 30-day period shall end on
   the following business day.

   2. No additional license plates shall be issued or reissued in any series
   that, after five or more years of issuance, has fewer than 200 active sets of
   plates. No such license plates shall be issued or reissued unless reauthorized
   by the General Assembly. Such reauthorized license plates shall remain subject
   to the provisions of this article.

   3. The annual fee for the issuance of any license plates issued pursuant to
   this article shall be $10 plus the prescribed fee for state license plates.
   Applications for all special license plates issued pursuant to this article
   shall be on forms prescribed by the Commissioner. All special license plates
   issued pursuant to this article shall be of designs prescribed by the
   Commissioner and shall bear unique letters and numerals, clearly
   distinguishable from any other license plate designs, and be readily
   identifiable by law-enforcement personnel.
   				No other state license plates shall be required on any vehicles bearing
   special license plates issued under the provisions of this article.
   				All fees collected by the Department under this article shall be paid by
   the Commissioner into the state treasury and shall be set aside as a special
   fund to be used to meet the expenses of the Department.

C. The provisions of this article relating to registration fees shall apply only
to those vehicles registered as passenger cars, motor homes, and pick-up or
panel trucks, as defined in &#xA7; 46.2-100. All other vehicle types registered
with special license plates shall be subject to the appropriate special license
plate fees, registration fees and other fees prescribed by law for such vehicle
types.

D. For special license plates that generate revenues that are shared with
entities other than the Department, hereinafter referred to as &#8220;revenue
sharing special license plates,&#8221; the General Assembly shall review all
proposed revenue sharing special license plate authorizations to determine
whether the revenues are to be shared with entities or organizations that (i)
provide to the Commonwealth or its citizens a broad public service that is to be
funded, in whole or in part, by the proposed revenue sharing special license
plate authorization and (ii) are at least one of the following:

   1. A nonprofit corporation as defined in &#xA7; 501(c)(3) of the United States
   Internal Revenue Code;

   2. An agency, board, commission, or other entity established or operated by
   the Commonwealth;

   3. A political subdivision of the Commonwealth; or

   4. An institution of higher education whose main campus is located in
   Virginia.
   				No revenue sharing special license plate authorization shall be approved
   if, as determined by the General Assembly, it does not meet the criteria set
   forth in this subsection.

E. No special license plates authorized pursuant to this article shall be issued
to or renewed for any owner or co-owner of a vehicle who is registered pursuant
to the Sex Offender and Crimes Against Minors Registry Act (&#xA7; 9.1-900 et
seq.) if the design of such special license plates, including any logo, emblem,
seal, or symbol therein, references children or children&#8217;s programs or if
any revenue-sharing provision authorized for such special license plates
contributes, directly or indirectly, to any fund or program established for the
benefit of children.

HISTORY: 1989, c. 727; 1995, c. 747; 1996, cc. 922, 1026; 1997, cc. 774, 816;
2003, c. 923; 2004, c. 747; 2005, c. 294; 2006, c. 550; 2011, c. 115; 2016, cc.
143, 430.