“Military surplus motor vehicle" means a multipurpose or tactical vehicle that was manufactured
by or under the direction of for the United States Armed Forces
for off-road use and subsequently authorized for sale to civilians. "Military surplus motor vehicle" does not include specialized mobile equipment as defined in § 46.2-700, trailers, or semitrailers.
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E. The Department shall issue appropriately designated license plates for military surplus motor vehicles registered pursuant to § 46.2-730.1.
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§ 46.2-730.1. License plates for military surplus motor vehicles; fee; penalty.
A.
On receipt of an application and evidence that the applicant owns or has regular use of another passenger car, autocycle, or motorcycle, The Commissioner shall issue a registration card and appropriately designed license plates to owners of military surplus motor vehicles. These license plates shall be valid so long as title to the vehicle is vested in the applicant. The fee for the registration card and license plates for any of these vehicles shall be a one-time fee of $50.
B.
Except as provided in subsection G of this section, military surplus motor vehicles registered with license plates issued under this section shall not be used for general transportation purposes, including, but not limited to, daily travel to and from the owner's place of employment, but shall only be used:
1. For participation in off-road events, on-road club activities, exhibits, tours, parades, and similar events; and
2. On the highways of the Commonwealth for the purpose of selling the vehicle, obtaining repairs or maintenance, transportation to and from events as described in subdivision 1, and occasional pleasure driving not exceeding 250 miles from the residence of the owner. The registration card issued to the owner of a military surplus motor vehicle registered pursuant to this section shall indicate that such vehicle is for limited use.
C. Any owner of a military surplus motor vehicle applying for registration pursuant to this section shall submit to the Department, in the manner prescribed by the Department, certification that such vehicle is capable of being safely operated on the highways of the Commonwealth. Pursuant to § 46.2-1000, the Department shall suspend the registration of any vehicle registered with license plates issued under this section that the Department or the Department of State Police determines is not properly equipped or is otherwise unsafe to operate. Any law-enforcement officer shall take possession of the license plates, registration card, and decals, if any, of any vehicle registered with license plates issued under this section when he observes any defect in such vehicle as set forth in § 46.2-433 1000.
Nothing in this section shall apply to a military surplus motor vehicle that complies with subsection G of this section.
D. Any owner of a military surplus motor vehicle registered with license plates pursuant to this section who is convicted of a violation of this section is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor. Upon receiving a record of conviction of a violation of this section, the Department shall revoke and not reinstate the owner's privilege to register the vehicle operated in violation of this section with license plates issued pursuant to this section for a period of five years from the date of conviction.
E. The provisions of this section shall apply to all owners of military surplus motor vehicles registered with the Department under any other provision of this Code prior to July 1, 2018. Such owners shall, based on a schedule and in a manner prescribed by the Department, reregister such vehicle and receive an appropriately designed license plate in accordance with this section. The Department shall cancel the registrations of vehicles owned by persons that, prior to January 1, 2019, do not re-register such vehicle with the Department.
F. Notwithstanding the provisions of 46.2-711 and 46.2-715, military surplus motor vehicles may display single license plates if the original manufacturer's design of the antique motor vehicles allows for the use of only single license plates.
G. Notwithstanding the foregoing provision of this section, military surplus motor vehicles displaying license plates issued pursuant to subsections A and F of this section may be used for general transportation purposes if the following conditions are met:
1. The physical condition of the vehicle's license plate or plates has been inspected and approved by the Department;
2. The license plate or plates are registered to the specific vehicle by the Department;
3. The owner of the vehicle periodically registers the vehicle with the Department and pays a registration fee for the vehicle equal to that which would be charged to obtain regular state license plates for that vehicle;
4. The vehicle passes a periodic safety inspection as provided in Article 21( 46.2-1157 et seq.) of Chapter 10 of this title;
5. The vehicle displays current decals attached to the license plate, issued by the Department, indicating the valid registration period for the vehicle;and
6. When applicable, the vehicle meets the requirement of Article 22 (46.2-1176 et seq.) of Chapter 10 of this title.