WEST virginia legislature

2019 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 2868

By Delegates  Howell, McGeehan, Criss, Fast, Pack, Sypolt, Harshbarger, Hanna, Mandt, Bibby and Hardy

[Introduced February 6, 2019; Referred
to the Committee on Government Organization.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section designated §17A-3-23a; relating to requiring federal agencies register vehicles based in this state; providing terms to be used on a federal vehicle plate; providing for notification to be given to federal agencies with vehicles based in this state; providing for similar fees based on the vehicle class at the time of registration; and providing an effective date.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

article 3. original and renewal of registration; issuance of certificates of title.

§17A-3-23a. Registration plates to federal government vehicles.

(a) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall create a new special license plate for all federal vehicles that are based in this state. For purposes of this section the term “based” means the vehicle’s primary use and operation occurs within this state. The plate may be any color or graphic schematic but must contain the phrases “US Gov Vehicle” and “West Virginia” somewhere on the plate. The plate shall be the same size as a regular registration plate. The plate must be attached to the front of the vehicle. The vehicle must have attached to the rear a plate bearing a number or any other words or figures as the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles shall prescribe; Provided, That the same color or graphic is used on the rear plate. By July 1, 2019, the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles must notify all federal agencies of the vehicles required to be registered in this state pursuant to this section.

(b) The Commissioner of Motor Vehicles may issue an unlimited number of federal government plates to federal agencies. All registration fees shall correspond to the class of the vehicle to be registered.

(c) By January 1, 2020 all federal vehicles based in this state must be registered and bear a registration plate as specified in this section.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to require federal agencies register federal vehicles based in this state with the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles; establish required phrases on the plate; a fee structure already used for vehicle classification at the time of registration; providing for notification to federal agencies; and establishing an effective date.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.