{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/46.2-1201.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/46.2-1201.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/46.2-1201.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/46.2-1201.html"}],"law_id":364868,"edition_id":2,"section_id":364868,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1201","catch_line":"Ordinances","history":"1968, c. 421, \u00a7\u00a7 46.1-555.2, 46.1-555.3; 1989, c. 727; 1997, c. 150.","full_text":"The governing body of any county, city, or town may provide by ordinance for taking abandoned vehicles into custody and disposing of them in accordance with this article.\n\nAny county, city, or town may take any abandoned motor vehicle into custody. The locality may employ its own personnel, equipment, and facilities or hire persons, equipment, and facilities, or firms or corporations that may be independent contractors for removing, preserving, storing, and selling at public auction abandoned motor vehicles.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1359506,"text":"The governing body of any county, city, or town may provide by ordinance for taking abandoned vehicles into custody and disposing of them in accordance with this article.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1359507,"text":"Any county, city, or town may take any abandoned motor vehicle into custody. The locality may employ its own personnel, equipment, and facilities or hire persons, equipment, and facilities, or firms or corporations that may be independent contractors for removing, preserving, storing, and selling at public auction abandoned motor vehicles.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":52077,"edition_id":2,"name":"Abandoned Vehicles","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":52076,"metadata":{"child_laws":14,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:53:00","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:16","permalink":{"id":1456711,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52077,"identifier":"1","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1","url":"\/46.2\/III\/12\/1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52076,"edition_id":2,"name":"Abandoned, Immobilized, Unattended and Trespassing Vehicles; Parking","identifier":"12","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":3,"parent_id":52051,"metadata":{"child_laws":59,"child_structures":4},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:53:00","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:16","permalink":{"id":1456709,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52076,"identifier":"12","token":"46.2\/III\/12","url":"\/46.2\/III\/12\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52051,"edition_id":2,"name":"Operation","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":3,"parent_id":52048,"metadata":{"child_laws":589,"child_structures":55},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:52:29","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:07","permalink":{"id":1455599,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52051,"identifier":"III","token":"46.2\/III","url":"\/46.2\/III\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52048,"edition_id":2,"name":"Motor Vehicles","identifier":"46.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":101,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1830,"child_structures":157},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:52:29","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:02","permalink":{"id":1452291,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52048,"identifier":"46.2","token":"46.2","url":"\/46.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":364867,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1200","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/46.2-1200\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1200","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"CB & PB Enterprises, LLC v. Bryant McCants","case_number":"0046222","citation":null,"date":"2023-01-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9368255\/cb-pb-enterprises-llc-v-bryant-mccants\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Ronald Dean Northcraft v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"1067212","citation":null,"date":"2023-09-26","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9428229\/ronald-dean-northcraft-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"McCants v. CD & PB Enterprises, LLC","case_number":"1230115","citation":null,"date":"2024-02-15","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9475201\/mccants-v-cd-pb-enterprises-llc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"Vasaio v. Department of Motor Vehicles","case_number":"Record 0707-03-2","citation":"590 S.E.2d 596","date":"2004-01-13","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1367909\/vasaio-v-department-of-motor-vehicles\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 590 S.E.2d 596 (2004) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"4":{"name":"Edward A. Vasaio v. Dept. Motor Vehicles,Commonweal","case_number":"0707032","citation":null,"date":"2004-01-13","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1063992\/edward-a-vasaio-v-dept-motor-vehiclescommonweal\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":364864,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1200.1","catch_line":"Abandoning motor vehicles prohibited; penalty","url":"\/46.2-1200.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1200.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":364865,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1200.2","catch_line":"Vehicles registered to active duty military personnel","url":"\/46.2-1200.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1200.2","metadata":false},{"id":364866,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1200.3","catch_line":"Limitation on removal and sale of abandoned vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1200.3\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1200.3","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Ronald Dean Northcraft v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"1067212","citation":null,"date":"2023-09-26","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9428229\/ronald-dean-northcraft-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":364868,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1201","catch_line":"Ordinances","url":"\/46.2-1201\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1201","metadata":false},{"id":364871,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1202","catch_line":"Search for owner and secured party; notice","url":"\/46.2-1202\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1202","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"CB & PB Enterprises, LLC v. Bryant McCants","case_number":"0046222","citation":null,"date":"2023-01-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9368255\/cb-pb-enterprises-llc-v-bryant-mccants\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Ronald Dean Northcraft v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"1067212","citation":null,"date":"2023-09-26","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9428229\/ronald-dean-northcraft-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"McCants v. CD & PB Enterprises, LLC","case_number":"1230115","citation":null,"date":"2024-02-15","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9475201\/mccants-v-cd-pb-enterprises-llc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"United States v. Crews","case_number":"No. 01-4308","citation":"28 F. App'x 247","date":"2002-01-23","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7214366\/united-states-v-crews\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. OPINION .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"4":{"name":"United States v. B.C. Enterprises, Inc.","case_number":"Civ. 2:08cv590","citation":"667 F. Supp. 2d 650","date":"2009-11-06","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2331165\/united-states-v-bc-enterprises-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 667 F.Supp.2d 650 (2009) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"}}}},{"id":364869,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1202.1","catch_line":"Vehicle Removal Certificates","url":"\/46.2-1202.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1202.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Ronald Dean Northcraft v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"1067212","citation":null,"date":"2023-09-26","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9428229\/ronald-dean-northcraft-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":364870,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1202.2","catch_line":"Notice of intent to auction and sale of vehicle; posting requirements","url":"\/46.2-1202.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1202.2","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":364872,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1203","catch_line":"Sale of vehicle at public auction by locality; disposition of proceeds","url":"\/46.2-1203\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1203","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":364873,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1204","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/46.2-1204\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1204","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":364874,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1205","catch_line":"Disposition of inoperable abandoned vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1205\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1205","metadata":false},{"id":364875,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1206","catch_line":"Surrender of certificate of title, etc., where motor vehicle acquired for demolition; records to be kept by demolisher or scrap metal processor","url":"\/46.2-1206\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1206","metadata":false},{"id":364876,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1207","catch_line":"Certification of disposal; reimbursement of locality by Commissioner","url":"\/46.2-1207\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1207","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":364877,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1208","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/46.2-1208\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1208","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}}],"previous_section":{"id":364866,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1200.3","catch_line":"Limitation on removal and sale of abandoned vehicles","url":"\/46.2-1200.3\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1200.3","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"Ronald Dean Northcraft v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"1067212","citation":null,"date":"2023-09-26","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9428229\/ronald-dean-northcraft-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"}}}},"next_section":{"id":364871,"structure_id":52077,"section_number":"46.2-1202","catch_line":"Search for owner and secured party; notice","url":"\/46.2-1202\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1202","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"CB & PB Enterprises, LLC v. Bryant McCants","case_number":"0046222","citation":null,"date":"2023-01-17","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9368255\/cb-pb-enterprises-llc-v-bryant-mccants\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Ronald Dean Northcraft v. Commonwealth of Virginia","case_number":"1067212","citation":null,"date":"2023-09-26","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9428229\/ronald-dean-northcraft-v-commonwealth-of-virginia\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"2":{"name":"McCants v. CD & PB Enterprises, LLC","case_number":"1230115","citation":null,"date":"2024-02-15","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/9475201\/mccants-v-cd-pb-enterprises-llc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. PRESENT: All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"},"3":{"name":"United States v. Crews","case_number":"No. 01-4308","citation":"28 F. App'x 247","date":"2002-01-23","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/7214366\/united-states-v-crews\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. OPINION .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit"},"4":{"name":"United States v. B.C. Enterprises, Inc.","case_number":"Civ. 2:08cv590","citation":"667 F. Supp. 2d 650","date":"2009-11-06","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/2331165\/united-states-v-bc-enterprises-inc\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 667 F.Supp.2d 650 (2009) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"District Court, E.D. Virginia"}}}},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-1201\/","history_text":"<p>This law was first created in 1968. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 421 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1968 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 2 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1989, chapter 727; in 1997, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?971+ful+CHAP0150\">150<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1456729,"object_type":"law","relational_id":364868,"identifier":"46.2-1201","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1201","url":"\/46.2-1201\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-1201\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/1\/46.2-1201","dublin_core":{"Title":"Ordinances","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-1201","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>The <span class=\"dictionary\">governing body<\/span> of any county, city, or town may provide by <span class=\"dictionary\">ordinance<\/span> for taking abandoned <span class=\"dictionary\">vehicles<\/span> into <span class=\"dictionary\">custody<\/span> and disposing of them in accordance with this article.<\/p><p>Any county, city, or town may take any <span class=\"dictionary\">abandoned motor vehicle<\/span> into <span class=\"dictionary\">custody<\/span>. The locality may employ its own personnel, equipment, and facilities or hire persons, equipment, and facilities, or firms or corporations that may be independent contractors for removing, preserving, storing, and selling at public auction <span class=\"dictionary\">abandoned motor vehicles<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nORDINANCES (\u00a7 46.2-1201)\n\nThe governing body of any county, city, or town may provide by ordinance for\ntaking abandoned vehicles into custody and disposing of them in accordance with\nthis article.\n\nAny county, city, or town may take any abandoned motor vehicle into custody. The\nlocality may employ its own personnel, equipment, and facilities or hire\npersons, equipment, and facilities, or firms or corporations that may be\nindependent contractors for removing, preserving, storing, and selling at public\nauction abandoned motor vehicles.\n\nHISTORY: 1968, c. 421, \u00a7\u00a7 46.1-555.2, 46.1-555.3; 1989, c. 727; 1997, c. 150.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}