<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>365385</law_id><section_number>46.2-2139</section_number><catch_line>Surrender of license plate and registration card; removal by law enforcement; operation of vehicle denied</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="101" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="5" identifier="V">Motor Carriers</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="2" identifier="21">Regulation of Property Carriers</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Motor Carriers of Property -- Generally</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> It shall be unlawful for a permittee or certificate holder whose <span class="dictionary">permit</span> or certificate has expired or been revoked or suspended or whose renewal thereof has been denied pursuant to this chapter to fail or refuse to surrender, on demand, to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> and registration cards issued under this title. <a id="paragraph-1361397" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-2139/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> It shall be unlawful for a <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> <span class="dictionary">owner</span> who is not the holder of a valid <span class="dictionary">permit</span> or certificate or whose <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> is not validly leased to a <span class="dictionary">motor carrier</span> holding an active <span class="dictionary">permit</span> or certificate to fail or refuse to surrender to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> on demand <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> and registration cards issued under this title. <a id="paragraph-1361398" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-2139/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If any <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> finds that a <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> bearing Virginia <span class="dictionary">license plates</span> or temporary transport plates is in violation of subsection A or B, such <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> may remove the <span class="dictionary">license plate</span> or plates and registration card. If a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> removes a <span class="dictionary">license plate</span> or registration card, he shall forward such <span class="dictionary">license plate</span> and registration card to the <span class="dictionary">Department</span>. <a id="paragraph-1361399" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-2139/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> When informed that a <span class="dictionary">motor carrier</span> <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> is being operated in violation of this section, the <span class="dictionary">driver</span> shall drive the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> to a nearby location off the public <span class="dictionary">highways</span> and not remove it or allow it to be moved until the <span class="dictionary">motor carrier</span> is in compliance with all provisions of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-1361400" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-2139/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2001, c. 596; 2015, c. 258; 2017, cc. 790, 815.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
