46.2-698 - Fees for farm vehicles.
§ 46.2-698. Fees for farm vehicles.
A. The fees for registration of farm motor vehicles having gross weights of7,500 pounds or more, when such vehicles are used exclusively for farm use asdefined in this section, shall be one-half of the fee per 1,000 pounds ofgross weight for private carriers as calculated under the provisions of §46.2-697 and one-half of the fee for overload permits under § 46.2-1128, butthe annual registration fee to be paid for each farm vehicle shall not beless than $15.
B. A farm motor vehicle is used exclusively for farm use:
1. When owned by a person who is engaged either as an owner, renter, oroperator of a farm of a size reasonably requiring the use of such vehicle orvehicles and when such vehicle is:
a. Used in the transportation of agricultural products of the farm he isworking to market, or to other points for sale or processing, or when used totransport materials, tools, equipment, or supplies which are to be used orconsumed on the farm he is working, or when used for any other transportationincidental to the regular operation of such farm;
b. Used in transporting forest products, including forest materialsoriginating on a farm or incident to the regular operation of a farm, to thefarm he is working or transporting for any purpose forest products whichoriginate on the farm he is working; or
c. Used in the transportation of farm produce, supplies, equipment, ormaterials to a farm not worked by him, pursuant to a mutual cooperativeagreement.
2. When the nonfarm use of such motor vehicle is limited to the personal useof the owner and his immediate family in attending church or school, securingmedical treatment or supplies, or securing other household or familynecessities.
C. As used in this section, the term "farm" means one or more areas of landused for the production, cultivation, growing, or harvesting of agriculturalproducts, but does not include a tree farm that is not also a nursery orChristmas tree farm, unless it is part of what otherwise is a farm. As usedin this section, the term "agricultural products" means any nursery plants;Christmas trees; horticultural, viticultural, and other cultivated plants andcrops; aquaculture; dairy; livestock; poultry; bee; or other farm products.
D. The first application for registration of a vehicle under this sectionshall be made on forms provided by the Department and shall include:
1. The location and acreage of each farm on which the vehicle to beregistered is to be used;
2. The type of agricultural commodities, poultry, dairy products or livestockproduced on such farms and the approximate amounts produced annually;
3. A statement, signed by the vehicle's owner, that the vehicle to beregistered will only be used for one or more of the purposes specified insubsection B of this section; and
4. Other information required by the Department.
The above information is not required for the renewal of a vehicle'sregistration under this section.
E. The Department shall issue appropriately designated license plates forthose motor vehicles registered under this section. The manner in which suchlicense plates are designated shall be at the discretion of the Commissioner.
F. The owner of a farm vehicle shall inform the Commissioner within 30 daysor at the time of his next registration renewal, whichever comes first, whensuch vehicle is no longer used exclusively for farm use as defined in thissection, and shall pay the appropriate registration fee for the vehicle basedon its type of operation. It shall constitute a Class 2 misdemeanor to: (i)operate or to permit the operation of any farm motor vehicle for which thefee for registration and license plates is herein prescribed on any highwayin the Commonwealth without first having paid the prescribed registrationfee; or (ii) operate or permit the operation of any motor vehicle, registeredunder this section, for purposes other than as provided under subsection B ofthis section; or (iii) operate as a for-hire vehicle.
G. Nothing in this section shall affect the exemptions of agricultural andhorticultural vehicles under §§ 46.2-664 through 46.2-670.
H. Notwithstanding other provisions of this section, vehicles licensed underthis section may be used by volunteer rescue squad members and volunteerfirefighters in responding to emergency calls, in reporting for regular duty,and in attending squad meetings and drills.
(1976, c. 323, § 46.1-154.3; 1978, c. 29; 1985, c. 424; 1989, cc. 402, 727;1996, cc. 943, 994; 1997, cc. 774, 816; 2004, c. 663.)