Legislation (H.B. 878) has been introduced in the Virginia State Legislature by Delegate Mark D. Sickles (DelMSickles@house.virginia.gov) that threatens to provide localities with the authority to raise from $100 to $500 the amount they may charge for an annual license tax for vehicles that do not display current license plates and are not exempted from this requirement. Among the exempted vehicles are parts cars that are stored on private property for fewer than 60 days. However, we believe that this bill represents an opportunity for localities to sidestep local zoning laws that were designed to protect vehicles being restored on private property and incentivizes collection of a substantial tax on owners of restoration projects.
We Urge You to Contact Members of the Virginia House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns (List Below) Immediately to Request Their Opposition to H.B. 878
* H.B. 878 unfairly targets owners of vehicles in the process of long-term restoration as revenue boosters to compensate for state budget shortfalls.
* H.B. 878 ignores the fact that many vehicles in the process of restoration are owned and maintained by low and fixed income Americans who are less able to afford a higher, annual fee for projects that may take more than 2 months to complete.
* H.B. 878 dilutes a Virginia law that limits the ability of localities to implement restrictive ordinances preventing automobile collectors from pursuing their hobby. Under the law, at least two inoperable vehicles (or more, if a locality permits) being actively repaired or restored on private property are exempted from any local ordinance if shielded or screened from public view.
* H.B. 878 allows for an ongoing tax with no basis in the actual value of your vehicle, creating an alternative to the personal property tax from which antique vehicles are currently exempted.
DON'T DELAY! Please contact members of the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns immediately by e-mail to request their opposition to H.B. 878. Please e-mail a copy of your letter to Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org. Thank you for your assistance.
Virginia House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
Delegate Riley E. Ingram (Chair)
Phone: (804) 698-1062
Email: DelRIngram@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Robert G. Marshall
Phone: (804) 698-1013
Email: DelBMarshall@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Daniel W. Marshall III
Phone: (804) 698-1014
Email: DelDMarshall@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Salvatore R. Iaquinto
Phone: (804) 698-1084
Email: DelSIaquinto@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Anne B. Crockett-Stark
Phone: (804) 698-1006
Email: DELACrockett-Stark@House.virginia.gov
Delegate Charles D. Poindexter
Phone: (804) 698-1009
Email: DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Donald W. Merricks
Phone: (804) 698-1016
Email: DelDMerricks@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Barry D. Knight
Phone :(804) 698-1081
Email: DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov
Delegate James W. Morefield
Phone: (804) 698-1003
Email: DelJMorefield@house.virginia.gov
Delegate James E. Edmunds, II
Phone: (804) 698-1060
Email: DelJEdmunds@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Christopher P. Stolle
Phone: (804) 698-1083
Email: DelCStolle@house.virginia.gov
Delegate James M. LeMunyon
Phone: (804) 698-1067
Email: DelJLeMunyon@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Tony O. Wilt
Phone: (804) 698-1026
Email: deltwilt@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Rick L. Morris
Phone: (804) 698-1064
Email: DelRMorris@house.virginia.gov
Delegate M. Keith Hodges
Phone: (804) 698-1098
Email: DelKHodges@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Lionell Spruill, Sr.
Phone: (804) 698-1077
Email: DelLSpruill@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Onzlee Ware
Phone: (804) 698-1011
Email: DelOWare@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Delores L. McQuinn
Phone: (804) 698-1070
Email: DelDMcQuinn@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Algie T. Howell, Jr.
Phone: (804) 698-1090
Email: DelAHowell@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Scott A. Surovell
Phone: (804) 698-1044
Email: DelSSurovell@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Kaye Kory
Phone: (804) 698-1038
Email: DelKKory@house.virginia.gov
Delegate Luke E. Torian
Phone: (804) 698-1052
Email: DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov