§ 46.2-2099.50

Requirements for TNC partner vehicles; registration with and identification markers issued by Department; identification markers issued by transportation network company

A. A TNC partner vehicle shall:

1. Be a personal vehicle;

2. Have a seating capacity of no more than eight persons, including the driver;

3. Be validly titled and registered in the Commonwealth or in another state;

4. Not have been issued a certificate of title, either in Virginia or in any other state, branding the vehicle as salvage, nonrepairable, rebuilt, or any equivalent classification;

5. Have a valid Virginia safety inspection and carry proof of that inspection in the vehicle;

6. Be covered under a TNC insurance policy meeting the requirements of § 46.2-2099.51 or 46.2-2099.52, as applicable; and

7. Be registered with the Department for use as a TNC partner vehicle and display an identification marker issued by the Department as provided in subsection B.No TNC partner shall operate a TNC partner vehicle unless that vehicle meets the requirements of this subsection.

B. A vehicle owner, lessee, or TNC partner shall register a personal vehicle for use as a TNC partner vehicle. A TNC partner that is not the vehicle owner or lessee shall, prior to registering any TNC partner vehicle with the Department, secure the consent of each owner, lessor, and lessee of the vehicle as applicable for its registration as a TNC partner vehicle and for its use as a TNC partner vehicle by the TNC partner. A transportation network company shall have the option of registering a TNC partner vehicle on behalf of a TNC partner electronically through a secure portal maintained by the Department provided the TNC partner, if the TNC partner is not the vehicle owner or lessee, certifies that it has secured consent from each owner, lessor, and lessee of the vehicle for its registration as a TNC partner vehicle and for its use as a TNC partner vehicle by the TNC partner.Prior to registering for use as a TNC partner vehicle any vehicle that has been titled and registered in another state, the vehicle owner or lessee, or a transportation network company on behalf of the owner or lessee, shall provide the Department with such information as the Department requires to establish a customer record for that person and that person’s vehicle. A transportation network company shall have the option to submit this information electronically through a secure portal maintained by the Department.For each TNC partner vehicle a transportation network company authorizes, the transportation network company or TNC partner shall provide to the Department, in a form acceptable to the Department, any information reasonably necessary for the Department to identify the vehicle and register it for use as a TNC partner vehicle.Upon registering a vehicle for use as a TNC partner vehicle, the Department shall issue a temporary registration, an identification marker to the vehicle owner or lessee, and a registration card indicating the vehicle’s registration for use as a TNC partner vehicle.The Commissioner may deny, suspend, cancel, or revoke the TNC partner vehicle registration and identification marker for any of the following reasons: (i) the vehicle is not properly registered, (ii) the vehicle does not carry insurance as required by this article, (iii) the vehicle is sold, or (iv) the vehicle is used by a TNC partner in a manner not authorized by this chapter.Registration of a TNC partner vehicle under this subsection shall remain valid until (a) the vehicle is no longer authorized to operate as a TNC partner vehicle by a transportation network company; (b) the TNC partner, vehicle owner, or lessee requests cancellation of the registration; (c) there is a transfer of vehicle ownership, other than a transfer from the lessor of the vehicle to the lessee; (d) the vehicle’s lease terminates and ownership is not transferred to the lessee; or (e) the Department suspends, revokes, or cancels the registration of the vehicle for use as a TNC partner vehicle. The fee for the replacement of a lost, mutilated, or illegible identification marker or registration card shall be the same as the fee set forth in § 46.2-692 for the replacement of a decal or vehicle registration card. However, if the TNC partner vehicle is not titled and registered in Virginia, the replacement fee for an identification marker shall be $ 40.Any vehicle registered with the Department as a personal vehicle and subject to further registration as a TNC partner vehicle pursuant to this section shall be presumed to be used for nonbusiness purposes for the purpose of determining whether it is a qualifying vehicle under § 58.1-3523 absent clear and convincing evidence to the contrary, and any registration pursuant to this section shall not create any presumption of business or commercial use of the vehicle or of business activity on the part of the TNC partner, for purposes of any state or local requirement.

C. Before authorizing a vehicle to be used as a TNC partner vehicle, a transportation network company shall confirm that the vehicle meets the requirements of subsection A and shall provide each TNC partner with proof of any TNC insurance policy maintained by the transportation network company.For each TNC partner vehicle it authorizes, a transportation network company shall issue trade dress to the TNC partner associated with that vehicle. The trade dress shall be sufficient to identify the transportation network company or digital platform with which the vehicle is affiliated and shall be displayed in a manner that complies with Virginia law. The trade dress shall be of such size, shape, and color as to be readily identifiable during daylight hours from a distance of 50 feet while the vehicle is not in motion and shall be reflective, illuminated, or otherwise patently visible in darkness. The trade dress may take the form of a removable device that meets the identification and visibility requirements of this subsection.The transportation network company shall submit to the Department proof that the transportation network company has established the trade dress required under this subsection by filing with the Department an illustration or photograph of the trade dress.A TNC partner shall keep the trade dress issued under this subsection visible at all times while the vehicle is being operated as a TNC partner vehicle.No person shall operate a vehicle bearing trade dress issued under this subsection without the authorization of the transportation network company issuing the trade dress.

D. Any information provided to the Department pursuant to this section, whether held by the Department or another public entity, shall not be subject to disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (§ 2.2-3700 et seq.). Neither the Department nor any such public entity shall disclose any such information to a nongovernmental entity absent a court order or subpoena. In the event information provided pursuant to this section is sought through a court order or subpoena, the Department or other public entity shall promptly notify the transportation network company prior to disclosure so as to afford the transportation network company the opportunity to take appropriate actions to prevent disclosure. The Department shall not disclose such information to a governmental entity other than to enable that entity to perform its governmental function.

History

2015, cc. 2, 3.

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