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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>364867</law_id><section_number>46.2-1200</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><referred_to_by><reference>23.1-104</reference><reference>46.2-1200.1</reference><reference>46.2-1209</reference><reference>46.2-1213</reference><reference>46.2-920.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="101" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="3" identifier="III">Operation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="3" identifier="12">Abandoned, Immobilized, Unattended and Trespassing Vehicles; Parking</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="1">Abandoned Vehicles</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this article:<br/><br/>		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Abandoned motor vehicle</span>&#x201D; means a motor vehicle, <span class="dictionary">trailer</span>, or <span class="dictionary">semitrailer</span> that:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Weighs at least 75 pounds; and <a id="paragraph-1359502" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1200/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> (i) Is left unattended on public property for more than 48 hours in violation of a state <span class="dictionary">law</span> or local <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>; <a id="paragraph-1359503" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1200/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2ii" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">ii.</span> has remained for more than 48 hours on private property without the consent of the property&#x2019;s <span class="dictionary">owner</span>, regardless of whether it was brought onto the private property with the consent of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> or person in control of the private property; or <a id="paragraph-1359504" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1200/#2ii"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2iii" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">iii.</span> is left unattended on the <span class="dictionary">shoulder</span> of a primary <span class="dictionary">highway</span>.
				&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Scrap metal processor</span>&#x201D; means any person who is engaged in the business of processing <span class="dictionary">motor vehicles</span> into scrap for remelting purposes who, from a fixed location, utilizes machinery and equipment for processing and manufacturing ferrous and nonferrous metallic scrap into prepared grades, and whose principal product is metallic scrap.<br/><br/>				&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Vehicle removal certificate</span>&#x201D; means a transferable document issued by the <span class="dictionary">Department</span> for any <span class="dictionary">abandoned motor vehicle</span> that authorizes the removal and destruction of the vehicle. <a id="paragraph-1359505" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-1200/#2iii"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1968, c. 421, &#xA7; 46.1-555.1; 1978, c. 348; 1989, c. 727; 1997, c. 431; 2009, c. 664; 2011, cc. 487, 824; 2020, c. 977.</history><metadata><court_decisions><item key="0"><name>CB &amp; PB Enterprises, LLC v. Bryant McCants</name><case_number>0046222</case_number><citation></citation><date>2023-01-17</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/9368255/cb-pb-enterprises-llc-v-bryant-mccants/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="1"><name>Ronald Dean Northcraft v. Commonwealth of Virginia</name><case_number>1067212</case_number><citation></citation><date>2023-09-26</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/9428229/ronald-dean-northcraft-v-commonwealth-of-virginia/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="2"><name>McCants v. CD &amp; PB Enterprises, LLC</name><case_number>1230115</case_number><citation></citation><date>2024-02-15</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/9475201/mccants-v-cd-pb-enterprises-llc/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. PRESENT: All the Justices .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Supreme Court of Virginia">SCV</abbr></court_html></item><item key="3"><name>Vasaio v. Department of Motor Vehicles</name><case_number>Record 0707-03-2</case_number><citation>590 S.E.2d 596</citation><date>2004-01-13</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1367909/vasaio-v-department-of-motor-vehicles/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. 590 S.E.2d 596 (2004) .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item><item key="4"><name>Edward A. Vasaio v. Dept. Motor Vehicles,Commonweal</name><case_number>0707032</case_number><citation></citation><date>2004-01-13</date><url>https://www.courtlistener.com/opinion/1063992/edward-a-vasaio-v-dept-motor-vehiclescommonweal/</url><abstract> .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA .&#x202F;.&#x202F;. </abstract><court_html><abbr title="Court of Appeals">COA</abbr></court_html></item></court_decisions></metadata></law>
