[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Council of
the Town of Hillsville 10-11-1978 as Ch. 17 of the 1978 Code; amended in its entirety 2-24-2015. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
The provisions of this chapter apply to all motor vehicles,
trailers, semi-trailers, motorcycles, and other similar vehicles normally
garaged, stored, or parked within the corporate limits of Hillsville,
Virginia. There shall be levied and assessed a license fee for the
Town of Hillsville from the owner of every motor vehicle owned by
residents of the Town. Payment of a local vehicle registration license
fee is required as provided herein, however, effective 2015 there
is no longer any vehicle registration decal to purchase or display.
A.
This chapter is adopted for the purpose of providing the necessary
regulation for levying of license taxes and fees on motor vehicles,
trailers, semi-trailers, motorcycles, and other similar vehicles,
and to prescribe penalties for the violations of the same.
B.
Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in
this chapter, shall have the meaning ascribed to them in the Code
of Virginia, 1950 as amended:
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Ambulance
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Bus
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Motor bike
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Motor scooter
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Motor vehicle
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Motorcycle
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Semi-trailer
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Tractor truck
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Trailer
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Vehicle
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There shall be levied and assessed a license tax and fee ("license
fee") on every registered and licensed motor vehicle, trailer, semi-trailer,
tractor truck, motorcycle, and other similar vehicles ("vehicle"),
normally garaged, stored, or parked within the Corporate Boundary
of the Town of Hillsville, Virginia. It shall be presumed that any
person who has acquired a valid current state license plate and/or
registration for any vehicle normally garaged, stored, or parked in
the Town, or who lists upon the records of the Department of Motor
Vehicles that such vehicle is kept within the Town and that any person
residing in, or having their place of business within the Town and
owning vehicles, that such vehicles are subject to the Town vehicle
license fee. If it cannot be determined where the vehicle is normally
garaged, stored or parked, then the situs for the Town vehicle license
fee imposed by the Town shall be the domicile of the owner of the
vehicle. Nothing herein shall construe to require a Town vehicle license
fee of a person exempt from the payment of a license fee under the
applicable provisions of state law or on any vehicle normally garaged,
stored, or parked in the County of Carroll.
[Added 3-13-2017[1]]
The Town shall furnish one vehicle license free of charge to
each member of the Fire Department, and to each member of the County
Rescue Squad, provided that there are no delinquent accounts with
the Town.
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former § 163-4,
Persons moving into Town.
[Amended 6-27-2016]
The license fee year shall commence on January 1st of each year
and shall end on December 31 of each year beginning on January 1,
2015. The fee is due and payable on or before December 5. The Town
Treasurer shall assess the Town vehicle license fee as such vehicles
are registered upon the records of the Virginia Division of Motor
Vehicles and/or based upon information obtained by the County Commissioner
of Revenue, and the Town Treasurer shall bill the owner of the vehicle
at the time personal property tax bills are sent. Any owner of any
vehicle subject to the Town vehicle license fee who acquires or disposes
of any vehicle or otherwise causes a vehicle to be subject to or exempt
from the Town vehicle license fee at any time during any year shall,
within 10 days of such change, notify the Town Treasurer of such change
and, if required, pay the applicable Town vehicle license fee imposed
on such vehicle(s). For owners that sell a vehicle less than six months
of the year and do not replace the vehicle, license fees may be relieved
if proof is presented to the Town Treasurer.
Subject to the provisions of this chapter, there shall be assessed
an annual Town vehicle license fee upon each and every registered
automobile, passenger vehicle, bus, motorcycle, motor scooter, motor
bike, truck, semi-trailer, ambulance and other similar vehicles an
amount that is set annually as part of the fiscal year. The fee(s)
for Calendar Year 2015 are $25 for each and every automobile, passenger
vehicle, and bus; upon each and every registered trailer, motorcycle,
motor scooter, or motor bike the fee of $16 for Calendar Year 2015;
upon each and every truck, semi-trailer, ambulance and other similar
vehicles a fee of $25 for Calendar Year 2015. No Town license fee
shall exceed the amount permitted by the applicable provisions of
state law. There will be no prorating of the Town license fee; provided;
however, that should the current year fee be assessed on a vehicle
which is sold or traded within that year to obtain a replacement vehicle,
no additional fee shall be due on the replacement vehicle for that
tax year but the one fee shall be paid.
No vehicle shall be licensed until all personal property taxes
upon the vehicle and all delinquent personal property taxes on any
vehicle owed by the owner of such vehicle which has been assessed
or are assessable against the owner by the Town have been paid. No
vehicle shall be licensed until the tangible personal property taxes
properly assessed or assessable by the Town on any tangible personal
property taxes used or usable as a dwelling titled by the Division
of Motor Vehicles and owned by the taxpayer have been paid.
Every person who violates any provision of this chapter shall
be guilty of a Class 4 Misdemeanor with a fine not to exceed $100.
Prepayment of fine, upon waiver of appearance and plea of guilty,
shall not be accepted until a receipt from the Town Treasurer is produced
evidencing payment of the applicable Town license fee.
A.
The Treasurer is authorized to enter into an agreement with the Commissioner
of the Division of Motor Vehicles whereby the Commissioner will refuse
to issue or renew any vehicle registration of any applicant therefor
who owes the Town of Hillsville any local license fees issued to the
residents of the Town. Before being issued any vehicle registration,
the applicant shall first satisfy DMV that all such local vehicle
license fees have been paid in full.
B.
The DMV and Treasurer shall charge a reasonable fee to cover costs
of such enforcement action, and the Treasurer shall add the cost of
this DMV fee to the delinquent tax bill.
C.
The Treasurer shall notify DMV in the manner provided for in the
agreement with DMV and supply to DMV information necessary to identify
the debtor for whom registration or renewal is to be denied.
