Fine For Out-Of-State Plates Coming To Falls Church

FALLS CHURCH, VA—A $100 fine for vehicles registered in Falls Church without Virginia license plates goes into effect March 1. The new fine brings the city up to date with surrounding jurisdictions already imposing the fine.

The new policy aims to encourage residents to comply with state and local car registration laws. State enforcement of the license plate policy falls under the Department of Motor Vehicles' jurisdiction. The state imposes a $250 fine for anyone not properly registering their vehicles in Virginia.

The $100 Falls Church fine will be billed annually like the personal property tax.

Certain residents can be exempted, including:

• Taxpayers with Virginia license plates
• Taxpayers who have their vehicle titled and registered in Virginia within 30 days of moving to the City of Falls Church
• Owners of the following vehicles:
  • Active-Duty Military personnel and/or their spouses who have been exempted from the Personal Property tax;
  • Members of the U.S. Senate and Congress, taxicabs, and vehicles registered with the U.S. Department of State that have diplomatic license plates; and,
  • Those full-time students attending school in Virginia that have been exempted from Personal Property tax in Falls Church. (Exception – if full-time students are gainfully employed — except in limited circumstances related to degree requirements of financial aid programs — they will be subject to the out-of-state plate fee.)

If full-time students use a parent's car, the parent could be charged the fine if the car is in the city for over six months per year or the student attends school outside Virginia. Short-term residents must also pay the fine. The $100 tax will not be prorated like the personal property tax.

City Council adopted the policy on Jan. 8. The City of Alexandria, Fairfax County and Arlington County all charge fines for non-Virginia plates already.

Image via City of Falls Church