Hopewell Vehicle License Fee and Exemptions

Article III of chapter 22 of the city code imposes "an annual local license fee on motor vehicles, trailers, and semitrailers normally garaged, stored, or parked in the city as of January 1" (section 22-36, Ordinance No. 2006-09). Section 22-39 sets the fee: "$20.00" for a motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, "$7.50" for a motorcycle and "$5.00" for all trailers including boat, recreational and utility trailers. The fee "shall appear as a charge on the owners' personal property tax bills, and shall be payable as such taxes are payable", no penalty or interest is assessed for late payment, and the fee is not prorated (section 22-36(c)-(e)). Section 22-36(b) first excepts "vehicles required to be exempted from the imposition of state, county, city and town license or registration fees under the provisions of Title 46.2, Chapter 6, Article 11, Code of Virginia" - the article carrying the section 46.2-755 bar on fees for a disabled veteran's plated vehicle - and then lists the city's own exemptions: Hopewell Emergency Crew vehicles and one per member, one vehicle of an active member of the United States military or the National Guard, city vehicles, and antiques under section 46.2-730.