Bill Text: VA HB2501 | 2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Driver communication improvement program; DMV to develop and implement program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 20-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2025-01-18 - Fiscal Impact Statement from Department of Planning and Budget (HB2501) [HB2501 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2025-HB2501-Introduced.html
2025 SESSION
INTRODUCED
25100550D
HOUSE BILL NO. 2501
Offered January 8, 2025
Prefiled January 8, 2025
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-203.3, relating to Department of Motor Vehicles; driver communication improvement program.
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Patron—Rasoul
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Committee Referral Pending
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 46.2-203.3 as follows:
§ 46.2-203.3. Driver communication improvement program.
The Department shall develop and implement a program for the promotion, printing, and distribution of envelopes for use by drivers with a disability that can impair communication, as that term is defined in § 46.2-600.1, to provide to a law-enforcement officer for the purpose of easing communication during a traffic stop or upon such law-enforcement officer's arrival at the scene of a traffic accident. Such envelope shall (i) clearly state that the driver may have a disability that can impair communication and have printed directions for law-enforcement officers on best practices for interacting with such driver; (ii) provide space for more information to be written about the driver's communication needs; (iii) be of a sufficient size to fit a vehicle registration card, vehicle insurance card, and emergency contact information; and (iv) have printed directions instructing the driver to place his proof of vehicle registration and insurance in the envelope and provide such envelope and his driver's license to law enforcement if he is ever involved in a traffic stop or traffic accident.
The Department shall make such envelopes available upon request. No person shall be required to identify or provide proof of a disability to receive such envelope. The Department shall not collect or store information identifying any person who has requested or received such envelope, except any information necessary to distribute such envelope to the requestor. No such information shall be stored in any form after the distribution of such envelop is complete.
The Department shall notify any vehicle owner who has indicated that he has a disability that can impair communication pursuant to § 46.2-600.1 and any driver with a driver's license indicator authorized pursuant to subsection K of § 46.2-342 of the program required pursuant to this section and instructions on requesting such envelopes.
