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§24A-6A-1. Filing of interstate commerce commission authority required; exception.
No motor carrier shall operate within the borders of this state under authority issued by the interstate commerce commission (hereinafter referred to as I.C.C.) unless and until it shall have filed with this commission a copy of such authority. However, a motor carrier shall only be required to file with this commission that portion of its authority permitting operation within the borders of this state. A motor carrier shall not be required to file with this commission an emergency or temporary operating authority having a duration of thirty consecutive days or less if such carrier has: (a) Registered its other authority and identified its vehicles or driveaway operation under the provisions of this chapter, and (b) furnished to this commission a telegram or other written communication describing such emergency or temporary operating authority and stating that operation thereunder shall be in full accord with the requirements of this chapter. Each motor carrier shall file with the commission its designation of a local agent service of process on the uniform application for registration of interstate operating authority as promulgated by the ICC; except that such form need not be filed if the designation has been filed with the commission pursuant to 49 U.S.C., Section 10330(b).

§24A-6A-2. Prior registration.
A motor carrier need not register under the provisions of this article any authority issued by the I.C.C. permitting operation within the borders of this state, when the same was properly filed with the commission at the time this article became effective.

§24A-6A-3. When registration of vehicles required.
No motor carrier subject to the provisions of section one of this article shall operate any motor vehicle within the borders of this state unless and until such vehicle, other than one used in driveaway operation, shall have been registered with this commission in accordance with the provisions of this article.

§24A-6A-4. Application for, issuance and use of identification stamps and cab cards; expiration of registration and identification.
(a) On or before the thirty-first day of December of each calendar year, but not earlier than the preceding first day of October, such motor carrier shall apply to the commission for the issuance of an identification stamp or stamps for the registration and identification of the vehicle or vehicles which it intends to operate, or driveaway operations which it intends to conduct, within the borders of this state during the ensuing year. Such motor carrier may thereafter file one or more supplemental applications for additional stamps if the need therefor arises or is anticipated.

(b) If the commission determines that the motor carrier has complied with all applicable provisions of this chapter, the commission shall issue to the motor carrier the number of identification stamps requested.

(c) An identification stamp issued under the provisions of this article shall be used for the purpose of registering and identifying a vehicle or driveaway operation as being operated or conducted by a motor carrier under authority issued by the I.C.C., and shall not be used for the purpose of distinguishing between the vehicles operated by the same motor carrier. A motor carrier receiving an identification stamp under the provisions of this article shall not knowingly permit the use of same by any other person or organization.

(d) The commission shall require the motor carrier to accompany such application with a list identifying each vehicle (other than one to be used in driveaway operations) which it intends to operate within the borders of this state during the ensuing year. The commission shall further require the motor carrier to keep such list current by filing with it an identification of each vehicle acquired for operation within the borders of this state and each vehicle whose operation is discontinued therein after the filing of such list. The filing of an identification of such newly acquired or discontinued vehicle shall be made with the commission on or before the sixteenth day after the motor carrier initiates or discontinues operation of the vehicle within the borders of this state.

(e) On or before the thirty-first day of December of each calendar year, but not earlier than the preceding first day of October, such motor carrier shall apply to the national association of regulatory utility commissioners (hereinafter referred to as NARUC) for the issuance of a sufficient supply of uniform identification cab cards for use in connection with the registration and identification of the vehicle or vehicles which it intends to operate, or driveaway operations which it intends to conduct, within the borders of this state during the ensuing year.

(f) A motor carrier receiving a cab card under the provisions of this article shall not knowingly permit the use of same by any other person or organization. Prior to operating a vehicle, or conducting a driveaway operation, within the borders of this state during the ensuing year, the motor carrier shall place one of such identification stamps on the back of a cab card in the square bearing the name of this state in such a manner that the same cannot be removed without defacing it. The motor carrier shall thereupon duly complete and execute the form or certificate printed on the front of the cab card so as to identify itself and such vehicle or driveaway operation.

(g) The registration and identification of a vehicle or driveaway operation under the provisions of this article and the identification stamp evidencing same and the cab card prepared therefor shall become void on the first day of January in the succeeding calendar year, unless such registration is terminated prior thereto.

§24A-6A-5. Form and execution of application for identification stamp; fee; option of commission to issue stamp, card or combination thereof.
The application for the issuance of such identification stamp or stamps shall be in the form prescribed by the commission. The application shall be duly completed and executed by an official of the motor carrier, and shall be accompanied by a three dollar fee for the issuance of each identification stamp. However, the fee for each vehicle identification issued for the period beginning the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-one, and expiring the first day of February, one thousand nine hundred seventy-three, shall be five dollars. For the period beginning the first day of July, one thousand nine hundred seventy-one, and expiring the first day of February, one thousand nine hundred seventy-three, the commission shall have the option to issue either a vehicle identification stamp or a vehicle identification card as presently authorized under subdivision (a), section six, article six of this chapter or a combination of such stamp and such card.

§24A-6A-6. Form of identification stamp.
Any identification stamp issued under the provisions of this article by the commission shall bear its name or symbol and such other distinctive markings or information, if any, as the commission deems appropriate. The stamp shall be in the shape of a square and shall not exceed one inch in diameter.

§24A-6A-7. Form of cab card.
The cab card shall be in the form prescribed by the NARUC and the commission.

§24A-6A-8. Use of cab cards in connection with vehicles not used in driveaway operations.
In the case of a vehicle not used in a driveaway operation, the cab card shall be maintained in the cab of such vehicle for which prepared whenever the vehicle is operated under the authority of the carrier identified in the cab card. Such cab cards shall not be used for any vehicle except the vehicle for which it was originally prepared. A motor carrier shall not prepare two or more cab cards which are effective for the same vehicle at the same time.

§24A-6A-9. Use of cab cards in driveaway operations.
In the case of a driveaway operation, the cab card shall be maintained in the cab of the vehicle furnishing the motive power for the driveaway operation whenever such an operation is conducted under the authority of the carrier identified in the cab card.

§24A-6A-10. Inspection of cab cards.
A cab card shall, upon demand, be presented by the driver to any authorized commission personnel for inspection.

§24A-6A-11. Destruction or nullification of cab cards.
(a) Each motor carrier shall destroy a cab card immediately upon its expiration.

(b) If a motor carrier permanently discontinues the use of a vehicle for which a cab card has been prepared, it shall nullify the cab card at the time of such discontinuance.

§24A-6A-12. Alteration, loss, mutilation, etc., of cab cards.
(a) Any erasure, improper alteration or unauthorized use of a cab card shall render it void.

(b) If a cab card is lost, destroyed, mutilated or becomes illegible, a new cab card may be prepared and new identification stamps may be issued therefor upon application by the motor carrier and upon payment of the same fee prescribed for the original issuance thereof.

§24A-6A-13. Collection of state taxes and fees not affected.
Nothing in this article shall be construed to affect the collection or method of collection of taxes or fees by this state from motor carriers for the operation of vehicles within the borders of this state.

§24A-6A-14. Participation in the single state registration system.

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article to the contrary, on or before the thirty-first day of December, one thousand nine hundred ninety-three, the commission shall promulgate rules implementing a single state registration system, in lieu of the identification stamp and cab card system provided in this article, for motor carriers operating within the borders of this state pursuant to authority granted, or exempt status conferred, by the interstate commerce commission. The single state registration system shall be instituted pursuant to the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991, as implemented by the interstate commerce commission.

(b) The commission is further authorized to employ ten persons, who shall be in the classified exempt service, to facilitate enforcement of duties imposed upon the commission in this chapter.

§24A-6A-15. Unified Carrier Registration System.
(a) The Public Service Commission is designated as the appropriate state agency to implement and enforce the Unified Carrier Registration System established by the Federal Unified Carrier Registration Act of 2005, 49 U.S.C. §14504a, as amended.

(b) The commission is authorized to promulgate rules pursuant to its general rule-making authority, if necessary, including emergency rules, to implement the federal law and regulations established under the Unified Carrier Registration Act of 2005.

Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session