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HB 4161WEST VIRGINIASession 2026State Billdead

Did Not Advance

West Virginia Bill HB 4161 outlaws parking out-of-state vehicles at residences for over 90 days

Original title: Providing authority for West Virginia law enforcement agencies to fine individual vehicle owners who fail to register their vehicle that have been parked at their residence for more than sixty days

Last action · January 14, 2026: To House JudiciarySponsor: Kump

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Proposed

West Virginia law enforcement agencies are authorized to penalize vehicle owners who keep a motor vehicle with out-of-state license plates parked at a residence for more than 90 days. The measure establishes criminal penalties and amends existing motor vehicle registration statutes.

Why it matters

Vehicle owners residing in West Virginia with out-of-state registrations face misdemeanor charges, fines, or jail time if unregistered vehicles remain parked at their homes past the 90-day threshold.

Background

The West Virginia Legislature is the state's bicameral lawmaking body responsible for enacting statutes governing vehicle registration and traffic laws. context

Who It Would Have Affected

Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

West Virginia vehicle owners

Vehicle owners must comply with new restrictions on parking out-of-state registered vehicles at their residences or face misdemeanor penalties.

Directly affected

West Virginia law enforcement agencies

Law enforcement agencies gain specific authority to penalize individuals keeping out-of-state plated vehicles parked at residences past 90 days.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who does this bill affect?

The bill affects West Virginia residents who store or park vehicles with out-of-state license plates at their residences for more than 90 days.

Are college students and military members exempt?

Yes. Students attending an educational institution in West Virginia with a valid out-of-state license and registration, and active-duty Armed Forces members stationed in or outside the state with proper registration in their home state, are not considered residents under this section.

What is the penalty for violating this rule?

Violators are guilty of a misdemeanor and subject to fines, imprisonment, or both, as outlined in §17A-3-1(b) of the West Virginia code.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.

Procedural history

4 actions

Jan 14, 2026HouseCommittee
To House Judiciary
Jan 14, 2026HouseIntroduced
Introduced in House
Jan 14, 2026HouseCommittee
To Judiciary
Jan 14, 2026HouseIntroduced
Filed for introduction

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Expanded Enforcement on Out-of-State Vehicle Registrations

The bill shifts enforcement by explicitly prohibiting long-term parking of out-of-state vehicles at residential properties and establishing criminal misdemeanor penalties.

West Virginia Legislature Kump

Connected Entities

Kump, West Virginia Legislature

PersonKump“Delegate who introduced House Bill 4161”Map →

OrganizationWest Virginia Legislature“Legislative body considering the bill”Map →

Sources

Open source document

www.wvlegislature.gov

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance20
Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 50)
Controversy45
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment10
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz25
Current news / social attention level

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