Virginia SB 81: Law-enforcement officers, state and local; enforcement of federal traffic infractions.

Bill Text

2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26100616D

SENATE BILL NO. 81

Offered January 14, 2026

Prefiled December 27, 2025

A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-882.1 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-102.1, relating to enforcement of federal traffic infractions by state and local law-enforcement officers; photo speed monitoring devices; Planning District 8.

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Patron—Surovell

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Referred to Committee on Transportation

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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 46.2-882.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 46.2-102.1 as follows:

§ 46.2-102.1. Enforcement of federal traffic infractions by state and local law-enforcement officers; Planning District 8.

A. Any person operating a motor vehicle on any highway within Planning District 8 who is guilty of any traffic infraction that, although not made punishable by any provisions of this title, or any regulation adopted pursuant to this title, or any local ordinances adopted pursuant to the authority granted in this title, is punishable by the federal laws and regulations in force at the time of such infraction if committed on any highway within Planning District 8, including any highway located on property where the Commonwealth has transferred such property to the federal government subject to concurrent jurisdiction pursuant to Chapter 4 (§ 1-400 et seq.) of Title 1 or Chapter 494 of the Acts of Assembly of 1926, is guilty of a like offense and subject to a like punishment.

B. Any state or local law-enforcement officer authorized to enforce the provisions of this title pursuant to § 46.2-102 may enforce the provisions of this section on any highway within Planning District 8.

C. A violation of this section may be charged on the uniform traffic summons form, and any action under this section shall be brought in the general district court of the city or county in which the violation occurred. The procedure for appeal and trial of any violation of this section shall be the same as provided by law for misdemeanors; if requested by either party on appeal to the circuit court, trial by jury shall be as provided in Article 4 (§ 19.2-260 et seq.) of Chapter 15 of Title 19.2, and the Commonwealth shall be required to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

§ 46.2-882.1. Use of photo speed monitoring devices in highway work zones, school crossing zones, high-risk intersection segments, and National Park highways; civil penalty.

A. For the purposes of this section:

"High-risk intersection segment" means any highway or portion thereof located not more than 1,000 feet from the limits of the property of a school that is part of or adjacent to an intersection containing a marked crosswalk that is identified in the manner provided in this section as one in which a traffic fatality has occurred since January 1, 2014.

"Highway work zone" has the same meaning ascribed to it in § 46.2-878.1.

"National Park highway" means any highway within Planning District 8 that is located on property where the Commonwealth has transferred such property to the federal government subject to concurrent jurisdiction pursuant to Chapter 4 (§ 1-400 et seq.) of Title 1 or Chapter 494 of the Acts of Assembly of 1926 and such highway is maintained by the National Park Service.

"Photo speed monitoring device" means equipment that uses radar or LIDAR-based speed detection and produces one or more photographs, microphotographs, videotapes, or other recorded images of vehicles.

"School crossing zone" has the same meaning ascribed to it in § 46.2-873.

"Vehicle speed violation" means a violation of this title resulting from the operation of a vehicle in excess of the speed limit, including a violation of § 46.2-102.1, 46.2-873, or 46.2-878.1.

B. A state or local law-enforcement agency may place and operate a photo speed monitoring device in school crossing zones for the purposes of recording violations of § 46.2-873 and in highway work zones for the purposes of recording violations of § 46.2-878.1.

A state or local law-enforcement agency may place and operate a photo speed monitoring device at a high-risk intersection segment located within the locality for the purpose of recording vehicle speed violations, provided that such law-enforcement agency certifies that a traffic fatality has occurred since January 1, 2014, in such segment.

A state or local law-enforcement agency may place and operate a photo speed monitoring device on a National Park highway for the purpose of recording vehicle speed violations, pursuant to § 46.2-102.1, provided that such law-enforcement agency has been authorized by the federal government or the National Park Service to place such photo speed monitoring device on such National Park highway.

C. The operator of a vehicle shall be liable for a monetary civil penalty imposed pursuant to this section if such