{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-1309.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-1309.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-1309.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-1309.html"}],"law_id":61406,"edition_id":1,"section_id":61406,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1309","catch_line":"Officers may direct traffic; signals","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 46-201, 46-202; 1954, c. 380; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 46.1-183; 1966, c. 607; 1989, c. 727; 1995, c. 473.","full_text":"Law-enforcement officers and uniformed school crossing guards may direct traffic by signals. Such signals other than by voice shall be as follows:\n\t\t1.\u00a0To stop traffic by hand. — Stand with shoulders parallel to moving traffic. Raise arms forty-five degrees above shoulder with hand extended, palm towards moving traffic to be stopped.\n\t\t2.\u00a0To move traffic by hand. — Stand with shoulders parallel to traffic to be moved. Extend right arm and hand full length at height of shoulders towards such traffic, fingers extended and joined, palm down. Bring hand sharply in direction traffic is to move. Repeat movement with left arm and hand to start traffic from opposite direction.\n\t\t3.\u00a0To stop and start traffic by whistle. — One blast, moving traffic to stop; two blasts, traffic in opposite direction to move.\n\t\t4.\u00a0Emergency stop of traffic by whistle. — Three or more short blasts, all traffic shall immediately clear the intersection and stop.\n\t\tSuch law-enforcement officers and uniformed school crossing guards may also use supplemental traffic direction devices, including but not limited to hand-held stop or go signs, in directing traffic as provided in this section.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":224304,"text":"Law-enforcement officers and uniformed school crossing guards may direct traffic by signals. Such signals other than by voice shall be as follows:\n\t\t1.\u00a0To stop traffic by hand. — Stand with shoulders parallel to moving traffic. Raise arms forty-five degrees above shoulder with hand extended, palm towards moving traffic to be stopped.\n\t\t2.\u00a0To move traffic by hand. — Stand with shoulders parallel to traffic to be moved. Extend right arm and hand full length at height of shoulders towards such traffic, fingers extended and joined, palm down. Bring hand sharply in direction traffic is to move. Repeat movement with left arm and hand to start traffic from opposite direction.\n\t\t3.\u00a0To stop and start traffic by whistle. — One blast, moving traffic to stop; two blasts, traffic in opposite direction to move.\n\t\t4.\u00a0Emergency stop of traffic by whistle. — Three or more short blasts, all traffic shall immediately clear the intersection and stop.\n\t\tSuch law-enforcement officers and uniformed school crossing guards may also use supplemental traffic direction devices, including but not limited to hand-held stop or go signs, in directing traffic as provided in this section.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":13316,"edition_id":1,"name":"Powers of Local Governments","identifier":"13","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12827,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:38","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:38","permalink":{"id":230035,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13316,"identifier":"13","token":"46.2\/III\/13","url":"\/46.2\/III\/13\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12827,"edition_id":1,"name":"Operation","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12770,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:55","permalink":{"id":228597,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12827,"identifier":"III","token":"46.2\/III","url":"\/46.2\/III\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12770,"edition_id":1,"name":"Motor Vehicles","identifier":"46.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":225289,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12770,"identifier":"46.2","token":"46.2","url":"\/46.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":67729,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1300","catch_line":"Powers of local authorities generally; 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penalty","url":"\/46.2-1304.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1304.1","metadata":false},{"id":68253,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1305","catch_line":"Regulation of vehicular and pedestrian traffic on roadways and parking areas in residential subdivisions","url":"\/46.2-1305\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1305","metadata":false},{"id":56842,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1306","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/46.2-1306\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1306","metadata":false},{"id":83037,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1307","catch_line":"Designation of private roads as highways for law-enforcement purposes","url":"\/46.2-1307\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1307","metadata":false},{"id":85925,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1307.1","catch_line":"Designation of private roads as highways for law-enforcement purposes in certain counties","url":"\/46.2-1307.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1307.1","metadata":false},{"id":87193,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1308","catch_line":"Disposition of fines in traffic cases; failure or neglect to comply with section","url":"\/46.2-1308\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1308","metadata":false},{"id":61406,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1309","catch_line":"Officers may direct traffic; signals","url":"\/46.2-1309\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1309","metadata":false},{"id":69839,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1310","catch_line":"Authority to deputize persons to direct traffic in certain circumstances","url":"\/46.2-1310\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1310","metadata":false},{"id":84715,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1311","catch_line":"Applicability of county ordinances within towns","url":"\/46.2-1311\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1311","metadata":false},{"id":54304,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1312","catch_line":"Size, design, and color of signs, signals, and markings erected by local authorities","url":"\/46.2-1312\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1312","metadata":false},{"id":61090,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1313","catch_line":"Incorporation of provisions of this title, Article 9 (\u00a7 16.1-278 et seq.) of Chapter 11 of Title 16.1 and Article 2 (\u00a7 18.2-266 et seq.) of Chapter 7 of Title 18.2 in ordinances","url":"\/46.2-1313\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1313","metadata":false},{"id":87225,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1314","catch_line":"Traffic schools; requiring attendance by persons convicted of certain violations","url":"\/46.2-1314\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1314","metadata":false},{"id":70431,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1315","catch_line":"Powers of localities to regulate use of motorized skateboards or scooters, bicycles, or electric power-assisted bicycles for hire","url":"\/46.2-1315\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1315","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":87193,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1308","catch_line":"Disposition of fines in traffic cases; failure or neglect to comply with section","url":"\/46.2-1308\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1308","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":69839,"structure_id":13316,"section_number":"46.2-1310","catch_line":"Authority to deputize persons to direct traffic in certain circumstances","url":"\/46.2-1310\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1310","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-1309\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 5 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1954, chapter 380; in 1958, chapter 541; in 1966, chapter 607; in 1989, chapter 727; in 1995, chapter 473<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":69839,"section_number":"46.2-1310","catch_line":"Authority to deputize persons to direct traffic in certain circumstances","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1310\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":230081,"object_type":"law","relational_id":61406,"identifier":"46.2-1309","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1309","url":"\/46.2-1309\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-1309\/","token":"46.2\/III\/13\/46.2-1309","dublin_core":{"Title":"Officers may direct traffic; signals","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-1309","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Law<\/span>-enforcement officers<\/span> and uniformed school crossing guards may direct traffic by signals. Such signals other than by voice shall be as follows:\n\t\t1.\u00a0To stop traffic by hand. — Stand with shoulders<\/span> parallel to moving traffic. Raise arms forty-five degrees above shoulder<\/span> with hand extended, palm towards moving traffic to be stopped.\n\t\t2.\u00a0To move traffic by hand. — Stand with shoulders<\/span> parallel to traffic to be moved. Extend right arm and hand full length at height of shoulders<\/span> towards such traffic, fingers extended and joined, palm down. Bring hand sharply in direction traffic is to move. Repeat movement with left arm and hand to start traffic from opposite direction.\n\t\t3.\u00a0To stop and start traffic by whistle. — One blast, moving traffic to stop; two blasts, traffic in opposite direction to move.\n\t\t4.\u00a0Emergency stop of traffic by whistle. — Three or more short blasts, all traffic shall immediately clear the intersection<\/span> and stop.\n\t\tSuch law<\/span>-enforcement officers<\/span> and uniformed school crossing guards may also use supplemental traffic direction devices, including but not limited to hand-held stop or go signs, in directing traffic as provided in this section.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nOFFICERS MAY DIRECT TRAFFIC; SIGNALS (\u00a7 46.2-1309)\n\nLaw-enforcement officers and uniformed school crossing guards may direct traffic\nby signals. Such signals other than by voice shall be as follows:\n\t\t1.\u00a0To stop traffic by hand. — Stand with shoulders parallel to moving\ntraffic. Raise arms forty-five degrees above shoulder with hand extended, palm\ntowards moving traffic to be stopped.\n\t\t2.\u00a0To move traffic by hand. — Stand with shoulders parallel to traffic\nto be moved. Extend right arm and hand full length at height of shoulders\ntowards such traffic, fingers extended and joined, palm down. Bring hand sharply\nin direction traffic is to move. Repeat movement with left arm and hand to start\ntraffic from opposite direction.\n\t\t3.\u00a0To stop and start traffic by whistle. — One blast, moving traffic to\nstop; two blasts, traffic in opposite direction to move.\n\t\t4.\u00a0Emergency stop of traffic by whistle. — Three or more short blasts,\nall traffic shall immediately clear the intersection and stop.\n\t\tSuch law-enforcement officers and uniformed school crossing guards may also\nuse supplemental traffic direction devices, including but not limited to\nhand-held stop or go signs, in directing traffic as provided in this section.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7\u00a7 46-201, 46-202; 1954, c. 380; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7\n46.1-183; 1966, c. 607; 1989, c. 727; 1995, c. 473.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}