{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-505.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-505.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-505.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-505.html"}],"law_id":78073,"edition_id":1,"section_id":78073,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-505","catch_line":"Court may direct defendant to attend driver improvement clinic","history":"1974, c. 453, \u00a7 46.1-514.18; 1989, c. 727; 1995, c. 672; 2002, c. 724; 2008, c. 190; 2014, c. 282.","full_text":"A\n\nAny circuit or general district court or juvenile court of the Commonwealth, or any federal court, charged with the duty of hearing traffic cases for offenses committed in violation of any law of the Commonwealth, or any valid local ordinance, or any federal law regulating the movement or operation of a motor vehicle, may require any person found guilty, or in the case of a juvenile found not innocent, of a violation of any state law, local ordinance, or federal law, to attend a driver improvement clinic or a mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course as provided for in § 38.2-2217. The attendance requirement may be in lieu of or in addition to the penalties prescribed by § 46.2-113, the ordinance, or federal law. The court shall determine if a person is to receive safe driving points upon satisfactory completion of a driver improvement clinic conducted by the Department or by any business, organization, governmental entity or individual certified by the Department to provide driver improvement clinic instruction. In the absence of such notification, no safe driving points shall be awarded by the Department.B\n\nNotwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, no court shall, as a result of a person’s attendance at a driver improvement clinic or a mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course, reduce, dismiss, or defer the conviction of a person charged with any offense committed while operating a commercial motor vehicle as defined in the Virginia Commercial Driver’s License Act (§ 46.2-341.1 et seq.) or any holder of a commercial driver’s license charged with any offense committed while operating a noncommercial motor vehicle.C\n\nPersons required by the court to attend a driver improvement clinic or a mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course shall notify the court if the driver improvement clinic or mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course has or has not been attended and satisfactorily completed, in compliance with the court order. Failure of the person to attend and satisfactorily complete a driver improvement clinic or mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course, in compliance with the court order, may be punished as contempt of such court.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":279937,"text":"Any circuit or general district court or juvenile court of the Commonwealth, or any federal court, charged with the duty of hearing traffic cases for offenses committed in violation of any law of the Commonwealth, or any valid local ordinance, or any federal law regulating the movement or operation of a motor vehicle, may require any person found guilty, or in the case of a juvenile found not innocent, of a violation of any state law, local ordinance, or federal law, to attend a driver improvement clinic or a mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course as provided for in § 38.2-2217. The attendance requirement may be in lieu of or in addition to the penalties prescribed by § 46.2-113, the ordinance, or federal law. The court shall determine if a person is to receive safe driving points upon satisfactory completion of a driver improvement clinic conducted by the Department or by any business, organization, governmental entity or individual certified by the Department to provide driver improvement clinic instruction. In the absence of such notification, no safe driving points shall be awarded by the Department.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":279938,"text":"Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, no court shall, as a result of a person’s attendance at a driver improvement clinic or a mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course, reduce, dismiss, or defer the conviction of a person charged with any offense committed while operating a commercial motor vehicle as defined in the Virginia Commercial Driver’s License Act (§ 46.2-341.1 et seq.) or any holder of a commercial driver’s license charged with any offense committed while operating a noncommercial motor vehicle.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":279939,"text":"Persons required by the court to attend a driver improvement clinic or a mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course shall notify the court if the driver improvement clinic or mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course has or has not been attended and satisfactorily completed, in compliance with the court order. Failure of the person to attend and satisfactorily complete a driver improvement clinic or mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course, in compliance with the court order, may be punished as contempt of such court.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13891,"edition_id":1,"name":"Driver Improvement Program","identifier":"19","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12772,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:46:12","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:46:12","permalink":{"id":226227,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13891,"identifier":"19","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19","url":"\/46.2\/II\/3\/19\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12772,"edition_id":1,"name":"Licensure of Drivers","identifier":"3","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12771,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":225629,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12772,"identifier":"3","token":"46.2\/II\/3","url":"\/46.2\/II\/3\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12771,"edition_id":1,"name":"Titling, Registration and Licensure","identifier":"II","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12770,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:52","permalink":{"id":225627,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12771,"identifier":"II","token":"46.2\/II","url":"\/46.2\/II\/","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":62223,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-489","catch_line":"Regulations; appeals","url":"\/46.2-489\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-489","metadata":false},{"id":81559,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-490","catch_line":"Establishment of driver improvement clinic program; application fees","url":"\/46.2-490\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-490","metadata":false},{"id":85583,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-490.1","catch_line":"Section 46.2-391.1 not applicable","url":"\/46.2-490.1\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-490.1","metadata":false},{"id":86963,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-490.10","catch_line":"Changes in form of ownership or name","url":"\/46.2-490.10\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-490.10","metadata":false},{"id":58173,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-490.11","catch_line":"Reports, records of licensed computer-based clinic providers","url":"\/46.2-490.11\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-490.11","metadata":false},{"id":59819,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-490.2","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/46.2-490.2\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-490.2","metadata":false},{"id":68150,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-490.3","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/46.2-490.3\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-490.3","metadata":false},{"id":87405,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-490.4","catch_line":"Action on applications; hearing on denial","url":"\/46.2-490.4\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-490.4","metadata":false},{"id":56759,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-490.5","catch_line":"Suspension, revocation, cancellation or refusal to renew clinic license or instructor license; imposition of monetary penalties","url":"\/46.2-490.5\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-490.5","metadata":false},{"id":68957,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-490.6","catch_line":"Civil penalties","url":"\/46.2-490.6\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-490.6","metadata":false},{"id":61153,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-490.7","catch_line":"Acts of owners, operators, officers, directors, partners, and instructors","url":"\/46.2-490.7\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-490.7","metadata":false},{"id":85829,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-490.8","catch_line":"Grounds for denying, suspending, or revoking licenses of clinics and clinic instructors","url":"\/46.2-490.8\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-490.8","metadata":false},{"id":73960,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-490.9","catch_line":"Unlawful acts; prosecution; proceedings in equity","url":"\/46.2-490.9\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-490.9","metadata":false},{"id":55578,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-491","catch_line":"Persons included within scope of article","url":"\/46.2-491\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-491","metadata":false},{"id":59312,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-492","catch_line":"Uniform Demerit Point System","url":"\/46.2-492\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-492","metadata":false},{"id":54929,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-493","catch_line":"Demerit points valid for two years","url":"\/46.2-493\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-493","metadata":false},{"id":75250,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-494","catch_line":"Safe driving point credit","url":"\/46.2-494\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-494","metadata":false},{"id":66713,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-495","catch_line":"Advisory letters","url":"\/46.2-495\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-495","metadata":false},{"id":70692,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-496","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/46.2-496\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-496","metadata":false},{"id":79899,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-498","catch_line":"Driver improvement clinics; voluntary attendance","url":"\/46.2-498\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-498","metadata":false},{"id":80312,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-499","catch_line":"Driver's license probation","url":"\/46.2-499\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-499","metadata":false},{"id":68220,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-500","catch_line":"Driver control period","url":"\/46.2-500\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-500","metadata":false},{"id":75540,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-501","catch_line":"Notice to attend driver improvement clinic","url":"\/46.2-501\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-501","metadata":false},{"id":87387,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-502","catch_line":"Clinic fees","url":"\/46.2-502\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-502","metadata":false},{"id":56030,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-503","catch_line":"Suspension of privilege to operate a motor vehicle for failure to attend clinics","url":"\/46.2-503\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-503","metadata":false},{"id":65111,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-504","catch_line":"Form and contents of order of probation, suspension or revocation; service","url":"\/46.2-504\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-504","metadata":false},{"id":78073,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-505","catch_line":"Court may direct defendant to attend driver improvement clinic","url":"\/46.2-505\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-505","metadata":false},{"id":57414,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-506","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Formal hearings; suspension for excessive point accumulation","url":"\/46.2-506\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-506","metadata":false},{"id":72034,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-507","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Establishment of Intelligent Speed Assistance Program; penalty","url":"\/46.2-507\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-507","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":65111,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-504","catch_line":"Form and contents of order of probation, suspension or revocation; service","url":"\/46.2-504\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-504","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":57414,"structure_id":13891,"section_number":"46.2-506","catch_line":"(Effective July 1, 2026) Formal hearings; suspension for excessive point accumulation","url":"\/46.2-506\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-506","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-505\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1974. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 453 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1974 \u201cActs\u201d aren\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 1989, chapter 727; in 1995, chapter 672<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 724<\/a>; in 2008, chapter 190<\/a>; in 2014, chapter 282<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":79899,"section_number":"46.2-498","catch_line":"Driver improvement clinics; voluntary attendance","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-498\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":66919,"section_number":"38.2-2217","catch_line":"Reduction in rates for certain persons who attend mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention courses and driver improvement clinics","order_by":null,"url":"\/38.2-2217\/"},{"id":56620,"section_number":"46.2-113","catch_line":"Violations of this title; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-113\/"},{"id":62139,"section_number":"46.2-341.1","catch_line":"Title","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-341.1\/"}],"permalink":{"id":226333,"object_type":"law","relational_id":78073,"identifier":"46.2-505","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-505","url":"\/46.2-505\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-505\/","token":"46.2\/II\/3\/19\/46.2-505","dublin_core":{"Title":"Court may direct defendant to attend driver improvement clinic","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-505","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> Any circuit<\/span> or general district court<\/span> or juvenile court<\/span> of the Commonwealth, or any federal court<\/span>, charged with the duty of hearing<\/span> traffic cases for offenses<\/span> committed in violation of any law<\/span> of the Commonwealth, or any valid local ordinance<\/span>, or any federal law<\/span> regulating the movement or operation of a motor vehicle<\/span>, may require any person found guilty, or in the case of a juvenile found not innocent, of a violation of any state law<\/span>, local ordinance<\/span>, or federal law<\/span>, to attend a driver improvement clinic<\/span> or a mature driver motor vehicle<\/span> crash prevention course as provided for in § 38.2-2217<\/a>. The attendance requirement may be in lieu of or in addition to the penalties prescribed by § 46.2-113<\/a>, the ordinance<\/span>, or federal law<\/span>. The court<\/span> shall determine if a person is to receive safe driving points upon satisfactory completion of a driver improvement clinic<\/span> conducted by the Department<\/span> or by any business, organization, governmental entity or individual certified by the Department<\/span> to provide driver improvement clinic<\/span> instruction. In the absence of such notification, no safe driving points shall be awarded by the Department<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, no court<\/span> shall, as a result of a person’s attendance at a driver improvement clinic<\/span> or a mature driver motor vehicle<\/span> crash prevention course, reduce, dismiss, or defer the conviction<\/span> of a person charged with any offense<\/span> committed while operating a commercial motor vehicle<\/span> as defined in the Virginia Commercial Driver’s License Act (§ 46.2-341.1<\/a> et seq.) or any holder of a commercial driver’s license charged with any offense<\/span> committed while operating a noncommercial motor vehicle<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Persons required by the court to attend a driver improvement clinic<\/span> or a mature driver motor vehicle<\/span> crash prevention course shall notify the court if the driver improvement clinic<\/span> or mature driver motor vehicle<\/span> crash prevention course has or has not been attended and satisfactorily completed, in compliance with the court order<\/span>. Failure of the person to attend and satisfactorily complete a driver improvement clinic<\/span> or mature driver motor vehicle<\/span> crash prevention course, in compliance with the court order<\/span>, may be punished as contempt<\/span> of such court. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCOURT MAY DIRECT DEFENDANT TO ATTEND DRIVER IMPROVEMENT CLINIC (\u00a7 46.2-505)\n\nA. Any circuit or general district court or juvenile court of the Commonwealth,\nor any federal court, charged with the duty of hearing traffic cases for\noffenses committed in violation of any law of the Commonwealth, or any valid\nlocal ordinance, or any federal law regulating the movement or operation of a\nmotor vehicle, may require any person found guilty, or in the case of a juvenile\nfound not innocent, of a violation of any state law, local ordinance, or federal\nlaw, to attend a driver improvement clinic or a mature driver motor vehicle\ncrash prevention course as provided for in § 38.2-2217. The attendance\nrequirement may be in lieu of or in addition to the penalties prescribed by\n§ 46.2-113, the ordinance, or federal law. The court shall determine if a\nperson is to receive safe driving points upon satisfactory completion of a\ndriver improvement clinic conducted by the Department or by any business,\norganization, governmental entity or individual certified by the Department to\nprovide driver improvement clinic instruction. In the absence of such\nnotification, no safe driving points shall be awarded by the Department.\n\nB. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, no court shall, as a result\nof a person’s attendance at a driver improvement clinic or a mature driver\nmotor vehicle crash prevention course, reduce, dismiss, or defer the conviction\nof a person charged with any offense committed while operating a commercial\nmotor vehicle as defined in the Virginia Commercial Driver’s License Act\n(§ 46.2-341.1 et seq.) or any holder of a commercial driver’s license\ncharged with any offense committed while operating a noncommercial motor\nvehicle.\n\nC. Persons required by the court to attend a driver improvement clinic or a\nmature driver motor vehicle crash prevention course shall notify the court if\nthe driver improvement clinic or mature driver motor vehicle crash prevention\ncourse has or has not been attended and satisfactorily completed, in compliance\nwith the court order. Failure of the person to attend and satisfactorily\ncomplete a driver improvement clinic or mature driver motor vehicle crash\nprevention course, in compliance with the court order, may be punished as\ncontempt of such court.\n\nHISTORY: 1974, c. 453, \u00a7 46.1-514.18; 1989, c. 727; 1995, c. 672; 2002, c. 724;\n2008, c. 190; 2014, c. 282.","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}}