{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-800.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-800.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-800.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-800.2.html"}],"law_id":87490,"edition_id":1,"section_id":87490,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-800.2","catch_line":"Operation of off-road recreational vehicles in localities embraced by the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority","history":"2010, cc. 332, 463; 2018, c. 364.","full_text":"A\n\nThe governing body of any county, city, or town embraced by the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority may by ordinance authorize the operation of any off-road recreational vehicles (i) on highways within its boundaries that have a maximum speed limit of no more than 35 miles per hour and (ii) for a distance of no more than five miles on any highway within its boundaries that has a maximum speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour. Any such ordinance shall define “off-road recreational vehicle.” Any such operation shall be subject to the following conditions, and such additional restrictions and limitations as the county, city, or town by ordinance may impose:1\n\nSigns whose design, number, and location are approved by the Virginia Department of Transportation shall have been posted by the county, city, town, or Southwest Regional Recreation Authority warning motorists that off-road recreational vehicles may be operating on the highway;2\n\nSuch off-road recreational vehicles shall be operated only during daylight hours;3\n\nOff-road recreational vehicle operators shall, when operating on the highway, obey all rules of the road applicable to other motor vehicles;4\n\nRiders of such off-road recreational vehicles shall wear helmets of a type approved by the Superintendent of State Police; and5\n\nOperators shall be licensed drivers or accompanied by a licensed driver who is either occupying the same vehicle or occupying another vehicle within a prudent distance; however, no person shall operate any off-road recreational vehicle as provided in this section if his driver’s license, whether issued in the Commonwealth or in another jurisdiction, has been suspended or revoked.B\n\nThe governing body of any county, city, or town that enacts any ordinance under subsection A shall notify in writing the Virginia State Police and all law-enforcement agencies within the county, city, or town of its action, together with a copy of such ordinance.C\n\nOperation of any off-road recreational vehicle as provided in the foregoing provisions of this section shall be subject to the issuance of a permit by the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority pursuant to § 15.2-6020. Any such permit shall be valid for such period of time and subject to the payment of such fee as the Authority shall provide.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":313215,"text":"The governing body of any county, city, or town embraced by the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority may by ordinance authorize the operation of any off-road recreational vehicles (i) on highways within its boundaries that have a maximum speed limit of no more than 35 miles per hour and (ii) for a distance of no more than five miles on any highway within its boundaries that has a maximum speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour. Any such ordinance shall define “off-road recreational vehicle.” Any such operation shall be subject to the following conditions, and such additional restrictions and limitations as the county, city, or town by ordinance may impose:","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"A1"},"1":{"id":313216,"text":"Signs whose design, number, and location are approved by the Virginia Department of Transportation shall have been posted by the county, city, town, or Southwest Regional Recreation Authority warning motorists that off-road recreational vehicles may be operating on the highway;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"A1","prefix_anchor":"A1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"A2"},"2":{"id":313217,"text":"Such off-road recreational vehicles shall be operated only during daylight hours;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"A2","prefix_anchor":"A2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A1","next_prefix":"A3"},"3":{"id":313218,"text":"Off-road recreational vehicle operators shall, when operating on the highway, obey all rules of the road applicable to other motor vehicles;","type":"section","prefixes":["A","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"A3","prefix_anchor":"A3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A2","next_prefix":"A4"},"4":{"id":313219,"text":"Riders of such off-road recreational vehicles shall wear helmets of a type approved by the Superintendent of State Police; and","type":"section","prefixes":["A","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"A4","prefix_anchor":"A4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A3","next_prefix":"A5"},"5":{"id":313220,"text":"Operators shall be licensed drivers or accompanied by a licensed driver who is either occupying the same vehicle or occupying another vehicle within a prudent distance; however, no person shall operate any off-road recreational vehicle as provided in this section if his driver’s license, whether issued in the Commonwealth or in another jurisdiction, has been suspended or revoked.","type":"section","prefixes":["A","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"A5","prefix_anchor":"A5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"A4","next_prefix":"B"},"6":{"id":313221,"text":"The governing body of any county, city, or town that enacts any ordinance under subsection A shall notify in writing the Virginia State Police and all law-enforcement agencies within the county, city, or town of its action, together with a copy of such ordinance.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A5","next_prefix":"C"},"7":{"id":313222,"text":"Operation of any off-road recreational vehicle as provided in the foregoing provisions of this section shall be subject to the issuance of a permit by the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority pursuant to § 15.2-6020. Any such permit shall be valid for such period of time and subject to the payment of such fee as the Authority shall provide.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B"}},"ancestry":[{"id":12919,"edition_id":1,"name":"General and Miscellaneous","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12875,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:01","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:01","permalink":{"id":230191,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12919,"identifier":"1","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1","url":"\/46.2\/III\/8\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12875,"edition_id":1,"name":"Regulation of Traffic","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12827,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:58","permalink":{"id":230189,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12875,"identifier":"8","token":"46.2\/III\/8","url":"\/46.2\/III\/8\/","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":54028,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-800","catch_line":"Riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, mopeds, or motorized skateboards or scooters; 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penalty","url":"\/46.2-818.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-818.1","metadata":false},{"id":75401,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-818.2","catch_line":"Use of handheld personal communications devices in certain motor vehicles; exceptions; penalty","url":"\/46.2-818.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-818.2","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":77773,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-800.1","catch_line":"Riding animals on highways after sunset","url":"\/46.2-800.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-800.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":76700,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-800.3","catch_line":"Driving in flooded areas prohibited","url":"\/46.2-800.3\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-800.3","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-800.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2010. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 332<\/a> and 463<\/a> 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. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2018, chapter 364<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":78762,"section_number":"15.2-6020","catch_line":"Powers of Authority","order_by":null,"url":"\/15.2-6020\/"}],"permalink":{"id":230201,"object_type":"law","relational_id":87490,"identifier":"46.2-800.2","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-800.2","url":"\/46.2-800.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-800.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-800.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Operation of off-road recreational vehicles in localities embraced by the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-800.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The governing body<\/span> of any county, city, or town embraced by the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority may by ordinance<\/span> authorize the operation of any off-road recreational vehicles<\/span> (i) on highways<\/span><\/span> within its boundaries that have a maximum speed limit of no more than 35 miles per hour and (ii) for a distance of no more than five miles on any highway<\/span> within its boundaries that has a maximum speed limit of more than 35 miles per hour. Any such ordinance<\/span> shall define “off-road recreational vehicle<\/span>.” Any such operation shall be subject to the following conditions, and such additional restrictions and limitations as the county, city, or town by ordinance<\/span> may impose: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> Signs whose design, number, and location are approved by the Virginia Department<\/span> of Transportation shall have been posted by the county, city, town, or Southwest Regional Recreation Authority warning motorists that off-road recreational vehicles<\/span> may be operating on the highway<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> Such off-road recreational vehicles<\/span> shall be operated only during daylight hours; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Off-road recreational vehicle<\/span> operators<\/span> shall, when operating on the highway<\/span>, obey all rules of the road applicable to other motor vehicles<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> Riders of such off-road recreational vehicles shall wear helmets of a type approved by the Superintendent<\/span> of State Police; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> Operators<\/span> shall be licensed drivers<\/span> or accompanied by a licensed driver<\/span> who is either occupying the same vehicle<\/span> or occupying another vehicle<\/span> within a prudent distance; however, no person shall operate any off-road recreational vehicle<\/span> as provided in this section if his driver<\/span>’s license, whether issued in the Commonwealth or in another jurisdiction<\/span>, has been suspended or revoked. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The governing body<\/span> of any county, city, or town that enacts any ordinance<\/span> under subsection A shall notify in writing the Virginia State Police and all law<\/span>-enforcement agencies within the county, city, or town of its action, together with a copy of such ordinance<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Operation of any off-road recreational vehicle<\/span> as provided in the foregoing provisions of this section shall be subject to the issuance of a permit by the Southwest Regional Recreation Authority pursuant to § 15.2-6020<\/a>. Any such permit shall be valid for such period of time and subject to the payment of such fee as the Authority shall provide. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nOPERATION OF OFF-ROAD RECREATIONAL VEHICLES IN LOCALITIES EMBRACED BY THE\nSOUTHWEST REGIONAL RECREATION AUTHORITY (\u00a7 46.2-800.2)\n\nA. The governing body of any county, city, or town embraced by the Southwest\nRegional Recreation Authority may by ordinance authorize the operation of any\noff-road recreational vehicles (i) on highways within its boundaries that have a\nmaximum speed limit of no more than 35 miles per hour and (ii) for a distance of\nno more than five miles on any highway within its boundaries that has a maximum\nspeed limit of more than 35 miles per hour. Any such ordinance shall define\n“off-road recreational vehicle.” Any such operation shall be subject\nto the following conditions, and such additional restrictions and limitations as\nthe county, city, or town by ordinance may impose:\n\n 1. Signs whose design, number, and location are approved by the Virginia\n Department of Transportation shall have been posted by the county, city, town,\n or Southwest Regional Recreation Authority warning motorists that off-road\n recreational vehicles may be operating on the highway;\n\n 2. Such off-road recreational vehicles shall be operated only during daylight\n hours;\n\n 3. Off-road recreational vehicle operators shall, when operating on the\n highway, obey all rules of the road applicable to other motor vehicles;\n\n 4. Riders of such off-road recreational vehicles shall wear helmets of a type\n approved by the Superintendent of State Police; and\n\n 5. Operators shall be licensed drivers or accompanied by a licensed driver who\n is either occupying the same vehicle or occupying another vehicle within a\n prudent distance; however, no person shall operate any off-road recreational\n vehicle as provided in this section if his driver’s license, whether\n issued in the Commonwealth or in another jurisdiction, has been suspended or\n revoked.\n\nB. The governing body of any county, city, or town that enacts any ordinance\nunder subsection A shall notify in writing the Virginia State Police and all\nlaw-enforcement agencies within the county, city, or town of its action,\ntogether with a copy of such ordinance.\n\nC. Operation of any off-road recreational vehicle as provided in the foregoing\nprovisions of this section shall be subject to the issuance of a permit by the\nSouthwest Regional Recreation Authority pursuant to § 15.2-6020. Any such\npermit shall be valid for such period of time and subject to the payment of such\nfee as the Authority shall provide.\n\nHISTORY: 2010, cc. 332, 463; 2018, c. 364.","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}}