{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-802.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-802.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-802.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-802.html"}],"law_id":79548,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79548,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-802","catch_line":"Drive on right side of highways; penalty","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 46-220; 1952, c. 671; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 46.1-203; 1989, c. 727; 2017, c. 795.","full_text":"Except as otherwise provided by law, on all highways of sufficient width, the driver of a vehicle shall drive on the right half of the highway, unless it is impracticable to travel on such side of the highway and except when overtaking and passing another vehicle, subject to the provisions applicable to overtaking and passing set forth in Article 4 (\u00a7 46.2-837 et seq.) of this chapter. A violation of this section is punishable by a fine of $100.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":285064,"text":"Except as otherwise provided by law, on all highways of sufficient width, the driver of a vehicle shall drive on the right half of the highway, unless it is impracticable to travel on such side of the highway and except when overtaking and passing another vehicle, subject to the provisions applicable to overtaking and passing set forth in Article 4 (\u00a7 46.2-837 et seq.) of this chapter. A violation of this section is punishable by a fine of $100.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"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; riding or driving animals","url":"\/46.2-800\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-800","metadata":false},{"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},{"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","url":"\/46.2-800.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-800.2","metadata":false},{"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},{"id":68610,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-801","catch_line":"Chapter applicable to drivers of all vehicles regardless of ownership","url":"\/46.2-801\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-801","metadata":false},{"id":79548,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-802","catch_line":"Drive on right side of highways; penalty","url":"\/46.2-802\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-802","metadata":false},{"id":62426,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-803","catch_line":"Keep to the right in crossing intersections or railroads","url":"\/46.2-803\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-803","metadata":false},{"id":61088,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-803.1","catch_line":"Commercial motor vehicles limited to use of certain lanes of certain interstate highways","url":"\/46.2-803.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-803.1","metadata":false},{"id":67611,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-804","catch_line":"Special regulations applicable on highways laned for traffic; penalty","url":"\/46.2-804\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-804","metadata":false},{"id":60204,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-805","catch_line":"Lane-use control signals","url":"\/46.2-805\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-805","metadata":false},{"id":69660,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-806","catch_line":"One-way roadways and highways","url":"\/46.2-806\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-806","metadata":false},{"id":69083,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-807","catch_line":"Path of travel at circular intersections","url":"\/46.2-807\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-807","metadata":false},{"id":77107,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-808","catch_line":"Commonwealth Transportation Board may prohibit certain uses of controlled access highways; 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penalty","url":"\/46.2-815\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-815","metadata":false},{"id":78973,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-816","catch_line":"Following too closely","url":"\/46.2-816\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-816","metadata":false},{"id":81052,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-816.1","catch_line":"Careless driving and infliction of injury or death on vulnerable road users; penalty","url":"\/46.2-816.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-816.1","metadata":false},{"id":54590,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-817","catch_line":"Disregarding signal by law-enforcement officer to stop; eluding police; penalties","url":"\/46.2-817\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-817","metadata":false},{"id":64726,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-818","catch_line":"Stopping vehicle of another; blocking access to premises; damaging or threatening commercial vehicle or operator thereof; penalties","url":"\/46.2-818\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-818","metadata":false},{"id":61240,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-818.1","catch_line":"Opening and closing motor vehicle doors; 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":68610,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-801","catch_line":"Chapter applicable to drivers of all vehicles regardless of ownership","url":"\/46.2-801\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-801","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":62426,"structure_id":12919,"section_number":"46.2-803","catch_line":"Keep to the right in crossing intersections or railroads","url":"\/46.2-803\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-803","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-802\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 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 1952, chapter 671; in 1958, chapter 541; in 1989, chapter 727; in 2017, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?171+ful+CHAP0795\">795<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":64733,"section_number":"46.2-868.1","catch_line":"Aggressive driving; penalties","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-868.1\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":66732,"section_number":"46.2-837","catch_line":"Passing vehicles proceeding in opposite directions","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-837\/"}],"permalink":{"id":230213,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79548,"identifier":"46.2-802","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-802","url":"\/46.2-802\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-802\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/1\/46.2-802","dublin_core":{"Title":"Drive on right side of highways; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-802","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>Except as otherwise provided by <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>, on all <span class=\"dictionary\"><span class=\"dictionary\">highways<\/span><\/span> of sufficient width, the <span class=\"dictionary\">driver<\/span> of a <span class=\"dictionary\">vehicle<\/span> shall drive on the right half of the <span class=\"dictionary\">highway<\/span>, unless it is impracticable to travel on such side of the <span class=\"dictionary\">highway<\/span> and except when overtaking and passing another <span class=\"dictionary\">vehicle<\/span>, subject to the provisions applicable to overtaking and passing set forth in Article 4 (\u00a7&nbsp;<a class=\"law\" title=\"Passing vehicles proceeding in opposite directions\" href=\"\/46.2-837\/\">46.2-837<\/a> et seq.) of this chapter. A violation of this section is punishable by a fine of $100.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nDRIVE ON RIGHT SIDE OF HIGHWAYS; PENALTY (\u00a7 46.2-802)\n\nExcept as otherwise provided by law, on all highways of sufficient width, the\ndriver of a vehicle shall drive on the right half of the highway, unless it is\nimpracticable to travel on such side of the highway and except when overtaking\nand passing another vehicle, subject to the provisions applicable to overtaking\nand passing set forth in Article 4 (\u00a7 46.2-837 et seq.) of this chapter. A\nviolation of this section is punishable by a fine of $100.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 46-220; 1952, c. 671; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 46.1-203; 1989, c.\n727; 2017, c. 795.","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}}