{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-878.2.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-878.2.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-878.2.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-878.2.html"}],"law_id":79416,"edition_id":1,"section_id":79416,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-878.2","catch_line":"Maximum speed limits in certain residence districts of counties, cities, and towns; penalty","history":"1996, c. 172; 1999, c. 87; 2002, c. 882; 2004, c. 350; 2006, c. 547; 2013, cc. 585, 646.","full_text":"Operation of any motor vehicle in excess of a maximum speed limit established for a highway in a residence district of a county, city, or town, when indicated by appropriately placed signs displaying the maximum speed limit and the penalty for violations, shall be unlawful and constitute a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of $200, in addition to other penalties provided by law. No portion of the fine shall be suspended unless the court orders 20 hours of community service. The Commissioner of Highways or any local governing body having jurisdiction over highways shall develop criteria for the overall applicability for the installation of signs. Such criteria shall not exclude highways, functionally classified as minor arterials, serving areas that either (i) were built as residential developments or (ii) have grown to resemble residential developments, provided, in either case, (a) such highways are experiencing documented speeding problems and (b) the local governing body requests the application of this section to such highway. Such signs may be installed in any town and shall not require the approval of the county within which such town is located. Any such signs installed in any town shall be paid for by the town requesting the installation of the signs, or out of the county’s secondary system construction allocation.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":284503,"text":"Operation of any motor vehicle in excess of a maximum speed limit established for a highway in a residence district of a county, city, or town, when indicated by appropriately placed signs displaying the maximum speed limit and the penalty for violations, shall be unlawful and constitute a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of $200, in addition to other penalties provided by law. No portion of the fine shall be suspended unless the court orders 20 hours of community service. The Commissioner of Highways or any local governing body having jurisdiction over highways shall develop criteria for the overall applicability for the installation of signs. Such criteria shall not exclude highways, functionally classified as minor arterials, serving areas that either (i) were built as residential developments or (ii) have grown to resemble residential developments, provided, in either case, (a) such highways are experiencing documented speeding problems and (b) the local governing body requests the application of this section to such highway. Such signs may be installed in any town and shall not require the approval of the county within which such town is located. Any such signs installed in any town shall be paid for by the town requesting the installation of the signs, or out of the county’s secondary system construction allocation.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14992,"edition_id":1,"name":"Speed","identifier":"8","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12875,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:51:21","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:51:21","permalink":{"id":230961,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14992,"identifier":"8","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8","url":"\/46.2\/III\/8\/8\/","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":59540,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-870","catch_line":"Maximum speed limits generally","url":"\/46.2-870\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-870","metadata":false},{"id":80123,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-871","catch_line":"Maximum speed limit for school buses","url":"\/46.2-871\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-871","metadata":false},{"id":58764,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-872","catch_line":"Maximum speed limits for vehicles operating under special permits","url":"\/46.2-872\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-872","metadata":false},{"id":79719,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-873","catch_line":"Maximum speed limits at school crossings; penalty","url":"\/46.2-873\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-873","metadata":false},{"id":79726,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-873.1","catch_line":"Maximum speed limit on nonsurface-treated highways","url":"\/46.2-873.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-873.1","metadata":false},{"id":68019,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-873.2","catch_line":"Maximum speed limit on rural rustic roads","url":"\/46.2-873.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-873.2","metadata":false},{"id":82131,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-874","catch_line":"Maximum speed limit in business and residence districts","url":"\/46.2-874\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-874","metadata":false},{"id":78886,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-874.1","catch_line":"Authority to increase penalties in residence districts","url":"\/46.2-874.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-874.1","metadata":false},{"id":73270,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-875","catch_line":"Maximum speed limit on certain other highways in cities and towns","url":"\/46.2-875\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-875","metadata":false},{"id":67188,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-876","catch_line":"Maximum speed limit for passenger vehicles towing certain trailers","url":"\/46.2-876\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-876","metadata":false},{"id":66235,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-877","catch_line":"Minimum speed limits","url":"\/46.2-877\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-877","metadata":false},{"id":81825,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-878","catch_line":"Authority to change speed limits","url":"\/46.2-878\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-878","metadata":false},{"id":57192,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-878.1","catch_line":"Maximum speed limits in highway work zones; penalty","url":"\/46.2-878.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-878.1","metadata":false},{"id":79416,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-878.2","catch_line":"Maximum speed limits in certain residence districts of counties, cities, and towns; penalty","url":"\/46.2-878.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-878.2","metadata":false},{"id":68556,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-878.2:1","catch_line":"Maximum speed limits on certain roads","url":"\/46.2-878.2_1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-878.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":79911,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-878.3","catch_line":"Prepayment of fines for violations of speed limits","url":"\/46.2-878.3\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-878.3","metadata":false},{"id":87029,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-879","catch_line":"No conviction for speeding in certain areas unless markers installed","url":"\/46.2-879\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-879","metadata":false},{"id":59223,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-881","catch_line":"Special speed limitation on bridges, tunnels and interstates","url":"\/46.2-881\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-881","metadata":false},{"id":78936,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-882","catch_line":"Determining speed with various devices; certificate as to accuracy of device; arrest without warrant","url":"\/46.2-882\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-882","metadata":false},{"id":74055,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-882.1","catch_line":"Use of photo speed monitoring devices in highway work zones, school crossing zones, and high-risk intersection segments; civil penalty","url":"\/46.2-882.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-882.1","metadata":false},{"id":79089,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-883","catch_line":"Signs indicating legal rate of speed and measurement of speed by radar","url":"\/46.2-883\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-883","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":57192,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-878.1","catch_line":"Maximum speed limits in highway work zones; penalty","url":"\/46.2-878.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-878.1","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":68556,"structure_id":14992,"section_number":"46.2-878.2:1","catch_line":"Maximum speed limits on certain roads","url":"\/46.2-878.2_1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-878.2_1","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-878.2\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1996. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 172<\/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 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 1999, chapter 87<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 882<\/a>; in 2004, chapter 350<\/a>; in 2006, chapter 547<\/a>; in 2013, chapters 585<\/a> and 646<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":78789,"section_number":"16.1-69.40:1","catch_line":"Traffic infractions within authority of traffic violations clerk; schedule of fines; prepayment of local ordinances","order_by":null,"url":"\/16.1-69.40_1\/"},{"id":60008,"section_number":"46.2-1533.1","catch_line":"Test driving vehicle; residence districts","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-1533.1\/"},{"id":79911,"section_number":"46.2-878.3","catch_line":"Prepayment of fines for violations of speed limits","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-878.3\/"}],"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":231015,"object_type":"law","relational_id":79416,"identifier":"46.2-878.2","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-878.2","url":"\/46.2-878.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-878.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-878.2","dublin_core":{"Title":"Maximum speed limits in certain residence districts of counties, cities, and towns; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-878.2","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Operation of any motor vehicle<\/span> in excess of a maximum speed limit established for a highway<\/span> in a residence district<\/span> of a county, city, or town, when indicated by appropriately placed signs displaying the maximum speed limit and the penalty<\/span> for violations, shall be unlawful and constitute a traffic infraction<\/span> punishable by a fine of $200, in addition to other penalties provided by law<\/span>. No portion of the fine shall be suspended unless the court orders<\/span> 20 hours of community service<\/span>. The Commissioner<\/span> of Highways<\/span><\/span> or any local governing body<\/span> having jurisdiction<\/span> over highways<\/span><\/span> shall develop criteria for the overall applicability for the installation of signs. Such criteria shall not exclude highways<\/span><\/span>, functionally classified as minor<\/span> arterials, serving areas that either (i) were built as residential developments or (ii) have grown to resemble residential developments, provided, in either case, (a) such highways<\/span><\/span> are experiencing documented speeding problems and (b) the local governing body<\/span> requests the application of this section to such highway<\/span>. Such signs may be installed in any town and shall not require the approval of the county within which such town is located. Any such signs installed in any town shall be paid for by the town requesting the installation of the signs, or out of the county’s secondary system construction allocation.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMAXIMUM SPEED LIMITS IN CERTAIN RESIDENCE DISTRICTS OF COUNTIES, CITIES, AND\nTOWNS; PENALTY (\u00a7 46.2-878.2)\n\nOperation of any motor vehicle in excess of a maximum speed limit established\nfor a highway in a residence district of a county, city, or town, when indicated\nby appropriately placed signs displaying the maximum speed limit and the penalty\nfor violations, shall be unlawful and constitute a traffic infraction punishable\nby a fine of $200, in addition to other penalties provided by law. No portion of\nthe fine shall be suspended unless the court orders 20 hours of community\nservice. The Commissioner of Highways or any local governing body having\njurisdiction over highways shall develop criteria for the overall applicability\nfor the installation of signs. Such criteria shall not exclude highways,\nfunctionally classified as minor arterials, serving areas that either (i) were\nbuilt as residential developments or (ii) have grown to resemble residential\ndevelopments, provided, in either case, (a) such highways are experiencing\ndocumented speeding problems and (b) the local governing body requests the\napplication of this section to such highway. Such signs may be installed in any\ntown and shall not require the approval of the county within which such town is\nlocated. Any such signs installed in any town shall be paid for by the town\nrequesting the installation of the signs, or out of the county’s secondary\nsystem construction allocation.\n\nHISTORY: 1996, c. 172; 1999, c. 87; 2002, c. 882; 2004, c. 350; 2006, c. 547;\n2013, cc. 585, 646.","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}}