{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/46.2-906.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/46.2-906.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/46.2-906.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/46.2-906.1.html"}],"law_id":80855,"edition_id":1,"section_id":80855,"structure_id":14963,"section_number":"46.2-906.1","catch_line":"Local ordinances may require riders of bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and electric power-assisted bicycles to wear helmets","history":"1993, c. 924; 1994, c. 56; 1995, cc. 42, 671; 2001, c. 834; 2002, c. 254; 2004, cc. 947, 973; 2006, cc. 529, 538; 2007, cc. 209, 366.","full_text":"The governing body of any county, city or town may, by ordinance, provide that every person 14 years of age or younger shall wear a protective helmet that at least meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard whenever riding or being carried on a bicycle, an electric personal assistive mobility device, a toy vehicle, or an electric power-assisted bicycle on any highway as defined in \u00a7 46.2-100, sidewalk, or public bicycle path.\n\t\tViolation of any such ordinance shall be punishable by a fine of $25. However, such fine shall be suspended (i) for first-time violators and (ii) for violators who, subsequent to the violation but prior to imposition of the fine, purchase helmets of the type required by the ordinance.\n\t\tViolation of any such ordinance shall not constitute negligence, or assumption of risk, be considered in mitigation of damages of whatever nature, be admissible in evidence, or be the subject of comment by counsel in any action for the recovery of damages arising out of the operation of any bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, toy vehicle, or electric power-assisted bicycle, nor shall anything in this section change any existing law, rule, or procedure pertaining to any civil action.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":289840,"text":"The governing body of any county, city or town may, by ordinance, provide that every person 14 years of age or younger shall wear a protective helmet that at least meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard whenever riding or being carried on a bicycle, an electric personal assistive mobility device, a toy vehicle, or an electric power-assisted bicycle on any highway as defined in \u00a7 46.2-100, sidewalk, or public bicycle path.\n\t\tViolation of any such ordinance shall be punishable by a fine of $25. However, such fine shall be suspended (i) for first-time violators and (ii) for violators who, subsequent to the violation but prior to imposition of the fine, purchase helmets of the type required by the ordinance.\n\t\tViolation of any such ordinance shall not constitute negligence, or assumption of risk, be considered in mitigation of damages of whatever nature, be admissible in evidence, or be the subject of comment by counsel in any action for the recovery of damages arising out of the operation of any bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, toy vehicle, or electric power-assisted bicycle, nor shall anything in this section change any existing law, rule, or procedure pertaining to any civil action.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":14963,"edition_id":1,"name":"Bicycles","identifier":"12","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12875,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:51:08","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:51:08","permalink":{"id":230435,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14963,"identifier":"12","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/12","url":"\/46.2\/III\/8\/12\/","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":83630,"structure_id":14963,"section_number":"46.2-903","catch_line":"Riding or driving vehicles on sidewalks; exceptions","url":"\/46.2-903\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/12\/46.2-903","metadata":false},{"id":81222,"structure_id":14963,"section_number":"46.2-904","catch_line":"Use of roller skates and skateboards on sidewalks and shared-use paths; operation of bicycles and certain motorized and electric items and devices on sidewalks, crosswalks, and shared-use paths; local ordinances","url":"\/46.2-904\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/12\/46.2-904","metadata":false},{"id":80684,"structure_id":14963,"section_number":"46.2-904.1","catch_line":"Electric power-assisted bicycles","url":"\/46.2-904.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/12\/46.2-904.1","metadata":false},{"id":63829,"structure_id":14963,"section_number":"46.2-905","catch_line":"Riding bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, motorized skateboards or scooters, and mopeds on roadways and bicycle paths","url":"\/46.2-905\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/12\/46.2-905","metadata":false},{"id":81404,"structure_id":14963,"section_number":"46.2-906","catch_line":"Carrying articles or passengers on bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds","url":"\/46.2-906\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/12\/46.2-906","metadata":false},{"id":80855,"structure_id":14963,"section_number":"46.2-906.1","catch_line":"Local ordinances may require riders of bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and electric power-assisted bicycles to wear helmets","url":"\/46.2-906.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/12\/46.2-906.1","metadata":false},{"id":67237,"structure_id":14963,"section_number":"46.2-907","catch_line":"Overtaking and passing vehicles","url":"\/46.2-907\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/12\/46.2-907","metadata":false},{"id":57085,"structure_id":14963,"section_number":"46.2-908","catch_line":"Registration of bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device, electric personal delivery device, and electric power-assisted bicycle serial numbers","url":"\/46.2-908\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/12\/46.2-908","metadata":false},{"id":85691,"structure_id":14963,"section_number":"46.2-908.1","catch_line":"Electric personal assistive mobility devices, electrically powered toy vehicles, electric power-assisted bicycles, and motorized skateboards or scooters","url":"\/46.2-908.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/12\/46.2-908.1","metadata":false},{"id":62459,"structure_id":14963,"section_number":"46.2-908.1:1","catch_line":"Personal delivery devices","url":"\/46.2-908.1_1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/12\/46.2-908.1_1","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":81404,"structure_id":14963,"section_number":"46.2-906","catch_line":"Carrying articles or passengers on bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, electric power-assisted bicycles, and mopeds","url":"\/46.2-906\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/12\/46.2-906","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":67237,"structure_id":14963,"section_number":"46.2-907","catch_line":"Overtaking and passing vehicles","url":"\/46.2-907\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/12\/46.2-907","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-906.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1993. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 924 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 1993 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 7 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 1994, chapter 56<\/a>; in 1995, chapters 42<\/a> and 671<\/a>; in 2001, chapter 834<\/a>; in 2002, chapter 254<\/a>; in 2004, chapters 947<\/a> and 973<\/a>; in 2006, chapters 529<\/a> and 538<\/a>; in 2007, chapters 209<\/a> and 366<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":82691,"section_number":"46.2-100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/46.2-100\/"}],"permalink":{"id":230457,"object_type":"law","relational_id":80855,"identifier":"46.2-906.1","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/12\/46.2-906.1","url":"\/46.2-906.1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-906.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/12\/46.2-906.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"Local ordinances may require riders of bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and electric power-assisted bicycles to wear helmets","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-906.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

The governing body<\/span> of any county, city or town may, by ordinance<\/span>, provide that every person 14 years of age or younger shall wear a protective helmet that at least meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission<\/span> standard whenever riding or being carried on a bicycle, an electric personal assistive mobility device<\/span>, a toy vehicle<\/span>, or an electric power-assisted bicycle<\/span> on any highway<\/span> as defined in \u00a7 46.2-100<\/a>, sidewalk<\/span>, or public bicycle path.\n\t\tViolation of any such ordinance<\/span> shall be punishable by a fine of $25. However, such fine shall be suspended (i) for first-time violators and (ii) for violators who, subsequent to the violation but prior to imposition of the fine, purchase helmets of the type required by the ordinance<\/span>.\n\t\tViolation of any such ordinance<\/span> shall not constitute negligence<\/span>, or assumption of risk, be considered in mitigation of damages<\/span> of whatever nature, be admissible<\/span> in evidence<\/span>, or be the subject of comment by counsel<\/span> in any action for the recovery of damages<\/span> arising out of the operation of any bicycle, electric personal assistive mobility device<\/span>, toy vehicle<\/span>, or electric power-assisted bicycle<\/span>, nor shall anything in this section change any existing law<\/span>, rule, or procedure pertaining to any civil action<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nLOCAL ORDINANCES MAY REQUIRE RIDERS OF BICYCLES, ELECTRIC PERSONAL ASSISTIVE\nMOBILITY DEVICES, AND ELECTRIC POWER-ASSISTED BICYCLES TO WEAR HELMETS (\u00a7\n46.2-906.1)\n\nThe governing body of any county, city or town may, by ordinance, provide that\nevery person 14 years of age or younger shall wear a protective helmet that at\nleast meets the Consumer Product Safety Commission standard whenever riding or\nbeing carried on a bicycle, an electric personal assistive mobility device, a\ntoy vehicle, or an electric power-assisted bicycle on any highway as defined in\n\u00a7 46.2-100, sidewalk, or public bicycle path.\n\t\tViolation of any such ordinance shall be punishable by a fine of $25. However,\nsuch fine shall be suspended (i) for first-time violators and (ii) for violators\nwho, subsequent to the violation but prior to imposition of the fine, purchase\nhelmets of the type required by the ordinance.\n\t\tViolation of any such ordinance shall not constitute negligence, or assumption\nof risk, be considered in mitigation of damages of whatever nature, be\nadmissible in evidence, or be the subject of comment by counsel in any action\nfor the recovery of damages arising out of the operation of any bicycle,\nelectric personal assistive mobility device, toy vehicle, or electric\npower-assisted bicycle, nor shall anything in this section change any existing\nlaw, rule, or procedure pertaining to any civil action.\n\nHISTORY: 1993, c. 924; 1994, c. 56; 1995, cc. 42, 671; 2001, c. 834; 2002, c.\n254; 2004, cc. 947, 973; 2006, cc. 529, 538; 2007, cc. 209, 366.","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}}