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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>78936</law_id><section_number>46.2-882</section_number><catch_line>Determining speed with various devices; certificate as to accuracy of device; arrest without warrant</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>2.2-1112</reference><reference>46.2-920</reference><reference>9.1-102</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="46.2">Motor Vehicles</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Operation</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="8">Regulation of Traffic</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="8">Speed</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The speed of any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> may be determined by the use of (i) a laser speed determination device, (ii) radar, (iii) a microcomputer device that is physically connected to an odometer cable and both measures and records distance traveled and elapsed time to determine the average speed of a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, or (iv) a microcomputer device that is located aboard an airplane or helicopter and measures and records distance traveled and elapsed time to determine the average speed of a <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> being operated on <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">highways</span></span> within the Interstate System of <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">highways</span></span> as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/33.2-100/">33.2-100</a>. The speed of <span class="dictionary">motor vehicles</span> may be determined by the use of a photo speed monitoring device as authorized in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Use of photo speed monitoring devices in highway work zones, school crossing zones, and high-risk intersection segments; civil penalty" href="/46.2-882.1/">46.2-882.1</a>. The results of such determinations shall be accepted as prima facie <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of the speed of such <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> in any <span class="dictionary">court</span> or legal proceeding where the speed of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> is at <span class="dictionary">issue</span>.
		In any <span class="dictionary">court</span> or legal proceeding in which any question arises about the calibration or accuracy of any laser speed determination device, radar, microcomputer device, or photo speed monitoring device as described in this section used to determine the speed of any <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span>, a certificate, or a true copy thereof, showing the calibration or accuracy of (a) the speedometer of any vehicle, (b) any tuning fork employed in calibrating or testing the radar or other speed determination device, or (c) any other method employed in calibrating or testing any laser speed determination device or photo speed monitoring device, and when and by whom the calibration was made, shall be <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> as <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of the <span class="dictionary">facts</span> therein stated. No calibration or testing of any device other than a photo speed monitoring device shall be valid for longer than six months. No calibration or testing of a photo speed monitoring device shall be valid for longer than 12 months.
		The <span class="dictionary">driver</span> of any such <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> may be arrested without a warrant under this section if the arresting officer is in uniform and displays his badge of authority and if the officer has observed the registration of the speed of such <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> by the laser speed determination device, radar, or microcomputer device as described in this section, or has received a radio message from the officer who observed the speed of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> registered by the laser speed determination device, radar, or microcomputer device as described in this section. However, in case of an <span class="dictionary">arrest</span> based on such a message, such radio message shall have been dispatched immediately after the speed of the <span class="dictionary">motor vehicle</span> was registered and furnished the license number or other positive identification of the vehicle and the registered speed to the arresting officer.
		Neither State Police officers nor local <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officers</span> shall use laser speed determination devices or radar, as described herein in airplanes or helicopters for the purpose of determining the speed of <span class="dictionary">motor vehicles</span>.
		State Police officers may use laser speed determination devices, radar, and/or microcomputer devices as described in this section. All localities may use radar and laser speed determination devices to measure speed. State Police officers and local <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement may use photo speed monitoring devices to measure speed as authorized in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Use of photo speed monitoring devices in highway work zones, school crossing zones, and high-risk intersection segments; civil penalty" href="/46.2-882.1/">46.2-882.1</a>. The Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park and the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William and towns within such counties may use microcomputer devices as described in this section.
		The Division of Purchases and Supply, pursuant to &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Standardization of materials, equipment and supplies" href="/2.2-1112/">2.2-1112</a>, shall determine the proper equipment used to determine the speed of <span class="dictionary">motor vehicles</span> and shall advise the respective <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officials of the same. Police chiefs and sheriffs shall ensure that all such equipment and devices purchased on or after July 1, 1986, meet or exceed the standards established by the Division.</p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 46-215.2; 1954, c. 313; 1956, c. 216; 1958, c. 541, &#xA7; 46.1-198; 1966, c. 585; 1968, c. 497; 1974, c. 554; 1984, c. 357; 1986, c. 530; 1988, c. 712; 1989, c. 727; 1990, cc. 691, 974; 1991, c. 345; 1994, c. 734; 1997, c. 33; 1998, c. 423; 1999, cc. 693, 694, 698, 724, 729, 733; 2000, cc. 354, 357, 365; 2002, c. 109; 2003, cc. 608, 965; 2006, c. 930; 2007, c. 231; 2020, c. 1232.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
