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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>75137</law_id><section_number>46.2-888</section_number><catch_line>Stopping on highways; removing motor vehicle from roadway</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>15.2-1714</reference><reference>27-15.1</reference><reference>32.1-111.14:5</reference><reference>46.2-868.1</reference><reference>46.2-892</reference><reference>46.2-894</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="10">Stopping on Highways</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> No person shall stop a <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> in such manner as to impede or render dangerous the use of the <span class="dictionary">highway</span> by others, except in the case of an emergency, an accident, or a mechanical breakdown. <a id="paragraph-269843" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-888/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In the event of such an emergency, accident, or breakdown, the emergency flashing <span class="dictionary">lights</span> of such <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> shall be turned on if the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> is equipped with such <span class="dictionary">lights</span> and such <span class="dictionary">lights</span> are in working <span class="dictionary">order</span>. If the <span class="dictionary">driver</span> is capable of safely doing so, the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> is movable, and there are no injuries or deaths resulting from the emergency, accident, or breakdown, the <span class="dictionary">driver</span> shall move the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> from the <span class="dictionary">roadway</span> to prevent obstructing the regular flow of traffic, provided, however, that the movement of the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> to prevent the obstruction of traffic shall not relieve the <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> of his duty pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Report by law-enforcement official investigating accident" href="/46.2-373/">46.2-373</a>. A report of the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span>&#x2019;s location shall be made to the nearest <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> as soon as practicable, and the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> shall be moved from the <span class="dictionary">roadway</span> to the <span class="dictionary">shoulder</span> as soon as possible and removed from the <span class="dictionary">shoulder</span> without unnecessary delay. If the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> is not promptly removed, such removal may be ordered by a <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> at the expense of the <span class="dictionary">owner</span> if the disabled <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> creates a traffic hazard. <a id="paragraph-269844" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-888/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> (Contingent expiration date &#x2014; see Editor&#x2019;s note) In the event of an accident on any part of Interstate 66 where a HOT <span class="dictionary">lane</span> as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/33.2-500/">33.2-500</a> is under construction and the <span class="dictionary">shoulders</span> of Interstate 66 are being or have been removed, the <span class="dictionary">driver</span> shall move the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> from the <span class="dictionary">roadway</span> to the nearest <span class="dictionary">pull-off area</span> if the <span class="dictionary">driver</span> is capable of safely doing so, the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> is movable, and there are no injuries or deaths resulting from the accident, provided, however, that the movement of the <span class="dictionary">vehicle</span> shall not relieve the <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer</span> of his duty pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Report by law-enforcement official investigating accident" href="/46.2-373/">46.2-373</a>. For purposes of this subsection, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">pull-off area</span>&#x201D; includes an exit ramp or otherwise agreed-upon location. A violation of this subsection is a <span class="dictionary">traffic infraction</span> punishable by a fine of $20. <a id="paragraph-269845" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/46.2-888/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 46-256; 1952, c. 671; 1958, c. 541, &#xA7; 46.1-248; 1962, c. 175; 1972, c. 63; 1974, c. 230; 1977, cc. 284, 326; 1985, c. 93; 1989, c. 727; 1997, c. 431; 2008, c. 737; 2017, c. 350; 2019, c. 265.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
