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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>80855</law_id><section_number>46.2-906.1</section_number><catch_line>Local ordinances may require riders of bicycles, electric personal assistive mobility devices, and electric power-assisted bicycles to wear helmets</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><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="12">Bicycles</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>The <span class="dictionary">governing body</span> of any county, city or town may, by <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> standard whenever riding or being carried on a bicycle, an <span class="dictionary">electric personal assistive mobility device</span>, a <span class="dictionary">toy vehicle</span>, or an <span class="dictionary">electric power-assisted bicycle</span> on any <span class="dictionary">highway</span> as defined in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/46.2-100/">46.2-100</a>, <span class="dictionary">sidewalk</span>, or public bicycle path.
		Violation of any such <span class="dictionary">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 <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span>.
		Violation of any such <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> shall not constitute <span class="dictionary">negligence</span>, or assumption of risk, be considered in mitigation of <span class="dictionary">damages</span> of whatever nature, be <span class="dictionary">admissible</span> in <span class="dictionary">evidence</span>, or be the subject of comment by <span class="dictionary">counsel</span> in any action for the recovery of <span class="dictionary">damages</span> arising out of the operation of any bicycle, <span class="dictionary">electric personal assistive mobility device</span>, <span class="dictionary">toy vehicle</span>, or <span class="dictionary">electric power-assisted bicycle</span>, nor shall anything in this section change any existing <span class="dictionary">law</span>, rule, or procedure pertaining to any <span class="dictionary">civil action</span>.</p></section></text><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.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
