                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA

AUTHORITY TO CHANGE SPEED LIMITS (§ 46.2-878)

A. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this article, and except as otherwise
provided in subdivision A 4 of &#xA7; 46.2-1300, the Commissioner of Highways or
other authority having jurisdiction over highways may decrease the speed limits
set forth in &#xA7; 46.2-870 and may increase or decrease the speed limits set
forth in &#xA7;&#xA7; 46.2-873 through 46.2-875 on any highway under its
jurisdiction and may establish differentiated speed limits for daytime and
nighttime by decreasing for nighttime driving the speed limits set forth in
&#xA7; 46.2-870 and by increasing for daytime or decreasing for nighttime the
speed limits set forth in &#xA7;&#xA7; 46.2-873 through 46.2-875 on any highway
under his jurisdiction. Such increased or decreased speed limits and such
differentiated speed limits for daytime and nighttime driving shall be effective
only when prescribed after a traffic engineering investigation and when
indicated on the highway by signs. It is unlawful to operate any motor vehicle
in excess of speed limits established and posted as provided in this section.
The increased or decreased speed limits over highways under the control of the
Commissioner of Highways shall be effective only when prescribed in writing by
the Commissioner of Highways and kept on file in the Central Office of the
Department of Transportation. Whenever the speed limit on any highway has been
increased or decreased or a differential speed limit has been established and
such speed limit is properly posted, there shall be a rebuttable presumption
that the change in speed was properly established in accordance with the
provisions of this section.

B. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, including the provisions
of subsection A, the governing body of any town located entirely within the
confines of a United States military base may by ordinance reduce the speed
limit to less than 25 miles per hour on any highway within its boundaries,
provided such reduced speed limit is indicated by lawfully placed signs.

C. If the Commissioner of Highways increases or decreases a speed limit as
provided in this section, the Department of Transportation shall notify the
primary liaison with the Department of Transportation in each locality in which
such speed limit change will occur. If such speed limit change will occur in a
town, the Department of Transportation shall notify the primary liaison in the
town and the primary liaison in the county in which the town is located. If such
speed limit change will occur in a community subject to the Property
Owners&#8217; Association Act (&#xA7; 55.1-1800 et seq.) or the Virginia
Condominium Act (&#xA7; 55.1-1900 et seq.), the locality shall also notify the
relevant board of directors, as defined in &#xA7; 55.1-1800, or executive board,
as defined in &#xA7; 55.1-1900, respectively. Any notice sent to a locality,
board of directors, or executive board as required in this subsection shall
include the location where the speed limit change will occur, the effective
speed limit change date, the new speed limit, and the reason for the speed limit
change. Failure to comply with any provision of this subsection shall not affect
the change in speed limit.

HISTORY: Code 1950, § 46-212; 1950, p. 881; 1952, c. 666; 1954, c. 244; 1956,
c. 364; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-193; 1960, c. 153; 1962, c. 307; 1964, cc. 118,
408; 1966, c. 85; 1968, c. 641; 1972, cc. 89, 546, 553, 608; 1974, c. 528; 1977,
c. 577; 1978, c. 605; 1980, c. 347; 1989, c. 727; 1990, c. 779; 1993, c. 98;
2013, c. 303; 2024, cc. 272, 842.