{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/33.2-238.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/33.2-238.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/33.2-238.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/33.2-238.html"}],"law_id":360092,"edition_id":2,"section_id":360092,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-238","catch_line":"Closing highways for safety of public or proper completion of construction; injury to barriers, signs, etc","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 33-109; 1958, c. 547; 1968, c. 162; 1970, c. 322, \u00a7 33.1-193; 2014, c. 805.","full_text":"If it appears to the Commissioner of Highways necessary for the safety of the traveling public or for proper completion of work that is being performed to close any highway under his jurisdiction to all traffic or any class of traffic, the Commissioner of Highways may close, or cause to be closed, the whole or any portion of such highway deemed necessary to be excluded from public travel and may exclude all or any class of traffic from such closed portion. While any such highway or portion thereof is so closed, or while any such highway or portion thereof is in process of construction or maintenance, the Commissioner of Highways, or contractor under authority from the Commissioner of Highways, may erect, or cause to be erected, suitable barriers or obstructions thereon, may post, or cause to be posted, conspicuous notices to the effect that the highway or portion thereof is closed and may place warning signs, lights, and lanterns on such highway or portion thereof. When such highway is closed for the safety of the traveling public or in process of construction or maintenance as provided in this section, any person who willfully breaks down, drives into new construction work, removes, injures, or destroys any such barrier or barriers or obstructions, tears down, removes, or destroys any such notices, or extinguishes, removes, injures, or destroys any such warning lights or lanterns so erected, posted, or placed is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1339774,"text":"If it appears to the Commissioner of Highways necessary for the safety of the traveling public or for proper completion of work that is being performed to close any highway under his jurisdiction to all traffic or any class of traffic, the Commissioner of Highways may close, or cause to be closed, the whole or any portion of such highway deemed necessary to be excluded from public travel and may exclude all or any class of traffic from such closed portion. While any such highway or portion thereof is so closed, or while any such highway or portion thereof is in process of construction or maintenance, the Commissioner of Highways, or contractor under authority from the Commissioner of Highways, may erect, or cause to be erected, suitable barriers or obstructions thereon, may post, or cause to be posted, conspicuous notices to the effect that the highway or portion thereof is closed and may place warning signs, lights, and lanterns on such highway or portion thereof. When such highway is closed for the safety of the traveling public or in process of construction or maintenance as provided in this section, any person who willfully breaks down, drives into new construction work, removes, injures, or destroys any such barrier or barriers or obstructions, tears down, removes, or destroys any such notices, or extinguishes, removes, injures, or destroys any such warning lights or lanterns so erected, posted, or placed is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1}},"ancestry":[{"id":51520,"edition_id":2,"name":"Commissioner of Highways","identifier":"3","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":3,"parent_id":51514,"metadata":{"child_laws":34,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:43:19","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:29","permalink":{"id":1431991,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51520,"identifier":"3","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3","url":"\/33.2\/I\/2\/3\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51514,"edition_id":2,"name":"Transportation Entities","identifier":"2","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":2,"parent_id":51473,"metadata":{"child_laws":120,"child_structures":6},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:43:10","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:29","permalink":{"id":1431877,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51514,"identifier":"2","token":"33.2\/I\/2","url":"\/33.2\/I\/2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51473,"edition_id":2,"name":"General Provisions and Transportation Entities","identifier":"I","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":51472,"metadata":{"child_laws":141,"child_structures":8},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:42:40","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:29","permalink":{"id":1431789,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51473,"identifier":"I","token":"33.2\/I","url":"\/33.2\/I\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":51472,"edition_id":2,"name":"Highways and Other Surface Transportation Systems","identifier":"33.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":77,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":749,"child_structures":88},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:42:40","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:32:28","permalink":{"id":1431787,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":51472,"identifier":"33.2","token":"33.2","url":"\/33.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":360071,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-222","catch_line":"Commissioner of Highways","url":"\/33.2-222\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-222","metadata":false},{"id":360075,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-223","catch_line":"General powers of Commissioner of Highways","url":"\/33.2-223\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-223","metadata":false},{"id":360076,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-224","catch_line":"Employees; delegation of responsibilities","url":"\/33.2-224\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-224","metadata":false},{"id":360077,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-225","catch_line":"Liaison duties with other organizations","url":"\/33.2-225\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-225","metadata":false},{"id":360078,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-226","catch_line":"Authority to lease or convey airspace","url":"\/33.2-226\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-226","metadata":false},{"id":360079,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-227","catch_line":"Defense of employees","url":"\/33.2-227\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-227","metadata":false},{"id":360080,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-228","catch_line":"Agreements between Commissioner of Highways and certain localities","url":"\/33.2-228\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-228","metadata":false},{"id":360081,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-229","catch_line":"Furnishing information regarding right-of-way transactions","url":"\/33.2-229\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-229","metadata":false},{"id":360082,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-230","catch_line":"Written notice of decision to dispose of real property","url":"\/33.2-230\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-230","metadata":false},{"id":360085,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-231","catch_line":"Establish community service landscaping program","url":"\/33.2-231\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-231","metadata":false},{"id":360086,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-232","catch_line":"Biennial reports by Commissioner of Highways and the Office of Intermodal Planning and Investment","url":"\/33.2-232\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-232","metadata":false},{"id":360087,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-233","catch_line":"Gathering and reporting of information and statistics","url":"\/33.2-233\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-233","metadata":false},{"id":360088,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-234","catch_line":"Construction by state or local employees","url":"\/33.2-234\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-234","metadata":false},{"id":360089,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-235","catch_line":"Procurement","url":"\/33.2-235\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-235","metadata":false},{"id":360090,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-236","catch_line":" Maps or plats prepared at request and expense of local governing bodies and other groups; Department of Energy to seek other existing sources","url":"\/33.2-236\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-236","metadata":false},{"id":360091,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-237","catch_line":"Directional signs for certain educational institutions","url":"\/33.2-237\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-237","metadata":false},{"id":360092,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-238","catch_line":"Closing highways for safety of public or proper completion of construction; injury to barriers, signs, etc","url":"\/33.2-238\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-238","metadata":false},{"id":360093,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-239","catch_line":"Providing highway detours","url":"\/33.2-239\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-239","metadata":false},{"id":360094,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-240","catch_line":"Connections over shoulders of highways for intersecting private roads","url":"\/33.2-240\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-240","metadata":false},{"id":360097,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-241","catch_line":"Connections over shoulders of highways for intersecting commercial establishment entrances; penalty","url":"\/33.2-241\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-241","metadata":false},{"id":360098,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-242","catch_line":"Replacing entrances destroyed in the repair or construction of highways","url":"\/33.2-242\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-242","metadata":false},{"id":360099,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-243","catch_line":"Paying for damages sustained to personal property by reason of work projects, etc","url":"\/33.2-243\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-243","metadata":false},{"id":360100,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-244","catch_line":"Removal of snow and ice from public highways by private entities","url":"\/33.2-244\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-244","metadata":false},{"id":360101,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-245","catch_line":"Comprehensive highway access management standards","url":"\/33.2-245\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-245","metadata":false},{"id":360102,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-246","catch_line":"Recreational waysides; regulations; penalties","url":"\/33.2-246\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-246","metadata":false},{"id":360103,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-247","catch_line":"Wetlands mitigation banking","url":"\/33.2-247\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-247","metadata":false},{"id":360104,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-248","catch_line":"Expenditure of funds for interstate bridges and approaches","url":"\/33.2-248\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-248","metadata":false},{"id":360105,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-249","catch_line":"Maintenance and operation of bridges or tunnels on the city and state line","url":"\/33.2-249\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-249","metadata":false},{"id":360106,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-250","catch_line":"Improving certain private roads and certain town streets and roads","url":"\/33.2-250\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-250","metadata":false},{"id":360117,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-251","catch_line":"Installation and maintenance of \"children at play\" signs in counties and towns","url":"\/33.2-251\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-251","metadata":false},{"id":360121,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-252","catch_line":"Tramways and railways along or across public highways; appeals","url":"\/33.2-252\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-252","metadata":false},{"id":360122,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-253","catch_line":"Highway safety corridor program","url":"\/33.2-253\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-253","metadata":false},{"id":360123,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-254","catch_line":"Erection and maintenance of newspaper route boxes","url":"\/33.2-254\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-254","metadata":false},{"id":360124,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-255","catch_line":"Sale or lease of properties acquired for highway construction","url":"\/33.2-255\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-255","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":360091,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-237","catch_line":"Directional signs for certain educational institutions","url":"\/33.2-237\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-237","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":360093,"structure_id":51520,"section_number":"33.2-239","catch_line":"Providing highway detours","url":"\/33.2-239\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-239","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/33.2-238\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 4 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 1958, chapter 547; in 1968, chapter 162; in 1970, chapter 322; in 2014, chapter <a href=\"https:\/\/legacylis.virginia.gov\/cgi-bin\/legp604.exe?141+ful+CHAP0805\">805<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1432057,"object_type":"law","relational_id":360092,"identifier":"33.2-238","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-238","url":"\/33.2-238\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/33.2-238\/","token":"33.2\/I\/2\/3\/33.2-238","dublin_core":{"Title":"Closing highways for safety of public or proper completion of construction; injury to barriers, signs, etc","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 33.2-238","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>If it appears to the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commissioner of Highways<\/span> necessary for the safety of the traveling public or for proper completion of work that is being performed to close any <span class=\"dictionary\">highway<\/span> under his <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdiction<\/span> to all traffic or any class of traffic, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commissioner of Highways<\/span> may close, or cause to be closed, the whole or any portion of such <span class=\"dictionary\">highway<\/span> deemed necessary to be excluded from public travel and may exclude all or any class of traffic from such closed portion. While any such <span class=\"dictionary\">highway<\/span> or portion thereof is so closed, or while any such <span class=\"dictionary\">highway<\/span> or portion thereof is in process of construction or <span class=\"dictionary\">maintenance<\/span>, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commissioner of Highways<\/span>, or contractor under authority from the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commissioner of Highways<\/span>, may erect, or cause to be erected, suitable barriers or obstructions thereon, may post, or cause to be posted, conspicuous notices to the effect that the <span class=\"dictionary\">highway<\/span> or portion thereof is closed and may place warning signs, lights, and lanterns on such <span class=\"dictionary\">highway<\/span> or portion thereof. When such <span class=\"dictionary\">highway<\/span> is closed for the safety of the traveling public or in process of construction or <span class=\"dictionary\">maintenance<\/span> as provided in this section, any person who willfully breaks down, drives into new construction work, removes, injures, or destroys any such barrier or barriers or obstructions, tears down, removes, or destroys any such notices, or extinguishes, removes, injures, or destroys any such warning lights or lanterns so erected, posted, or placed is guilty of a Class 1 <span class=\"dictionary\">misdemeanor<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nCLOSING HIGHWAYS FOR SAFETY OF PUBLIC OR PROPER COMPLETION OF CONSTRUCTION;\nINJURY TO BARRIERS, SIGNS, ETC (\u00a7 33.2-238)\n\nIf it appears to the Commissioner of Highways necessary for the safety of the\ntraveling public or for proper completion of work that is being performed to\nclose any highway under his jurisdiction to all traffic or any class of traffic,\nthe Commissioner of Highways may close, or cause to be closed, the whole or any\nportion of such highway deemed necessary to be excluded from public travel and\nmay exclude all or any class of traffic from such closed portion. While any such\nhighway or portion thereof is so closed, or while any such highway or portion\nthereof is in process of construction or maintenance, the Commissioner of\nHighways, or contractor under authority from the Commissioner of Highways, may\nerect, or cause to be erected, suitable barriers or obstructions thereon, may\npost, or cause to be posted, conspicuous notices to the effect that the highway\nor portion thereof is closed and may place warning signs, lights, and lanterns\non such highway or portion thereof. When such highway is closed for the safety\nof the traveling public or in process of construction or maintenance as provided\nin this section, any person who willfully breaks down, drives into new\nconstruction work, removes, injures, or destroys any such barrier or barriers or\nobstructions, tears down, removes, or destroys any such notices, or\nextinguishes, removes, injures, or destroys any such warning lights or lanterns\nso erected, posted, or placed is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 33-109; 1958, c. 547; 1968, c. 162; 1970, c. 322, \u00a7\n33.1-193; 2014, c. 805.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}