{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/46.2-877.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/46.2-877.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/46.2-877.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/46.2-877.html"}],"law_id":366312,"edition_id":2,"section_id":366312,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-877","catch_line":"Minimum speed limits","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 46-212; 1950, p. 881; 1952, c. 666; 1954, c. 244; 1956, c. 364; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 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.","full_text":"No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.\n\nWhenever the Commissioner of Highways or local authorities within their respective jurisdictions determine on the basis of a traffic engineering and traffic investigation that slow speeds on any part of a highway consistently impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, the Commissioner or such local authority may determine and declare a minimum speed limit to be set forth on signs posted on such highway below which no person shall drive a vehicle except when necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1364242,"text":"No person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1364243,"text":"Whenever the Commissioner of Highways or local authorities within their respective jurisdictions determine on the basis of a traffic engineering and traffic investigation that slow speeds on any part of a highway consistently impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, the Commissioner or such local authority may determine and declare a minimum speed limit to be set forth on signs posted on such highway below which no person shall drive a vehicle except when necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":52193,"edition_id":2,"name":"Speed","identifier":"8","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":9,"parent_id":52184,"metadata":{"child_laws":21,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:55:49","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:09","permalink":{"id":1457963,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52193,"identifier":"8","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8","url":"\/46.2\/III\/8\/8\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52184,"edition_id":2,"name":"Regulation of Traffic","identifier":"8","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":52051,"metadata":{"child_laws":208,"child_structures":21},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:55:38","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:08","permalink":{"id":1457191,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52184,"identifier":"8","token":"46.2\/III\/8","url":"\/46.2\/III\/8\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52051,"edition_id":2,"name":"Operation","identifier":"III","label":"subtitle","depth":2,"order_by":3,"parent_id":52048,"metadata":{"child_laws":589,"child_structures":55},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:52:29","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:07","permalink":{"id":1455599,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52051,"identifier":"III","token":"46.2\/III","url":"\/46.2\/III\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52048,"edition_id":2,"name":"Motor Vehicles","identifier":"46.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":101,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":1830,"child_structures":157},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:52:29","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:02","permalink":{"id":1452291,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52048,"identifier":"46.2","token":"46.2","url":"\/46.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":366302,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-870","catch_line":"Maximum speed limits generally","url":"\/46.2-870\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-870","metadata":false},{"id":366303,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-871","catch_line":"Maximum speed limit for school buses","url":"\/46.2-871\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-871","metadata":false},{"id":366304,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-872","catch_line":"Maximum speed limits for vehicles operating under special permits","url":"\/46.2-872\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-872","metadata":false},{"id":366307,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-873","catch_line":"Maximum speed limits at school crossings; penalty","url":"\/46.2-873\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-873","metadata":false},{"id":366305,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-873.1","catch_line":"Maximum speed limit on nonsurface-treated highways","url":"\/46.2-873.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-873.1","metadata":false},{"id":366306,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-873.2","catch_line":"Maximum speed limit on rural rustic roads","url":"\/46.2-873.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-873.2","metadata":false},{"id":366309,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-874","catch_line":"Maximum speed limit in business and residence districts","url":"\/46.2-874\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-874","metadata":{"court_decisions":{"0":{"name":"John J. Bahen, Jr. v. County of Henrico","case_number":"0500982","citation":"30 Va. App. 227","date":"1999-07-06","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1066255\/john-j-bahen-jr-v-county-of-henrico\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. BENTON, Judge. .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"},"1":{"name":"Cromartie v. Billings","case_number":"180851","citation":null,"date":"2020-01-16","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/4696250\/cromartie-v-billings\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. Present: All the Justices .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Supreme Court of Virginia\">SCV<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":366308,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-874.1","catch_line":"Authority to increase penalties in residence districts","url":"\/46.2-874.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-874.1","metadata":{"court_decisions":""}},{"id":366310,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-875","catch_line":"Maximum speed limit on certain other highways in cities and towns","url":"\/46.2-875\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-875","metadata":false},{"id":366311,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-876","catch_line":"Maximum speed limit for passenger vehicles towing certain trailers","url":"\/46.2-876\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-876","metadata":false},{"id":366312,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-877","catch_line":"Minimum speed limits","url":"\/46.2-877\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-877","metadata":false},{"id":366317,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-878","catch_line":"Authority to change speed limits","url":"\/46.2-878\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-878","metadata":false},{"id":366313,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-878.1","catch_line":"Maximum speed limits in highway work zones; penalty","url":"\/46.2-878.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-878.1","metadata":false},{"id":366314,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-878.2","catch_line":"Maximum speed limits in certain residence districts of counties, cities, and towns; penalty","url":"\/46.2-878.2\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-878.2","metadata":false},{"id":366315,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-878.2:1","catch_line":"Maximum speed limits on certain roads","url":"\/46.2-878.2_1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-878.2_1","metadata":false},{"id":366316,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-878.3","catch_line":"Prepayment of fines for violations of speed limits","url":"\/46.2-878.3\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-878.3","metadata":false},{"id":366318,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-879","catch_line":"No conviction for speeding in certain areas unless markers installed","url":"\/46.2-879\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-879","metadata":false},{"id":366319,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-881","catch_line":"Special speed limitation on bridges, tunnels and interstates","url":"\/46.2-881\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-881","metadata":false},{"id":366321,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-882","catch_line":"Determining speed with various devices; certificate as to accuracy of device; arrest without warrant","url":"\/46.2-882\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-882","metadata":false},{"id":366320,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-882.1","catch_line":"Use of photo speed monitoring devices in highway work zones, school crossing zones, and high-risk intersection segments; civil penalty","url":"\/46.2-882.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-882.1","metadata":false},{"id":366322,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-883","catch_line":"Signs indicating legal rate of speed and measurement of speed by radar","url":"\/46.2-883\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-883","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":366311,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-876","catch_line":"Maximum speed limit for passenger vehicles towing certain trailers","url":"\/46.2-876\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-876","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":366317,"structure_id":52193,"section_number":"46.2-878","catch_line":"Authority to change speed limits","url":"\/46.2-878\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-878","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-877\/","history_text":"<p>The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 15 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 1952, chapter 666; in 1954, chapter 244; in 1956, chapter 364; in 1958, chapter 541; in 1960, chapter 153; in 1962, chapter 307; in 1964, chapters 118 and 408; in 1966, chapter 85; in 1968, chapter 641; in 1972, chapters 89, 546, 553, and 608; in 1974, chapter 528; in 1977, chapter 577; in 1978, chapter 605; in 1980, chapter 347; in 1989, chapter 727.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1458005,"object_type":"law","relational_id":366312,"identifier":"46.2-877","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-877","url":"\/46.2-877\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-877\/","token":"46.2\/III\/8\/8\/46.2-877","dublin_core":{"Title":"Minimum speed limits","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-877","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section><p>No person shall drive a <span class=\"dictionary\">motor vehicle<\/span> at such a slow speed as to impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>.<\/p><p>Whenever the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commissioner<\/span> of <span class=\"dictionary\">Highways<\/span> or local authorities within their respective <span class=\"dictionary\">jurisdictions<\/span> determine on the basis of a traffic engineering and traffic investigation that slow speeds on any part of a <span class=\"dictionary\">highway<\/span> consistently impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, the <span class=\"dictionary\">Commissioner<\/span> or such local authority may determine and declare a minimum speed limit to be set forth on signs posted on such <span class=\"dictionary\">highway<\/span> below which no person shall drive a vehicle except when necessary for safe operation or in compliance with <span class=\"dictionary\">law<\/span>.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":"                                 CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nMINIMUM SPEED LIMITS (\u00a7 46.2-877)\n\nNo person shall drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede the\nnormal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary\nfor safe operation or in compliance with law.\n\nWhenever the Commissioner of Highways or local authorities within their\nrespective jurisdictions determine on the basis of a traffic engineering and\ntraffic investigation that slow speeds on any part of a highway consistently\nimpede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, the Commissioner or such\nlocal authority may determine and declare a minimum speed limit to be set forth\non signs posted on such highway below which no person shall drive a vehicle\nexcept when necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 46-212; 1950, p. 881; 1952, c. 666; 1954, c. 244; 1956,\nc. 364; 1958, c. 541, \u00a7 46.1-193; 1960, c. 153; 1962, c. 307; 1964, cc. 118,\n408; 1966, c. 85; 1968, c. 641; 1972, cc. 89, 546, 553, 608; 1974, c. 528; 1977,\nc. 577; 1978, c. 605; 1980, c. 347; 1989, c. 727.","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"}}