Possession of registration cards; exhibiting registration card and licenses; exhibiting registration card and licenses.
The operator of any motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer being operated on the highways in the Commonwealth, shall have in his/her possession: (i) the registration card issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles or the registration card issued by the state or country in which the motor vehicle, trailer, or semi-trailer is registered and (ii) his/her driver’s license, instructional permit or temporary driver’s permit.

Licenses not required for operating farm tractor.
No person shall be required to obtain a driver’s license for the purpose of operating any farm tractor, farm machinery or backhoe on any highway for a distance of no more than 20 miles from its operating base.

Persons having defective vision; minimum standards of visual acuity and field of vision, tests of vision.
The Department of Motor Vehicles shall not issue a driver’s license or learner’s permit to any person unless he/she demonstrates a visual acuity of at least 20/40 in one or both eyes with or without corrective lenses.

Driver to give immediate notice of certain accidents
The driver of any vehicle involved in any accident resulting in injury to or death of any person, or some person acting for him, shall immediately give notice of accident to a law-enforcement officer.

Demerit points valid for two years.
Demerit points, assigned to any conviction, or finding of not innocent in the case of a juvenile, shall be valid for a period of two years from the date the offense was committed.

Riding bicycles or mopeds; riding or driving animals.
Every person riding a bicycle, moped or an animal or driving an animal on the highway shall be subject to and have all of the rights and duties applicable to the driver of a vehicle.

Coasting is prohibited
The driver of any motor vehicle traveling on a downgrade on any highway shall not coast with the gears of the vehicle in neutral.

Right-of-way at uncontrolled intersections, generally
When two vehicles approach or enter an uncontrolled intersection at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right.

Right-of-way at traffic circles.
At traffic circles vehicles already in the circle shall have the right-of-way over vehicles approaching and entering the circle.

Unlawful speed forfeits right-of-way
The driver of any vehicle traveling at an unlawful speed shall forfeit any right-of-way which he/she might otherwise have.

Right turn on steady red light after stopping
Unless signage prohibits turns on steady reds, vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal, after coming to a full stop, may cautiously enter the intersection and make a right turn. Such turning traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic using the intersection.

Left turns on steady red after stopping
Unless signage prohibits turns on steady reds, vehicular traffic facing a steady red signal on a one-way highway, after coming to a full stop, may cautiously enter the intersection and turn left onto another one-way highway. Such turning traffic shall yield the right-of-way to pedestrians lawfully within an adjacent crosswalk and to other traffic using the intersection.

Limitations on U-turns
The driver of a vehicle within cities, towns or business districts of counties shall not turn his/her vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction except at an intersection.

Reckless driving; general rule
Irrespective of the maximum speeds permitted by law, any person who drives a vehicle on any highway recklessly or at a speed or in a manner so as to endanger the life, limb, or property of any person shall be guilty of reckless driving.

Railroad warning signals must be obeyed
No person driving a vehicle shall disobey a clearly visible or audible crossing signal which gives warning of the immediate approach of a train at a railroad grade crossing. No person shall drive any vehicle through, around, or under any crossing gate or barrier at a railroad crossing while such gate or barrier is closed or is being opened or closed.

Overtaking and passing vehicles, bicycles
A person riding a bicycle or moped shall not travel between two lanes of traffic moving in the same direction, except where one lane is a separate turn lane or a mandatory turn lane.

Limitations on operation on mopeds
No moped shall be driven on any highway or public vehicular area (i) faster than 30 miles per hour or (ii) by any person under the age of 16.

Following or parking near fire apparatus or rescue squad vehicle.
It shall be unlawful for the driver of any vehicle, other than one on official business, to follow any fire apparatus or rescue squad vehicle traveling in response to a fire alarm or emergency call at any distance closer 500 feet or park to such vehicle within 500 feet.

Right-of-way of pedestrians
The driver of any vehicle on a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing such highway:

1. At any clearly marked crosswalk, whether at mid-block or at the end of any block;>

2. At any intersection when the driver is approaching on a highway or street where the legal maximum speed does not exceed 35 miles per hour.

No pedestrian shall enter or cross an intersection in disregard or approaching traffic.

Headlights on motor vehicles
Every motor vehicle other than a motorcycle, road roller, road machinery, or tractor used on a highway shall be equipped with at least two headlights at the front of and on opposite sides of the motor vehicle.

When dimming headlights required
Whenever a vehicle approaches an oncoming vehicle within 500 feet or approaches from the rear or follows within 200 feet of another vehicle proceeding in the same direction, the driver shall use the low beam or dim the headlights.

Hazard lights
Motor vehicles, trailers, and semi-trailers, when temporarily stopped on the traveled or paved portion of the highway so as to create a traffic hazard, shall flash all four turn signals simultaneously to signal approaching motorists of the existing hazard whenever such vehicle is equipped with a device which will cause the four turn signals to flash simultaneously

All four turn signals may be flashed simultaneously on a vehicle slowed or stopped at the scene of a traffic hazard or when traveling at a speed of 30 miles per hour or less, but in no other event shall all four signals be flashed simultaneously while the vehicle is traveling faster than 30 miles per hour.

Window darkening or tinting
No sun-shading or tinting films may be applied or affixed to the rear side windows or rear window or windows of any motor vehicle operated on the highway that reduces the total light transmittance of such window to less than 35 percent or front side windows to less than 50 percent.

“Front side windows” means those windows located adjacent to and forward of the driver’s seat; “rear side windows” means those windows located to the rear of the driver’s seat.

Suspension of objects or alteration of vehicle so as to obstruct view of driver
It shall be unlawful to drive a motor vehicle on a highway with any object or objects, other than a rear view mirror, sun visor, or other equipment of the motor vehicle suspended from any part of the motor vehicle in such a manner as to obstruct the driver’s clear view of the highway through the windshield, the front side windows, or the rear window.

Illegal sirens, whistles, etc.; unlawful use of warning devices
It shall be unlawful for any vehicle to be equipped with or for any person to use on any vehicle any siren or exhaust, compression or spark plug whistle, or horn except as may be authorized. It shall further be unlawful for any person at any time to use a horn otherwise than as a reasonable warning or to make any unnecessary or unreasonably loud or harsh sound by means of a horn or other warning device.

Motor vehicles not to be equipped with television within view of driver.
No motor vehicle registered in the Commonwealth of Virginia shall be equipped with, nor shall there be used therein, a television receiver forward of the driver’s seat of the screen of which would otherwise be visible to the driver while driving the vehicle. The operator of a motor vehicle which is not required to be registered in Virginia shall not operate a television receiver which violates this law while driving in the Commonwealth.

Unlawful to operate motor vehicle, moped, or bicycle while using earphones.
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle, moped, or bicycle on the highways in the Commonwealth while using earphones on or in both ears.

Radar Detectors
It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle on the highways of the Commonwealth when such vehicle is equipped with any device or mechanism to detect or interfere with radar employed by law-enforcement personnel to measure the speed of motor vehicles on the highways of the Commonwealth for law-enforcement purposes.

Any such device or mechanism may be taken by the arresting officer if needed as evidence, and when no longer needed, shall be returned to the person charged with the violation.

No person shall be guilty of such violation when the device or mechanism in question, at the time of the alleged offense, had no power source and was not readily accessible for use by the driver or any passenger in the vehicle.

Frequency of inspection
Motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers required to be inspected within 12 months of the month of the first inspection and at least once every 12 months thereafter.

Implied consent
Any person, whether licensed by Virginia or not, who operates a motor vehicle upon a highway, shall be deemed as a condition of such operation to have consented to have samples of his/her blood, breath, or both blood and breath taken for a chemical test to determine the alcohol, drug, or both alcohol and drug content of his blood, if he is arrested for violation of driving a motor vehicle while intoxicated or driving after illegally consuming alcohol.

Chemical Test law
Has implied consent law. Blood and breath tests authorized. Per se level .08 percent, commercial drivers .04 percent, under age 21 .02 percent. Driving or riding a moped, bicycle or horse while under the influence of alcohol is illegal and a punishable offense. Administrative license suspension law.

Child restraints
Mandatory until the age of six.

Seat belts
Mandatory for driver, front seat passengers and anyone less than age 16 anywhere in the vehicle.

Windshield stickers
Prohibited, except when official or when they do no exceed two and one-half inches in width and four inches in length and is placed in the blind spot h=behind the rearview mirror.

Barefoot driving
Operation of a vehicle (non-commercial) with bare feet is permitted.

Alcoholic Beverage Containers
Operation of a vehicle with an open alcoholic beverage container is unlawful.

Pickup Truck Passengers
Riding in the back of an unenclosed pickup truck is permitted though dangerous.

Cellular Telephone Use
Permitted