Police Crimes and Offenses 2024 - Secondary Traffic Offenses - Effective March 1, 2021

Oct 13, 2026

Quick reference guide summarizing selected Virginia traffic offenses and related enforcement limitations. Covers secondary traffic offenses for pedestrians and motor vehicles, including jaywalking, entering highways from which visibility is blocked, juvenile driver license restrictions, learner-permit violations, expired registration stickers, smoking in vehicles with minors, defective or unsafe equipment, and lighting/visibility conditions. Includes a table indicating offense consequence levels based on headlight, tail light, brake light, and license plate light status, plus additional primary notes effective July 1, 2022.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages17

Reading Time6 min

AccessFree to download

Secondary Traffic Offenses

Effective dates and enforcement limits

Pedestrian offenses (jaywalking, highway entry)

Motor vehicle offenses (juvenile/learner violations, expired inspection)

Lighting and signal status table

Additional primary updates effective 7/1/22

Virginia Code 46.2-1000 suspension and officer duties

Marijuana Laws as of July 1, 2022

Possession thresholds and penalties

SECONDARY TRAFFIC OFFENSES Effective March 1, 2021 (Updated in 2022) If you stop a vehicle because of one of the below violations, anything you discover or seize will be inadmissible in court. Pedestrians-No law enforcement officer shall stop a pedestrian for a violation of the following offenses: § 46.2-923 A pedestrian for jaywalking that carelessly or maliciously interferes with the orderly passage of vehicles. § 46.2-926 A pedestrian for stepping into highway open to moving vehicular traffic where they cannot be seen . Motor Vehicles-No law enforcement officer shall stop a motor vehicle for a violation of the following offenses: § 46.2-334.01 where a juvenile driver violates the restrictions on his or her license (such as using a cellphone or driving between midnight and 4:00 a .m. without a qualifying exception, etc.) . (CHARGE under 46.2-818.2 for holding a cell phone while the § 46.2-335 where a person with a learner’s permit violates the restrictions of the permit (like driving with more than one passenger, etc.) § 46.2-646 where a vehicle’s registration sticker has expired prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date . § 46.2-810.1 where a person smokes in a vehicle when a minor under the age of 15 is present. § 46.2-1003 where a vehicle is operated on a public highway with equipment that is defective and in an unsafe condition . | | No Light On | One Light On | Two lights On | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | § 46.2-1030 (A)(i) Headlight (Night) | Primary | Secondary | No Offense | | § 46.2-1030 (A)(ii) Headlight (Conditions) | Primary | Secondary | No Offense | | § 46.2-1030 (A)(iii) Headlights (Wipers) | Secondary | Secondary | No Offense | | § 46.2-1013 Tail Lights | Primary | Primary | No Offense | | § 46.2-1014 Brake Lights | Primary | Secondary | No Offense | | § 46.2-1013 License Plate Light | Secondary | No Offense | No Offense | | § 46.2-1014. 1 High Mount Brake Light | Secondary | No Offense | No Offense | CASHIN-VSP-POLICE CRIMES AND OFFENSES 2024 Page 1 SECONDARY TRAFFIC OFFENSES § 46.2-1049 where a vehicle’s exhaust system is non-standard, not in good working order or in violation of some other part of the statute . NOW PRIMARY-effective 7/1/22 § 46.2-1052 where a vehicle is in violation of tinting, sign, decal and sticker restrictions under the statute . § 46.2-1054 where a vehicle has an obstructed view due to an object in front of the driver in violation of the statute; NOTE: The statute now states that only a “substantial” obstruction violates this code section . § 46.2-1094 where the adult occupants of front seats of motor vehicles don’t wear their seatbelts while driving. NOTE: § 46.2-1095 (Child Restraints) is unchanged and still permits law enforcement stops. § 46.2-1157 where a vehicle’s inspection sticker has expired prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date . What about § 46.2-1000? Department to suspend registration of vehicles lacking certain equipment The General Assembly made no changes to Virginia Code §46 .2-1000 Under that section, the Department of Motor Vehicles shall suspend the registration of any motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer which the Department or the Department of State Police determines is not equipped with proper: (i) brakes,(ii) lights,(iii) horn or warning device,(iv) turn signals,(v) safety glass when required by law,(vi) mirror,(vii) muffler,(viii) windshield wiper,(ix) steering gear adequate to ensure the safe movement of the vehicle as required by this title or when such vehicle is equipped with a smoke screen device or cutout (“designed for generating or emitting smoke;” see 46 .2-1086 – felony possession) or when such motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer is otherwise unsafe to be operated Under § 46 .2-1000: “Any law-enforcement officer shall, when he observes any defect in a motor vehicle as described above, take possession of the registration

FAQs

What happens if a law-enforcement officer stops a vehicle for the listed secondary traffic offenses?

The guide states that anything discovered or seized will be inadmissible in court.

Which pedestrian offenses prohibit stopping a pedestrian under these rules?

The listed offenses are jaywalking that interferes with orderly passage of vehicles, and stepping into a highway open to moving traffic when the pedestrian cannot be seen.

How does the guide classify outcomes for headlight and tail-light related code sections?

It provides a table mapping lighting conditions (e.g., headlights at night, tail lights, brake lights, license plate light) to categories such as Primary, Secondary, or No Offense.

Oct 13, 2026

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