CODE OF VIRGINIA

AUTHORITY TO CHANGE SPEED LIMITS (§ 46.2-878)

A. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this article, the Commissioner of
Highways or other authority having jurisdiction over highways may decrease the
speed limits set forth in § 46.2-870 and may increase or decrease the speed
limits set forth in §§ 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 §
46.2-870 and by increasing for daytime or decreasing for nighttime the speed
limits set forth in §§ 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 shall be 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.

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.