{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/46.2-1239.1.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/46.2-1239.1.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/46.2-1239.1.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/46.2-1239.1.html"}],"law_id":364921,"edition_id":2,"section_id":364921,"structure_id":52080,"section_number":"46.2-1239.1","catch_line":"(Contingent expiration date \u2014 See Editor’s note) Potomac River Bridge Towing Compact","history":"1991, c. 452; 2019, c. 403.","full_text":"Article I. Parties and Titles.\n\nThe Parties to this Compact are the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia. This agreement shall be known as the Potomac River Bridge Towing Compact.\n\nArticle II. Findings and Purpose.\n\nThe Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, Rochambeau Memorial Bridge, George Mason Memorial Bridge, Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge, Francis Scott Key Bridge, Chain Bridge, Harry W. Nice Bridge, Sandy Hook Bridge, Brunswick Bridge, Point of Rocks Bridge, and American Legion Memorial Bridge all pass through the territorial jurisdiction of two or more of the three Parties. Experience has shown that traffic back-ups often prevent state troopers or police officers of the appropriate jurisdiction from arriving at the scene of a disabled or abandoned vehicle to take corrective action. The purpose of this Compact is to facilitate the prompt and orderly removal of disabled and abandoned vehicles from the bridges by giving all three Parties jurisdiction to exercise appropriate authority anywhere on the bridges.\n\nArticle III. Authority to Direct Traffic and Authorize Removal of Vehicles.\n\nThe Parties hereby give one another all necessary power and authority to have their respective state troopers or local law-enforcement officers direct traffic and authorize the removal of disabled or abandoned vehicles, trailers, semitrailers or the parts or contents thereof, from any part of the Potomac River bridges, to the same extent and in the same manner that such troopers and local law-enforcement officers may exercise such authority in their own jurisdictions. However, no Party, acting through its troopers or local law-enforcement officers, shall have the authority to direct or authorize the towing or removal of any vehicle or other thing to a destination outside its own jurisdiction, unless the consent of an officer or trooper of the destination jurisdiction has been obtained.\n\nArticle IV. Disposition of Towed Vehicles.\n\nAll vehicles and their contents towed or removed from the Potomac River bridges pursuant to this Compact shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the place to which such vehicle and its contents are taken, and the handling and disposition of such vehicle and its contents shall be governed by the laws and procedures of that jurisdiction.\n\nArticle V. No Agency.\n\nEach of the Parties shall act solely on its own authority within the jurisdiction granted. This Compact shall not be construed as creating any agency relationship between the Parties.\n\nArticle VI. Effective Date.\n\nThe provisions of this Compact shall take effect thirty days after the legislative bodies of the Parties having jurisdiction over one or several of the bridges identified in Article II have enacted Compacts substantially identical to this Compact.\n\nArticle VII. Termination.\n\nThe Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia or State of Maryland, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia may withdraw from this Compact at any time upon thirty days’ written notice to the other Parties.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1359649,"text":"Article I. Parties and Titles.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"next_prefix":""},"1":{"id":1359650,"text":"The Parties to this Compact are the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia. This agreement shall be known as the Potomac River Bridge Towing Compact.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"2":{"id":1359651,"text":"Article II. Findings and Purpose.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"3":{"id":1359652,"text":"The Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, Rochambeau Memorial Bridge, George Mason Memorial Bridge, Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge, Francis Scott Key Bridge, Chain Bridge, Harry W. Nice Bridge, Sandy Hook Bridge, Brunswick Bridge, Point of Rocks Bridge, and American Legion Memorial Bridge all pass through the territorial jurisdiction of two or more of the three Parties. Experience has shown that traffic back-ups often prevent state troopers or police officers of the appropriate jurisdiction from arriving at the scene of a disabled or abandoned vehicle to take corrective action. The purpose of this Compact is to facilitate the prompt and orderly removal of disabled and abandoned vehicles from the bridges by giving all three Parties jurisdiction to exercise appropriate authority anywhere on the bridges.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"4":{"id":1359653,"text":"Article III. Authority to Direct Traffic and Authorize Removal of Vehicles.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"5":{"id":1359654,"text":"The Parties hereby give one another all necessary power and authority to have their respective state troopers or local law-enforcement officers direct traffic and authorize the removal of disabled or abandoned vehicles, trailers, semitrailers or the parts or contents thereof, from any part of the Potomac River bridges, to the same extent and in the same manner that such troopers and local law-enforcement officers may exercise such authority in their own jurisdictions. However, no Party, acting through its troopers or local law-enforcement officers, shall have the authority to direct or authorize the towing or removal of any vehicle or other thing to a destination outside its own jurisdiction, unless the consent of an officer or trooper of the destination jurisdiction has been obtained.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"6":{"id":1359655,"text":"Article IV. Disposition of Towed Vehicles.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"7":{"id":1359656,"text":"All vehicles and their contents towed or removed from the Potomac River bridges pursuant to this Compact shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the place to which such vehicle and its contents are taken, and the handling and disposition of such vehicle and its contents shall be governed by the laws and procedures of that jurisdiction.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"8":{"id":1359657,"text":"Article V. No Agency.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"9":{"id":1359658,"text":"Each of the Parties shall act solely on its own authority within the jurisdiction granted. This Compact shall not be construed as creating any agency relationship between the Parties.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"10":{"id":1359659,"text":"Article VI. Effective Date.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"11":{"id":1359660,"text":"The provisions of this Compact shall take effect thirty days after the legislative bodies of the Parties having jurisdiction over one or several of the bridges identified in Article II have enacted Compacts substantially identical to this Compact.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"12":{"id":1359661,"text":"Article VII. Termination.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":"","next_prefix":""},"13":{"id":1359662,"text":"The Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia or State of Maryland, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia may withdraw from this Compact at any time upon thirty days’ written notice to the other Parties.","type":"section","prefixes":[""],"prefix":"","entire_prefix":"","prefix_anchor":"","level":1,"prior_prefix":""}},"ancestry":[{"id":52080,"edition_id":2,"name":"Potomac River Bridge Towing Compact of 1991","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":4,"order_by":5,"parent_id":52076,"metadata":{"child_laws":1,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:53:09","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:17","permalink":{"id":1456949,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52080,"identifier":"4","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/4","url":"\/46.2\/III\/12\/4\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":52076,"edition_id":2,"name":"Abandoned, Immobilized, Unattended and Trespassing Vehicles; Parking","identifier":"12","label":"chapter","depth":3,"order_by":3,"parent_id":52051,"metadata":{"child_laws":59,"child_structures":4},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:53:00","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:34:16","permalink":{"id":1456709,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":52076,"identifier":"12","token":"46.2\/III\/12","url":"\/46.2\/III\/12\/","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":364921,"structure_id":52080,"section_number":"46.2-1239.1","catch_line":"(Contingent expiration date \u2014 See Editor's note) Potomac River Bridge Towing Compact","url":"\/46.2-1239.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/4\/46.2-1239.1","metadata":false}],"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/46.2-1239.1\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 1991. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapter 452 of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. Unfortunately, the 1991 \u201cActs\u201d aren\u2019t available online. It has been modified 1 time. 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. That modification is as follows: in 2019, chapter 403<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":false,"permalink":{"id":1456951,"object_type":"law","relational_id":364921,"identifier":"46.2-1239.1","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/4\/46.2-1239.1","url":"\/46.2-1239.1\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/46.2-1239.1\/","token":"46.2\/III\/12\/4\/46.2-1239.1","dublin_core":{"Title":"(Contingent expiration date \u2014 See Editor’s note) Potomac River Bridge Towing Compact","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 46.2-1239.1","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Article I. Parties and Titles.<\/p>

The Parties to this Compact are the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia. This agreement shall be known as the Potomac River Bridge Towing Compact.<\/p>

Article II. Findings<\/span> and Purpose.<\/p>

The Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, Rochambeau Memorial Bridge, George Mason Memorial Bridge, Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge, Francis Scott Key Bridge, Chain Bridge, Harry W. Nice Bridge, Sandy Hook Bridge, Brunswick Bridge, Point of Rocks Bridge, and American Legion Memorial Bridge all pass through the territorial jurisdiction<\/span> of two or more of the three Parties. Experience has shown that traffic back-ups often prevent state troopers or police officers of the appropriate jurisdiction<\/span> from arriving at the scene of a disabled or abandoned vehicle<\/span> to take corrective action. The purpose of this Compact is to facilitate the prompt and orderly removal of disabled and abandoned vehicles<\/span> from the bridges by giving all three Parties jurisdiction<\/span> to exercise appropriate authority anywhere on the bridges.<\/p>

Article III. Authority to Direct Traffic and Authorize Removal of Vehicles<\/span>.<\/p>

The Parties hereby give one another all necessary power and authority to have their respective state troopers or local law<\/span>-enforcement officers<\/span> direct traffic and authorize the removal of disabled or abandoned vehicles<\/span>, trailers<\/span>, semitrailers<\/span> or the parts or contents thereof, from any part of the Potomac River bridges, to the same extent and in the same manner that such troopers and local law<\/span>-enforcement officers<\/span> may exercise such authority in their own jurisdictions<\/span>. However, no Party<\/span>, acting through its troopers or local law<\/span>-enforcement officers<\/span>, shall have the authority to direct or authorize the towing or removal of any vehicle<\/span> or other thing to a destination outside its own jurisdiction<\/span>, unless the consent of an officer or trooper of the destination jurisdiction<\/span> has been obtained.<\/p>

Article IV. Disposition<\/span> of Towed Vehicles<\/span>.<\/p>

All vehicles<\/span> and their contents towed or removed from the Potomac River bridges pursuant to this Compact shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction<\/span> of the place to which such vehicle<\/span> and its contents are taken, and the handling and disposition<\/span> of such vehicle<\/span> and its contents shall be governed by the laws<\/span> and procedures of that jurisdiction<\/span>.<\/p>

Article V. No Agency.<\/p>

Each of the Parties shall act solely on its own authority within the jurisdiction<\/span> granted. This Compact shall not be construed as creating any agency relationship between the Parties.<\/p>

Article VI. Effective Date.<\/p>

The provisions of this Compact shall take effect thirty days after the legislative bodies of the Parties having jurisdiction<\/span> over one or several of the bridges identified in Article II have enacted Compacts substantially identical to this Compact.<\/p>

Article VII. Termination.<\/p>

The Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia or State of Maryland, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia may withdraw from this Compact at any time upon thirty days’ written notice to the other Parties.<\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\n(CONTINGENT EXPIRATION DATE \u2014 SEE EDITOR’S NOTE) POTOMAC RIVER BRIDGE\nTOWING COMPACT (\u00a7 46.2-1239.1)\n\nArticle I. Parties and Titles.\n\nThe Parties to this Compact are the Commonwealth of Virginia, the State of\nMaryland and the District of Columbia. This agreement shall be known as the\nPotomac River Bridge Towing Compact.\n\nArticle II. Findings and Purpose.\n\nThe Woodrow Wilson Memorial Bridge, Rochambeau Memorial Bridge, George Mason\nMemorial Bridge, Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Bridge, Francis Scott Key Bridge,\nChain Bridge, Harry W. Nice Bridge, Sandy Hook Bridge, Brunswick Bridge, Point\nof Rocks Bridge, and American Legion Memorial Bridge all pass through the\nterritorial jurisdiction of two or more of the three Parties. Experience has\nshown that traffic back-ups often prevent state troopers or police officers of\nthe appropriate jurisdiction from arriving at the scene of a disabled or\nabandoned vehicle to take corrective action. The purpose of this Compact is to\nfacilitate the prompt and orderly removal of disabled and abandoned vehicles\nfrom the bridges by giving all three Parties jurisdiction to exercise\nappropriate authority anywhere on the bridges.\n\nArticle III. Authority to Direct Traffic and Authorize Removal of Vehicles.\n\nThe Parties hereby give one another all necessary power and authority to have\ntheir respective state troopers or local law-enforcement officers direct traffic\nand authorize the removal of disabled or abandoned vehicles, trailers,\nsemitrailers or the parts or contents thereof, from any part of the Potomac\nRiver bridges, to the same extent and in the same manner that such troopers and\nlocal law-enforcement officers may exercise such authority in their own\njurisdictions. However, no Party, acting through its troopers or local\nlaw-enforcement officers, shall have the authority to direct or authorize the\ntowing or removal of any vehicle or other thing to a destination outside its own\njurisdiction, unless the consent of an officer or trooper of the destination\njurisdiction has been obtained.\n\nArticle IV. Disposition of Towed Vehicles.\n\nAll vehicles and their contents towed or removed from the Potomac River bridges\npursuant to this Compact shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the\nplace to which such vehicle and its contents are taken, and the handling and\ndisposition of such vehicle and its contents shall be governed by the laws and\nprocedures of that jurisdiction.\n\nArticle V. No Agency.\n\nEach of the Parties shall act solely on its own authority within the\njurisdiction granted. This Compact shall not be construed as creating any agency\nrelationship between the Parties.\n\nArticle VI. Effective Date.\n\nThe provisions of this Compact shall take effect thirty days after the\nlegislative bodies of the Parties having jurisdiction over one or several of the\nbridges identified in Article II have enacted Compacts substantially identical\nto this Compact.\n\nArticle VII. Termination.\n\nThe Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia or State of Maryland, or the Mayor\nof the District of Columbia may withdraw from this Compact at any time upon\nthirty days’ written notice to the other Parties.\n\nHISTORY: 1991, c. 452; 2019, c. 403.","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"}}