CHAPTER 145

An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered
46.1-295.8, prohibiting use of motor vehicle tires with treads of less
than certatn depth; providing for inspection thereof. CH 1801

Approved March 8, 1968

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia be amended by adding a section numbered
46.1-295.3, as follows:

§ 46.1-295.8. (a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle registered
in Virginia on any highway in this State, if such motor vehicle is equipped
with one or more tires which either (1) when measured in any two ad-
jacent tread grooves where the tread is thinnest, at three equally spaced
intervals around the circumference of the tire and exclusive of “tiebars”
by a tread depth gauge calibrated in thirty-seconds of an inch, is found
to have tread depth of less than two thirty-seconds of an inch at such
locations, or (2) when equipped with tread wear indicators, is found to
have such indicators in contact with pavement at any two adjacent grooves
at three equally spaced intervals around the circumference of the tire.

(b) No motor vehicle shall be issued an inspection approval sticker
under the provisions of Article 10 of this chapter if equipped with any
tire the use of which is prohibited under the provisions of subsection (a)
of this section.

(c) This section shall not apply to tires mounted on dual wheels
installed on motor vehicles having seats for more than seven passengers
(i) operated wholly within a municipality, or (ii) operated by urban and
suburban bus lines, which are defined as bus lines operating over regular
scheduled routes the majority of whose passengers use the buses for
traveling a distance of not exceeding forty miles, measured one way, on
the same day between their place of abode and their place of work, shop-
ping areas, or schools.