CHAPTER 364

An Act to amend and reenact § 46-212, as amended, of the Code of Vir-
ginia, relating to speed limits and other driving regulations so as to
revise certain speed limits. CH 370]

Approved March 14, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 46-212, as amended, of the Code of Virginia be amended and
reenacted as follows:

§ 46-212. Any person who shall:

(1) Drive any vehicle upon a highway in this State at such speed
as unnecessarily to block, hinder or retard the orderly and safe use of
the highway or so as to cause congestion on the highway;

(2) Drive upon any highway in this State any motor vehicle at a
speed in excess of:

(a) Fifteen miles an hour when passing a school during recess or
while children are going to or leaving school, provided that markers be
placed on the highways so as to indicate the location of such school;

(b) Twenty-five miles an hour in a business or residential district ;

(c) Thirty-five miles an hour in any city or town; or

(d) A lower, higher or the same speed to be determined as follows:
(i) The State Highway Commission on all highways maintained by the
State Highway Department or the authorities of cities and towns on
all highways maintained by them may increase or decrease the speed
limits within their boundaries, provided such areas or points are clearly
indicated by markers or signs and such speed shall be based upon an
engineering and traffic investigation, or (ii) such speed as shall be fixed
by the State Highway Commission on all highways maintained by the
State Highway Department or the authorities of cities and towns on all
highways maintained by them for congested areas or curves, right angle
turns or other dangerous points on the highways, when such areas or
points are clearly indicated by markers or signs and such speed shall be
based upon an engineering and traffic investigation;

(e) Forty-five miles per hour when towing a motor vehicle which
is self-propelled or designed for self-propulsion in which there is no

river;

(3) Drive anywhere else upon a highway in this State any school
bus carrying school children to or from school at a speed in excess of
CHS. 364, 365] ACTS OF ASSEMBLY 415

thirty-five miles per hour, or any other passenger carrying bus at a
speed in excess of fifty-five miles per hour, or any passenger motor
vehicle or motorcycle at a speed in excess of fifty-five miles per hour,
or any truck at a speed in excess of forty-five miles per hour. except a
pickup or panel truck with a rated carrying capacity not exceeding one
ton, or drive any such pickup or panel truck at a speed in excess of
fifty-five miles per hour or any other motor vehicle at a speed in excess
of fifty-five miles per hour, unless the State Highway Commission pre-
scribes a lower rate of speed;

sis (4) Drive to the left of the center of a street except upon one-way
eets ; ,

(5) Violate any provision of the right of way laws, as set forth in
§§ 46-238 to 46-240 and 46-244;

__ (6) Drive a vehicle out of an alley, lane or building into a street
without first bringing such vehicle to a stop immediately before entering
such street;

(7) Make a left turn without passing to the right of the center
of the intersection, except as otherwise provided ;

(8) Make a right turn without keeping close to the curb;

(9) Coast or operate a motor vehicle with the gears in neutral;

(10) While operating a vehicle upon any highway, fail or refuse
to control the lights of such vehicle by shifting, depressing, tilting or
dimming the headlight beams thereof so as not to project into the eyes
of the driver of any oncoming vehicle a glaring or dazzling light;

(11) Drive any motor vehicle in any county having a population of
more than six hundred inhabitants per square mile, or in any section
or zone of such county, at any speed greater than the applicable maximum
speed or speeds prescribed therefor pursuant to the provisions of § 46-205
by the governing board of such county;

(12) Pass or attempt to pass on an upgrade hill in such manner
as to impede the passage of following traffic, while operating a truck or
tractor and trailer, any truck or tractor and trailer going in the same
direction ;

(13) Drive any vehicle or combination of vehicles which is operating
under a special permit issued by the * State Highway Commission in
accordance with §§ 46-328 and 46-339 at a speed greater than * forty-five
miles per hour, however, the State Highway Commission may prescribe a
speed limit of less than forty-five miles per hour on any permit issued in
accordance with §§ 46-328 and 46-839; or . ;

(14) Drive a vehicle when it is so loaded, or when there are in the
front seat such number of persons, as to obstruct the view of the driver
to the front or sides of the vehicle or as to interfere with the driver’s
control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle;

Shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be pun-
ished in accordance with the provisions of § 46-18.