Chap. 42.—An ACT to regulate the running of automobiles, locomobiles, and other
vehicles and conveyances whose motive power is other than animals, and motor
bicycles and tricycles, along or over the public highways of the State and the
avenues, streets, and alleys of the cities.

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Approved December 20, 1902.

1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of Virginia, That it shall be
unlawful for any person or persons to run, or cause to be run, automo-
biles, locomobiles, or other such vehicles or carriage which has for its
motive power and is propelled by steam, electricity, gasoline, or any
power other than animal power, and motor bicycles and tricycles along
or across any public road or highway, or any avenue, street, or alley of
any city in the State of Virginia, at a greater rate of speed than fifteen
miles per hour.

2. The operator, owner, conductor, driver, or occupant of any such.
vehicle, or the rider of anv such motor bicycle or tricycle, shall keep a.
careful look ahead for the approach of horseback riders or vehicles.
drawn by horses or other animal, shall check speed, keep his vehicle,
bievele, or tricycle, as the case may be, under thorough and careful con-
trol, give ample roadway to such rider or vehicle, and if signalled by such
rider or occupant of such vehicle, or be otherwise requested thereto, shalF
immediately bring his machine or vehicle, bievele or trievele, as the case
may be, to a full stop and allow ample time to such rider or vehicle to
pass,

3. When the operator, owner, conductor, driver, or occupant of any
such vehicle or machine, or the rider of any such bicycle or tricycle, as is.
described in the first section, overtakes a horse or vehicle traveling im
same direction with himself, he shall slow down his speed, signal for the
road by bell er gong, and if the other vehicle stops, shall pass at a rate of
speed not greater than four miles per hour. Should the vehicle or traveler
not stop, and the said operator, owner, conductor, driver, or occupant of
such vehicle, or rider of any such bieyele or tricvele desire to pass, he shalk
do so at a rate of speed not greater than may be necessary, and shall in
all cases use due diligence and care not to frighten the horse or horses.

+. Any one violating the provisions of this act shall be fined not less
than ten dollars, nor more than one hundred dollars, to be assessed by @
justice of the peace, and in addition thereto shall be liable for damages.
actually incurred by reason of such neglect, and the automobile, loeomo-
bile, or such other vehicle or machine, bievele or trievele, may he seized
and impounded anywhere in the Commonwealth upon the order of a jus-
tice of the county or corporation in which the offense is committed, and
may hy the order ef such justice be sold ta pay such fines or damages.

5. In any case where any automobile, locomobile, or such other vehicle
or machine, motor bicvele or trievele, shall he impounded as provided im
preceding section, the officer shall fix upon a time and place for the sale
thereof. and post notice of same at least ten days before day of sale at
three or more public places in his county or corporation, and shall publish
notice of sale in seme paper published in his county or corporation (if-
there he one published therein) for two consceutive weeks. At the time
and place so appointed such oflicer shall scll to the highest bidder, for
cash, the said automobile, locomobile, or other vehicle or machine, motor
bicycle or tricvele, and the surplus, if any there be, after deducting the
amount of the fine, cost, and damage, shall be paid to the owner of said
property.

6. This act shall not apply to incorporated towns or cities which now
or shall hereafter have ordinances regulating speed of the vehicles or
machines mentioned in the preceding sections.

t. This act shall be in force from its passage.