17105094D
SENATE BILL NO. 1187

AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE

(Proposed by the Senate Committee on Transportation

on February 1, 2017)

(Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Dance)

A BILL to amend and reenact §46.2-1022 of the Code of Virginia, relating to steady-burning blue or red lights on law-enforcement vehicles.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §46.2-1022 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§46.2-1022. Flashing or steady-burning blue or red, flashing red and blue or blue and white, white and blue warning lights.

A. Certain Department of Military Affairs vehicles and certain Virginia National Guard vehicles designated by the Adjutant General, when used in state active duty to perform particular law-enforcement functions, Department of Corrections vehicles designated by the Director of the Department of Corrections, and law-enforcement vehicles may be equipped with flashing, blinking, or alternating blue, blue and red, blue and white, or red, white, and blue combination warning lights of types approved by the Superintendent. Such warning lights may be of types constructed within turn signal housings or motorcycle headlight housings, subject to approval by the Superintendent.

B. Any law-enforcement vehicle may be equipped with a steady-burning blue light of a type approved by the Superintendent. Such light shall only be used for the purpose of (i) increasing law enforcement vehicle visibility in residential and commercial areas, (ii) deterring violators of the law, and (iii) necessary law-enforcement functions. Such light shall only be used when such law-enforcement vehicle is not moving or proceeding at a speed of fifteen miles an hour or less.