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2003 SESSION


CHAPTER 877
An Act to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 15 of Chapter 1 of Title 33.1 a section numbered 33.1-223.2:7 and by adding in Article 18 of Chapter 8 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-947, relating to highway safety corridors; penalties.
[S 1093]
Approved March 22, 2003

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 15 of Chapter 1 of Title 33.1 a section numbered 33.1-223.2:7 and by adding in Article 18 of Chapter 8 of Title 46.2 a section numbered 46.2-947 as follows:

§ 33.1-223.2:7. Highway safety corridor program.

The Commissioner shall establish a highway safety corridor program, under which a portion of Virginia primary system highways and interstate system highways may be designated by the Commissioner as highway safety corridors, to address highway safety problems through law enforcement, education, and safety enhancements. In consultation with the Department of Motor Vehicles and the Superintendent of State Police, the Commissioner shall establish criteria for the designation and evaluation of highway safety corridors, to include a review of crash data, accident reports, type and volume of vehicle traffic, and engineering and traffic studies. The Commissioner shall hold a public hearing prior to the adoption of the criteria to be used for designating a highway safety corridor. The Commissioner shall hold a minimum of one public hearing before designating any specific highway corridor as a highway safety corridor. The public hearing or hearings for a specific corridor shall be held at least 30 days prior to the designation at a location as close to the proposed corridor as practical.

The Department shall erect signs that designate highway safety corridors and the penalties for violations committed within the designated corridors.

§ 46.2-947. Violations committed within highway safety corridor.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the fine for any moving violation of any provision of this chapter while operating a motor vehicle in a designated highway safety corridor pursuant to § 33.1-223.2:7 shall be no more than $500 for any violation which is a traffic infraction and not less than $200 for any violation which is a criminal offense. The otherwise applicable fines set forth in Rule 3B:2 of the Rules of the Supreme Court shall be doubled in the case of a waiver of appearance and a plea of guilty under § 16.1-69.40:1 or § 19.2-254.2 for a violation of a provision of this chapter while operating a motor vehicle in a designated highway safety corridor pursuant to § 33.1-223.2:7. The Commissioner shall report, on an annual basis, statistical data related to benefits derived from the designation of such highway safety corridors. This information may be posted on the Virginia Department of Transportation's official website. Notwithstanding the provisions of § 46.2-1300, the governing bodies of counties, cities and towns may not adopt ordinances providing for penalties under this section.