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2003 SESSION

031281418
SENATE BILL NO. 725
Senate Amendments in [ ] -- January 14, 2003
A BILL to amend and reenact § 46.2-1021 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 46.2-826.1, relating to local ordinances requiring operators of motor vehicles to yield the right-of-way to certain buses; yield signs on certain buses; penalty.
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Patrons Prior to Engrossment--Senator Deeds; Delegate: Van Yahres
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Referred to Committee on Transportation
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 46.2-1021 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted, and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 46.2-826.1 as follows:

§ 46.2-826.1. Traffic to yield to certain transit buses.

The governing body of any county, city, or town may by ordinance require that, when the operator of a motor vehicle approaches from the rear a transit bus that has stopped at or near the edge of the roadway to take on or discharge passengers, he shall yield the right-of-way to the operator of the transit bus if (i) there is displayed on the rear of such bus a yield sign as described in § 46.2-1021 and (ii) the operator of such bus is signaling his intention to merge into the travel lane occupied by the approaching motor vehicle. The penalty for violation of any ordinance adopted under this section shall not exceed the penalty provided for a traffic infraction under § 46.2-113.

For the purposes of this section "transit bus" means a commercial bus operated by a county, city, or town, a transit authority, or a transit or transportation district.

§ 46.2-1021. Additional lights permitted on certain commercial vehicles.

In addition to other lights permitted in this article, buses operated as public carriers, taxicabs as defined in § 46.2-2000, and commercial motor vehicles as defined in § 52-8.4 may be equipped with (i) illuminated vacant or destination signs and (ii) single steady-burning white lights, emitting a diffused light of such intensity as not to project a glaring or dazzling light, for the nighttime illumination of exterior advertising.

In addition to other lights authorized by this article, buses operated as public carriers may be equipped with flashing white warning lights of types authorized by the Superintendent of State Police. These warning lights shall be installed in a manner authorized by the Superintendent and shall be lighted while the bus is transporting passengers during periods of reduced visibility caused by atmospheric conditions other than darkness. These warning lights may also be lighted at other times while the bus is transporting passengers.

In addition to other lights authorized by this article, within any locality whose local governing body has adopted an ordinance under § 46.2-826.1, any commercial bus operated by a county, city, or town, a transit authority, or a transit or transportation district may be equipped with a yield sign, displayed on the rear of such bus. Such yield sign shall be used to warn operators of motor vehicles approaching the rear of such bus that they are required to yield the right-of-way to such bus when such bus is merging into traffic after having stopped to take on or discharge passengers. Such yield sign shall be illuminated by a flashing light [ of a type approved by the Superintendent ] to signal the intention of the bus operator to merge into traffic after having stopped to take on or discharge passengers.