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ACROSS SESSIONS
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Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
1995 SESSION
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 46.2-906.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 46.2-906.1. Local ordinances may require bicyclists to wear helmets.
The governing body of (i) any county, having the urban
county executive form of government, (ii) any city or town within or
surrounded by such county, (iii) any county or city adjoining such county,
(iv) any city or town within or surrounded by any such adjoining county, and
(v) any town having a population of more than 34,000 may, by ordinance,
provide that every person fourteen years of age or younger shall wear a
protective helmet that meets the standards promulgated by the American
National Standards Institute or the Snell Memorial Foundation whenever riding
or being carried on a bicycle on any highway as defined in § 46.2-100,
sidewalk, or public bicycle path.
Violation of any such ordinance shall be punishable by a fine of twenty-five dollars. However, such fine shall be suspended (i) for first-time violators and (ii) for violators who, subsequent to the violation but prior to imposition of the fine, purchase helmets of the type required by the ordinance.
Violation of any such ordinance shall not constitute negligence, assumption of risk, be considered in mitigation of damages of whatever nature, be admissible in evidence, or be the subject of comment by counsel in any action for the recovery of damages arising out of the operation of any bicycle, nor shall anything in this section change any existing law, rule, or procedure pertaining to any civil action.