Virginia Motor Vehicle Laws

[BlissfulErin]

If you live in Virginia (or have lived there, etc.) and know the motor vehicle laws specifically pertaining to us in our hobby post them here. For instance, window tint, license plates, etc. Or if you have any of particular interest, off the wall laws, etc.

Once you do, I will verify, and post the updates below so we can get an accurate running list of the "no no's". Let's go!

VIRGINIA MOTOR VEHICLE LAWS:

(list coming soon)

[MustangCRZY302]

Window Tint:

50% on Front Windows
35% on rear
None allowed on Windsheild below AS line

[Britt]

Front plates are required.
You can't have any unauthorized stickers/decals/banners on windshields.
Radar detectors illegal.
It is illegal to have anything hanging from your rear view mirror.
It is illegal to drive with "straight exhausts, cutout mufflers"

§ 46.2-1063. Alteration of suspension system; bumper height limits; raising body above frame rail.

No person shall drive on a public highway any motor vehicle registered as a passenger motor vehicle if it has been modified by alteration of its altitude from the ground to the extent that its bumpers, measured to any point on the lower edge of the main horizontal bumper bar, exclusive of any bumper guards, are not within the range of fourteen inches to twenty-two inches above the ground. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the range of bumper heights for motor vehicles bearing street rod license plates issued pursuant to § 46.2-747 shall be nine to twenty-two inches.

No vehicle shall be modified to cause the vehicle body or chassis to come in contact with the ground, expose the fuel tank to damage from collision, or cause the wheels to come in contact with the body under normal operation. No part of the original suspension system of a motor vehicle shall be disconnected to defeat the safe operation of its suspension system. However, nothing contained in this section shall prevent the installation of heavy duty equipment, including shock absorbers and overload springs. Nothing contained in this section shall prohibit the driving on a public highway of a motor vehicle with normal wear to the suspension system if such normal wear does not adversely affect the control of the vehicle.


§ 46.2-1088.1. Hood scoops.

No motor vehicle shall be operated on a public highway in the Commonwealth if any hood scoop installed thereon exceeds any of the following dimensions:

1. For any hood scoop installed on any motor vehicle manufactured for the 1990 or earlier model year: thirty-eight inches wide at its widest point, two and one-quarter inches high at its highest point measured from the junction of the dashboard and the windshield, and fifty-two and one-quarter inches long at its longest point.

2. For any hood scoop installed on any motor vehicle manufactured for the 1991 or subsequent model year: thirty-eight inches wide at its widest point, one and one-eighth inches high at its highest point measured from the junction of the dashboard and the windshield, and fifty and one-half inches long at its longest point.

[BlissfulErin]

I've never measured but I'm guessing that means no lowering?

[vintagel0verr]

You can't have tinted or smoked taillights or headlights.
You can't have a smoked license plate cover.
When my fiance got pulled he was told that by VA law, any exhaust set up that isn't stock from the manufacturer is illegal.
Noise ordinance:: If your stereo is able to be heard 50 feet away, it'll illegal.

That's the ones off the top of my head. There's TONS more though. I'll add as I remember.

[vintagel0verr]

I've never measured but I'm guessing that means no lowering?

I'm not sure if it means that you can't lower, but I do know that they can give you a ticket for it being too low. My fiance's integra is considered too low by state law, but he has been lucky so far and hasn't gotten pulled for it.

[MUSTloveSTANG]

dannnnng, remind me not to live in VA! They's be strict!

[BlissfulErin]

dannnnng, remind me not to live in VA! They's be strict!

Yeah I hope we never get pcs'd there :(. However I think we can keep our TN plates, etc. which might allow us to override LOL

[Britt]

Well, I drive around with an offroad H-Pipe, with smoked headlights and white turn signal lights, with an air freshener, lol!

Every year, my inspection guy says "If you get pulled over, tell the cop I inspected the car before you put that exhaust on!" He's a car guy, so he understands how stupid some of the laws are. If I see a cop around, I desperately try to keep the RPM's down. You have to adapt to the laws I say! :rofl:

[vintagel0verr]

Yeah. I've got a Borla Dual setup on mine, but it's not extremely loud. I haven't had problems with it yet. YET being the key word, ha. Maybe I should knock on some wood. I haven't been stopped in the 'stang yet. Although, with my sunfire I got stopped quite a couple times, but never got a ticket because I removed whatever was illegal right then and there. Ha. Which I put back on right after he pulled off.

[k9dane]

Erin, military (or other people that aren't VA residents) are exempt from our crazy laws.

In all actuality though, only state cops can right you for most of it, and you just have to watch what you're doing & how you're acting when they're around.

[BlissfulErin]

Erin, military (or other people that aren't VA residents) are exempt from our crazy laws.

In all actuality though, only state cops can right you for most of it, and you just have to watch what you're doing & how you're acting when they're around.

Yeah Bart told me since TN is our official state of residency that it doesn't apply to us HA! :D

[MustangCRZY302]

Erin, military (or other people that aren't VA residents) are exempt from our crazy laws.

In all actuality though, only state cops can right you for most of it, and you just have to watch what you're doing & how you're acting when they're around.

I've noticed that also. All these rules are STATE rules, inforced by STATE cops. City cops don't tend to pull you just because your tint is too dark for example. They'll pull ya for speeding, and oh btw, your tint is too dark.

[vintagel0verr]

I've noticed that also. All these rules are STATE rules, inforced by STATE cops. City cops don't tend to pull you just because your tint is too dark for example. They'll pull ya for speeding, and oh btw, your tint is too dark.

I got pulled by a New Kent County Sherriff for my tint. Wrote me a ticket and everything. ):

[MustangCRZY302]

Sheriff's are another thing I don't get. lol

[k9dane]

I got pulled by a New Kent County Sherriff for my tint. Wrote me a ticket and everything. ):

You can't even fart in New Kent.

[Bart]

Yeah I don't wanna move to VA now

[MustangCRZY302]

You can't even fart in New Kent.

dang, then I'd on Death Row. lol

[ms.hotrodredneck]

I haven't had any issues...yet....and I literally live between two cops. :) On one side I have a Newport News sheriff, a K9 unit. And the other side is a Newport News cop.

[Greenfire]

Yeah basically if you live and Virginia, I'm from the Hampton Roads area...and you drive a car it is illegal to do ANYTHING to it in a nut shell. Cops are wishy washy, some let you get away with it but the state troopers are no joke, if they are pulling you your getting a ticket. One time I didnt get from from a state and only b/c I had done nothing wrong he thought i had been drinking b/c of how i pulled out and turned right on to the main highway...*rolls eyes*...