For the purposes of this section, "traffic lines" includes any temporary traffic control devices used to emulate the lines and markings in subdivisions 6 and 7.
Whenever any roadway has been divided into clearly marked lanes for traffic, drivers of vehicles shall obey the following:
1. Any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions existing, shall be driven in the lane nearest the right edge or right curb of the highway when such lane is available for travel except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn or where right lanes are reserved for slow-moving traffic as permitted in this section;
2. A vehicle shall be driven as nearly as is practicable entirely within a single lane and shall not be moved from that lane until the driver has ascertained that such movement can be made safely;
3. Except as otherwise provided in subdivision 5, on a highway which is divided into three lanes, no vehicle shall be driven in the center lane except when overtaking and passing another vehicle or in preparation for a left turn or unless such center lane is at the time allocated exclusively to traffic moving in the direction the vehicle is proceeding and is signed or marked to give notice of such allocation. Traffic-control devices may be erected directing specified traffic to use a designated lane or designating those lanes to be used by traffic moving in a particular direction regardless of the center of the roadway and drivers of vehicles shall obey the directions of every such device;
4. The Commissioner of Highways, or local authorities in their respective jurisdictions, may designate right lanes for slow-moving vehicles and the Virginia Department of Transportation shall post signs requiring trucks and combination vehicles to keep to the right on Interstate Highway System components with no more than two travel lanes in each direction where terrain is likely to slow the speed of such vehicles climbing hills and inclines to a speed that is less than the posted speed limit;
5. Wherever a highway is marked with double traffic lines consisting of a solid line immediately adjacent to a broken line, no vehicle shall be driven to the left of such line if the solid line is on the right of the broken line, except (i) when turning left for the purpose of entering or leaving a public, private, or commercial road or entrance or (ii) in order to pass a pedestrian or a device moved by human power, including a bicycle, skateboard, or foot-scooter, provided such movement can be made safely. Where the middle lane of a highway is marked on both sides with a solid line immediately adjacent to a broken line, such middle lane shall be considered a left-turn or holding lane and it shall be lawful to drive to the left of such line if the solid line is on the right of the broken line for the purpose of turning left into any road or entrance, provided that the vehicle may not travel in such lane further than 150 feet;
6. Wherever a highway is marked with double traffic lines consisting of two immediately adjacent solid yellow lines, no vehicle shall be driven to the left of such lines, except (i) when turning left or (ii) in order to pass a pedestrian or a device moved by human power, including a bicycle, skateboard, or foot-scooter, provided such movement can be made safely; and
7. Whenever a highway is marked with double traffic lines consisting of two immediately adjacent solid white lines, no vehicle shall cross such lines.
A violation of this section is punishable by a fine of $100.
Code 1950, § 46-222; 1952, c. 671; 1958, c. 541, § 46.1-206; 1962, c. 87; 1979, c. 25; 1985, c. 481; 1989, c. 727; 2007, c. 501; 2013, cc. 128, 400, 585, 646; 2015, c. 416; 2017, c. 795.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in
19
cases (
5 in the last 5 years), 1996–2025 · leading case:
United States v. Williams, 945 F. Supp. 2d 665 (E.D. Va. 2013).
United States v. Williams, 945 F. Supp. 2d 665 (E.D. Va. 2013).
· cites it 17× “For the reasons that follow, the Court finds that, based on the totality of the circumstances, the officer had reasonable suspicion to stop Defendant’s vehicle for both Failure to Maintain a Single Lane of Traffic in violation of the Code of Virginia § 46.2-804 and Driving Under…”
Thomas v. Commonwealth, 701 S.E.2d 87 (Va. Ct. App. 2010).
· cites it 2× “After obtaining identification and vehicle registration information from the driver and Thomas, the officer returned to the patrol vehicle to request radio confirmation of their identities and the registration status of the vehicle.”
United States v. Prasit Imngren, United States of Am. v. Kenneth Johnson, 98 F.3d 811 (4th Cir. 1996).
“25 (f) (1996) and Va.Code Ann. § 46.2-804 (Michie 1996). A federal magistrate judge dismissed the criminal charges against each defendant on the ground that the previous suspension of their driving privileges constituted a prior punishment under the Double Jeopardy Clause.”
Phillips v. Commonwealth, 487 S.E.2d 235 (Va. Ct. App. 1997).
· cites it 2× “See also Code § 46.2-804(6) (“Wherever a highway is marked with double traffic lines consisting of two immediately adjacent solid lines, no vehicle shall be driven to the left of such lines____”).”
Lake v. Mitchell, 77 Va. Cir. 14 (Prince George Cir. Ct. 2008).
· cites it 3× “Did Mitchell Breach Va. Code § 46.2-804(2) and § 46.2-829? This is not material in deciding whether sovereign immunity applies.”
William Eldred Norwood v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2024).
· cites it 16× “The Commonwealth argued that the stop was permissible because there was at least reasonable suspicion that Norwood violated Code § 46.2-804. A hearing was conducted in which Trooper Parnell testified and his vehicle’s dash cam footage capturing the incident was admitted into…”
Antonio Alexander Jefferson v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2020).
· cites it 11× “However, as this Court made clear in Jones, there is no ambiguity in Code § 46.2-804 to justify an officer’s mistaken belief that the law prohibits changing lanes on a solid whit e line.”
Commonwealth v. Dipietro, 79 Va. Cir. 55 (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2009).
· cites it 4× “” Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-804 (2) (2005 & Supp.”
Hudson v. Freivald (W.D. Va. 2021).
· cites it 9× “” Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-804 . It provides, in pertinent part: Any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time and place and under the conditions existing, shall be driven in the lane nearest the right edge or right curb of the highway when such lane is…”
Seamster v. Taylor (W.D. Va. 2022).
· cites it 6× “Defendants contend that Seamster was negligent per se for operating his tractor in the left lane, allegedly in violation of Virginia Code § 46.2-804. That code section states that: Any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time .”
— Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-804(1) — 2 cases
William Eldred Norwood v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2024).
“The Commonwealth argued that the stop was permissible because there was at least reasonable suspicion that Norwood violated Code § 46.2-804. A hearing was conducted in which Trooper Parnell testified and his vehicle’s dash cam footage capturing the incident was admitted into…”
Seamster v. Taylor (W.D. Va. 2022).
“Defendants contend that Seamster was negligent per se for operating his tractor in the left lane, allegedly in violation of Virginia Code § 46.2-804. That code section states that: Any vehicle proceeding at less than the normal speed of traffic at the time .”
— Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-804(2) — 5 cases
Lake v. Mitchell, 77 Va. Cir. 14 (Prince George Cir. Ct. 2008).
“Did Mitchell Breach Va. Code § 46.2-804(2) and § 46.2-829? This is not material in deciding whether sovereign immunity applies.”
— Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-804(6) — 4 cases
Thomas v. Commonwealth, 701 S.E.2d 87 (Va. Ct. App. 2010).
“After obtaining identification and vehicle registration information from the driver and Thomas, the officer returned to the patrol vehicle to request radio confirmation of their identities and the registration status of the vehicle.”
Phillips v. Commonwealth, 487 S.E.2d 235 (Va. Ct. App. 1997).
“See also Code § 46.2-804(6) (“Wherever a highway is marked with double traffic lines consisting of two immediately adjacent solid lines, no vehicle shall be driven to the left of such lines____”).”
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