Virginia Code

Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-937 (2026)

Traffic infractions treated as misdemeanors for arrest purposes

✓ current as of May 2026

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For purposes of arrest, traffic infractions shall be treated as misdemeanors. Except as otherwise provided by this title, the authority and duties of arresting officers shall be the same for traffic infractions as for misdemeanors.

1977, c. 585, § 46.1-178.01; 1989, c. 727.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 14 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1990–2024 · leading case: Lytle v. Griffith, 240 F.3d 404 (4th Cir. 2001).

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Lytle v. Griffith, 240 F.3d 404 (4th Cir. 2001). · cites it 4× “See Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-937 (Michie’s 1998).”

Sattler v. Commonwealth, 457 S.E.2d 398 (Va. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 4× “However, Code § 46.2-937 provides that "[f]or purposes of arrest, traffic infractions shall be treated as misdemeanors" and "the authority and duties of arresting officers shall be the same for traffic infractions as for misdemeanors.”

West v. Commonwealth, 549 S.E.2d 605 (Va. Ct. App. 2001). · cites it 2× “Code § 46.2-937 directs that "[f]or purposes of arrest, traffic infractions shall be treated as misdemeanors.”

Harris v. Commonwealth, 388 S.E.2d 280 (Va. Ct. App. 1990). · cites it 2× “…and we affirm his conviction. Affirmed. Coleman, J., and Keenan, J., concurred. 1 Now Code § 46.2-1014.1 2 Now Code § 46.2-937.”

Weaver v. Commonwealth, 513 S.E.2d 423 (Va. Ct. App. 1999). · cites it 2× “Virginia Code § 46.2-937 provides that traffic infractions in Virginia are treated as misdemeanors for purposes of arrest.”

Neiss v. Commonwealth, 433 S.E.2d 262 (Va. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “” Code § 46.2-937. Corpening had authority to arrest Neiss without a warrant for a misdemeanor traffic infraction committed in his presence.”

Commonwealth v. Graham, 54 Va. Cir. 223 (Suffolk Cir. Ct. 2000). · cites it 6× “” Va. Code Ann. § 46.2-937 (Michie 1998). Absent clear statutory direction to the contrary, “the authority and duties of arresting officers shall be the same for traffic infiactions as for misdemeanors.”

Commonwealth of Virginia v. Stephen Allen Donald & Deoclecio Ronan Sampaio (Va. Ct. App. 2016). · cites it 2× “See Code § 46.2-937. “Under well-established principles, an issue of statutory interpretation is a pure question of law which we review de novo.”

Gwazdavskas v. Tharp (W.D. Va. 2020). · cites it 2× “A law enforcement officer may arrest a person who has committed a traffic infraction because they are misdemeanors for arrest purposes, VirginiaCode § 46.2-937,and, if the officer reasonably believes that person will disregard a summons—likely on the facts here—hemy arrest…”

Dulles Toll Road v. Diggs, 90 Va. Cir. 377 (Fairfax Cir. Ct. 2015). · cites it 3× “See Va. Code § 46.2-937: “For purposes of arrest, traffic infractions shall be treated as misdemeanors.”

Robert Randolph Williams v. Commonwealth of Virginia (Va. Ct. App. 2011). · cites it 2× “2 and “violations shall constitute traffic infractions punishable by a fine of not more than that provided for a Class 4 misdemeanor” unless otherwise stated.”

Thomas K. Plofchan, Jr. v. Commonwealth (Va. Ct. App. 2007). · cites it 2× “Additionally, under Code § 46.2-937, “[f]or purposes of arrest, traffic infractions shall be treated as misdemeanors.”

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