16100924D
HOUSE BILL NO. 178
Offered January 13, 2016
Prefiled December 23, 2015
A BILL to amend and reenact §46.2-803.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to commercial motor vehicle lane restrictions on Interstate 64; penalty.
----------
Patron-- Bell, Richard P.
----------
Committee Referral Pending
----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §46.2-803.1 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§46.2-803.1. Commercial motor vehicles limited to use of certain lanes of certain interstate highways; penalty.

Except where the posted speed limit is less than 65 miles per hour, no person shall drive any commercial motor vehicle, as defined in § 46.2-341.4, on the left-most lane of any interstate highway having more than two lanes in each direction.

Furthermore, within the Eighth In Planning District 8 and on Interstate Route 81, no person shall drive any commercial motor vehicle, as defined in §46.2-341.4, on the left-most lane of any interstate highway having more than two lanes in each direction, regardless of the posted speed limit. Every commercial motor vehicle shall keep to the right-most lane when operating at a speed of 15 miles per hour or more below the posted speed limit on an interstate highway with no more than two lanes in each direction.

On Interstate 64 in the Counties of Albemarle, Augusta, and Nelson, commercial motor vehicles, as defined in §46.2-341.4, may travel in the left-most lane except while in the area commonly known as Afton Mountain. The operator of a commercial motor vehicle who travels in the left-most lane while in the area commonly known as Afton Mountain is guilty of reckless driving punishable as provided in subsection A of §46.2-868 and shall include a mandatory minimum fine of $500.

The provisions of this section shall not apply to (i) buses or school buses or (ii) other commercial vehicles when (a) preparing to exit a highway via a left exit or (b) being used to perform maintenance or construction work on an interstate highway.