Bill Text: VA SB535 | 2024 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: School crossing zones; expands definition of zones to include areas surrounding schools, etc.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2024-03-04 - Left in Transportation [SB535 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2024-SB535-Engrossed.html
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §46.2-873 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§46.2-873. Maximum speed limits at school crossings; penalty.
A. For the purposes of this section, "school crossing zone" means an area located within the vicinity of a school at or near a highway where the presence of children or students on such school property or going to and from school reasonably requires a special warning to motorists. Such zones are marked and operated in accordance with the requirements of this section with appropriate warning signs or other traffic control devices indicating that a school crossing is in progress. For the purposes of this section, "school" includes public institutions of higher education and nonprofit private institutions of higher education, as those terms are defined in §23.1-100.
B. The maximum speed limit shall be 25 miles per hour between portable signs, tilt-over signs, or fixed blinking signs placed in or along any highway and bearing the word "school" or "school crossing." Any signs erected under this section shall be placed not more than 750 feet from the limits of the school property or crossing in the vicinity of the school. However, "school crossing" signs may be placed in any location if the Department of Transportation or the council of the city or town or the board of supervisors of a county maintaining its own system of secondary roads approves the crossing for such signs. If the portion of the highway to be posted is within the limits of a city or town, such portable signs shall be furnished and delivered by such city or town. If the portion of highway to be posted is outside the limits of a city or town, such portable signs shall be furnished and delivered by the Department of Transportation. The principal or chief administrative officer of each school or a school board designee, preferably not a classroom teacher, shall place such portable signs in the highway at a point not more than 750 feet from the limits of the school property and remove such signs when their presence is no longer required by this section. Such portable signs, tilt-over signs, or fixed blinking signs shall be placed in a position plainly visible to vehicular traffic approaching from either direction, but shall not be placed so as to obstruct the roadway.
C. Such portable signs, tilt-over signs, or blinking signs
shall be in a position, or be turned on, for 30 minutes preceding regular
school hours, for 30 minutes thereafter, and during such other times as the
presence of children or students on such school property or going to and
from school reasonably requires a special warning to motorists. The governing
body of any county, city, or town may, however, decrease the period of time
preceding and following regular school hours during which such portable signs,
tilt-over signs, or blinking signs shall be in position or lit turned
on if it determines that no children or students will be going to or
from school during the period of time that it subtracts from the 30-minute
period.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the governing body of a public institution of higher education or nonprofit private institution of higher education [ shall pay all costs associated with the establishment, installation, maintenance, and operation of school crossing zones within their limits and ] may (i) decline to establish a posted school crossing zone as authorized in this section or (ii) set hours for such portable signs, tilt-over signs, or blinking signs to be in position or turned on that reflect the class schedule at such institution of higher education, provided such hours are when the presence of children or students on such school property or going to and from school reasonably requires a special warning to motorists.
D. The governing body of any city or town may, if the portion of the highway to be posted is within the limits of such city or town, increase or decrease the speed limit provided in this section only after justification for such increase or decrease has been shown by an engineering and traffic investigation, and no such increase or decrease in speed limit shall be effective unless such increased or decreased speed limit is conspicuously posted on the portable signs, tilt-over signs, or fixed blinking signs required by this section.
E. The governing body of a county within Planning District 8 may, if the portion of the highway to be posted is within the limits of such county, increase or decrease the speed limit provided in this section only after justification for such increase or decrease has been shown by an engineering and traffic investigation, and no such increase or decrease in speed limit shall be effective unless such increased or decreased speed limit is conspicuously posted on the portable signs, tilt-over signs, or fixed blinking signs required by this section.
F. The City of Virginia Beach may establish school zones as provided in this section and mark such zones with flashing warning lights as provided in this section on and along all highways adjacent to Route 58.
G. Any person operating any motor vehicle in excess of a
maximum speed limit established specifically for a school crossing zone when
such school crossing zone is (i) indicated by appropriately placed signs
displaying the maximum speed limit and (ii) in operation pursuant to subsection
B shall be is guilty of a traffic infraction punishable by a fine
of not more than $250, in addition to other penalties provided by law.
H. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, the maximum speed limit in school zones in residential areas may be decreased to 15 miles per hour if (i) the school board having jurisdiction over the school nearest to the affected school zone passes a resolution requesting the reduction of the maximum speed limit for such school zone from 25 miles per hour to 15 miles per hour and (ii) the local governing body of the jurisdiction in which such school is located enacts an ordinance establishing the speed-limit reduction requested by the school board.
