Driver's licenses; requirements for initial licensure; persons age 18 to 21. Expands from 60 days to 90 days the length of time an applicant for a first-time noncommercial driver's license who is at least 18 years old and not more than 21 years old is required to hold a learner's permit and requires such an applicant to complete a course of driver instruction prior to being issued a driver's license. The bill provides that learner's permits other than motorcycle learner's permits, accompanied by other documentation verifying that the driver is at least 18 years old and less than 21 years old and has successfully completed an approved driver's education course, constitute a temporary driver's license for the purpose of driving unaccompanied by a licensed driver 18 years old or older, provided that certain other requirements are met. The bill has a delayed effective date of January 1, 2027. This bill is identical to HB 1224.
Vehicle equipment; films on windshields. Authorizes the application of clear film to the windshield of a vehicle, so long as it is maintained in a condition consistent with federal requirements.
Department of Housing and Community Development; loans for the construction of mixed income housing; report. Directs the Department of Housing and Community Development, in collaboration with the Virginia Housing Development Authority, to create a two-year pilot program that would provide loan origination and servicing activities for mixed income housing and submit a report on its findings to the General Assembly by November 1 of each year of the pilot program. The bill provides that any funding for the pilot program, subject to the appropriation act, shall be utilized from up to 15 percent of the annual deposit made to the Virginia Housing Trust Fund. This bill is identical to HB 820 and SB 490.
Live streaming while driving; prohibited; penalty. Prohibits any person, while driving a moving motor vehicle on the highways in the Commonwealth, from (i) initiating, participating in, or interacting with any live stream, as that term is defined in the bill, and (ii) manipulating any electronic device to enable or maintain the functions of a live stream on or with such electronic device. The bill establishes penalties for violations, in addition to any other penalties available under current law, including periods of license suspension and a fine of not more than $500 if a person who commits such a violation is involved in an accident at the time of such violation.
Transportation network companies; requirements; civil penalties. Adds various additional requirements for (i) transportation network companies, including ensuring options for audio and video recording of rides for TNC partners and riders and requiring a TNC partner to verify his identity through the digital platform prior to the activation of a TNC partner's account and periodically thereafter, and (ii) TNC partners, including changes to requirements for background checks and circumstances that disqualify them from acting as TNC partners, verification of identity, and prohibitions on sharing digital platform accounts or credentials. The bill imposes civil penalties for transportation network companies or TNC partners who violate certain requirements to which they are subject and provides that the funds for such civil penalties be paid to the Department of Motor Vehicles for the administration of certain requirements of the bill. The provisions of the bill do not become effective unless reenacted by the 2027 Session of the General Assembly.
Pedestrians; walking on roadways that are part of divided highways. Permits pedestrians, when walking on a roadway that is part of a highway divided by a physical barrier or barriers or an unpaved area, and when there are no shoulders of the highway present, to keep to the extreme right side or edge of the roadway, regardless of the direction of traffic they face. Under current law, pedestrians, when permitted to walk on a roadway, are required to keep to the extreme left side or edge thereof. The bill also clarifies current law, which requires pedestrians walking on a roadway to face oncoming traffic.
Commonwealth Aviation Fund; allocations. Changes (i) the allocation amounts from the Commonwealth Aviation Fund, (ii) the entity to which certain funds from such Fund are allocated from air carrier airports to commercial service airport sponsors, and (iii) the classification of airports from air carrier airport and reliever airport to commercial service airport and regional business airport, respectively.
Green warning lights, snow plows and vehicles equipped with truck-mounted attenuators. Authorizes snow plows used for clearing or removing snow on or along public highways and vehicles equipped with a truck-mounted attenuator that are used in constructing, maintaining, and repairing highways or utilities on or along public highways to be equipped with and use either (i) flashing, blinking, or alternating amber warning lights of types approved by the Superintendent of State Police or (ii) alternating amber and green warning lights of a type approved by the Superintendent of State Police. The bill requires that warning lights be lit only when performing the functions that qualify them to be equipped with such lights and that if a vehicle is equipped with multiple warning lights that are alternating amber and green warning lights, such lights shall be used synchronously with each other.
Holding a handheld personal communications device while driving; driver improvement clinic. Clarifies that a court may order, for a first violation of texting and driving, the satisfactory completion of a driver improvement clinic in lieu of a conviction.
Use of license plates from another vehicle; authorized time period. Extends from five to 30 days the time period for which the owner of a motor vehicle is authorized to use license plates from his motor vehicle on another motor vehicle owned by a person operating a garage or owned by a motor vehicle dealer, provided that such use is limited to the time during which his motor vehicle is being repaired or while the motor vehicle owned by the garage operator or motor vehicle dealer is loaned to him for demonstration.