New laws coming to Virginia roadways on July 1
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- On Tuesday, several new laws will take effect across Virginia -- including a few that will directly impact Virginia drivers.
A variety of laws passed by Virginia's General Assembly during the 2025 General Session will go into effect on Tuesday, July 1.
In a June 30 press release, AAA drew attention to some new laws that you'll need to think about when behind the wheel.
1. All adults must now wear seatbelts.
Starting Tuesday, when driving in Virginia, all adult passengers will need to wear seatbelts no matter where they are seated in your vehicle.
This is a change from prior Virginia statute, which said only adults in the driver and front passenger seats had to buckle up.
AAA said that, per the Virginia DMV, 35% of all traffic deaths across the state in 2024 involved someone not wearing a seatbelt. 8News previously learned that Virginia is the worst state in America when it comes to wearing a seatbelt.
This is a secondary offense -- meaning you'll only be cited for it if you've been pulled over for another, stoppable offense.
2. Some dangerous maneuvers are now considered reckless driving.
Street racing, street takeovers and exhibition driving are on the rise throughout the United States due to social media, according to AAA.
"These activities lead to dangerous situations for all in the vicinity of such activities, not just the drivers," AAA said.
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Beginning on Tuesday, illegal street takeovers and exhibition driving will now be considered reckless driving. The law explicitly prohibits maneuvers like doughnuts and drifting. Penalties for these acts will be increased, whether you perform them on public roads or in public parking lots.
Additionally, anyone found riding on the roof or hood of a vehicle that's performing such maneuvers can now be prosecuted.
Virginia ranked sixth across the U.S. for street racing in 2023, per Insurify.
3. Convicted of reckless driving? You may earn a speed assistance device.
This third and final law highlighted by AAA does not actually go into effect until July 1, 2026.
Starting on that date, if you are convicted of reckless driving in Virginia, a judge can choose to order you to install and use "an intelligent speed assistance device" in your vehicle.
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These kinds of devices use GPS technology to detect the speed limit of any given roadway. If a driver exceeds that speed, it prevents the accelerator pedal from being pressed down any further.
A judge can enforce this consequence instead of suspending a person's license. However, speed assistance devices will be required for those who are convicted of going over 100 mph.
"[This law] takes important steps using in-vehicle technology to combat repeat and egregious speeding behaviors," AAA said.
Nearly half of those surveyed admitted they had gone 15 mph or more over the posted speed limit of a highway at least once in the last 30 days, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety's 2023 Traffic Safety Culture Index.
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Morgan Dean, the manager of Public and Government Affairs with AAA Mid-Atlantic, said these three laws will make Virginia roads safer.
“Too many people have lost their lives in crashes in the Commonwealth and this legislation aims to lower these statistics,” Dean said in the release. “These laws will bring about a reduction in traffic crashes and, ultimately, a decrease in traffic fatalities.”
