Bill > SB1411

This bill modifies Virginia's existing traffic law regarding vehicle headlight usage by repealing previous restrictions on law enforcement stops for headlight violations. Specifically, the bill removes the prohibition on stopping a vehicle solely for not displaying headlights during certain conditions, such as during rain, fog, or when windshield wipers are in use. Under the previous law, officers could only stop a vehicle for headlight violations if they had another reason to stop the vehicle. The new provision allows law enforcement to stop a vehicle for not having headlights on during specified times or conditions, and importantly, adds language that any evidence discovered during such a stop can now be used in legal proceedings. The bill maintains existing provisions about when headlights are required (from sunset to sunrise, during low visibility conditions, and when windshield wipers are in continuous use) and continues to specify that failure to use headlights during these times does not automatically constitute negligence or result in demerit points. The change effectively removes previous legal barriers that limited law enforcement's ability to stop vehicles specifically for headlight violations and ensures that evidence obtained during such stops can be admissible in court.