An Act to amend and reenact §§ 46.2-920 and 46.2-1023 of the Code of Virginia, relating to flashing red and white warning lights; emergency vehicle exemptions; Department of Military Affairs emergency vehicles.
HB351 amends Virginia’s traffic laws governing emergency vehicle privileges and warning lights. The bill revises § 46.2-920 to clarify when emergency vehicles may disregard certain traffic rules, including speed limits, red lights, stop signs, lane-direction rules, and passing restrictions, while still requiring due regard for safety. It also updates the conditions under which those exemptions apply, including the use of flashing, blinking, or alternating emergency lights and, in most cases, a siren, whistle, or air horn, or other specified cautionary actions at intersections.
The bill also amends § 46.2-1023 to address flashing red and white warning lights and to extend emergency vehicle-related provisions to Department of Military Affairs emergency vehicles. In practical terms, it expands or clarifies which vehicles and situations qualify for emergency exemptions and ties those privileges to insurance or self-insurance requirements, while preserving criminal and civil liability for reckless or negligent conduct. The legislation primarily affects emergency responders, law-enforcement agencies, fire services, emergency medical services, and Department of Military Affairs vehicles operating in emergency conditions.
HB351 changes the Code of Virginia by amending §§ 46.2-920 and 46.2-1023, which govern emergency vehicle exemptions from traffic regulations and the use of flashing warning lights. The bill broadens and clarifies the statutory framework for emergency vehicle operations, including the circumstances under which drivers may proceed through red signals, exceed speed limits, pass stopped vehicles, or otherwise depart from ordinary traffic rules. It also specifically references Department of Military Affairs emergency vehicles, bringing them within the bill’s scope and potentially affecting state military emergency response operations.
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no documented debate to indicate strong support or opposition. The bill’s enactment as Chapter 118 suggests it moved successfully through the process and was approved by the Governor on April 6, 2026. Overall, the legislative outcome indicates a neutral-to-supportive posture toward clarifying emergency vehicle authority and warning-light requirements.
Because there are no committee discussions or vote records provided, no specific points of contention are documented. Based on the text, the most likely areas of concern would be public safety, the scope of emergency driving exemptions, and whether the added authority for Department of Military Affairs vehicles could create ambiguity or expand privileges too broadly. The statute’s continued emphasis on due regard for safety, insurance coverage, and liability limits appears designed to address those concerns.