2006 Code of Virginia § 46.2-878 - Authority to change speed limits

46.2-878. Authority to change speed limits.

Notwithstanding the other provisions of this article, the CommonwealthTransportation Commissioner or other authority having jurisdiction overhighways may decrease the speed limits set forth in 46.2-870 and mayincrease or decrease the speed limits set forth in 46.2-873 through46.2-875 on any highway under its jurisdiction; and may establishdifferentiated speed limits for daytime and nighttime by decreasing fornighttime driving the speed limits set forth in 46.2-870 and by increasingfor daytime or decreasing for nighttime the speed limits set forth in 46.2-873 through 46.2-875 on any highway under his jurisdiction. Suchincreased or decreased speed limits and such differentiated speed limits fordaytime and nighttime driving shall be effective only when prescribed after atraffic engineering investigation and when indicated on the highway by signs. It shall be unlawful to operate any motor vehicle in excess of speed limitsestablished and posted as provided in this section. The increased ordecreased speed limits over highways under the control of the CommonwealthTransportation Commissioner shall be effective only when prescribed inwriting by the Transportation Commissioner and kept on file in the CentralOffice of the Department of Transportation. Whenever the speed limit on anyhighway has been increased or decreased or a differential speed limit hasbeen established and such speed limit is properly posted, there shall be arebuttable presumption that the change in speed was properly established inaccordance with the provisions of this section.

(Code 1950, 46-212; 1950, p. 881; 1952, c. 666; 1954, c. 244; 1956, c. 364;1958, c. 541, 46.1-193; 1960, c. 153; 1962, c. 307; 1964, cc. 118, 408;1966, c. 85; 1968, c. 641; 1972, cc. 89, 546, 553, 608; 1974, c. 528; 1977,c. 577; 1978, c. 605; 1980, c. 347; 1989, c. 727; 1990, c. 779; 1993, c. 98.)