Virginia may be for lovers, as the state’s marketing slogan proclaims, just don’t get caught speeding. It’s a state that taxes most vehicles annually as personal property, at a rate of $4.57 per $100 of assessed value. Don’t have a Virginia license plate? That will cost you $100 a year. The Commonwealth of Virginia also bans radar detectors, with highway patrol officers confiscating them as well as issuing a fine. Driving more than 20 mph over the posted speed limit, or more than 85 mph on its highways, will net you punishing fines and potential jail time.
Mandatory Speed Limiters Proposed
So it comes as little surprise that it’s about to become the first state in the U.S. to have judges authorize Intelligent Speed Limiters to be placed on vehicles driven by repeat speeding offenders who have accumulated enough demerits on their driving record or who have been convicted of driving more than 100 mph. If they do not agree to the speed limiter, their license will be suspended. If they agree to have the Intelligent Speed Limiter installed, it must remain on the vehicle anywhere from two-to-six months, depending on the judge’s decision.
During that time, the only vehicle the offender can drive is the one with the device. Offenders would pay for the device out of pocket. Any attempt to tamper with the device will also be a class 1 misdemeanor and up to a year in jail. In this way, Intelligent Speed Limiters would be treated much like Breathalyzer ignition interlocks. The Speed Limiter program will be administered by the Commission on the Virginia Alcohol Safety Action Program.
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The bill, known as HB2096, passed the legislature and is awaiting Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s signature. If signed, the bill will take effect on July 1, 2026. Washington State’s House Transportation Committee is considering a similar bill, while in California, a comparable bill was sent to Governor Gavin Newsom last year, but Newsom vetoed it. None of this is an issue in Europe, where the EU now mandates speed limiters on new cars sold there.
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Final Thoughts
Of course, the Commonwealth of Virginia already allows the use of speed cameras in school and work zones, with more to come. Typically, getting caught results in a citation and a $100 fine. According to a January 2025 Virginia State Police Department report, 579,085 drivers were caught by the cameras statewide, generating nearly $34 million in fines. The Intelligent Speed Limiters use GPS tracking to judge the speed limit of the road being driven. If the car exceeds that limit, it emits an alert or physically limits the vehicle’s speed. How successful this program is remains to be seen. But given Virginia’s history, one suspects it will become law.