2025 Regular SessionVirginia Legislature

SB947: Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana, exclusion of evidence.

Legislative Summary

Issuing citations; certain traffic offenses and odor of marijuana; exclusion of evidence. Removes provisions prohibiting a law-enforcement officer from stopping a motor vehicle for operating (i) with an expired registration sticker prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date; (ii) with defective and unsafe equipment; (iii) without tail lights, brake lights, or a supplemental high mount stop light; (iv) without lighted headlights displayed when so required; (v) with certain tinting films, signs, posters, stickers, or decals; (vi) with objects or other equipment suspended so as to obstruct the driver's view; or (vii) with an expired inspection prior to the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date, as well as the accompanying exclusionary provisions. The bill also authorizes a law-enforcement officer to lawfully stop, search, or seize a person, place, or thing or a search warrant to be issued based solely on the odor of marijuana if such odor creates a reasonable suspicion of a violation of the law prohibiting driving while intoxicated.

Demographic Impact

Overall analysis of equity impact

60% Bias
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Bill History

1/6/2025
Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-08-2025 25103468D
Senate
1/6/2025
Referred to Committee on Transportation
Senate
1/16/2025
Rereferred from Transportation to Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N)
Senate
1/17/2025
Impact statement from VCSC (SB947)
Senate
1/27/2025
Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (8-Y 6-N)
Senate
1/31/2025
Racial and ethnic impact statement from JLARC (SB947)
Senate

Roll Call Votes

Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (8-Y 6-N)
1/27/2025
8
Yea
6
Nay
0
Not Voting
1
Absent
Result: PASSED
Rereferred from Transportation to Courts of Justice (15-Y 0-N)
1/16/2025
15
Yea
0
Nay
0
Not Voting
0
Absent
Result: PASSED

Status Information

Current Status
Introduced(1/6/2025)
Chamber
Senate

Sponsors

Republican: 1

Primary Sponsor

Bill DeSteph
Bill DeSteph
Republican

Documents

Comm Sub
Bill Text1/27/202541.4 KB
Introduced
Bill Text1/6/202540.8 KB
Fiscal Note/Analysis
Fiscal Note/Analysis1/31/2025244.8 KB
Fiscal Note/Analysis
Fiscal Note/Analysis1/17/202550.5 KB