States / Virginia / SB 12

SB 12 In Committee

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

Introduced
In Committee
Floor
Crossed Over
Passed
Enacted

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.

Chamber
Senate
Introduced
Nov 17, 2025
Last action
Jan 26, 2026 — Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (9-Y 5-N)
Session
2026
Momentum
31 · Low