Motor vehicle doors; drivers and passengers to wait for a reasonable opportunity to open. (SB225)

Introduced By

Sen. Chap Petersen (D-Fairfax)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Opening and closing motor vehicle doors. Requires drivers and passengers to wait for a reasonable opportunity to open vehicle doors on the side adjacent to moving traffic. A violation constitutes a traffic infraction punishable by a fine of not more than $100. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/03/2014Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/08/14 14100388D
01/03/2014Referred to Committee on Transportation
01/16/2014Impact statement from DPB (SB225)
01/22/2014Reported from Transportation with amendment (12-Y 2-N)
01/23/2014Impact statement from DPB (SB225)
01/24/2014Constitutional reading dispensed (34-Y 0-N)
01/27/2014Read second time
01/27/2014Reading of amendment waived
01/27/2014Committee amendment agreed to
01/27/2014Engrossed by Senate as amended SB225E
01/27/2014Printed as engrossed 14100388D-E
01/28/2014Passed by for the day
01/29/2014Read third time and passed Senate (28-Y 12-N)
02/06/2014Impact statement from DPB (SB225E)
02/07/2014Assigned Transportation sub: Subcommittee #3
02/07/2014Placed on Calendar
02/07/2014Read first time
02/07/2014Referred to Committee on Transportation
02/07/2014Assigned Transportation sub: Subcommittee #2
02/24/2014Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting (3-Y 4-N)
03/04/2014Left in Transportation

Video

This bill was discussed on the floor of the General Assembly. Below is all of the video that we have of that discussion, 1 clip in all, totaling 1 minute.

Comments

Bob Peckman writes:

Preventing someone from opening a car door in front of moving traffic has no downsides for transportation and therefore should not be held up by the transportation committee. If you want bikes off the roads to facilitate other forms of transportation, removing us by attrition and fear is not the proper way.

Mark Brewer writes:

Without this law I could be killed or seriously injured by a motorist and have no recourse in tge lae. I think my wife and daughter deserve better than indifference on the part of Va Justice.
Thank you for consideration,
Mark Brewer

Andrew Schafer writes:

An important law that gives cyclists a safety measure to address inattentive city motorists who carelessly open doors without ever looking in their mirror.

Amy Laughlin writes:

Just this past year, this very thing happened to a Navy Captain while riding his bike home from work. He landed in the hospital with broken ribs and other injuries. He missed over 3 weeks of work. He is lucky it was not worse.