Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 19, 1993 TAG: 9307190086
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By Associated Press
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Short
But that path isn't such a good one anymore, authorities say.
On July 1, cutting through public or private parking lots to evade traffic signals became illegal in Virginia. Violation of the law is punishable by a maximum fine of $100 and three demerit points.
The statute drew little attention when it breezed through the General Assembly. But Sen. Mark Early, R-Chesapeake and co-sponsor of the legislation, said it could affect motorists' daily routines.
"It seems to me to make sense," Early said. "It's fairly clear that you've got a traffic hazard if you've got people cutting through parking lots to avoid traffic signals."
Bill Myers, owner of an Exxon station in Henrico County, said he is frustrated by the 15 or more cars that cut through his parking lot each day.
"It's so flagrant that people just fly through here and they don't care who's watching or anything," Myers said. "They could cause an accident or really hurt somebody because they're in a hurry and not looking where they're going."
Although major wrecks are rare, police say those drivers cause fender benders and minor injuries to pedestrians.
"We have had several people struck on private property - accidents where motorists were cutting through service stations," said Henrico County Officer R.J. Smith Sr.
by CNB