Q. In Virginia, can an officer pull your car over solely because of an expired inspection sticker?

A.  If the sticker has been expired for less than 4 months, the answer is NO! This is a 2021 law change. Some courts, however, have ruled that this change applies to pending cases in which the stop or seizure occurred before July 1^st 2021. If this is your situation, you should get in touch with us. 

This law, Virginia Code § 46.2-1157, mandates that no law enforcement officer shall stop or seize a vehicle because of an expired inspection sticker until the first day of the fourth month after the original expiration date. The statute also says that if such a stop occurs, any and all evidence obtained as a result of the stop is not admissible in court. This law would seem to block any and all criminal or traffic charges arising out of a stop for recently expired inspection stickers.

Of course, every case is different and you should always consult a lawyer to find out how this law change may affect your particular situation.