VA PDD Act (2017 — first)
Virginia HB 2016 — Personal Delivery Device Act (First in U.S.)
Virginia · Va. Code §§ 46.2-100, 46.2-908.1:1
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- July 1, 2017
- Applies to
- Operators of personal delivery devices in Virginia
- Enforced by
- Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles; local police; municipalities (further regulation)
Virginia was the first U.S. state to legalize sidewalk delivery robots. PDDs may operate on sidewalks and crosswalks (10 mph cap, 50 lb cargo limit), must carry $100,000 liability insurance and a visible operator ID, and localities may further regulate them. Starship Technologies' deployment at George Mason in 2019 traces back to this law.
Who is protected: Pedestrians and sidewalk users; consumers receiving goods via PDDs
Legal detail
Va. Code §§ 46.2-100, 46.2-908.1:1 (Personal Delivery Devices), added by HB 2016 of 2017 (Acts of Assembly 2017, ch. 358) and SB 1207.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Virginia |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Moderate |
| Enacted | March 24, 2017 |
| Citation | Va. Code §§ 46.2-100, 46.2-908.1:1 |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Traffic infraction; civil liability via insurance |
| Topics | consumer protection · government use of AI · automated decision-making |
| Bill text | Virginia LIS — HB 2016 (2017 Session) |
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