Stafford County, VA Mobility & Curb Rules: Bike Lane Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Public-street rule
- Sec. 15-51(a)(18): no parking in bike lane
- Private-lot rule
- Sec. 15-51(b)(15): 50+ space lots covered
- Waiver fee
- $35 within 30 days
- Tow authority
- Any deputy, owner pays cost, Sec. 15-51(c)
- Enforcement
- Sheriff's Office, Sec. 15-51(i)
Summary
Stafford County makes it unlawful to park any vehicle in a bicycle lane, on public streets under Section 15-51(a)(18) and in large private lots open to the public under Section 15-51(b)(15). A sheriff's deputy can tow a vehicle blocking a bike lane at the owner's expense, and drivers who get written notice can usually resolve the citation with a $35 waiver payment instead of a court date.
(18)In a bicycle lane; ... (15)In a bicycle lane; ... Any sheriff's deputy or other law enforcement officer may move or cause to be moved vehicles, at owner's expense, to any place they may deem expedient without regard to the provisions of this section, when in the performance of their lawful duties. When any vehicle is stopped, standing, or parked on any street, road, or highway, or private parking lot that is open to the public and designed to accommodate fifty (50) or more vehicles, and constitutes a traffic hazard or is in violation of any of the provisions of this section, it shall be lawful for any sheriff's deputy or other law enforcement officer to have it removed by towing the vehicle to a licensed garage for storage until called for by the owner, lessee, or his agent.
Full Breakdown
Section 15-51 lists two dozen ways a vehicle can be unlawfully parked on public property, and parking 'in a bicycle lane' is its own numbered clause twice over: clause (a)(18) bans it on public streets, roads, highways, or county-owned or county-leased property, and clause (b)(15) repeats the ban for private parking lots that are open to the public and designed for 50 or more vehicles, such as shopping center or office park lots. Because both clauses sit inside the same subsection structure as sidewalk, driveway, crosswalk, and fire-hydrant parking violations, a driver cited for blocking a bike lane gets the same procedural options as any other Section 15-51 violation: written notice from a sheriff's deputy, a chance to waive a district court appearance by paying $35 to the county treasurer's office within 30 days, and a $10 late penalty if that window is missed.
Beyond the citation, Section 15-51(c) gives any sheriff's deputy or other law enforcement officer authority to move or tow a vehicle blocking a bicycle lane at the owner's expense whenever the vehicle constitutes a traffic hazard or otherwise violates the section, without needing to wait for the driver to return. The sheriff, or his designee, enforces Section 15-51 under subsection (i), and a vehicle that racks up three or more unpaid bicycle-lane or other parking notices can be towed and held under Section 15-52 until the owner pays the outstanding fines along with removal and storage costs.
Violations & Fines
Parking in a bicycle lane on a public street or county property violates Section 15-51(a)(18); doing the same in a large private lot open to the public violates Section 15-51(b)(15). Either draws a written notice resolvable by a $35 payment to the county treasurer within 30 days, a $10 late penalty after that, and the deputy can tow the vehicle at the owner's expense on the spot under Section 15-51(c) if it is a hazard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to park in a bike lane in Stafford County?
Can my car be towed for parking in a Stafford County bike lane?
What is the fine for parking in a bike lane in Stafford County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Stafford County
Compare Stafford County to another location·View the Virginia mobility & curb rules overview
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