SPEED

Charleston, W. Va., City Code ch. 114, art. VI, div. 2

in effect

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-401 Speed restrictions generally.

Sec. 114-401. - Speed restrictions generally. (a) No person shall drive a vehicle on a street at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards, then existing. In every event, speed shall be so controlled as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person, vehicle or other conveyance on or entering the streets in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care. (b) The driver of every vehicle shall, consistent with the requirements of subsection (a) of this section, drive at an appropriate reduced speed when approaching and crossing an intersection or railway grade crossing, when approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hillcrest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, and when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or street conditions. (Code 1975, § 31-100)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-402 Maximum speed limits established.

Sec. 114-402. - Maximum speed limits established. (a) Where no special hazard exists that requires lower speed for compliance with section 114-401, the speed of any vehicle not in excess of the limits specified in this section or established as authorized in this division shall be lawful, but any speed in excess of the limits specified in the subsections of this section or established as authorized in this division shall be unlawful. (b) On all city streets, when not otherwise signposted, the maximum speed shall be 25 miles per hour. (c) At any intersection not controlled by traffic signal lights, the maximum speed shall be 20 miles per hour. (d) When passing through school zones during school recess or while children are going to or from school during opening or closing hours, the maximum speed shall be 15 miles per hour. (e) On all public alleys, when not otherwise signposted, the maximum speed shall be ten miles per hour. (f) On all streets and drives in Spring Hill Cemetery, the maximum speed shall be 15 miles per hour. (g) When encountering school buses while standing or loading or unloading, traffic shall come to a full stop. (h) When emerging from an alley, driveway, parking lot, garage, building or place of business, traffic must come to a full stop. (i) On all streets and roadways for which a maximum speed is prescribed on official traffic control signs, the speed shall be as specified on such signs. Unless specifically set by ordinance, the director of traffic shall have authority, upon the approval of the planning/streets and traffic committee of city council, to designate the maximum speed for specific city streets or portions of streets and to update official traffic control signs accordingly. (Code 1975, § 31-101; Bill No. 7853, 11-4-2019)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-403 Minimum speed.

Sec. 114-403. - Minimum speed. No person shall operate a vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or to comply with the law. (Code 1975, § 31-102)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-404 Nonpassenger vehicles with pneumatic tires.

Sec. 114-404. - Nonpassenger vehicles with pneumatic tires. Subject to all other speed restrictions of this division, no person shall drive a vehicle not designed for carrying passengers and equipped with pneumatic tires at a speed in excess of: (1) Twenty miles per hour, in any business district. (2) Twenty-five miles per hour, in any residence district. (3) Trucks licensed at 4,000 pounds' gross vehicle weight or less shall be permitted the same speed as passenger cars. (Code 1975, § 31-103)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-405 Vehicles without pneumatic tires.

Sec. 114-405. - Vehicles without pneumatic tires. No person shall drive any vehicle equipped with other than pneumatic tires at a speed greater than a maximum of ten miles per hour. (Code 1975, § 31-104)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-406 Speed on bridges.

Sec. 114-406. - Speed on bridges. (a) No person shall drive a vehicle over any bridge or other elevated structure constituting a part of a street at a speed which is greater than the maximum speed which can be maintained with safety to such bridge or structure when such structure is signposted with official traffic control signs. (b) Upon the trial of any person charged with a violation of this section, proof of determination of the maximum speed by the city council, as provided in W. Va. Code § 17C-6-3 and the existence of such official traffic control signs shall constitute conclusive evidence of the maximum speed which can be maintained with safety to such bridge or structure. (Code 1975, § 31-105)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-407 Slow-moving vehicle emblem.

Sec. 114-407. - Slow-moving vehicle emblem. (a) All farm machinery and other machinery, including all road construction machinery except when guarded by flagmen or flares, designed to operate at 25 miles per hour or less, traveling on a public highway during day or night shall display a triangular slow-moving emblem on the rear of the vehicle. (b) The standards and specifications for design and the position of mounting the slow-moving vehicle emblem, as well as requirements for certification of conformance, shall be as adopted by the state road commissioner pursuant to W. Va. Code § 17C-6-9. The requirements of such emblem shall be in addition to any lighting devices required by law. (c) The use of this emblem shall be restricted to the use specified in subsection (a) of this section, and its use on any other type of vehicle or as a clearance marker on wide machinery or on stationary objects on the highway is prohibited. (Code 1975, § 31-106)

Source: City of Charleston, West Virginia, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/wv/charleston/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PTIICOOR_CH114TROR_ARTVIVEOP_DIV2SPFetched: 11/7/2026