GENERALLY

Charleston, W. Va., City Code ch. 114, art. VI, div. 1

in effect

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-361 Motor vehicle drivers must be licensed.

Sec. 114-361. - Motor vehicle drivers must be licensed. (a) No person, except those expressly exempted by this section, shall drive any motor vehicle upon a street in this city unless he has in his immediate possession a currently valid state operator's or chauffeur's license, or an instruction permit if he is accompanied by a licensed operator or chauffeur who is occupying a seat beside such permit holder. (b) The following persons are exempt from the requirements of this section: (1) Any person while operating a motor vehicle in the armed services of the United States while in the performance of his official duties. (2) A nonresident of this state who is at least 16 years of age and who has in his immediate possession a valid operator's license issued to him in his home state or country may operate a motor vehicle in this city only as an operator for a period not to exceed 90 days in any one calendar year. (3) A nonresident of this state who is at least 16 years of age, who has in his immediate possession a valid operator's license issued to him in his home state or country and who is employed in this state, or owns, maintains or operates a place or places of business in this state, or engages in any trade, profession or occupation in this state, in addition to the driving privileges extended under subsection (b)(2) of this section, may operate a motor vehicle in this city only as an operator in traveling to and from his place of employment, place of business, or place at which he engages in such trade, profession or occupation and in the discharge of the duties of his employment, business, trade, profession or occupation if such duties are such that if performed by a resident of the state over the age of 18 years such resident would not be required under the provisions of W. Va. Code ch. 17B to be licensed as a chauffeur. (4) A nonresident of this state who is at least 18 years of age and who has in his immediate possession a valid chauffeur's license issued to him in his home state or country may operate a motor vehicle in this city either as a chauffeur subject to the age limits applicable to chauffeurs in this state, or as an operator subject to the limitations imposed on nonresident operators in subsection (b)(2) and (3) of this section. (5) Any person who is a student, properly enrolled and registered in an accredited school, college or university in this state, who is at least 16 years of age and who has in his immediate possession a valid operator's license issued to him in his home state, notwithstanding the limitations of subsection (b)(2) and (3) of this section may operate a motor vehicle in this city only as an operator provided the state of which he is a resident shall extend the same privileges to residents of this state. This exemption shall be canceled immediately when such student is graduated from school, college or university or is expelled or ceases to be a student. (Code 1975, § 31-47)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-362 Vehicle registration plates required.

Sec. 114-362. - Vehicle registration plates required. No person shall operate or park any motor vehicle upon any street in the city unless such person shall display the registration plate required by the laws of this state and in such manner as may be required by the laws of this state. (Code 1975, § 31-48)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-363 State vehicle inspection certificate required.

Sec. 114-363. - State vehicle inspection certificate required. No person shall drive or move on any street any motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer or pole trailer or any combination of such vehicles unless the vehicle bears a current certificate of inspection as required by W. Va. Code ch. 17C, art. 16 (W. Va. Code § 17C-16-1 et seq.). (Code 1975, § 31-49)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-364 Safety equipment and requirements for motorcyclists and motorcycles.

Sec. 114-364. - Safety equipment and requirements for motorcyclists and motorcycles. (a) No person shall operate or be a passenger on any motorcycle unless he is wearing securely fastened on his head by either a neck or chin strap a protective helmet designed to deflect blows, resist penetration and spread impact forces. Any helmet worn by a motorcycle operator or motorcycle passenger shall meet the performance specifications established by the United States of America Standards Institute. Specifications for Protective Headgear for Vehicle Users, Standard Z 90.1-1966. Helmets worn by motorcycle operators and motorcycle passengers shall be coated with a reflectorized substance or have attached a reflectorized material, on both sides and the back, with a minimum of ten square inches of coated substance or attached material in each of the three locations. (b) No person shall operate or be a passenger on any motorcycle unless he is wearing safety, shatter-resistant eyeglasses (excluding contact lenses), or eye goggles or face shield that complies with the performance specifications established by the United States of America Standards Institute, Specifications for Head, Eye and Respiratory Protection Z 2.1-1959. In addition, if any motorcycle is equipped with a windshield or windscreen, the windshield or windscreen shall be constructed of safety, shatter-resistant material that complies with the performance specifications established by the United States of America Standards Institute, Safety Glazing Materials for Glazing Motor Vehicles Operated on Land Highways, Standard Z-26.1-1966. (c) No person shall operate a motorcycle on which the handlebars or grips are more than 15 inches higher than the uppermost part of the operator's seat when the seat is not depressed in any manner. (d) A person operating a motorcycle shall ride in a seated position facing forward and only upon a permanent operator's seat attached to the motorcycle. No operator shall carry any other person nor shall any other person ride on a motorcycle unless the motorcycle is designed to carry more than one person, in which event a passenger may ride behind the operator upon the permanent operator's seat if it is designed for two persons, or upon another seat firmly attached to the motorcycle to the rear of the operator's seat and equipped with footrests designed and located for use by the passenger or in a sidecar firmly attached to the motorcycle. No more than two persons, the motorcycle operator and one passenger, shall ride the same motorcycle at the same time. No person shall ride sidesaddle on a motorcycle seat. (Code 1975, § 31-50)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-365 Obstruction to driver's view or driving mechanism.

Sec. 114-365. - Obstruction to driver's view or driving mechanism. (a) No person shall drive a vehicle when it is so loaded as to obstruct the view of the driver to the front or sides of the vehicle or as to interfere with the driver's control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle. (b) No passenger in a vehicle shall ride in such position as to interfere with the driver's view ahead or to the sides, or to interfere with his control over the driving mechanism of the vehicle. (Code 1975, § 31-51)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-366 Reserved.

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-367 Backing.

Sec. 114-367. - Backing. (a) The driver of a vehicle shall not back it unless such movement can be made with reasonable safety and without interfering with other traffic. (b) The driver of a vehicle shall not back it into an intersection or over a crosswalk and shall not in any event or at any place back a vehicle a greater distance than 25 feet unless it be necessary to relieve a traffic jam or on orders from a police officer. (Code 1975, § 31-54)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-368 Restricted access.

Sec. 114-368. - Restricted access. No person shall drive a vehicle onto or from any controlled-access roadway except at such entrances and exits as are established by public authority. (Code 1975, § 31-69)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-369 One-way streets.

Sec. 114-369. - One-way streets. When official traffic control one-way street signs are erected and in place upon streets indicating that all vehicles on such streets be moved only in one specific direction, no person shall move a vehicle upon any such street except in the direction indicated by such signs. (Code 1975, § 31-70)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-370 Closed streets.

Sec. 114-370. - Closed streets. Where official traffic control signs or markers are erected indicating that any street or highway or part is newly paved or repaired or closed to traffic, no person shall drive any vehicle over any such street or highway until it is officially opened to traffic. (Code 1975, §§ 31-31(g), 31-71)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-371 Driving on sidewalk.

Sec. 114-371. - Driving on sidewalk. The driver of a vehicle shall not drive on any sidewalk area except at a permanent or temporary driveway. (Code 1975, § 31-72)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-372 Signs indicating vehicles of certain types or weight prohibited on certain streets or bridges.

Sec. 114-372. - Signs indicating vehicles of certain types or weight prohibited on certain streets or bridges. Whenever official traffic control signs are placed, erected or installed indicating that vehicles of certain types or in excess of certain weights are prohibited on certain streets or portions of certain streets, or bridges, no driver of a vehicle shall disobey the prohibitions of any such sign. (Code 1975, § 31-73)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-373 Safety zones.

Sec. 114-373. - Safety zones. No vehicle shall at any time be driven upon, over or through or stop or park upon a safety zone or part when such safety zone is appropriately marked by official traffic control signs or markings. (Code 1975, § 31-74)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-374 Zones of quiet.

Sec. 114-374. - Zones of quiet. The mayor is authorized, where it is necessary to preserve health, to establish zones of quiet. Whenever official traffic control signs are erected indicating a zone of quiet, no person operating a vehicle within any such zone shall sound the horn or other warning device of such vehicle except in an emergency. (Code 1975, § 31-75)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-375 Play streets.

Sec. 114-375. - Play streets. The mayor is authorized to establish play streets. Whenever official traffic control signs are erected indicating any street or part as a play street, no person shall drive a vehicle upon any such street or portion except drivers of vehicles having business or whose residences are within such closed area; and then such drivers shall exercise the greatest care in driving upon any such street or portion. (Code 1975, § 31-77)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-376 Following too closely.

Sec. 114-376. - Following too closely. (a) The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the street. (b) The driver of any motor truck or motor vehicle drawing another vehicle when traveling upon a roadway outside of a business or residential district and which is following another motor truck or motor vehicle drawing another vehicle shall whenever conditions permit leave sufficient space so that an overtaking vehicle may enter and occupy such space without danger, except that this shall not prevent a motor truck or motor vehicle drawing another vehicle from overtaking and passing any like vehicle or other vehicle. (c) Motor vehicles being drawn upon any roadway outside of a business or residence district in a caravan or motorcade whether or not towing other vehicles shall be so operated as to allow sufficient space between each such vehicle or combination of vehicles so as to enable any other vehicle to enter and occupy such space without danger. This provision shall not apply to funeral processions. (Code 1975, § 31-78)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-377 Following fire apparatus prohibited.

Sec. 114-377. - Following fire apparatus prohibited. The driver of any vehicle other than one on official public business shall not follow any fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm closer than 500 feet or drive into or park such vehicle within the block where fire apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm. (Code 1975, § 31-79)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-378 Driving with clutch or gears disengaged.

Sec. 114-378. - Driving with clutch or gears disengaged. (a) No person shall operate a motor vehicle on any street or highway of the city with the clutch disengaged or gears out of mesh, except for the purpose of changing or shifting gears, while stopping or while being towed. (b) The driver of any motor vehicle when traveling upon a downgrade shall not coast with the gears of such vehicle in neutral. (c) The driver of a commercial motor vehicle when traveling upon a downgrade shall not coast with the clutch disengaged. (Code 1975, § 31-80)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-379 Crossing fire hose.

Sec. 114-379. - Crossing fire hose. No vehicle shall be driven over any unprotected hose of a fire department when laid down on any street or private driveway to be used at any fire or alarm of fire without the consent of the fire department official in command. (Code 1975, § 31-81)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-380 Obstructing intersection or crosswalk.

Sec. 114-380. - Obstructing intersection or crosswalk. No driver shall enter an intersection or a marked crosswalk unless there is sufficient space on the other side of the intersection or crosswalk to accommodate the vehicle he is operating without obstructing the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians, notwithstanding any traffic control signal indication to proceed. (Code 1975, § 31-82)

Charleston, W. Va., City Code § 114-381 Towing.

Sec. 114-381. - Towing. No vehicle shall tow more than one disabled vehicle at any one time. The connection between the two shall not be longer than ten feet and shall be substantial enough to pull the towed vehicle without breaking. No vehicle shall have attached to it more than one trailer at any one time. (Code 1975, § 31-153)

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_DIV1GEFetched: 11/7/2026