function ruleBefore($date, $error_message = null) {
        if (!strtotime($date)) {
            throw new \Exception('Incorrect date');
        }

        return $this->_rule('before:' . $date, $error_message);
    }
function ruleBefore($date, $error_message = null) {
        if (!strtotime($date)) {
            throw new \Exception('Incorrect date');
        }

        return $this->_rule('before:' . $date, $error_message);
    }
function ruleBefore ( $ date , $ error_message = null ) { if ( ! strtotime ( $ date ) ) { throw new \ Exception ( 'Incorrect date' ) ; } return $ this -> _rule ( 'before:' . $ date , $ error_message ) ; }
The field under validation must be a value preceding the given date. The dates will be passed into the PHP strtotime function.

@param      $date

@param null $error_message

@return ValidateBuilder
@throws \Exception
The field under validation must be a value preceding the given date . The dates will be passed into the PHP strtotime function .