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2000 SESSION


CHAPTER 962
An Act to amend and reenact §§ 8.01-226, 18.2-174.1, and 18.2-426 of the Code of Virginia, relating to special forest wardens.
[H 616]
Approved April 9, 2000

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§ 8.01-226, 18.2-174.1, and 18.2-426 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 8.01-226. Duty of care to law-enforcement officers and firefighters, etc.

An owner or occupant of real property containing premises normally open to the public shall, with respect to such premises, owe to firefighters, Department of Emergency Services hazardous materials officers, nonfirefighter regional hazardous materials emergency response team members, and law-enforcement officers who in the performance of their duties come upon that portion of the premises normally open to the public the duty to maintain the same in a reasonably safe condition or to warn of dangers thereon of which he knows or has reason to know, whether or not such premises are at the time open to the public.

An owner or occupant of real property containing premises not normally open to the public shall, with respect to such premises, owe the same duty to firefighters, Department of Emergency Services hazardous materials officers, nonfirefighter regional hazardous materials emergency response team members, and law-enforcement officers who he knows or has reason to know are upon, about to come upon or imminently likely to come upon that portion of the premises not normally open to the public.

While otherwise engaged in the performance of his duties, a law-enforcement officer, Department of Emergency Services hazardous materials officer, nonfirefighter regional hazardous materials emergency response team member, or firefighter shall be owed a duty of ordinary care.

For purposes of this section, the term "law-enforcement officers" shall mean only police officers, sheriffs and deputy sheriffs and the term "firefighter" includes (i) emergency medical personnel and (ii) special forest wardens designated pursuant to § 10.1-1135.

§ 18.2-174.1. Impersonating certain public safety personnel; penalty.

Any person who willfully impersonates any certified emergency medical services personnel, firefighter, including any special forest warden designated pursuant to § 10.1-1135, fire marshal, or fire chief shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

§ 18.2-426. "Emergency call," "emergency personnel" and "telephone party line" defined.

As used in this article:

"Emergency call" means a call to report a fire or summon police, or for medical aid or ambulance service, in a situation where human life or property is in jeopardy and the prompt summoning of aid is essential.

"Emergency personnel" means any persons, paid or volunteer, who receive calls for dispatch of police, fire, or emergency medical service personnel, and includes law-enforcement officers, firefighters, including special forest wardens designated pursuant to § 10.1-1135, and emergency medical service personnel.

"Telephone party line" means a subscribers' line circuit consisting of two or more main telephone stations connected therewith, each station with a distinctive ring or telephone number.