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2010 SESSION
10102715DBe it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 15.2-6021 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 15.2-6021.1 as follows:
§ 15.2-6021. Southwest Regional Recreation Area rangers.
The Spearhead
Trails Executive Director, with the consent of the board, is
authorized to establish, in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, a
ranger police department. The Spearhead
Trails Executive Director, with the consent of the board, may appoint qualified persons
as Southwest Regional Recreation Area rangers. The
ranger may enforce the rules adopted by the Board and issue civil penalties for
violations thereof and further be eligible for appointment as a special
conservator of the peace in accordance with § 19.2-13 as necessary and proper
to protect and enforce the safe use and enjoyment of the properties under the
use and control of the Southwest Regional Recreation Area Authority. Upon application of the board, the
circuit court of the City of Norton or the
County of Buchanan,
Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise, shall,
by order, appoint qualified
applicants, pursuant to § 15.2-6021.1, to
be Southwest Regional Recreation Area rangers. Each ranger
appointed to the department pursuant to this section shall comply with the
training or other requirements for law-enforcement officers established by the
Department of Criminal Justice Services pursuant to Chapter 1 (§ 9.1-100 et
seq.) of Title 9.1.
The ranger may preserve
law and order The rangers may
exercise the powers and duties conferred by law upon police officers of cities,
towns, or counties, and shall be so deemed, including but not limited to the
provisions of Chapters 5 (§ 19.2-52 et seq.), 7 (§ 19.2-71 et seq.), and 23 (§
19.2-387 et seq.) of Title 19.2 on any premises that is
part of the Southwest Regional Recreation Area, any immediately adjacent
property of landowners who are making land available for public use under
agreement with the Authority, and on streets, highways, or other public lands
utilized by the trails, parking areas, or related recreational facilities and
other immediately adjacent public lands. The
assignment of rangers to the duties authorized by this section shall not
supersede the authority of any law-enforcement officers. The salary of all rangers shall be paid by the
board. The board shall furnish each ranger with an official uniform to be worn
while on duty and shall furnish and require each ranger while on duty to wear a shield with an appropriate
inscription and to carry credentials certifying the person's identity and
authority as a ranger. The
board may petition the
circuit court pursuant only to a request by the local law-enforcement agency
for concurrent jurisdiction.
§ 15.2-6021.1. Investigation of prospective rangers; terms of employment; uniforms, etc.
A. Prior to appointment as a Southwest Regional Recreation Authority ranger, each person shall apply to and be investigated by the board, using any and all necessary resources, to determine whether the person is responsible, honest, and in all ways capable of performing the duties of a ranger.
B. The salary of all rangers shall be paid by the board.
C. The board shall furnish each ranger with an official uniform to be worn while on duty and shall furnish and require each ranger while on duty to wear a shield with an appropriate inscription and to carry credentials certifying the person's identity and authority as a ranger.