SEARCH SITE
VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL
- Code of Virginia
- Virginia Administrative Code
- Constitution of Virginia
- Charters
- Authorities
- Compacts
- Uncodified Acts
- RIS Users (account required)
SEARCHABLE DATABASES
- Bills & Resolutions
session legislation - Bill Summaries
session summaries - Reports to the General Assembly
House and Senate documents - Legislative Liaisons
State agency contacts
ACROSS SESSIONS
- Subject Index: Since 1995
- Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
- Summaries: Since 1994
Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
2010 SESSION
10105185DBe it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 15.2-1113.1, 15.2-1210, 18.2-56.1, and 18.2-286 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 15.2-1113.1. Prohibiting hunting in certain areas.
Any municipal corporation may by ordinance prohibit all
hunting with firearms or other weapons in, or within one-half mile
of, any subdivision or other area of such municipal corporation which, in
the opinion of the governing body, is so heavily populated as to make such
hunting dangerous to the inhabitants thereof. Any such ordinance shall clearly
describe each area in which hunting is prohibited and shall further provide
that appropriate signs shall be erected designating the boundaries of such
area.
§ 15.2-1210. Prohibiting hunting in certain areas.
Any county may by ordinance prohibit all hunting with firearms
or other weapons in, or within one-half mile of, any subdivision
or other area of such county which, in the opinion of the governing body, is so
heavily populated as to make such hunting dangerous to the inhabitants thereof.
Any such ordinance shall clearly describe each area in which hunting is
prohibited, and shall further provide that appropriate signs shall be erected
designating the boundaries of such area.
§ 18.2-56.1. Reckless handling of firearms; reckless handling while hunting.
A. It shall be unlawful for any person to handle recklessly
any firearm so as to endanger the life, limb or property of any person. Any
person violating this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. Reckless
handling of a firearm shall include discharge of a firearm towards any
structure that is or may be occupied, or any person, if such person or
structure is located within the range of the firearm and no natural or manmade
barrier exists that would prevent the projectile from striking the person or
structure. For purposes of this section, the shooter shall be responsible for
knowing the range of any firearm he discharges.
B. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a
Class 1 misdemeanor. If this section is violated while the person is
engaged in hunting, trapping or pursuing game, the trial judge may, in addition
to the penalty imposed by the jury or the court trying the case without a jury,
revoke such person's hunting or trapping license or privilege to hunt or trap
while possessing a firearm for a period of one year to life not to
exceed five years.
C. Upon a revocation pursuant to subsection B hereof, the clerk of the court in which the case is tried pursuant to this section shall forthwith send to the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (i) such person's revoked hunting or trapping license or notice that such person's privilege to hunt or trap while in possession of a firearm has been revoked and (ii) a notice of the length of revocation imposed. The Department shall keep a list which shall be furnished upon request to any law-enforcement officer, the attorney for the Commonwealth or court in this Commonwealth, and such list shall contain the names and addresses of all persons whose license or privilege to hunt or trap while in possession of a firearm has been revoked and the court which took such action.
D. If any person whose license to hunt and trap, or whose
privilege to hunt and trap while in possession of a firearm, has been revoked
pursuant to this section, thereafter hunts or traps while in possession of a
firearm, he shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor, and, in addition to any
penalty imposed by the jury or the court trying the case without a jury, the
trial judge may revoke such person's hunting or trapping license, or privilege
to hunt or trap while in possession of a firearm, for an additional period
not to exceed five years a period of one year to life. The clerk of
the court shall notify the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries as is
provided in subsection C herein.
§ 18.2-286. Shooting in or across road or in street.
If any person discharges a firearm, crossbow or bow and arrow in or across any road, or within the right-of-way thereof, or in a street of any city or town, he shall, for each offense, be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to firing
ranges or shooting matches constructed, operated, maintained, and
supervised or approved, by (i) representatives of state or local government,
law-enforcement officers and military personnel in performance of their
lawful official duties, or (ii) by range safety personnel
certified by the National Rifle Association or any other entity recognized by
the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries.