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2014 SESSION

14101286D
HOUSE BILL NO. 660
Offered January 8, 2014
Prefiled January 7, 2014
A BILL to amend and reenact § 19.2-386.16 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 22.2 of Title 19.2 a section numbered 19.2-386.35, relating to forfeiture of vehicles and other property used in commission of certain crimes.
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Patrons-- Bell, Robert B., Comstock, Bulova, Fowler, Garrett, Loupassi, Morris, Ramadan, Rust, Simon and Yancey
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Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 19.2-386.16 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 22.2 of Title 19.2 a section numbered 19.2-386.35 as follows:

§ 19.2-386.16. Forfeiture of motor vehicles used in commission of certain crimes.

A. Any vehicle knowingly used by the owner thereof or used by another with his the owner's knowledge of and during the commission of, or attempt to commit, a second or subsequent offense of § 18.2-346, 18.2-347, 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356 or 18.2-357 or of a similar ordinance of any county, city or town or knowingly used for the transportation of any stolen goods, chattels or other property, when the value of such stolen goods, chattels or other property is $200 or more, or any stolen property obtained as a result of a robbery, without regard to the value of the property, shall be forfeited to the Commonwealth. The vehicle shall be seized by any law-enforcement officer arresting the operator of such vehicle for the criminal offense, and delivered to the sheriff of the county or city in which the offense occurred. The officer shall take a receipt therefor.

B. Any vehicle knowingly used by the owner thereof or used by another with his knowledge of and during the commission of, or in an attempt to commit, a misdemeanor violation of subsection D of § 18.2-47 or a felony violation of (i) Article 3 (§ 18.2-47 et seq.) of Chapter 4 of Title 18.2 or (ii) § 18.2-357 where the prostitute is a minor, shall be forfeited to the Commonwealth. The vehicle shall be seized by any law-enforcement officer arresting the operator of such vehicle for the criminal offense, and delivered to the sheriff of the county or city in which the offense occurred. The officer shall take a receipt therefor.

C. Forfeiture of such vehicle shall be enforced as is provided in Chapter 22.1 (§ 19.2-386.1 et seq.).

§ 19.2-386.35. Seizure of property used in connection with certain offenses.

The following property shall be subject to lawful seizure by any officer charged with enforcing the provisions of subsection B of § 18.2-47 or § 18.2-48 or 18.2-59, subsection B of § 18.2-346, or § 18.2-347, 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 40.1-29, 40.1-100.2, or 40.1-103: (i) all money, equipment, motor vehicles, and all other personal and real property of any kind or character used in connection with the commission of, or in an attempt to commit an offense of subsection B of § 18.2-47 or § 18.2-48 or 18.2-59, subsection B of § 18.2-346, or § 18.2-347, 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 40.1-29, 40.1-100.2, or 40.1-103; (ii) all money or other property, real or personal, traceable to the proceeds of some form of activity that violates subsection B of § 18.2-47 or § 18.2-48 or 18.2-59, subsection B of § 18.2-346, or § 18.2-347, 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 40.1-29, 40.1-100.2, or 40.1-103, together with any interest or profits derived from the investment of such proceeds or other property; and (iii) all money, equipment, motor vehicles, and all other personal and real property of any kind or character used to or intended to be used to promote some form of activity that violates subsection B of § 18.2-47 or § 18.2-48 or 18.2-59, subsection B of § 18.2-346, or § 18.2-347, 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 40.1-29, 40.1-100.2, or 40.1-103. Real property shall not be subject to seizure unless the minimum prescribed punishment for the violation is a term of imprisonment of not less than five years. All seizures and forfeitures under this section shall be governed by Chapter 22.1 (§ 19.2-386.1 et seq.), and the procedures specified therein shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to all forfeitures under subsection B of § 18.2-47 or § 18.2-48 or 18.2-59, subsection B of § 18.2-346, or § 18.2-347, 18.2-348, 18.2-349, 18.2-355, 18.2-356, 18.2-357, 40.1-29, 40.1-100.2, or 40.1-103.