SEARCH SITE

VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

ACROSS SESSIONS

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

2020 SPECIAL SESSION I

20200124D
SENATE BILL NO. 5002
Offered August 18, 2020
Prefiled July 19, 2020
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 19.2-80.3, relating to law-enforcement officers; prohibition on the use of neck restraints.
----------
Patron-- Norment
----------
Referred to Committee on the Judiciary
----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 19.2-80.3 as follows:

§ 19.2-80.3. Prohibition on the use of neck restraints by law-enforcement officers.

A. As used in this section, "neck restraint" means the use of any body part or object to attempt to control or disable a person by applying pressure against the neck, including the trachea or carotid artery, with the purpose, intent, or effect of controlling or restricting the person's movement or restricting the person's blood flow or breathing, including chokeholds, carotid restraints, and lateral vascular neck restraints.

B. The use of a neck restraint by a law-enforcement officer, as defined in § 9.1-101, is prohibited.

C. In addition to any other penalty authorized by law, a violation of this section is grounds for disciplinary action against the law-enforcement officer, including dismissal, demotion, suspension, or transfer of the law-enforcement officer.