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1998 SESSION

980742388
HOUSE BILL NO. 64
Offered January 14, 1998
Prefiled January 5, 1998
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Article 6 of Chapter 10 of Title 18.2 a section numbered 18.2-461.1, relating to the misuse of emergency beacons; penalty.
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Patron-- Orrock
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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 the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Article 6 of Chapter 10 of Title 18.2 a section numbered 18.2-461.1 as follows:

§ 18.2-461.1. Misuse of emergency beacon; penalty.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly activate the flashing signal mode of an emergency beacon for any purpose other than to (i) direct law-enforcement, firefighting, or medical emergency personnel to the location of an emergency where human life or property is in jeopardy and the prompt summoning of aid is essential or (ii) test the operation of the beacon's flashing signal mode.

B. For purposes of this section, "emergency beacon" means an incandescent light bulb capable of continuous and intermittent illumination which, under normal conditions, is intended to be used for continuous illumination but, in an emergency, is intended to provide a visual reference point of intermittent light to assist law-enforcement, firefighting, or medical rescue personnel in identifying the location of such emergency. The intermittent light of the bulb's flashing signal mode is activated by rapidly toggling the light's on/off switch twice.

C. A violation of this section shall constitute a Class 4 misdemeanor.