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.
2015 SESSION
15100733DBe it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 29.1-745 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 19.2-10.3 as follows:
§ 19.2-10.3. Probable cause required to stop, board, or inspect a noncommercial vessel on navigable waters of the Commonwealth.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no law-enforcement officer charged with enforcing laws or regulations on the navigable waters of the Commonwealth shall stop, board, or inspect any noncommercial vessel on the navigable waters of the Commonwealth unless such officer has probable cause to believe that a violation of law or regulation exists.
§ 29.1-745. Enforcement of chapter; vessels displaying Coast Guard inspection decal.
A. Every conservation police officer,
Marine Resources Commission inspector, and
every other law-enforcement officer of the Commonwealth and
its subdivisions shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this
chapter and shall have authority to stop, board,
and inspect any vessel subject to this chapter after having identified himself
in his official capacity. Except for enforcement of § 29.1-738 and the
requirement of having the registration certificate on board, the provisions of
this section
subsection shall not apply to any vessel of twenty-six 26
feet or more in length on which is displayed a current valid United States
Coast Guard or United States Coast Guard Auxiliary inspection decal.
B. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection A, no conservation police officer, Marine Resources Commission inspector, or other law-enforcement officer shall, without the consent of the owner, stop, board, or inspect any noncommercial vessel subject to this chapter unless such officer or inspector has probable cause that a violation of this chapter exists.