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1996 SESSION
961458198Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §§ 18.2-286 and 18.2-287.1of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§ 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 1
misdemeanor. If the firearm, crossbow or bow is discharged from a
vehicle, then the operator of that vehicle shall also
be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to firing ranges or shooting matches maintained, and supervised or approved, by law-enforcement officers and military personnel in performance of their lawful duties.
§ 18.2-287.1. Transporting a loaded rifle or shotgun.
The governing body of any county or city is hereby empowered to adopt
ordinances making it unlawful for any person to transport, possess or carry a
loaded shotgun or loaded rifle in any vehicle on any public street, road, or
highway within such locality. Any violation of such ordinance shall be
punishable by a fine of not more than $100 as a Class 1
misdemeanor. Game wardens, sheriffs and all other law-enforcement
officers shall enforce the provisions of this section. No ordinance adopted
pursuant to this section shall be enforceable unless the governing body
adopting such ordinance so notifies the Director of the Department of Game and
Inland Fisheries by registered mail prior to May 1 of the year in which such
ordinance is to take effect.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to duly authorized law-enforcement officers or military personnel in the performance of their lawful duties, nor to any person who reasonably believes that a loaded rifle or shotgun is necessary for his personal safety in the course of his employment or business.