CHAPTER 208

An Act to amend and reenact § 88-255.89 of the Code of Virginia, relating
to the Richmond-Petersburg Turnpike Authority and the transfer of
such turnpike to the Commonwealth.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 33-255.39 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted
as follows:

_ § 338-255.39. (a) When all bonds issued under the provisions of
this article and the interest thereon have been paid or a sufficient amount
for the payment of all such bonds and the interest to the maturity thereof
have been set aside in trust for the benefit of the bondholders * the entire
project * shall become a part of the * interstate highway system, if then
in good condition and state of repair acceptable to the State Highway
Commission, and shall thereafter be operated and maintained as a con-
trolled access express highway or superhighway by the Commission, or
its successor agency, free of tolls *.

(b) When the project has become a part of the * interstate highway
system *, and any money held for the payment of the principal of or
interest on any bonds issued by the Authority is not claimed within two
years from the day the principal of such bonds is due, such money shall
be paid into the treasury of the Commonwealth. No interest shall accrue
on such principal or interest from the day the same is due. The Comp-
troller shall keep an account of all money thus paid into the treasury and
it shall be paid to the individual, copartnership, association or corporation
entitled thereto upon satisfactory proof that such individual, copartner-
ship, association or corporation is so entitled to such money. If the claim
so presented is rejected by the Comptroller, the claimant may proceed for
its recovery in the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond by petition. The
Comptroller shall be the defendant in such proceeding and shall file an
answer stating his objections to the claim. The court may cause a jury
to be impaneled to ascertain any facts which are disputed and shall render
such judgment as the law and the evidence may require. An appeal from
the judgment of the court shall lie to the Supreme Court of Appeals as in
actions at law and all laws and rules relating to practice and procedure in
actions at law shall apply thereto. No such petition shall be presented or
filed after ten years from the day the principal of or interest on such bonds
is due; provided, if the individual having such claim is an infant or insane
person or is imprisoned at such due date, such petition may be presented
or filed within five years after the removal of such disability, notwith-
standing the fact that such ten year period shall have expired.