Chap. 60.—An ACT to amend Section 16 of Chapter 247, Acts 1930, defining the
duties and powers of game wardens. [H B 138]

Approved February 24, 1936

1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That section
sixteen of chapter two hundred and forty-seven, Acts nineteen hundred
and thirty, be, and the same is hereby, amended and re-enacted so as
to read as follows:

Section 16. Duties and Powers of game wardens.—Game wardens
shall have jurisdiction throughout the State in the enforcement of the
hunting, trapping, inland fish and dog laws and may serve original and
mesne process as sheriffs and constables in all matters arising from
violations of such laws. The game wardens shall assist the chairman
in the dicharge of his official duties and each regular and special game
warden shall be under the supervision of such supervising game warden
as the chairman may direct. The chairman and all game wardens are
vested with the power and authority, upon displaying badge or other
credential of office, to arrest any person found in the act of violating
any of the provisions of the hunting, trapping, inland fish and dog
laws; to search any such arrested person, together with any box, can,
package, barrel or other container, hunting bag, coat, suit, trunk, grip,
satchel or fish basket carried by, in the possession of, or belonging to
such person, and to enter and search any refrigerator, building,
vehicle, car, coach, depot, office, restaurant, cafe, hotel, or other place
of whatsoever nature in which the officer making such search has
reasonable ground to believe that the person arrested has concealed
or placed any wild bird, wild animal or fish, which will furnish evidence
of a violation of the hunting, trapping and inland fish laws, and such
search may be made without a warrant, except that a dwelling may not
be searched without a warrant. Any such box, can, package, barrel,
or other container, hunting-bag, coat, suit, trunk, grip, satchel or fish
basket containing any wild bird, wild animal or fish, or any part there-
of, which has been illegally taken, possessed, sold, purchased or trans-
ported, together with such wild bird, wild animal or fish, and any un-
lawful gun, trap, net, or other device of any kind or nature for taking
wild birds, wild animals or fish which may be found by the game
warden shall be seized by him and held as evidence. In order to see
that bag limits are being observed, game wardens shall also have the
power to inspect game and fish taken by any person found hunting or
fishing without arresting such person. The game warden shall, while
in and about the woods, fields or other lands in the State, caution all
persons of the danger from fires and extinguish all fires left burning
by any one, if within his power, and shall give notice to any and all
persons interested, when possible, of fires raging beyond his control,
to the end that the same may be extinguished.