CHAPTER 357

AN ACT to amend and reenact § 56-834 of the Code of 1950,
relating to the enforcement of laws governing operation of
motor vehicle carriers.

[ H 202 ]

Approved April 5, 1950

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 56-334 of the Code of 1950 be amended and re-
enacted as follows:

§ 56-8384. Enforcement * of motor carrier laws.—* The
Commission may appoint such agents, inspectors or investiga-
tors as it may deem necessary and such agents, inspectors or
envestigators shall have the authority and powers of a sheriff
to enforce the laws, rules and regulations governing the opera-
tion of motor vehicles for compensation on the highways of the
State, and such agents, inspectors or investigators shall have
jurisdiction throughout the State and are given authority upon
displaying badge or other credential of office to arrest any
person found in the act of violating any of the laws, rules and
regulations governing the operation of motor vehicles for com-
pensation which the Commission is required to administer.

Agents, inspectors or investigators may stop, and if found
mecessary examine the lading of any motor vehicle operating
on any highway of this State for the purpose of determining
that it is operating in accordance with the laws, rules and regu-
lations governing the operation of motor vehicles for compen-
sation.

Any agent, inspector or investigator is given the authority
to remove from any motor vehicle or to secure from any person
to whom issued any warrant, tag, plate or other evidence of au-
thority to operate such motor vehicle for compensation issued
by the Commission which is being improperly used or which has
been properly suspended or cancelled and any person refusing
to surrender any warrant, tag, plate or other evidence of author-
ity shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and subject to the penalties
provided in § 56-8385.

No agent, inspector or investigator appointed by the Com-
mission shall receive any compensation from any source other
than through the Commission.

The Commission or any agent, inspector or investigator may
request the assistance of any State police officer in the enforce-
ment of the laws, rules and regulations governing the operation
of motor vehicles for compensation on the highways of the State
which the Commission is required to administer and any agent,
inspector or investigator shall assist any state police officer
when his services are requested.

Every agent, inspector or investigator shall, before enter-
ang upon or continuing in his duties, enter into bond, with some
solvent guaranty company authorized to do business in this State
as surety, in the penalty of six thousand dollars and with the
condition for the faithful and lawful performance of his duties.
Such bond shall be filed in the Commission’s office and the pre-
miums thereon shall be paid out of the fund appropriated for
the enforcement of the laws regulating the operation of motor
vehicles for compensation on the highways of the State. All per-
sons injured or damaged in any manner by the unlawful, neyli-
gent or improper conduct of any such officer while on duty may
maintain an action upon such bond, provided, however, that the
aggregate lability of the surety to all such persons shall, in no
event, exceed the penalty of such bond.

If any agent, inspector or investigator appointed by the
Commission shall be made defendant in any civil action for dam-
ages arising out of any matter connected with his official duties,
he may, in the discretion of the Attorney General, be represented
an such action by the Attorney General or one of his assistants.
If, in the opinion of the Attorney General, it 1s impracticable or
uneconomical for such legal service to be rendered by him or one
of his assistants, he may employ special counsel for such pur-
pose, whose compensation shall be fixed by the Attorney General.

If any such agent, inspector or investigator shall be arrested
or wndicted or otherwise prosecuted on any charge arising out
of any act committed in the discharge of his official duties, the
Commission may with the approval of the Governor employ spe-
cial counsel to defend such agent, inspector or investigator. The
compensation for special counsel employed pursuant to this sec-
tion shall be paid out of the funds appropriated for the admin-
istration of the Virginia Motor Carrier Laws.
Nothing in this section shall be considered as restricting or
limiting in any way the powers, authority and duties of the State
police.