CHAPTER 131

AN ACT to amend and reenact § 56-884 of the Code of Virginia, relating
to enforcement of motor carrier laws; appointment, powers and
duties of agents, inspectors and investigators. CH 281)

Approved February 24, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 56-334 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted
as follows:

_§ 56-334. The Commission may appoint such agents, inspectors
or investigators as it may deem necessary and such agents, inspectors
or investigators shall have the authority and powers of a sheriff to enforce
the laws, rules and regulations governing the operation of motor vehicles
* on the highways of the State, and such agents, inspectors or investi-
gators shall have jurisdiction throughout the State and are given author-
ity 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 * which the Commission is
required to administer.

Agents, inspectors or investigators may stop, and if found necessary
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 regulations governing the operation of motor
vehicles * which the Commission is required to administer.

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, exemption card, registration card, tag, plate or other evidence
of authority to operate such motor vehicle * 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, exemption
card, registration card, tag, plate or other evidence of authority shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor, and subject to the penalties provided in § 56-385.

Any agent, inspector or investigator shall have the authority to
issue a summons and accept a written promise to appear in like manner
as is provided in § 46-198 of the Code; and the penalty for the violation
of such promise s be as therein provided.

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

The Commission or any agent, inspector or investigator may re-
quest the assistance of any State police officer in the enforcement of the
laws, rules and regulations governing the operation of motor vehicles *
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 ps ee

Every agent, inspector or investigator shall, before entering upon or
continuing in his duties, enter into bond with some solvent guaranty com-
pany 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 per-
138 ACTS OF ASSEMBLY [vA., 1956

formance of his duties. Such bond shall be filed in the Commission’s
office and the premiums thereon shall be paid out of the fund appropriated
for the enforcement of the laws regulating the operation of motor vehicles
* on the highways of the State. All persons injured or damaged in any
manner by the unlawful, negligent or improper conduct of any such
officer while on duty may maintain an action upon such bond, provided,
however, that the aggregate liability of his surety to all such persons
shall, in no event, exceed the penalty of such bond. i.

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

eneral.

If any such agent, inspector or investigator shall be arrested or
indicted 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 special counsel to defend
such agent, inspector or investigator. The compensation for special coun-
sel employed pursuant to this section shall be paid out of the funds
appropriated for the administration 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.