Chap. 328.—An ACT to amend Chapter 342 of the Acts of the General Assembly
of 1932, approved March 26, 1932, and known, designated and cited as the
Motor Vehicle Code of Virginia, by adding thereto a new section numbered
7-a, authorizing the Attorney General to represent, or employ special coun-
sel to represent, certain police officers appointed by the director of the
Division of Motor Vehicles and employees of the State Highway Depart-
ment in certain civil actions arising out of or in connection with their
official duties; and providing for the employment of special counsel by the
Director of Motor Vehicles and/or the State Highway Commission to em-
ploy counsel to represent such officials and employees in criminal prosecu-
tions arising out of or in connection with their official duties. [S B 273]

Approved March 29, 1938
1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia, That chap-

ter three hundred and forty-two of the Acts of the General Assembly
of. nineteen hundred and thirty-two, approved March twenty-sixth,
nineteen hundred and thirty-two, and known, designated and cited
as the Motor Vehicle Code of Virginia, be amended by adding thereto
a new section numbered seven-a, which new section shall read as fol-
lows:

Section 7-a. If any police officer appointed by the director or per-
sons employed by the State Highway Department shall be made defen-
dant in any civil action for damages arising out of any matter con-
nected with his official duties, he may, in the discretion of the
Attorney General, be represented in such action by the Attorney Gen-
eral or one of, his assistants. If, in the opinion of the Attorney
General, it is impracticable or uneconomical for such legal service to
be rendered by him or one of his assistants, he may employ special
counsel for such purpose, whose compensation shall be fixed by the
Attorney General.

If any such officer or employee 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 Director of the State High-
way Commission may with the approval of the Governor employ
special counsel to defend such officer or employee. The compensation
for special counsel employed, pursuant to this act, shall be paid out
of the funds appropriated for the administration of the Division of
Motor Vehicles or out of the funds appropriated for the adminis-
tration of the State Highway Department, as the case may be.