CHAPTER 68

An Act to amend and reenact § 56-3884, as amended, of the Code of
Virginia, relating to enforcement of motor vehicle laws. rH 160}

Approved February 23, 1960

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

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

§ 56-334. (a) The Commission may appoint such agents, inspec-
tors or investigators as it may deem necessary and such agents, inspectors
or investigators and officers of the Department of State Police shall have
the authority and powers of a sheriff to enforce the laws, rules and regu-
lations governing the operation of motor vehicles on the highways of the
State, and such agents, inspectors or investigators and officers of the
Department of State Police shall have jurisdiction throughout the State
and are given authority upon displaying badge or other credential of of-
fice 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.

(b) Agents, inspectors or investigators and officers of the Depart-
ment of State Police may stop, and if found necessary examine the lading
of any motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer 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.

(c) Any agent, inspector or investigator or officer of the Depart-
ment of State Police is given the authority to remove from any motor
vehicle or to secure from any person to whom issued any warrant, exemp-
tion card, registration card, tag, plate or other evidence of authority to
operate such motor vehicle issued by the Commission which is being im-
properly 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 misde-
meanor, and subject to the penalties provided in § 56-335.

Any agent, inspector or investigator or State police officer shall
have the authority to issue a summons and accept a written promise to
appear in like manner as is provided in § 46.1-178 of the Code; and the
penalty for the violation of such promise shall be as therein provided. —

(e) No agent, inspector or investigator appointed by the Commis-
sion shall receive any compensation from any source other than through
the Commission. ;

(f) The Commission or any agent, inspector or investigator may
request 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 offi-
cer when his services are requested. ;

(zg) Every agent, inspector or investigator shall, before entering
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 Com-
mission’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 dam-
aged in any manner by the unlawful, negligent or improper conduct of any
such officer while on duty may maintain an action upon such bond, pro-
vided, however, that the aggregate liability of his surety to all such per-
sons shall, in no event, exceed the penalty of such bond.

(h) 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
employ special counsel approved by the Attorney General to defend such
agent, inspector or investigator. The compensation for special counsel
employed pursuant to this section shall, subject to the approval of the
Attorney General, be paid out of the funds appropriated for the adminis-
tration of the Virginia Motor Carrier Laws.

(i) Nothing in this section shall be considered as restricting or lim-
iting in any way the powers, authority and duties of the State police.