Virginia Code 33.2-1816: Police powers; violations of law
A. All police officers of the Commonwealth and of each affected locality or public entity shall have the same powers and jurisdiction within the limits of such qualifying transportation facility as they have in their respective areas of jurisdiction, and such police officers shall have access to the qualifying transportation facility at any time for the purpose of exercising such powers and jurisdiction. This authority does not extend to the private offices, buildings, garages, and other improvements of the private entity to any greater degree than the police power extends to any other private buildings and improvements.
Terms Used In Virginia Code 33.2-1816
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Locality: has the meaning assigned to it in § 1-221. See Virginia Code 33.2-100
- Private entity: means any natural person, corporation, general partnership, limited liability company, limited partnership, joint venture, business trust, public benefit corporation, nonprofit entity, or other business entity. See Virginia Code 33.2-1800
- Public entity: means the Commonwealth and any agency or authority thereof; any county, city, or town; and any other political subdivision of any of the foregoing, but does not include any public service company. See Virginia Code 33.2-1800
- Qualifying transportation facility: means one or more transportation facilities developed and/or operated by a private entity pursuant to this chapter. See Virginia Code 33.2-1800
- Transportation facility: means any road, bridge, tunnel, overpass, ferry, airport, mass transit facility, vehicle parking facility, port facility, or similar commercial facility used for the transportation of persons or goods, together with any buildings, structures, parking areas, appurtenances, and other property needed to operate such facility; however, "transportation facility" does not include a commercial or retail use or enterprise not essential to the transportation of persons or goods. See Virginia Code 33.2-1800
B. To the extent the transportation facility is a road, bridge, tunnel, overpass, or similar transportation facility for motor vehicles, the traffic and motor vehicle laws of the Commonwealth or, if applicable, any locality or public entity shall be the same as those applying to conduct on similar transportation facilities in the Commonwealth or such locality or public entity. Punishment for offenses shall be as prescribed by law for conduct occurring on similar transportation facilities in the Commonwealth or such locality or public entity.
1994, c. 855, § 56-571; 1995, c. 647; 2005, cc. 504, 562; 2014, c. 805.